Tee tree fastener

• US 4,938,645 A
• Filed: 05/30/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Phillips Plastics Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wollar, Burnell J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US07/358,898
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 411/508, 411/510, 411/509, 411/904, 411/908, 411/909, 411/907, 411/913, 411/452, 411/453, 411/339, 411/411, 411/417, 411/420, 411/392, 411/396, 411/447, 24/614, 24/453, 24/297, 24/625
• US Class Current: 411/508
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/08 in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part F16B21/065, F16B21/125, F16B21/165, F16B37/043 take precedence; wall-dowels F16B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• 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

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position includes an elongate shank, a head member which is integral with an upper portion of the shank, an elongate rail member integral with and substantially parallel to the shank, the rail member having a substantially tee-shaped cross section, a plurality of non-reusable resilient teeth attached to a side of the shank which is opposite the rail member and a plurality of reusable teeth attached to second and third sides of the shank. The non-reusable teeth are angled toward the head member at a first angle, and the reusable teeth are angled toward the head member at a second angle which is less than the first angle. When inserted into a slotted member so that the two sets of reusable teeth engage the sides of the slot, the device acts as a reusable fastener. When inserted so that the elongate rail member and non-reusable teeth contact edges of the slot, the device acts as a non-reusable fastener. An additional function of the rail member is than it constrains the fastener against rotation with respect to a slot in which it is inserted.

Claims

1. A fastener of the type which is adapted for joining at least two members together, comprising:

shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice in a first member and into a slot in a second member;

head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member;

means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, said abutting means having at least two flat surfaces adapted for continuously contacting a slot wall, said surfaces being oriented substantially perpendicular to each other thereby preventing rotation of said fastener relative to said slot once it has been inserted into the slot regardless of the initial orientation of said fastener relative to said slot; and

means integral with said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member, whereby the two members may be securely fastened, and wherein no possibility exists of said fastener rotating with respect to the slot.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said resilient engaging means comprises reusable means on a first side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot, and non-reusable means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot.

3. A fastener according to claim 1, further comprising second head means integral with said shank means, which is adapted for engaging a third member, whereby the third member is secured to the first and second members.

4. A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a first fastening position or a second fastening position, comprising:

an elongate shank;

a head member which is integral with an upper portion of said shank;

an elongate rail member integral with and substantially parallel to said shank, said rail member having a substantially T-shaped cross-section;

a plurality of first resilient teeth attached to a side of said shank which is opposite said rail member, said teeth being angled toward said head member at a first angle; and

a plurality of second teeth attached to second and third sides of said shank which are substantially perpendicular to said first side, said second teeth being angled toward said head member at a second angle whereby said fastener is adapted to be inserted into a slot, electively, in either a first fastening orientation or a second fastening orientation, with said rail member adapted to abut sides of the slot to prevent rotation of said fastener.

5. A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said second angle is less than said first angle.

6. A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said first teeth are non-reusable.

7. A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said second teeth are reusable.

8. A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising:

shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in the second member;

head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member;

first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot;

second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions; and

means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, said abutting means comprising a T-shaped rail extending from said shank means and having a side edge, a top edge and a lower edge, said top edge adapted to engage a first slot wall, and said lower edge adapted to engage a second slot wall when said fastener is in the first rotational position, whereby said fastener is prevented from rotating relative to the slot.

9. A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising:

shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in a second member, said shank means including a tip portion having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross-section;

head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member;

first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means, which are adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot; and

second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions.

10. A fastener of the type which is adapted for joining at least two members together, comprising:

shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice in a first member and into a slot in a second member, said shank means having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross section;

head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member;

means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, thereby preventing rotation of said fastener relative to said slot once it has been inserted into the slot; and

means integral with said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member, whereby the two members may be securely fastened, and wherein no possibility exists of said fastener rotating with respect to the slot.