Horticulture Fastener

• US 20190320592A1
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: SCHUTTLER, David L., BUROUT, III, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,202,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/006 Labels or label holders specially adapted for plant receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0272 Labels for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/08 Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/14 by strings, straps, chains, or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/206 specially adapted for marking or identifying plants

Abstract

A fastener device adapted for attaching at least one tag (or other identifier) to an object. The fastener device comprises a T-bar component, a paddle component, and a filament component flexibly attached to both the T-bar component on one end and the paddle component on the other end. In some embodiments, the fastener device is deployable via a fastener dispensing device comprising a needle designed to puncture a hole in at least one tag and the object while also inserting the T-bar component through the hole. Once inserted, the paddle component exerts a cantilever spring force against at least one tag holding the tag(s) securely against the object.

Claims

1. A fastener device for attaching at least one tag to at least one object comprising:

a T-bar component;

a filament component; and

a paddle component,

wherein the filament component is flexibly attached to the T-bar component and the paddle component.

2. The fastener device of claim 1, wherein the T-bar component comprises a main bar element and a filament connecting point.

3. The fastener device of claim 2, wherein the filament connecting point is located substantially midway along the main bar element.

4. The fastener device of claim 2, wherein the filament component comprises a first deflecting element.

5. The fastener device of claim 4, wherein the first deflecting element flexibly connects the filament component to T-bar component at the filament connecting point.

6. The fastener device of claim 5, wherein the first deflecting element relaxes to allow the main bar element to become substantially perpendicular to the filament component once the main bar element is substantially inserted.

7. The fastener device of claim 5, wherein the first deflecting element deflects the main bar element substantially parallel to the filament component for insertion through at least one tag and at least one object.

8. The fastener device of claim 4, wherein the filament component further comprises a second deflecting element.

9. The fastener device of claim 8, wherein the second deflecting element flexibly connects a middle leg of the paddle component to the filament component.

10. The fastener device of claim 8, wherein the second deflecting element deflects to force a pair of outer legs to push the at least one tag against at least one object as the main bar element is substantially inserted through at least one tag and at least one object.

11. The fastener device of claim 2, wherein the T-bar component further comprises a rib element affixed to the main bar element.

12. The fastener device of claim 1, wherein the paddle component configured in a substantially M-shaped profile.

13. The fastener device of claim 1, wherein the paddle component comprises the pair of outer legs and a middle leg.

14. The fastener device of claim 13, wherein each of the pair of outer legs extend inward toward the T-bar component.

31. A fastener dispensing device for attaching at least one tag to at least one object using the fastening device of claim 1 comprising:

a feed mechanism for advancing the fastening device; and

a cutting mechanism for separating the individual fastening device from a continuous chain of fastener devices.

33. The fastener dispensing device of claim 31, wherein the object is a container.

34. The fastener dispensing device of claim 31, wherein a contiguous chain of fastener devices is at least 500 fastener devices.

15. A fastener device for attaching at least one tag to at least one object comprising:

a T-bar component comprising a main bar element, a filament connecting point, and a rib element affixed to the main bar element;

a filament component connected to the filament connecting point; and

a paddle component, wherein the paddle component is connected to the filament component.

16. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein each of the pair of outer legs comprise an attachment tab.

17. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the main bar element comprises a pair of geometric end features.

18. The fastener device of claim 17, wherein the attachment tabs and the pairs of geometric end features connect the fastener device to at least one additional fastener devices to form a contiguous chain of fastener devices.

19. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the filament component comprises a first deflecting element and a second deflecting element.

20. The fastener device of claim 19, wherein the first deflecting element and the second deflecting element flexibly connect the filament component to the T-bar component and to the paddle component.

21. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the paddle component comprises a pair of outer legs and a middle leg.

22. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the paddle component is configured in a substantially M-shaped profile.

23. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the fastener device is comprised of plastic.

24. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein the fastener device is comprised of at least one material of polypropylene, nylon, PET, polyurethane, recyclable plastics, bio-based plastics, and biodegradable plastics, PHA, PHB, and PVA materials.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A method for attaching a fastener device comprising:

positioning a fastener device to at least one object wherein the fastener device comprises;

a T-bar component;

a filament component; and

a paddle component;

penetrating the fastener device and at least one object using a hollow needle of a fastener dispensing device; and

ejecting at least part of the fastener device through the hollow needle and out the sharpened tip so that the fastener device is at least partially secured to at least one object.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one object is a container.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

positioning at least one tag between the fastener device and at least one object prior to penetrating the fastener device and at least one object using a hollow needle of a fastener dispensing device.

32. (canceled)