Push button panel fastener

• US 6,077,011 A
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip Marvin Walker
• Original Assignee: Philip Marvin Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Philip Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, NEILL R
• Application Number:
  US09/366,339
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 411/267, 411/270, 411/348, 411/347, 411/433, 24/453, 292/252, 292/DIG. 37, 292/DIG. 42
• US Class Current: 411/348
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/165 with balls or rollers for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1409
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/14 Ball

Abstract

A push button panel fastener including a female portion disposed within an opening in a fixed surface. A male portion is secured to a movable panel and is adapted for removably coupling with the female portion for temporarily securing the movable panel to the fixed surface.

Claims

1. A push button panel fastener for quickly fastening and releasing a sheet metal panel comprising, in combination:

a female portion disposed within an opening in a fixed surface, the female portion including a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the open upper end having a flange secured thereto, the closed lower end having an aperture therethrough, the aperture receiving a threaded bolt upwardly therethrough, the threaded bolt being engaged to the closed lower end by a nut, the threaded bolt having a seating recess formed therein downwardly of an upper end thereof, the threaded bolt having a spring disposed therearound, the spring having its lower end secured to the closed lower end by a retainer;

a male portion secured to a movable panel and adapted for removably coupling with the female portion for temporarily securing the movable panel to the fixed surface, the male portion including a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the closed lower end having an aperture therethrough, the aperture having a washer disposed thereover, the washer having an inner cylinder extending upwardly therefrom surrounding the aperture, the inner cylinder having diametrically opposed apertures therethrough, a movable cam slidably disposed within the open upper end of the cylindrical housing, the movable cam having an open lower end for receiving the inner cylinder therein, the open lower end of the cam having beveled protrusions on an interior surface thereof, an upper end of the movable cam having a spring secured thereto, a lower end of the spring being secured to an upper end of the inner cylinder, a set of three balls disposed within the movable cam for positioning within the apertures of the inner cylinder and engaging the seating recess of the threaded bolt of the female portion when the threaded bolt is positioned through the aperture and extends through the inner cylinder in the locked orientation, the cylindrical housing of the male portion having an arcuate handle secured to the open upper end thereof.

2. A push button panel fastener for quickly fastening and releasing a sheet metal panel comprising, in combination:

a female portion disposed within an opening in a fixed surface, the female portion including a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the closed lower end having an aperture therethrough, the aperture receiving a threaded bolt upwardly therethrough, the threaded bolt having a seating recess formed therein downwardly of an upper end thereof, the threaded bolt having a spring disposed therearound;

a male portion secured to a movable panel and adapted for removably coupling with the female portion for temporarily securing the movable panel to the fixed surface, the male portion including a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the closed lower end having an aperture therethrough, an inner cylinder extending upwardly therefrom surrounding the aperture, the inner cylinder having diametrically opposed apertures therethrough, a movable cam slidably disposed within the open upper end of the cylindrical housing, the movable cam having an open lower end for receiving the inner cylinder therein, the open lower end of the cam having beveled protrusions on an interior surface thereof, an upper end of the movable cam having a spring secured thereto, a lower end of the spring being secured to an upper end of the inner cylinder, a set of three balls disposed within the movable cam for positioning within the apertures of the inner cylinder and engaging the seating recess of the threaded bolt of the female portion when the threaded bolt is positioned through the aperture and extends through the inner cylinder in the locked orientation.

3. The push button panel fastener as set forth in claim 2 wherein the open upper end of the cylindrical housing of the female portion has a flange secured thereto.

4. The push button panel fastener as set forth in claim 2 wherein the threaded bolt is engaged to the closed lower end by a nut.

5. The push button panel fastener as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spring of the female portion has its lower end secured to the closed lower end by a retainer.

6. The push button panel fastener as set forth in claim 2 wherein the aperture of the closed lower end of the cylindrical housing of the male portion has a washer disposed thereover.

7. The push button panel fastener as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cylindrical housing of the male portion has an arcuate handle secured to the open upper end thereof.