Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Having gripping member formed from – biased by – or mounted on...
Patent
1994-12-12
1996-11-12
Cuomo, Peter M.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Having gripping member formed from, biased by, or mounted on...
248 742, 2483165, 24487, F16B 700, F16L 300
Patent
active
055727760
ABSTRACT:
A snap-action fastener suitable for joining two or more members using automated or manual assembly techniques. The fastener includes a pair of legs spaced apart and having complementary ends, with each of the legs being formed so as to be resilient in bending. Flexibly attached to the complementary ends of the legs are first and second arms, respectively. The arms are attached to the legs so as to form first and second hinges, respectively. The arms can be attached to the complementary ends at a midpoint or an end of each arm. Furthermore, the arms are flexibly attached to each other so as to form a third hinge intermediate the first and second hinges. To generate the desired snap-action, the combined lengths of the arms between the complementary ends of the legs is greater than the distance between the complementary ends, such that the snap-action occurs during operation of the fastener between a release position and a fastening position. The fastener further includes a coupling member which is specifically configured so as to be operatively associated with the arms. In particular, the coupling member is configured to secure a first member to a second member when the first member is interconnected with the legs and the fastener is in the fastening position. The above structure provides a bi-stable mechanism which is capable of variations for tailoring the fastener to a variety of applications.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3512227 (1970-05-01), Krawagna
patent: 4612680 (1986-09-01), Daiguji
patent: 4763390 (1988-08-01), Rooz
patent: 4955574 (1990-09-01), Freier
patent: 5230496 (1993-07-01), Shillington et al.
patent: 5277387 (1994-01-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5312081 (1994-05-01), Martin
patent: 5414911 (1995-05-01), Adams
Igram Dale J.
Murphy Morgan D.
Cuomo Peter M.
Delco Electronics Corporation
Funke Jimmy L.
Sandy Robert J.
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