Fastening apparatus

• US 5,778,804 A
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Read
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Read
• Inventors: Read, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/559,937
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 248/221.11, 248/221.12, 248/222.41, 248/553, 108/153, 108/154, 108/155, 108/157, 312/263
• US Class Current: 248/221.12
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0692 joining flexible sheets to other sheets or plates or to strips or bars tent fastenings E04H15/64; coping elements for swimming pools with fixing means for sealing foil E04H4/142; greenhouses of flexible synthetic material A01G9/1407; end or aperture-closing arrangements or devices for sacks or bags B65D33/16

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fastening one component, such as a table top, to a second component, such as that which is intended to support the table top. The support component is provided with alignment and fastening members extending from it. The alignment and fastening members are functionally adapted to be received by complimentary recesses situated within the complimentary component. The extending alignment members are actuable to force movement of the table top in relation to the support component. Such movement results in engagement of the fastening members with fastening clips situated within the table top and secures the table top to the support component.

Claims

1. A fastening assembly which comprises

a first assembly member, said first assembly member including a generally flat bottom surface,

a second assembly member, said second assembly member including a generally flat top surface,

means for achieving generally coplanar alignment between the flat bottom surface of the first assembly member and the flat top surface of the second assembly member, said alignment means including a plurality of alignment posts extending outwardly from the second assembly member top surface and a plurality of complimentary recesses defined within the first assembly member bottom surface, each recess being functionally adapted to receive an alignment post within it,

means for moving the first assembly member and the second assembly member in relation to each other, said movement means including means for varying the position of the alignment posts of the second assembly member, and

means for fastening the first assembly member to the second assembly member.

2. The fastening assembly of claim 1 wherein the movement means includes a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism including a screw-actuated load-sharing nut and a pair of symmetrically located and pivotally moveable arms, one end of each arm being movable by the load sharing nut and the opposite end of each arm being affixed to one of the alignment posts of the second assembly member.

3. The fastening assembly of claim 2 wherein the fastening means includes a plurality of complimentary fastening members attached to the top surface of the second assembly member and to the bottom surface of the first assembly member such that the first assembly member becomes fastened to the second assembly member when the movement means is actuated.

4. A fastening assembly comprising

a first assembly member, said first assembly member including a generally flat bottom surface,

a second assembly member, said second assembly member including a generally flat top surface,

means for locating said first assembly member along said second assembly member, said locating means including a plurality of locating members extending upwardly from said second assembly member and a plurality of locating recesses defined within the bottom surface of said first assembly member, said recesses being complimentary to and functionally adapted to receive the upwardly extending locating members of the second assembly member,

means for incrementally moving said first assembly member along said second assembly member, said movement means including means for incrementally moving the locating members along the top surface of the second assembly member whereby the first assembly member is moved along the second assembly member, and

means for securing said first assembly member to said second assembly member.

5. The fastening assembly of claim 4 wherein said movement means further includes a pair of pivotally movable arms, one arm extending from each of the locating members, a pivot point located along each arm, means for driving each arm whereby the locating members are moved incrementally in the same direction.

6. The fastening assembly of claim 5 wherein said arm driving means includes a screw-actuated load-sharing nut which is functionally adapted to move each of the pivotally movable arms and the locating members attached to each of the arms in like incremental amounts.

7. The fastening assembly of claim 6 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of shouldered screws attached to said second assembly member, each screw having a head spaced from the surface to which the screws are secured at the end of the screw shaft, and a plurality of flexible, resilient, slotted clips complimentary to said screws and attached to said first assembly member bottom surface, each clip having a section raised above the surface to which the clip is secured and including a slot having at least one open end for receiving the head of said screw, whereby the resiliency of said clips urges said first assembly member and second assembly member tightly together when said clips and screws are engaged and said second assembly member and said first assembly member are moved in relation to each other.