Tee tree fastener

• US 5,039,267 A
• Filed: 02/26/1990
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US07/485,137
• Time in Patent Office: 533 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 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;

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

a plurality of first resilient teeth attached to a side of said shank which is opposite said abutting means, 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 abutting means adapted to abut sides of the slot to prevent rotation of said fastener.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said second angle is less than said first angle.

3. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said first teeth are non-reusable.

4. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said second teeth are reusable.