Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Trim molding fastener – Resilient metal type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-07
2004-04-13
Sakran, Victor (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Trim molding fastener
Resilient metal type
C024S289000, C024S293000, C024S458000, C024S517000, C411S508000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06718599
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to spring fasteners characterized by a structure having a cavity in which an extension or rib of a first part, such as a plastic panel for example, may be engaged, and they are also suitable to be engaged reversibly in a slot of second part, such as a metal sheet or the frame of a car for example. The invention also pertains an assembly of the first and the second part as connected to each other through the fastener, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of fasteners have been used in the past for securing one object on another object, as for example, securing an article such as for example a plastic sheet on a metal or other rigid plastic sheet. However, the fasteners of the type, which are improved by the advances of the present invention, and being used presently, have a rather low ratio of insertion force to removal force. In other words, they require considerable force to be inserted into a slot in order to provide adequate removal resistance in order to be removed from the slot. This is ergonomically inferior performance, and the operators may suffer miscellaneous ailments, while productivity is also considerably undermined.
Examples of conventional fasteners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,714 (Smith); U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,319 (Smith); U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,158 (Gronau et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,789 (Fisher et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,611 (Murata); U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,280 (Gagliardi); U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,592 (Doerfling); U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,475 (Bien); U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,622 (Ohelke); U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,170 (Schnabl); U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,652 (Kelly et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,789 (Leitner); U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,643 (Kindell); U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,129 (Holton); U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,948 (Parkin); U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,971 (Bedford, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,883 (Tinnerman); U.S. Pat. No. 2,329,688 (Bedford, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,656 (Murphy), among others.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,019 (Fisher) provides fasteners which can only be permanently installed into a slot; they can only be inserted but not extracted without damage to parts of the fastener. The major engagement is performed by spring strips, while frictional portions of the fastener pass through the slot with at most slight compression, and immediately after the insertion of the fastener they are located in slightly spaced or barely contacting relation with the edges of the slot. They are only activated for engagement after the insertion of a bolt into a hole at the base plate. Thus, the profound effect of the increased removal to insertion ratio (explained in detail hereinbelow) is not recognized, mentioned, or implied. Thus, the intentionally provided distance of the frictional portions away from the edges of the slot by Fisher, during insertion and before use of the bolt, teaches actually away from the instant invention, which recognizes and takes full advantage of the increased removal to insertion ratio by an engagement region having a hindrance portion. As a matter of fact, if the engagement surfaces of the instant invention were located in slightly spaced or barely contacting relation with the edges of the slot, no engagement at all would take place upon insertion of the fastener of this invention into the slot.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,837 (Wisniewski) describes a spring fastener comprising bulbous and outwardly projecting portions, which assist in preventing withdrawal of the clip and associated molding from an aperture of a vehicle frame. However, “bulbous projections” are necessarily voluminous, take most of the space between the “reverse bents”, and unless they are manufactured within tight tolerances with regard to the thickness of the frame, the “base plates” do not sit on the frame (see also the Figures), rendering the structure unstable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,203,240 B1 (Hironaka et al.), 5,129,768 (Hoyle et al.), 5,092,550 (Bettini), 4,981,310 (Belissaire), 4,712,341 (Harris, Jr. et al.), 4,595,325 (Moran et al.), 4,431,355 (Junemann), 4,133,246 (Small), and 2,424,757 (F. Klump, Jr.) are directed to plastic or metal fasteners which are designed to be just inserted into the slot of a panel, but not extracted without damage to the fastener (if such extraction would be attempted from the front side; the side from which the fastener is inserted into the panel, since the back part of the panel is not reachable in the cases, wherein such types of fasteners are used).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As aforementioned, this invention relates to spring fasteners characterized by a structure having a cavity in which the rib of a first part, such as a plastic panel for example, may be engaged, and they are also suitable to be engaged reversibly in a slot of second part, such as a metal sheet or the frame of a car for example. The invention also pertains an assembly of the first and the second part as connected to each other through the fastener, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies.
More particularly, the invention pertains a spring fastener comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side connected to the second side thereby forming a U-shaped structure having a cavity between the first side and the second side, a bottom portion wherein the first side and the second side are connected, and a top portion, the first side comprising first barbs having first front ends, and a first engagement spring, the first engagement spring connected to the first side in the vicinity of the bottom portion, the second side comprising second barbs second front ends, and a second engagement spring, the second engagement spring connected to the second side in the vicinity of the bottom portion, each of the first and second engagement springs having a recess and a free end in the vicinity of the top portion, each spring also comprising a peak and an engagement region with a hindrance portion between the recess and the peak, the hindrance portion providing increased removal force, when the fastener is pulled by a rib of a first part engaged to the first and second barbs, after the fastener has been inserted into a slot of a second part, the slot having a slot width and edges on which edges the engagement region is engaged, the increased removal force being due to the hindrance portion, and wherein the fastener can be extracted when pulled by the rib without damage to said fastener.
This invention further pertains an assembly comprising:
a spring fastener comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side connected to the second side thereby forming a U-shaped structure having a cavity between the first side and the second side, a bottom portion wherein the first side and the second side are connected, and a top portion, the first side comprising first barbs having first front ends, and a first engagement spring, the first engagement spring connected to the first side in the vicinity of the bottom portion, the second side comprising second barbs second front ends, and a second engagement spring, the second engagement spring connected to the second side in the vicinity of the bottom portion, each of the first and second engagement springs having a recess and a free end in the vicinity of the top portion, each spring also comprising a peak and an engagement region with a hindrance portion between the recess and the peak;
a first part comprising a rib inserted into the cavity of the spring fastener and engaged to the first and second barbs; and
a second part comprising a slot, the slot having a width and edges, the fastener being disposed in the slot in a manner that the edges of said slot are engaged to the engagement regions of the spring fastener;
with the requirement that by pulling the rib, the fastener is extracted from the slot without damage to the fastener, and with a higher force than a force required in the absence of the hindrance portion.
In addition, this invention is related to a vehicle which comprises an assembly, the assembly comprising vehicle comprising an assembly
Clemens Paul Lester
Conway Lawrence John
Dickinson Daniel James
Ducato Richard H.
Fleydervish Mark
Sakran Victor
Termax Corporation
Vassiliou E.
LandOfFree
Spring fastener with ergonomically balanced removal to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Spring fastener with ergonomically balanced removal to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spring fastener with ergonomically balanced removal to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3189434