Quarter turn fastener

• US 5,368,427 A
• Filed: 02/08/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Pfaffinger, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US08/014,603
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 411/553, 411/552, 411/551, 411/550, 411/549, 411/349, 24/591, 24/593, 24/595, 24/597, 24/703.1
• US Class Current: 411/553
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/04 with bayonet catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/54 having projection rotatably connected to its member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/56 And position locking-means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45089 Sliding or rotating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/49 Fastener destructively secured by reshaping distortion force [e.g., ductile fastener]

Abstract

A fastening arrangement is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture intersecting the first and second surfaces, a second member having a first surface for contacting the first member, and an aperture for registration with the first member aperture. The second member also has a second surface with a ramp generally opposite the first surface, and the second member second surface has two arms. A pin having a midportion with a first surface with a ramp for engagement with the ramp of the second member second surface is also provided. The pin also has projecting from the midportion a lock wing and on a side of the midportion opposite the lock wing a thumb tab. To secure the first and second members together, the pin lock wing is projected through the apertures of the first and second members, and an angular relocation of the pin causes the lock wing to secure itself against the first surface of the first member.

Claims

1. A fastening arrangement of a first member connected with a second member comprising:

a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture intersecting the first and second surfaces;

a second member having a first surface for contact with the first member second surface, the second member having an aperture intersecting with the first surface for registration with the aperture of the first member, the second member also having a second surface generally opposite the first surface with a ramp; and

the second member second surface having at least two arms;

a pin having a midportion with a first surface with a ramp for engagement with the ramp of the second member second .surface, the pin also having on the end of the pin adjacent the first member projecting from the midportion a lock wing, and the pin having on a side of the midportion opposite the lock wing a torsional force receptive surface to facilitate the importation of torsional force to the pin to achieve angular positional relocation of the pin, wherein to secure the first and second members together the pin lock wing is projected through the apertures of the first and second members and a torsional relocation of the pin causes the pin midportion to be displaced with respect to the second surface of the second member and for the midportion to be captured by the arm of the second member and the lock wing to be rotated to secure the pin from removal by its angular orientation with respect to the first member aperture.

2. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein the pin has a thumb tab providing the torsion force receptive surface.

3. An arrangement as described in claim 1 further providing means to attach the pin to the second member before angular relocation of the pin.

4. An arrangement as described in claim 3 wherein the means that attach the pin to the second member is achieved by elastic deformation.

5. An arrangement as described in claim 4 wherein the pin elastically deforms.

6. An arrangement as described in claim 5 wherein the pin has a tapered surface for contacting the second member arm, the tapered surface aids in the deformation of the pin, and the pin is thereafter held by the second member arm.

7. An arrangement as described in claim 3 further providing means to insure angular orientation of the pin.

8. An arrangement as described in claim 7 further including deformable lock wing portions which are deformed upon angular relocation of the pin.

9. An arrangement as described in claim 8 wherein the deformable lock wing portions become entrapped between the lock wing and the first member first surface upon angular relocation of the pin.

10. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein the second member is made of a moldable material.

11. An arrangement as described in claim 1 further providing means to prevent overturning of the pin.

12. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein the second surface has a recessed portion and wherein the midportion of the pin is captured therein.

13. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein, after angular relocation of the pin, a normal force exists between the second member arm and the pin midportion and between the lock wing and the first member first surface.

