Latch to the core fastener
AssigneeInterplex Nascal, Inc.
InventorJames R. Martellotti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latching system includes a hub with one or more openings defined in the hub. Each opening includes a latching feature to which a fastener is releasably coupled. The latching feature may be configured to couple to only a single fastener provided from one side of the hub. Alternately, the latching feature may be configured to couple to two fasteners, one from each side of the hub, at the same time. The fastener includes prongs that are configured to be sufficiently separated from one another, when a removal tool is inserted between them, to facilitate the release of the fastener from the latching feature and the removal of the fastener from the opening. A flange may be held in place between the hub and a portion of the coupled fastener.
Claims34
A coupling system, comprising:
- a hub having a first latch opening disposed therein and defining a first latch opening space;
- a first latching feature disposed in the first latch opening and irremovably attached to, and extending from, an inner wall of the first latch opening into the first latch opening space;
- and
- a first fastener, disposed in the first latch opening, comprising a first set of opposing prongs releasably coupled to the first latching feature positioned between the first set of opposing prongs,
- wherein the first fastener is separate from the hub and configured to be completely removed from the first latch opening, and
- wherein the first latch opening is sized to provide a close slide fit to a base portion of the first fastener.
A coupling system, comprising:
- a hub having first and second latch openings disposed therein and defining first and second latch opening spaces, respectively;
- a first latching feature disposed in the first latch opening and extending from an inner wall of the first latch opening into the first latch opening space;
- a second latching feature disposed in the second latch opening and extending from an inner wall of the second latch opening into the second latch opening space;
- and
- first and second fasteners disposed, respectively, in the first and second latch openings and releasably coupled to the first and second latching features,
- wherein the first fastener is positioned in the first latch opening from a first side of the hub,
- wherein the second fastener is positioned in the second latch opening from a second side of the hub opposite the first side of the hub, and
- wherein the first and second fasteners are separate from the hub and configured to be completely removed from the first and second latch openings, respectively.
A coupling system, comprising:
- a hub having a first latch opening disposed therein;
- a first pair of latching features disposed in the first latch opening, the first pair of latching features arranged in a first virtual plane;
- and
- a second pair of latching features disposed in the first latch opening, the second pair of latching features arranged in a second virtual plane,
- wherein each of the first and second pairs of latching features is irremovably attached to, and extending from, an inner wall of the first latch opening,
- wherein each of the first and second pairs of latching features is configured to releasably couple to a fastener by being positioned in a space located between a pair of opposing prongs of the fastener, and
- wherein the first and second virtual planes intersect.
A coupling system kit, comprising:
- a hub having a first latch opening disposed therein;
- a first pair of latching features disposed in the first latch opening, the first pair of latching features arranged in a first virtual plane;
- a second pair of latching features disposed in the first latch opening, the second pair of latching features arranged in a second virtual plane;
- a first fastener configured to be disposed in the first latch opening and comprising a first set of opposing prongs to releasably couple to one of the first and second pairs of latching features disposed between the first set of opposing prongs;
- and
- a flange configured to be positioned between the first fastener and the hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.