FASTENER PROVIDED WITH A SNAP-ENGAGEMENT FOOT FOR THRUSTING THROUGH A HOLE IN A PANEL

• US 20090022567A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITW de France S.A.S. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITW de France S.A.S. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Huet, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/363
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance

Abstract

The fastener comprises a head and a snap-engagement foot comprising a rigid core and curved flexible wings. Each wing has a convex surface bordered by said core, by a longitudinal edge surface and by a transverse edge surface. Each transverse edge surface has, viewed by an observer viewing said convex surface, a V-shape of which the point, which is directed outwardly, is located at said inflection plane. The core is a hub about which at least three said wings are regularly spaced. Each wing comprises a corner delimited by said longitudinal edge surface and by a shoulder and a web less thick than the corner, disposed between the hub and the shoulder. Each wing is adapted to flex by elastic deformation towards the convex surface of the neighboring wing.

Claims

1. A fastener provided with a head and a snap-engagement foot for thrusting through a hole in a panel, said foot comprising a rigid cored, which extends from said heads, and curved flexible wings, each said wing having a convex surface bordered by said core, by a longitudinal edge surface and by a transverse edge surface facing said head, said foot tapering respectively towards the free end of said core Band towards said transverse edge surfaces on each side of an inflection plane that is transversely oriented to said core, characterized in that each said longitudinal edge surface has, viewed by an observer viewing said convex surface, a V-shape of which the point, which is directed outwardly, is located at said inflection plane, said core being a hub about which at least three said wings are regularly spaced, each said wing comprising a corner delimited by said longitudinal edge surface on each side of said inflection plane and by a shoulder, said shoulder and the surface of the corner situated between said longitudinal edge surface and said shoulder being on the opposite side from said convex surface, each said wing also comprising a web less thick than said corner, disposed between said hub and said shoulder, each said wing being adapted, in order to allow the snap engagement of said foot in said hole, to flex by elastic deformation towards the convex surface of the neighboring wing situated on the same side as said shoulder.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal edge surface comprises on each side of said inflection plane a branch having, on said corner, a convergent outline and a pointed end at said inflection plane.

3. A fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that said branch situated in the introductory part that is situated between said free end and said inflection planed, comprises a first branch portion belonging to said web and a second branch portion belonging to said corner which has a junction zone with said convex surface, said junction zone being situated on a locus continuous with said first branch portion.

4. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that for each said wing, said transverse edge surface extends between said hub and said shoulder, facing said head.

5. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal edge surface comprises in the introductory part of each said wing, situated between said free end and said inflection plane, a branch that is longer than the branch situated in the retaining part of that wing, situated between said inflection plane and said transverse edge surface of that wing.

6. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said shoulder is rectilinear.

7. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said web is of constant thickness.

8. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said web has a greater thickness towards said transverse edge surface than towards said free end.

9. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said wings are each of the same form.

10. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises six said wings.