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Fixing device

  • US 5,718,025 A
  • Filed: 09/30/1996
  • Issued: 02/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A fixing device, comprising:

  • a stem, having a longitudinal central axis, for insertion within a hole, having a predetermined contour, defined within a panel;

    a head attached to a first end of said stem for engaging a first surface portion of said panel when said stem of said fixing device is inserted into said hole defined within said panel;

    a substantially pointed tip, having a base portion which has a periphery of a predetermined contour which is adapted to substantially match said predetermined contour of said hole defined within said panel, attached to a second opposite end of said stem for initially guiding said fixing device into said hole defined within said panel;

    at least three longitudinally extending ribs mounted upon said stem and projecting radially outwardly from said longitudinal central axis of said stem toward peripheral regions of said stem such that distal end portions of said ribs, remote from said longitudinal central axis of said stem, are substantially coincident with said periphery of said base portion of said tip so as to axially guide said fixing device as said fixing device is inserted through said hole defined within said panel; and

    at least three flexible blade means, mounted upon said at least three longitudinally extending ribs so as to be disposed within planes which are inclined with respect to said longitudinal central axis of said stem, and having end portions disposed at normal, undeflected positions at which said end portions extend beyond said periphery of said base portion of said tip for engaging an edge portion of said hole defined within said panel when said stem of said fixing device is inserted into said hole of said panel such that said end portions of said flexible blade means are deflected radially inwardly away from said normal positions so as to permit a portion of said stem to pass through said hole defined within said panel, whereupon said end portions of said flexible blade means having passed through said hole defined within said panel, said end portions of said flexible blade means will return to said normal positions so as to engage a second surface portion of said panel and thereby retain said fixing device inserted within said panel;

    wherein said at least three flexible blade means mounted upon said at least three longitudinally extending ribs are longitudinally offset by a predetermined amount with respect to each other such that each one of said at least three flexible blade means mounted upon said at least three longitudinally extending ribs is longitudinally offset by a predetermined amount with respect to each adjacent one of said at least three flexible blade means so as to facilitate insertion of said fixing device into said hole defined within said panel and to enhance extraction resistance of said fixing device out from said hole defined within said panel.

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