Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging and camming
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-05-29
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging and camming
C292S300000, C411S552000, C411S553000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237970
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastener used to hold together thin sheets or panels of metal or plastic. More particularly, it relates to a simplified form of connector for ready installation that provides a disengageable clamping action between the parts being held together.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
In previous art, disengageable fasteners or latches used to clamp two members, such as pieces of sheet metal together have included a simple handle coupled to a rotating arm that can be swung into a wedge-shaped receptacle to effect a latching engagement. Kitchen cupboard doors have been provided with latches of this type. Such a latching mechanism is externally mounted and has parts that extend outwardly from the pieces being fastened together.
An existing electronic air filter design comprises two outer frames of sheet metal which are closed to enclose trapping media. External clips are presently used as latches to hold the frame together. These clips protrude outwardly from the filter's frame and interfere with the insertion and extraction of the filter from a slot in an air handling unit.
A need exists for a fastener which is substantially non-protruding, or minimally protruding, from surfaces to be coupled together. The fastener should be readily installable and, once installed, should be easily manipulated to effect engagement and disengagement with respect to the members being coupled together. This invention addresses such a need.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one feature of the invention described herein a first carrier member supports a latch core from which protrudes a rotatable elbow. This protruding elbow is dimensioned to fit in one orientation through a perforation in the form of an elongated slot present in a second member that is to be latched to the first member. Upon rotation of the latch core the protruding elbow swings laterally to overlie the side of the slot formed in the second member. The inside surface of the elbow which is positioned for engaging the second member is ramp-like in form so that when the elbow is operated by turning it to overlie the second member, the second member slides up the ramped inside surface of the elbow drawing the second member to press against the first member. The core is provided with a head or flange located on the other side of the first member from the elbow which prevents the core from being pulled-through the opening in the first member. This head, or the end of the core, may also be slotted to enable the core to be turned.
By a further feature of the invention, the first member is of a box-tube construction having perforated outer and inner walls with a cavity formed therebetween. The outer wall is the wall which is more remote from the second member to be coupled to the first member by the latch. Preferable, the latch core lies within the cavity without protruding significantly on the outward side of the outer wall of the first member. The core carries a head or flange that prevents it from being pulled fully through the first member. The latch core in this embodiment is provided with engagement means, preferably in the form of a slot, by which it may be engaged to effect its rotation.
The core may be retained within the first member by a retention means such as a conventional, expandable, C-shaped split lock washer. It may also be retained by interior, resilient retention means, contained within the cavity, that, once inserted into the core-receiving cavity in the first member, expands within the cavity and engages the inner side of the outer wall of the first member. This retention means may optionally be in the form of a split cylindrical sleeve, or may comprise one or more longitudinally extending locking arms that are carried by the core and spring outwardly into the cavity to fix the core in place once the core is inserted within the cavity. These arms may nest against the core within the diameter of the head or flange for ready insertion into the cavity.
In a further variant, the free ends of the arms have protruding tab's that extend beyond the ends of the arms. These tabs extend into the hole through which the core has been passed, and provide access to displace the arms towards the core for removal of the latch in cases where replacement is required.
The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow. These and other features of the invention will be more apparent in view of the drawings and description which follows:
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French David J.
Luu Teri Pham
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