Quarter turn fastener

• US 4,467,987 A
• Filed: 02/04/1982
• Issued: 08/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Small, Edith M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schultz, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/345,947
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 248/68 R, 248/73, 248/74 A, 248/74 B, 248/239, 24/221 R, 24/221 A, 24/221 K
• US Class Current: 248/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/223 each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes F16L3/23, F16L3/237 take precedence

Abstract

An integral quarter turn plastic fastener is provided for insertion beneath the floor of an automobile. Retainers are provided on the fastener for receipt and retention of fluid lines, such as fuel lines and brake lines, of different sizes. The fastener can be installed in only one position to insure proper orientation of the retainers.

Claims

1. The combination of a rotatably blade installable integral fastener for support of at least one fluid line retaining means thereon and an aperture formed in a panel, said fastener including a restricted neck adjoining a body means and adapted to extend through said aperture, an enlargement on said neck engaging the remote side of said panel to hold said fastener in the installed position on said panel, said neck and said aperture being shaped to permit limited rotatable movement of said fastener during installation to position said retaining means in a predetermined manner, and panel engaging means for accommodating panels of different thicknesses comprising cam surfaces, said fastener being constructed of resilient material.

2. A fastener as set forth in claim 1 and further including slot means enhancing yieldability of said resilient fastener.

3. The combination of a fastener for installation in an aperture of a panel where said aperture comprises a rectangular portion and a contiguous nose portion, and where said fastener comprises body means having fluid line retaining means, a restricted neck adjoining said body means and an enlargement extending from said neck for engaging the remote side of said panel to hold said fastener in an installed position on said panel, the cross section of said enlargement having the same shape as said aperture with slightly smaller size, said neck including means for permitting insertion in only one direction during installation to angularly position said retaining means in a predetermined orientation relative to said panel.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the neck comprises a lozenge-shaped cross sectional area being defined by arcuate segments concentric with the center point of said rectangular portion of said aperture and right-angled abutment parts extending from the ends of said arcuate portions, the distance between diagonally opposite segments of said abutment parts being slightly less than the distance between the two parallel sides of said rectangular portion, whereby when said fastener is rotated in said one direction said diagonally opposite segments of said abutment parts engage against the sides of said two parallel sides of said rectangular portion.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said enlargement is constructed of resilient material includes cam surfaces for facilitating insertion of said fastener into said aperture.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said resilient enlargement includes slot means to enhance its yieldability.

7. The combination of claim 3 further including shielding means surrounding said neck and engaging said panel to seal said aperture.