14. A fastening arrangement for connecting a first member to a second member comprising:

a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture connecting the first and second surfaces;

a second member having a first surface for contact with the first member second surface, the second member having an aperture intersecting with the first surface for registration with the aperture of the first member, the second member also having a recessed second surface with a ramp opposite the first surface, and the second surface having two arms;

a pin having on one end a thumb tab connected with a flange and projecting on another side of the flange from the thumb tab a lock wing, the flange being deformable, allowing it to be snapped into the recessed portion of the second member to be attached with the second member before the second member is secured to the first member, and the flange having studs to prevent overturning of the pin, the flange having opposite the thumb tab a ramp which in cooperation with the second member ramp prevents reverse turning of the pin after assembly, and the pin having a lock wing with a deformable portion insertable into the apertures of the first and second members to insure the angular orientation of the lock wings when the pin is attached with the second member for projection of the lock wing into the apertures of the first and second members, and whereby angular relocation of the pin causes the pin flange to be displaced with respect to the first member and to be captured by the arms of the second member and for the lock wing to secure the pin from removal due to the angular orientation of the lock wing with the first member aperture.

15. A fastening arrangement of a first member connected with a second member comprising:

a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture intersecting the first and second surfaces;

a second member having a first surface for contact with the first member second surface, the second member having an aperture intersecting with the first surface for registration with the aperture of the first member, the second member also having a second surface generally opposite the first surface and the second member second surface having at least two arms;

a pin having a midportion with a first surface for engaging contact with the second member second surface, the pin also having on the end of the pin adjacent the first member projecting from the midportion a lock wing, and the pin having on a side of the midportion opposite the lock wing a torsional force receptive surface to facilitate the importation of torsional force to the pin to achieve angular positional relocation of the pin, the pin being compliantly attached with the arms before the second member is secured with the first member, wherein to secure the first and second members together the pin lock wing is projected through the apertures of the first and second members and a torsional relocation of the pin causes the lock wing to be rotated to secure the pin from removal by its angular orientation with respect to the first member aperture.

16. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein the pin has a thumb tab providing the torsion force receptive surface.

17. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein the pin has a tapered surface for contacting the second member arm, the tapered surface aids in the deformation of the pin.

18. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein the second member is made of a moldable material.

19. An arrangement as described in claim 15 further providing means to prevent overturning of the pin.

20. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein the second surface has a recessed portion and wherein the midportion of the pin is captured therein.

21. An arrangement as described in claim 15 further providing means to insure angular orientation of the pin.

22. An arrangement as described in claim 21 further including deformable lock wing portions which are deformed upon angular relocation of the pin.

23. An arrangement as described in claim 22 wherein the deformable lock wing portions become entrapped between the lock wing and the first member first surface upon angular relocation of the pin.

24. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein, after angular relocation of the pin, a normal force exists between the lock wing and the first member first surface.

25. An arrangement as described in claim 15 wherein the pin midportion first surface has a ramp.

26. An arrangement as described in claim 25 wherein the second member has a ramp which prevents reverse turning of the pin after it has been rotated to secure the first and second members together.

27. An arrangement as described in claim 26 wherein at least one of the ramps on the pin midportion first surface and the second member second surface has a tapered edge to facilitate reverse turning of the pin.

28. A fastening arrangement for connecting a first member to a second member comprising:

a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture connecting the first and second surfaces;

a second member having a first surface for contact with the first member second surface, the second member having an aperture intersecting with the first surface for registration with the aperture of the first member, the second member also having a recessed second surface with a ramp opposite the first surface, and the second surface having two arms;

a pin having on one end a thumb tab connected with a flange and projecting on another side of the flange from the thumb tab a lock wing, the flange being deformable, allowing it to be snapped into the recessed portion of the second member to be attached with the second member before the second member is secured to the first member, and the flange having studs to prevent overtorquing of the pin, and the pin having a lock wing with a deformable portion insertable into the apertures of the first and second members to insure the angular orientation of the lock wings when the pin is attached with the second member for projection of the lock wing into the apertures of the first and second members, and whereby angular relocation of the pin causes the lock wings to rotate to secure the pin from removal, creating a normal force between the lock wing and the first member first surface to secure the pin from removal due to the angular orientation of the lock wing with the first member aperture, and the pin flange having opposite the thumb tab a ramp which in cooperation with the ramp of the second member prevents reverse turning of the pin after assembly of the arrangement.