Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-11
2001-12-04
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
C081S302000, C081S426500, C029S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324741
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally pertains to fasteners. More particular, the present invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for removing fasteners.
2. Discussion
Various types of fasteners are used for securing first and second members such as panels. One known type of fastener A is illustrated in the prior art view of FIG.
1
. As shown, the fastener A is fixedly attached to a first panel B and resiliently received within an aperture C defined by a second panel D. In one exemplary use, the first panel is a body side molding B for a motor vehicle and the second panel is a sheet metal panel D of the motor vehicle.
In a conventional form, the fastener A includes a main body portion E and a retaining portion F. The main body portion E is generally T-shaped and includes an upper segment G secured to the first panel B by heat staking or through any other technique well known in the art. A stem H of the main body portion E extends through an aperture I in the first panel B and abuts the second panel D.
The retaining portion E downwardly extends through the aperture C in the second panel D and is generally W-shaped, including a pair of outer legs J and a center leg K. The center leg K downwardly extends from the main body portion E. The outer legs J each upwardly extend from a lower end of the center leg K. The upper ends of the outer legs J extend through the aperture C and are normally biased away from the center leg K. During insertion of the retaining portion F through the aperture C, each of the outer legs J is formed to include a flange or step L which abuts a lower surface of the second panel D and normally prevents withdrawal of the retaining portion F from the aperture C.
Fasteners of the type described above with reference to
FIG. 1
have proven to be satisfactory for various applications. However, these fasteners are often very difficult to remove. Thus, a need remains in the art for a method and apparatus which can more easily remove fasteners of this type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which can more easily remove fasteners of the type discussed above.
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for quickly and easily removing a fastener which normally resiliently functions to secure first and second panels.
In one form, the present invention provides an apparatus for removing a fastener securing a first panel and a second panel. The fastener includes a retaining portion extending substantially through an aperture in the second panel. The retaining portion has a pair of resilient legs. Each resilient leg has a free end. The apparatus includes a main body portion defining a slot. The slot has an open end and a closed end. The slot preferably tapers from the open end to the closed end. The slot is adapted to compress the free ends of the resilient legs together in response to translation of the fastener from the open end toward the closed end.
In another form, the present invention provides a method for removing a fastener securing a first panel and a second panel. The fastener includes a retaining portion extending substantially through an aperture in the second panel. The retaining portion has a pair of resilient legs. Each resilient leg includes a free end. The method generally includes the steps of:
providing a tool having a tapered slot;
inserting the tool between the first and second panels;
receiving the fastener within the tapered slot;
compressing the free ends of the fastener together; and
extracting the retaining portion from the aperture.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4658489 (1987-03-01), Johnston
patent: 4787236 (1988-11-01), West
patent: 5546625 (1996-08-01), Mealey
patent: 5611519 (1997-03-01), Garcia
patent: 6023833 (2000-02-01), Jacobmeier
Bacon, Jr. Edwin W.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Hail III Joseph J.
Shanley Daniel
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