Fastener
United States Patent 3928896
A device for releasably fastening together diverse portions of material, comprising a male member having an enlarged portion, said male member being partially inserted within a slotted, spring containing female member. After such insertion, and relative movement between said members, said enlarged portion is prevented from being removed from said slotted portion.
US Patent References:
Hose supporter
Johnstone - March 1974 - 1486092
Snap fastener
De Vries - November 1937 - 2100635
One-way detachable snap fastener
Huelster - May 1948 - 2441573
Snap fastener device
Isaac et al. - February 1950 - 2497305
Pair button fastening
Matsumoto - March 1950 - 2500694
Hose supporter
Johnstone - March 1974 - 1486092
Snap fastener
De Vries - November 1937 - 2100635
One-way detachable snap fastener
Huelster - May 1948 - 2441573
Snap fastener device
Isaac et al. - February 1950 - 2497305
Pair button fastening
Matsumoto - March 1950 - 2500694
Application Number:
05/533934
Publication Date:
12/30/1975
Filing Date:
12/18/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
24/113R, 24/673
International Classes:
A44B17/00; A44B17/00
Field of Search:
24/217W,94,113MP,73HS,224
Primary Examiner:
Wolfe, Robert L.
Assistant Examiner:
Troutman D. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Dickerson, Robert W. B.
Claims:
I claim
1. A positive lock device for fastening together adjacent sections of material, said device comprising:
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said male and female portions are affixed to said portions of said material with said slot nearer said male portion than said enlarged aperture portion.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said female portion comprises a plate portion containing said aperture and a chamber forming member engaged with said plate member, said chamber forming member including said affixing means, said affixing means being deformable.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said spring means legs include curved means for separating said female plate portion from said female chamber forming member.
1. A positive lock device for fastening together adjacent sections of material, said device comprising:
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said male and female portions are affixed to said portions of said material with said slot nearer said male portion than said enlarged aperture portion.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said female portion comprises a plate portion containing said aperture and a chamber forming member engaged with said plate member, said chamber forming member including said affixing means, said affixing means being deformable.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said spring means legs include curved means for separating said female plate portion from said female chamber forming member.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It goes without saying that fasteners have long been used to secure together separate pieces of material, or separate parts of the same material. Examples include the noble button, zippers, and other similar devices. When fastening together heavier materials, and those subject to greater stresses than that encountered by clothing, for example, such prior devices would normally be insufficient. Typical uses would be for tarps, tenting, flap closures, as well as various items of sporting and marine equipment. Another need of such equipment is that it be positively locking, i.e., that the normally encountered stresses not tend to separate the component parts. Although a button along with its hole, may be said to possess such feature, its frailty, as mentioned, renders it unsatisfactory. The device of this invention overcomes the above two fold problems, and would be subject to economical fabrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention includes two basic components, namely (a) a male portion, deemed a mushroom because of its appearance, and a (b) female portion, deemed a case. Each of such components would be fixed to diverse pieces of material or fabric. The male portion includes a stem and an enlargement, such as a disc. The female portion, although having other sub-components, includes, a plate with an enlarged opening and a relatively narrow slot extending therefrom. Adjacent such plate is a spring device, having a restricted passageway. The enlargement of the male portion may be inserted through said female portions enlarged opening, and the stem pulled through the springs restricted passageway and into said narrow slot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are vertical sections through the male portion, at various time frames of its assembly to a piece of fabric;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a modified male portion;
FIG. 3 is a perspective of the base plate component of the case;
FIG. 4 is a perspective of the case's chamber, and 4a is a vertical section of the base plate fixed to the chamber;
FIG. 5 is a perspective of the connector plate, and FIG. 5a is a vertical section of the connector plate fixed to the chamber;
FIGS. 6a and 6b are, respectively, horizontal and vertical sections through the chamber, showing the spring positioned therein; and
FIG. 7 is a horizontal section through the chamber, showing the spring in place, and male portion in locked position.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Looking at the drawings, where like parts have like numerals, throughout, consider first the mushroom portion 10 (male member) of FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c. Said member includes an enlargement, or disc portion 11, at one end of a stem or rod 12. Tabs or lugs 13 are fixed to or extend from the other end of stem 12. Grommets 14 may be used to fix member 10 to a section or piece of fabric 15, as depicted in sequential FIGS. 1b and 1c. After positioning the grommets on opposite sides of the fabric, tabs 13 would be crimped to fix the male member to the fabric. FIG. 2 depicts an alternative design of the male member. There, discs 16 and 17 are fixed at opposite ends of stem 18. The fabric, not shown, would be fixed, as by crimping means, not shown, between disc 17 and a counterpart disc 19. This would leave disc 16 available, like member 11 of the previous Figures.
