PIN FASTENER AND SYSTEM FOR USE
First Claim
1. A locking fastener for fastening an object by means of an object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the fastener, the fastener comprising:
- (a) an elongated pin having a forward end and a rearward end with a pin head at the rearward end;
(b) a pair of laterally opposed notches formed at a predetermined location along the length of the pin, wherein the portion of the pin between the pair of laterally opposed notches is defined as the lock base;
(c) a forward hole that extends through the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base and one or two rearward holes that extends through the lock base proximal to the rearward end of the lock base;
(d) a wire lock made of spring biased wire that is biased towards a first uncompressed position and is compressible towards a second compressed position, wherein the wire lock has a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the wire lock passes laterally through the forward hole and has two wire arms that extend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rear end of the wire lock and, proximal to the ends of the wire arms are bent inward and terminate in the one or more rearward holes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a locking pin that takes advantage of a simpler manufacturing process, fewer parts to effectively lock the pin onto an object. The locking pin is in one embodiment for fastening an object by means of an object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the pin. The pin comprises an elongated shaft having a forward end and a rearward end with a pinhead at the rearward end. A pair of laterally opposed notches formed at a predetermined location along the length of the shaft. The portion of the shaft between the pair of laterally opposed notches is defined for reference purpose as the lock base. A forward hole and at least one rearward hole that extends through the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base. A wire lock is made of a spring-biased wire that is bendable upon compression and returns to its original shape. The wire lock is received into the forward hole and rearward hole. The wire lock in an uncompressed position has forward facing gradually tapered surface along the wire arms from a first end to a second end and a rearward facing abutment surface.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A locking fastener for fastening an object by means of an object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the fastener, the fastener comprising:
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(a) an elongated pin having a forward end and a rearward end with a pin head at the rearward end; (b) a pair of laterally opposed notches formed at a predetermined location along the length of the pin, wherein the portion of the pin between the pair of laterally opposed notches is defined as the lock base; (c) a forward hole that extends through the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base and one or two rearward holes that extends through the lock base proximal to the rearward end of the lock base; (d) a wire lock made of spring biased wire that is biased towards a first uncompressed position and is compressible towards a second compressed position, wherein the wire lock has a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the wire lock passes laterally through the forward hole and has two wire arms that extend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rear end of the wire lock and, proximal to the ends of the wire arms are bent inward and terminate in the one or more rearward holes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 2. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the front end of the wire lock has a width that is less than the diameter of the pin and (i) in the first uncompressed position the rear end of the wire lock in an uncompressed position is greater than the predetermined object hole diameter to form a forward facing gradually tapered surface along the wire arms from the first end to the second end and a rearward facing abutment surface, (ii) in the second compressed position the rear end has a diameter less than the predetermined object hole diameter.
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8. A process for making a locking fastener configured to fasten an object by means of a object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the fastener, the fastener comprising:
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(a) providing an elongated pin having a forward end and a rearward end with a pinhead at the rearward end; (b) cutting a pair of laterally opposed notches at a predetermined location along the length of the pin to form a lock base between the notches; (c) forming a forward hole through the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base and at least one, rear openings; (d) shaping a wire lock having a front end sized and configured to be received through the hole, wherein the width of the front end is less than the diameter of the pin and greater than the width of the lock base, the wire arms are angled to extend outwardly and rearward to the rear end of the wire lock and then angling the ends of the wire inwardly at an angle generally parallel to the front end of the wire lock to extend the respective ends of the arms towards the opposite side of the wire lock to form an abutment surface; and (e) passing a spring biased wire through the forward hole to position the front end at the front hole and positioning the rear end into the one or more rear openings. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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20. A method of connecting two structural components of a solar panel mounting system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first component of a solar panel racking system having a first assembly hole and a second component of a solar panel racking system having a second assembly hole that is axially alignable with the first assembly hole at a desired point of connection of the first component with the second component; aligning the first assembly hole with the second assembly hole; and inserting a single piece, locking pin through the first and second assembly hole until the locking pin secures the first component to the second component. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification