Non-rotatable snap fasteners
AssigneeRome Fastener Corporation
InventorHoward J. Reiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snap fastener includes a male component and a female component. In a mechanical fastener, a shaft having an enlarged tip fits within a socket having a retaining element for releasably holding the enlarged tip. In a magnetic snap fastener, the female component has a magnet and a cover with a central hole for receiving the shaft. In both forms of snap fasteners, the male component and female component have anti-rotation surfaces, which interact to prevent rotation of the male and female components relative to each other.
Claims13
A mechanical snap fastener for holding two pieces of material together, comprising:
- a male component comprising a base, a pin having an enlarged tip and a first anti-rotation surface displaced peripherally from the pin;
- a female component comprising a retaining element for releasably holding the enlarged tip of the pin, a socket body having a central hole which receives the pin and into which the retaining element protrudes and a second anti-rotation surface displaced peripherally from the central hole, wherein
- the male component is attachable to a first piece of material,
- the female component is attachable to a second piece of material,
- the first anti-rotation surface of the male component and the second anti-rotation surface of the female component interact to prevent rotation of the male component relative to the female component when the components are fastened together, and
- at least one of the anti-rotation surfaces has a symmetrical curved outer edge configured to bear against an opposing male or female component to bring the male and female components into alignment when they are not aligned in an indexed fastening position, the at least one anti-rotation surface having a dimension measured between a base of the at least one anti-rotation surface and the curved outer edge which increases with distance away from ends of the curved outer edge.
A magnetic snap fastener for holding two pieces of material together, comprising:
- a male component comprising a plate, a first anti-rotation surface and a pin;
- a female component comprising a toroidal magnet, a cover for the toroidal magnet and a second anti rotation surface, the toroidal magnet and the cover both having a central hole which receives the pin, wherein
- the male component is attachable to a first piece of material,
- the female component is attachable to a second piece of material,
- the first anti-rotation surface of the male component and the second anti-rotation surface of the female component interact to prevent rotation of the male component relative to the female component when the components are fastened together, and
- at least one of the anti-rotation surfaces has a symmetrical curved outer edge configured to bear against an opposing male or female component to bring the male and female components into alignment when they are not aligned in an indexed fastening position, the at least one anti-rotation surface having a dimension measured between a base of the at least one anti-rotation surface and the curved outer edge which increases with distance away from ends of the curved outer edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.