The case portion (female member) of the invention, includes four sub components, i.e., a base, chamber portion, spring, and connector.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, the base 20. Such member includes plate portion 21, having an annular rim 22 depending therefrom. The platform portion has a keyhole configured aperture therethrough, such aperture having a slot portion 23 connected to an enlarged, more circular portion 24.
Chamber member 30, see FIGS. 4 and 4a, also includes a plate portion 31, a continuous wall 32 extending therefrom, and a substantially annular lip 33 depending from the edge of wall 32 opposite its linkage with plate 31. Extending from plate 31, in a direction opposite from wall 32, are a plurality of deformable members 34. These latter members may be tube configured, tabs or any other deformable form for properly performing their function. As illustrated, a chamber 35 is formed intermediate plates 21 and 31 for receiving spring member 40. Such spring is substantially U-shaped, with legs 41, 42, such legs being bent around themselves, forming return legs 43, 44. Such return legs are upwardly curved at 45, 46 (see FIG. 6b), and the tips, at 47, 48, form a restricted gate or orifice. Upwardly curved portions 45, 46 abut plate 31 of chamber member 30, and, tend to prevent slippage or movement of said spring. The base of the "U" may also be upwardly curved, (not shown) to provide 3-point support.
The connector member 50 includes a central plate portion 51, with apertures 52 therethrough for receiving deformable members 34 therethrough. Said connector also includes rim 53 depending from the outer periphery of plate 51. Obviously, the case portion, comprised of members 20, 30, 40 and 50 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 5a. A section of fabric 54 is positioned intermediate plates 31, 51, the connector 50 receiving deformable members 34 of the chamber portion 30, and said members 34 crimped over said connector 50, to fix the entire case (female member) to such material.
In final assembly and usage, the male member 10 would be fixed to a first fabric portion, probably near its edge. The case portion members 20, 30, 40 and 50, would be fixed to the facing surface of an adjacent fabric portion sought to be releasably joined to said first fabric portion. The alignment of such case portion would be such that the enlarged portion 24 of the keyhole opening through plate 21 would be further removed from the male member 10 than would be the restricted slot 23. To cause fastening, disc 11 of male member 10 would be passed through enlarged opening 24 of base 20, and the entire female portion moved away from the male portion. Thus, the male portion, including disc 11 and stem 12 would pass through the restricted opening formed by tips 47, 48 of spring 40. Narrow slot or channel 23 would prevent removal of disc therethrough. Also, the natural stresses encountered by the joined sections of fabric, i.e., those tending to separate them, would tend to cause the male portion to be more firmly seated, rather than to pass through the restricted spring orifice and out of enlargement 24, thus the positive lock feature.
Although limited embodiments have been described, it should be obvious that numerous modifications would be possible by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited by the following claims.
