Quarter turn fastener
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorJames S. Tisol, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A quarter turn fastener includes a deflectable head and part in assembly legs for securing the fastener in a subassembly with one component positioned between the deflectable head and the part in assembly legs. Cooperating lock arms on the fastener and lock ribs on the component secure the fastener against unintended rotation for loosening. Stop ribs on the component limit the distance the fastener can be rotated. Main body legs are provided for securing a second component with the subassembly. Cooperating structures of the fastener and the components limit the fastener to rotate only in the lock direction from the unlocked position and in the unlock direction from the locked position.
Claims18
A fastener for securing first and second components to one another in an assembly, said fastener comprising:
- a main head;
- a deflectable arm having a proximal end connected to said main head, said deflectable arm projecting laterally from said main head to a distal end of said deflectable arm, said deflectable arm and said main head defining a deflection space therebetween into which said distal end and said arm are received upon deflection of said deflectable arm;
- a turn tab projecting outwardly from a surface of said main head, said turn tab configured for manual manipulation when turning the fastener;
- a pedestal projecting from a surface of said main head opposite from said turn tab;
- a first deflectable leg projecting from said pedestal and having a ledge defining a first distance from said main head;
- and
- a first main body leg projecting from said pedestal and having an upper surface defining a second distance from said main head, said second distance being greater than said first distance.
A fastener subassembly, comprising:
- a fastener having:
- a main head;
- a deflectable arm having a proximal end connected to said main head, said deflectable arm projecting laterally from said main head to a distal end of said deflectable arm, said deflectable arm and said main head defining a deflection space therebetween into which said distal end and said arm are received upon deflection of said deflectable arm;
- a turn tab projecting outwardly from a surface of said main head, said turn tab configured for manual manipulation when turning the fastener;
- a pedestal projecting from a surface of said head opposite from of said turn tab;
- a first deflectable leg projecting from said pedestal and having a ledge defining a first distance from said main head;
- a flexible head at a proximal end of said pedestal, between said main head and said ledge;
- and
- a first main body leg projecting from said pedestal and having an upper surface defining a second distance from said head, said second distance being greater than said first distance;
- and
- an assembly component defining an assembly component hole extending from an outer surface thereof to an other surface thereof, said outer surface of said assembly component including a lock rib in the path of said deflectable arm upon rotation of said fastener in said hole, said pedestal extending through said hole, said flexible head engaging said outer surface adjacent said hole, and said ledge engaging said other surface adjacent said hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.