Locking fastener

• US 5,018,252 A
• Filed: 12/04/1989
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Butler, David O.
• Original Assignee: Butler, David O.
• Inventors: Butler, David O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US07/445,270
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 411/511, 411/439, 411/441, 411/446, 411/451, 411/452, 411/487, 411/508, 403/408.1, 403/388, 403/389, 24/652, 24/453, 24/654, 24/656, 24/573.2
• US Class Current: 24/453
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/00 Nails; Staples surgical staples A61B17/064; manufacture of nails or staples B21G ; drawing-pins, thumb-tacks B43M15/00; railway spikes E01B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/12 with locking-pins or split-pins thrust into holes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45733 and position locking-means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45743 Requiring manual force thereon to interlock or disengage

Abstract

A locking fastener provides an improved fastener for fastenable materials or objects which include sheet-metal, plastics, paper products and wood. The locking fastener is comprised of a first and second portions projecting in spaced relationship from a base portion. The first projecting portion includes a slotted aperture through which a locking pin is retained. In one embodiment the slotted aperture of the first projecting portion includes opposed barbs along the upper and lower edges which interlock with the locking pin providing a one-way action of the locking pin, thus not allowing the removal of the locking pin. The second projecting portion includes a slotted aperture for the receiving of locking pin retained in first projecting portion. The spaced relationship of the first and second projecting portions from the base portion provides an access slot for fastenable materials or objects. The fastenable materials or objects include corresponding slotted apertures with those of the first and second projecting portions, and are inserted into the access slot. The retained locking pin of the first projecting portion is inserted through the apertures of the fastenable materials or objects and into the slotted aperture of the second projecting portion.

Claims

1. A locking fastener for fastening fastenable materials or objects comprising, in combination:

a base portion;

a first and second projecting portion in spaced relationship from said base portion; and

a retained locking pin;

said first projecting portion having an aperture disposed through which said locking pin is retained, a metal insert therein having an aperture with opposed straight, barbs along its upper and lower edges oriented for interlocking engagement with upper and lower surfaces of said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having an aperture disposed for receiving said interlocking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion;

said spaced relationship of said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion from said base portion provides an access slot from said fastenable materials or objects;

whereby said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said aperture of said second projecting portion.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said locking fastener further comprises:

an additional plurality of retained locking pins;

said first projecting portion having additional apertures disposed through which said locking pins are retained, an additional plurality of metal inserts therein having apertures with opposed straight, barbs along its upper and lower edges oriented for interlocking engagement with upper and lower surfaces of said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having additional apertures disposed for receiving said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion;

whereby said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said apertures of said second projecting portion.

2. A locking fastener for fastening fastenable materials or objects comprising, in combination:

a base portion;

a first and second projecting portion projecting in spaced relationship from said base portion; and

a retained locking pin;

a first projecting portion having an aperture disposed through which said locking pin is retained, said aperture includes opposed straight, barbs along its upper and lower edges oriented for interlocking engagement with upper and lower surfaces of said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having an aperture disposed for receiving said locking pin retained in said first projecting portion;

said spaced relationship of said first and second projecting portions from said base portion provides an access slot for said fastenable materials or objects;

whereby said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said aperture of said second projecting portion.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said locking fastener further comprises:

an additional plurality of retained locking pins;

a first projecting portion having additional apertures disposed through which said locking pins are retained,

said apertures includes of said first projecting portion include opposed straight, barbs along its upper and lower edges oriented for interlocking engagement with upper and lower surfaces of said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having additional apertures disposed for receiving said locking pins retained in said first projecting portion;

whereby said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said apertures of said second projecting portion.

3. A locking fastener for fastening fastenable materials or objects comprising, in combination:

a base portion;

a first and second projecting portion projecting in spaced relationship from said base portion; and

a retained locking pin;

said first projecting portion having an aperture disposed through which said locking pin is retained, a first sawtooth portion projecting outwardly projecting teeth, a second sawtooth portion projecting outwardly under said aperture having a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth;

said locking pin includes along its upper surface a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth and along its bottom surface a plurality of straight, downwardly projecting teeth;

said teeth of said first sawtooth portion over said aperture of said first projecting portion and said teeth of said second sawtooth portion under said aperture of said first projecting portion oriented for interlocking engagement with said teeth of said upper surface and said teeth of said lower surface of said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having an aperture for receiving said locking pin retained in said first projecting portion, a first sawtooth portion projecting outwardly over said aperture having a plurality of straight, downwardly projecting teeth, a second sawtooth portion projecting outwardly under said aperture having a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth;

said spaced relationship of said first and second projecting portions provides an access slot for said fastenable materials or objects;

whereby said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said aperture of said second projecting portion.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein said locking fastener further comprises:

an additional plurality of retained locking pins;

said first projecting portion having additional apertures disposed through which said locking pins are retained, a first sawtooth portion projecting outwardly over said apertures of said first projecting portion having a plurality of straight, downwardly projecting teeth, a second sawtooth portion projecting outwardly under said aperture apertures of said first projecting portion having a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth;

said locking pins includes along its upper surface a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth and along its bottom surface a plurality of straight, downwardly projecting teeth;

said teeth of said first sawtooth portion over said apertures of said first projecting portion and said teeth of said second sawtooth portion under said apertures of said first projecting portion oriented for interlocking engagement with said teeth of said upper surface and said teeth of said lower surface of said locking pin retained in said aperture of said first projecting portion;

said second projecting portion having additional apertures for receiving said locking pins retained in said first projecting portion, a first sawtooth portion projecting outwardly over said apertures of said second projecting portion having a plurality of straight, downwardly projecting teeth, a second sawtooth portion projecting outwardly under said apertures having a plurality of straight, upwardly projecting teeth;

whereby said locking pins retained in said apertures of said first projecting portion can be inserted into said apertures of said second projecting portion.