# US 9,377,135 B2 · Stackable fastener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,377,135 B2 - Document ID: US9377135B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/255,792 - Filed: 2014-04-17 - Published: 2015-10-22 - Granted: 2016-06-28 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-17 - Assignees: Nmc Group, Inc. - Applicants: Nmc Group, Inc. - Inventors: James D. Karls - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9377135B2 ## CPC - F16L 3/222: {having single supports directly connected together} - F16B 19/1081: {fastened by a drive-pin (F16B19/109 takes precedence)} - F16B 21/02: Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) - F16L 3/127: and extending away from the attachment surface - F16B 27/00: Bolts, screws, or nuts formed in integral series but easily separable, particularly for use in automatic machines {(arrangements for feeding screws or nuts in spanners, wrenches or screw-drivers with built-in magazines B25B23/06)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A stackable fastener is provided for mounting to a substrate having a non-threaded hole or for affixing to similar fasteners. The stackable fastener includes a body having a central bore, and a force member rotatable within the body's central bore. In addition, the fastener includes a plurality of fingers which extend axially from the fastener's body. Rotation of the force member causes the fingers to extend radially outward to lock within a substrate hole or within the central bore of a similar stackable fastener. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stackable fastener comprising: a body having an annular shape including a central bore defining a central axis, said bore having a distal end and a proximal end, said bore forming an opening at its proximal end with said central bore being tapered to have a diameter smaller at the bore's proximal end than the bore's distal end; a plurality of flexible fingers extending axially and distally from said body at said bore's distal extremity; a force member within said bore and fingers and rotatable about said body's central axis, said force member forcing said fingers radially outward when said force member is rotated to a first rotational position to push said fingers outward, and said fingers retracting inward when said force member is rotated to a second rotational position to not push said fingers outward in said central bore; and said fingers and bore constructed so that the stackable fastener is stackable upon like stackable fasteners wherein said fingers are sized to slide through a stackable fastener's opening into a stackable fastener's central bore when said force member is positioned in the second rotational position and said fingers are positioned inward, and said fingers are sized to lock within a stackable fastener's central bore when said force member is positioned in the first rotational position and said fingers are positioned outward. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stackable fastener of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of spaces, including a space between each of said plurality of flexible fingers; and said force member having proximal and distal ends with said distal end being constructed as a rotatable cam including a plurality of projections, said projections pushing said fingers radially outward when said force member is rotated to a first rotational position to push said fingers outward, and said projections residing within said spaces when said force member is rotated to a second rotational position to not push said fingers outward. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stackable fastener of claim 1 wherein: said force member is axially slideable within said bore and fingers, said force member pushing said fingers radially outward when said force member is rotated to move said force member axially to said first position to push said fingers outward and said fingers positioned inward when said force member is rotated to move said force member axially to said second position to not push said fingers outward. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stackable fastener of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of spokes radially projecting from said body; a ring concentric with said body; said spokes engaging and radiating radially inward from said ring to engage said body to form a plurality of hollow slots with the periphery of each of said slots being defined by said body, a pair of adjacent spokes and said ring so that said slots form bores permitting the passage of objects. ### Claim 5 A stackable fastener comprising: a body having an annular shape including a central bore defining a central axis, said bore having a distal end and a proximal end, said bore forming an opening at its proximal end with said central bore being tapered to have a diameter smaller at the bore's proximal end than the bore's distal end; a plurality of flexible fingers extending axially and distally from said body at said bore's distal extremity; a plurality of spaces, including a space between each of said plurality of flexible fingers; a force member within said bore and fingers and rotatable about said body's central axis; said force member having proximal and distal ends with said distal end being constructed as a rotatable cam including a plurality of projections, said projections pushing said fingers radially outward when said force member is rotated to a first rotational position to push said fingers outward, and said projections residing within said spaces when said force member is rotated to a second rotational position to not push said fingers outward; and said fingers and tapered bore constructed so that the stackable fastener is stackable upon like stackable fasteners wherein said fingers are sized to slide through a stackable fastener's opening into a stackable fastener's central bore when said force member is positioned in the second rotational position and said fingers are positioned inward, and said fingers are sized to lock within a stackable fastener's central bore when said force member is positioned in the first rotational position and said fingers are positioned outward. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The stackable fastener of claim 5 further comprising: a locking means for locking said force member into the first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The stackable fastener of claim 5 further comprising: a plurality of spokes radially projecting from said body; a ring concentric with said body; said spokes engaging and radiating radially inward from said ring to engage said body to form a plurality of hollow slots with the periphery of each of said slots being defined by said body, a pair of adjacent spokes and said ring so that said slots form bores permitting the passage of objects. ### Claim 8 A stackable fastener comprising: a body having an annular shape including a central bore defining a central axis, said bore having a distal end and a proximal end, said bore forming an opening at its proximal end with said central bore being tapered to have a diameter smaller at the bore's proximal end than the bore's distal end; a plurality of flexible fingers extending axially and distally from said body at said bore's distal extremity; a force member rotatable about said bore's central axis and axially slideable within said bore and fingers, said force member pushing said fingers radially outward when said force member is rotated and axially positioned in a first position to engage said fingers and said fingers positioned inward when said force member is rotated and axially positioned in a second position in said central bore; and said tapered central bore and fingers constructed so that the stackable fastener is stackable upon like stackable fasteners wherein said fingers are sized to slide through a stackable fastener's opening into a stackable fastener's tapered bore when said force member is positioned in said second position and said fingers are positioned inward, and said fingers are sized to lock within a stackable fastener's tapered central bore when said force member is positioned in said first position and said fingers are positioned outward. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stackable fastener of claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of spokes radially projecting from said body; a ring concentric with said body; said spokes engaging and radiating radially inward from said ring to engage said body to form a plurality of hollow slots with the periphery of each of said slots being defined by said body, a pair of adjacent spokes and said ring so that said slots form bores permitting the passage of objects; said spokes engaging and radiating radially inward from said ring to engage said body to form a plurality of hollow slots with the periphery of each of said slots being defined by said body, a pair of adjacent spokes and said ring so that said slots form bores permitting the passage of objects. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The stackable fastener of claim 8 further comprising: a locking means for locking said force member into the first position.