It goes without saying that fasteners have long been used to secure together separate pieces of material, or separate parts of the same material. Examples include the noble button, zippers, and other similar devices. When fastening together heavier materials, and those subject to greater stresses than that encountered by clothing, for example, such prior devices would normally be insufficient. Typical uses would be for tarps, tenting, flap closures, as well as various items of sporting and marine equipment. Another need of such equipment is that it be positively locking, i.e., that the normally encountered stresses not tend to separate the component parts. Although a button along with its hole, may be said to possess such feature, its frailty, as mentioned, renders it unsatisfactory. The device of this invention overcomes the above two fold problems, and would be subject to economical fabrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention includes two basic components, namely (a) a male portion, deemed a mushroom because of its appearance, and a (b) female portion, deemed a case. Each of such components would be fixed to diverse pieces of material or fabric. The male portion includes a stem and an enlargement, such as a disc. The female portion, although having other sub-components, includes, a plate with an enlarged opening and a relatively narrow slot extending therefrom. Adjacent such plate is a spring device, having a restricted passageway. The enlargement of the male portion may be inserted through said female portions enlarged opening, and the stem pulled through the springs restricted passageway and into said narrow slot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are vertical sections through the male portion, at various time frames of its assembly to a piece of fabric;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a modified male portion;
FIG. 3 is a perspective of the base plate component of the case;
FIG. 4 is a perspective of the case's chamber, and 4a is a vertical section of the base plate fixed to the chamber;
FIG. 5 is a perspective of the connector plate, and FIG. 5a is a vertical section of the connector plate fixed to the chamber;
FIGS. 6a and 6b are, respectively, horizontal and vertical sections through the chamber, showing the spring positioned therein; and
FIG. 7 is a horizontal section through the chamber, showing the spring in place, and male portion in locked position.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Looking at the drawings, where like parts have like numerals, throughout, consider first the mushroom portion 10 (male member) of FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c. Said member includes an enlargement, or disc portion 11, at one end of a stem or rod 12. Tabs or lugs 13 are fixed to or extend from the other end of stem 12. Grommets 14 may be used to fix member 10 to a section or piece of fabric 15, as depicted in sequential FIGS. 1b and 1c. After positioning the grommets on opposite sides of the fabric, tabs 13 would be crimped to fix the male member to the fabric. FIG. 2 depicts an alternative design of the male member. There, discs 16 and 17 are fixed at opposite ends of stem 18. The fabric, not shown, would be fixed, as by crimping means, not shown, between disc 17 and a counterpart disc 19. This would leave disc 16 available, like member 11 of the previous Figures.
The case portion (female member) of the invention, includes four sub components, i.e., a base, chamber portion, spring, and connector.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, the base 20. Such member includes plate portion 21, having an annular rim 22 depending therefrom. The platform portion has a keyhole configured aperture therethrough, such aperture having a slot portion 23 connected to an enlarged, more circular portion 24.
Chamber member 30, see FIGS. 4 and 4a, also includes a plate portion 31, a continuous wall 32 extending therefrom, and a substantially annular lip 33 depending from the edge of wall 32 opposite its linkage with plate 31. Extending from plate 31, in a direction opposite from wall 32, are a plurality of deformable members 34. These latter members may be tube configured, tabs or any other deformable form for properly performing their function. As illustrated, a chamber 35 is formed intermediate plates 21 and 31 for receiving spring member 40. Such spring is substantially U-shaped, with legs 41, 42, such legs being bent around themselves, forming return legs 43, 44. Such return legs are upwardly curved at 45, 46 (see FIG. 6b), and the tips, at 47, 48, form a restricted gate or orifice. Upwardly curved portions 45, 46 abut plate 31 of chamber member 30, and, tend to prevent slippage or movement of said spring. The base of the "U" may also be upwardly curved, (not shown) to provide 3-point support.
The connector member 50 includes a central plate portion 51, with apertures 52 therethrough for receiving deformable members 34 therethrough. Said connector also includes rim 53 depending from the outer periphery of plate 51. Obviously, the case portion, comprised of members 20, 30, 40 and 50 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 5a. A section of fabric 54 is positioned intermediate plates 31, 51, the connector 50 receiving deformable members 34 of the chamber portion 30, and said members 34 crimped over said connector 50, to fix the entire case (female member) to such material.
In final assembly and usage, the male member 10 would be fixed to a first fabric portion, probably near its edge. The case portion members 20, 30, 40 and 50, would be fixed to the facing surface of an adjacent fabric portion sought to be releasably joined to said first fabric portion. The alignment of such case portion would be such that the enlarged portion 24 of the keyhole opening through plate 21 would be further removed from the male member 10 than would be the restricted slot 23. To cause fastening, disc 11 of male member 10 would be passed through enlarged opening 24 of base 20, and the entire female portion moved away from the male portion. Thus, the male portion, including disc 11 and stem 12 would pass through the restricted opening formed by tips 47, 48 of spring 40. Narrow slot or channel 23 would prevent removal of disc therethrough. Also, the natural stresses encountered by the joined sections of fabric, i.e., those tending to separate them, would tend to cause the male portion to be more firmly seated, rather than to pass through the restricted spring orifice and out of enlargement 24, thus the positive lock feature.
Although limited embodiments have been described, it should be obvious that numerous modifications would be possible by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited by the following claims.