Fixing device
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A fixing device having a stem (3) adapted to be retained in a wall, this stem having a shaft (9) carrying flexible non-return blades (13A, 13B, 13C, 13D), and having at least three longitudinal wings (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) oriented in respective planes which intersect at the central longitudinal axis of the shaft, with the surface defining the free end of two of such wings being adjacent to the contour provided for the hole when the latter and the shaft are disposed concentrically.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A fixing device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In combination, a fastening system, comprising:
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at least one panel member having a hole, having a predetermined contour, defined therein; and a fastener for insertion into said hole defined within said at least one panel member; said fastener comprising; a) a stem, having a longitudinal central axis, for insertion within said hole defined within said at least one panel member; b) a head attached to a first end of said stem for engaging a first surface portion of said at least one panel member when said stem of said fastener is inserted into said hole defined within said at least one panel member; c) a substantially pointed tip, having a base portion which has a periphery of a predetermined contour which is substantially the same as said predetermined contour of said hole defined within said at least one panel member, attached to a second opposite end of said stem for initially guiding said fastener into said hole defined within said at least one panel member; d) 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 fastener as said fastener is inserted through said hole defined within said at least one panel member; and (e) 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 edge portions of said hole defined within said at least one panel member when said stem of said fastener is inserted into said hole defined within said at least one panel member 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 of said fastener to pass through said hole defined within said at least one panel member, whereupon said end portions of said flexible blade means having passed through said hole defined within said at least one panel member, said end portions of said flexible blade means will return to said normal positions so as to engage a second surface portion of said at least one panel member and thereby retain said fastener inserted within said at least one panel member; 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 fastener into said hole defined within said at least one panel member and to enhance extraction resistance of said fastener out from said hole defined within said at least one panel member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 22, 23, 24)
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18. The combination as set forth in 16, wherein:
said at least three flexible blade means comprise four sets of flexible blade means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
Specification