Joints and connections – Biased catch or latch
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2002-01-15
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Biased catch or latch
C024S453000, C403S322100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06338591
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mechanical fasteners, and particularly to spring-biased fasteners removable by access to but one end of the fastener.
Self-locking fasteners providing an axial clamping function upon lateral expansion of spring-biased front end portions of the fasteners are known. One advantage of such fasteners is that they can be inserted into blind openings, i.e., where the front end of the inserted fastener is not accessible, and clamped in place upon the release of spring-biased, laterally extended latching elements. A problem with such fasteners is that, in the absence of access to the sprung latching elements at the fastener front end, they are generally difficult to remove and, when removable, generally require a large removing force.
The present invention is a fastener which can be, with access to but one end of the fastener, easily secured in place and removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fastener having an axis of elongation comprises a pair of side-by-side, axially extending and coextensive cantilevered first rods secured at first ends to an end support for preventing lateral movements of the first rods except by spring flexure of the rods. The end support comprises a first, laterally extending latching surface. The rods terminate in respective oppositely facing detents which, in combination, form a second latching surface axially spaced from the first latching surface and having a lateral extent greater than that of the two side-by-side rods. Preferably, the axial spacing between the two latching surfaces precisely matches the thickness of the objects being fastened together.
A second rod having a first end forming one end of the fastener is slidably mounted through the end support and has a second end including a cam for interaction with cam surfaces on the two first rods for causing flexure of the two first rods. Either direction movement of the second rod causes flexure of the two rods in directions for reducing the lateral extent of the two detents.
In use, the detent end of the fastener is axially aligned with and pressed into an opening extending entirely through objects to be secured together. Initially, the lateral extent of the second latching surface provided by the two laterally extending detents is greater than the diameter of the opening and prevents entry of the leading end of the fastener into the opening.
With continued axially inward pressure on the accessible first end of the second rod and attendant axial movement of the second rod cam relative to the cam surfaces on the first rods, flexure of the first rods occurs for reducing the lateral extent of the two detents until the detents pass into and through the opening. Once the detents are through the opening, the flexed first rods force the detents apart for locking the fastener in place.
For removing the fastener, the second end of the second rod is pulled axially outwardly for, initially, flexing the two first rods in directions for reducing the lateral extent of the two detents to a size less than the diameter of the opening through the fastened together objects. Continued outward pulling on the second rod then pulls the fastener through the opening for easy removal of the fastener.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3368182 (1968-02-01), Culver
patent: 3422502 (1969-01-01), McCarthy
patent: 3574367 (1971-04-01), Jankowski
patent: 3817005 (1974-06-01), Rannfeld
patent: 5464298 (1995-11-01), Schomakers
patent: 5725324 (1998-03-01), Pavelski
patent: 5803646 (1998-09-01), Weihrauch
Browne Lynne H.
Epstein Michael Y.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Walsh John B.
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