Multiple engagement joint tethered fastener

• US 7,155,783 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfery LLC
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benedetti, Steven M, Fischer, Charles K, Slobodecki, Jeff A, Nessel, Rosalind A, Giddings, Joshua J
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menezes; Marcus
• Application Number:
  US11/095,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 242/89, 242/97, 242/95, 244/57, 244/58, 243/26
• US Class Current: 24/289
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

Abstract

A fastener first member connects to a second member by a flexible tether. A third member having multiple deflectable wings slides onto the second member. A first member male pin extends through a third member aperture to engage second member biasing elements, joining the first, second and third members. The first member also includes a hooked end.

Claims

1. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second substantially planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member flexibly tethered to the first member, the second member having a receptacle and at least one biasing element operable to releasably engage the male pin; and

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a receiving channel open on opposed ends operable to slidably receive the second member through both opposed ends and a clearance aperture alignable with the receptacle of the second member;

wherein after the second member slidably receives the third member, the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receptacle to releasably join the first, second and third members.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the third member further comprises a plurality of deflectable wings.

3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the plurality of deflectable wings comprises a first, a second and a third deflectable wing, the first deflectable wing opposing both the second and the third deflectable wings.

4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the third member further comprises:

a first frame having the first deflectable wing extending therefrom; and

a second frame having the second and the third deflectable wings extending therefrom.

5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises a deflectable tab operable to releasably engage the third member, wherein the deflectable tab is elastically deflectable to receive the third member and returns by spring force to retain the third member.

6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the male pin further comprises:

a bulbous head;

a cylindrical-shaped curved lead-in member connected to and extending freely away from the bulbous head; and

a stem oppositely positioned from the curved lead-in member, the stem operably joining the bulbous head to the first member;

wherein the bulbous head is operable to elastically displace the biasing element during insertion of the male pin into the receptacle, the biasing element then operable to engage the stem to releasably retain the male pin.

7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the deflectable tab comprises an inclined face and an engagement face, the engagement face operable to releasably retain the third member, where the deflectable tab is elastically displaceable into an aperture of the second member to operably disengage the third member from the second member.

9. The fastener of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible element homogenously connecting the second member to the first member operable to flexibly tether the first and second members; and

wherein each of the first and second members and the flexible element are co-moldable from a polymeric material.

10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyamide material.

11. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the flexible element comprises a strap having a plurality of strap widths.

8. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second substantially planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member having a receptacle and at least one biasing element operable to releasably engage the male pin;

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a clearance aperture alignable with the receptacle of the second member, and further including a plurality of deflectable wings, the plurality of deflectable wings including a first, a second and a third deflectable wing, the first deflectable wing opposing both the second and the third deflectable wings;

a first frame having the first deflectable wing extending therefrom;

a second frame having the second and the third deflectable wings extending therefrom;

a receiving channel defined between the first frame and the second frame having opposed open ends operable to receive the second member;

a first cross member of the first frame; and

a second cross member of the second frame mechanically connectable to the first cross members;

the second member further including a single deflectable tab operable to deflect when the second member is slidably received in the receiving channel and return by spring force to releasably retain the third member;

wherein the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receptacle to releasably join the first, second and third members.

12. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second substantially planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member having a receptacle and at least one biasing element operable to releasably engage the male pin;

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a receiving channel open on opposed ends for slidable engagement about the second member, the third member having a clearance aperture alignable with the receptacle of the second member; and

the second member further including a deflectable tab operable to releasably retain the third member, wherein the deflectable tab is elastically deflectable to receive the third member and returns by spring force to retain the third member;

wherein the second member partially extends beyond the open ends of the receiving channel of the third member when slideably engaged;

wherein the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receptacle to releasably join the first, second and third members; and

wherein the second member further includes first and second posts separated by a post separation width, wherein the first member is non-rotatably receivable between the first and second posts.

13. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second portions, the first portion having an elongated member and the second portion having a hook-shaped end;

a second member having a receiving aperture and at least one resilient element operable to releasably engage the elongated member;

a flexible strap integrally connecting the second member to the first member; and

a third member created of a metallic material, the third member having a receiving channel open on opposed ends for slidable engagement about the second member, the third member having a clearance aperture alignable with the receiving aperture of the second member and a plurality of deflectable wings including a first, a second and a third deflectable wing, the first deflectable wing opposing both the second and the third deflectable wings to define the receiving channel;

wherein the elongated member is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receiving aperture to releasably join the first, second and third members.

14. The fastener of claim 13, wherein each of the first member, the second member and the flexible strap comprise a polymeric material.

15. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a substantially U-shaped first member created of a polymeric material, the first member having first and second planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member created of the polymeric material of the first member and having a deflectable tab;

a flexible strap created of the polymeric material of the first and second members, the flexible strap homogenously connecting the second member to the first member; and

a metallic third member defining a channel and an extending portion, the open channel open on opposed ends for slidable engagement about the second member, the third member slidably engageable with the second member and releasably retained via the deflectable tab;

a vehicle component engageable with the U-shaped member and releasably retainable by the hooked end;

a vehicle panel having an aperture operable to receive the extending portion of the third member; and

a plurality of connections releasable in a sequential order.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of connections further comprises:

a first connection operatively created between the pin and a receiving aperture of the second member, the first connection defining a first retention strength;

a second connection operably created between the third member and the second member, the second connection defining a second retention strength greater than the first retention strength; and

a third connection operably created between the third member and the vehicle panel upon insertion of the third member into the aperture of the vehicle panel, the third connection defining a third retention strength greater than both the first and second retention strengths;

wherein the sequential order defines in sequence the first connection, the second connection and the third connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the first, the second and the third connections is releasable in an ascending order defining in sequence the first connection, the second connection and the third connection.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the receiving aperture further comprises a plurality of stepped deflecting members biased to engage the pin.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a fourth connection operatively created between the U-shaped first member and the vehicle component;

wherein the fourth connection is positionable within the sequential order between the second connection and the third connection.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the extending portion of the third member comprises a plurality of deflectable wings biased into engagement with the vehicle panel when the extending portion is operably received in the aperture of the vehicle panel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the U-shaped first member further comprises a solid portion operably connecting the first and second planar portions.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the pin comprises a pin axis extending substantially transverse to a plane of the first planar portion.

23. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a substantially U-shaped first member having first and second planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member having a deflectable tab; and

a third member defining a channel and an extending portion, the channel open on opposed ends for slidable engagement about the second member, the third member slidably engageable with the second member and releasably retained via the deflectable tab;

a vehicle component engageable with the U-shaped member and releasably retainable by the hooked end;

a vehicle panel having an aperture operable to receive the extending portion of the third member;

a plurality of connections releasable in a sequential order;

a doghouse connectable to the vehicle component; and

a flat wall of the doghouse having an aperture operable to receive and releasably engage the hooked end.

24. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second parallel planar portions, the first portion having a male pin and the second portion having a hook-shaped end, the first and second portions defining a substantially U-shape connected by an intermediary column;

a second member having a receiving aperture and at least one elastic element operable to releasably engage the male pin;

a flexible strap homogenously connecting the second member to the first member; and

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a channel open on opposed ends operable to permit the third member to be slidable about the second member to engage the second and third members, the third member having a mounting plate with a clearance aperture alignable with the receiving aperture of the second member when the second and third members are engaged;

wherein the channel of the third member is defined by a first frame having a first deflectable wing extending therefrom, a second frame having a second and a third deflectable wings extending therefrom, where the first and second frames are transverse to and homogenously connected by the mounting plate;

wherein the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture of the mounting plate and into the receiving aperture to releasably join the first, second and third members.