Fastener

• US 7,491,025 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Original Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Inventors: Tangeman, Matthew A., Teufel, Rainer B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether; Flemming
• Application Number:
  US11/225,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20070059123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 411/349, 411/549, 411/552, 411/553, 245/901, 245/931
• US Class Current: 411/553
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/0018 Physician's examining tables
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4522 Sliding or rotating element

Abstract

A fastener for releasably securing a first substrate to an apertured second substrate includes a base member and a locking member mounted for rotation relative to the base member. The locking member is rotatable between an insertion position for insertion of the base member and locking member through the aperture formed in the second substrate and a locking position for releasably securing the first and second substrates together. A resilient member is provided to bias the locking member toward the base member when the resilient member is compressed. The locking member includes at least one protrusion and the base member includes at least one detent. The detent and protrusion are configured to releasably engage each other in the insertion position of the locking member and disengage from each other upon rotation of the locking member toward the locking position.

Claims

1. A fastener for releasably securing a first substrate to a second substrate having an aperture formed therein, the second substrate further having at least one boss extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the aperture and a detent formed in the at least one boss comprising:

a base member having a generally flat top wall and being configured to be mounted to the first substrate;

a locking member having a generally flat bottom wall positioned adjacent the generally flat top wall of the base member and being mounted for rotation relative to the base member between an insertion position for insertion of the base member and the locking member through an aperture formed in the second substrate and a locking position for releasably securing the first and second substrates together upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member;

a resilient member operable to bias the locking member toward the base member upon compression of the resilient member;

at least one detent extending inwardly from the generally flat top wall of the base member; and

at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the generally flat bottom wall of the locking member,

wherein the at least one detent of the base member and the at least one protrusion of the locking member are configured to releasably engage in the insertion position of the locking member and disengage upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member toward the locking position, and

further wherein the at least one protrusion of the locking member is configured to releasably engage with the detent of the at least one boss upon rotation of the locking member to the locking position.

2. The fastener of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of spaced apart detents provided on the base member; and

a pair of spaced apart protrusions provided on the locking member.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the resilient member comprises an elastomeric material.

4. The fastener of claim 1 further comprising a fastening assembly extending through the base member and the locking member and configured to mount the locking member for rotation relative to the base member.

5. The fastener of claim 4 further comprising:

a first bore extending through the base member; and

a second bore extending through the locking member and axially aligned with the first bore.

6. The fastener of claim 5 wherein the fastening assembly extends through the first and second bores.

7. The fastener of claim 6 wherein the second bore comprises a stepped bore.

8. The fastener of claim 6 wherein the resilient member is interposed between a portion of the fastening assembly and the locking member.

9. A fastener for releasably securing a first substrate to a second substrate having an aperture formed therein, the second substrate further having at least one boss extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the aperture and a detent formed in the at least one boss comprising:

a base member having a generally flat top wall and being configured to be mounted to the first substrate;

a locking member having a generally flat bottom wall positioned adjacent the generally flat top wall of the base member and being mounted for rotation relative to the base member between an insertion position for insertion of the base member and the locking member through an aperture formed in the second substrate and a locking position for releasably securing the first and second substrates together upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member;

at least one detent extending inwardly from the generally flat top wall of the base member; and

at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the generally flat bottom wall of the locking member,

wherein the at least one detent of the base member and the at least one protrusion of the locking member are configured to releasably engage in the insertion position of the locking member and disengage upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member toward the locking position, and

further wherein the at least one protrusion of the locking member is configured to releasably engage with the detent of the at least one boss upon rotation of the locking member to the locking position.

10. The fastener of claim 9 further comprising:

a pair of spaced apart detents provided on the base member; and

a pair of spaced apart protrusions provided on the locking member.

11. The fastener of claim 9 further comprising a fastening assembly extending through the base member and the locking member and configured to mount the locking member for rotation relative to the base member.

12. The fastener of claim 11 further comprising:

a first bore extending through the base member; and

a second bore extending through the locking member and axially aligned with the first bore.

13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the fastening assembly extends through the first and second bores.

14. The fastener of claim 13 wherein the second bore comprises a stepped bore.

15. A fastener installation, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate having an aperture formed therein;

a pair of spaced apart bosses extending outwardly from the second substrate adjacent the aperture;

a detent formed in each of the pair of bosses; and

a fastener mounted to the first substrate and configured to releasably secure the first substrate to the apertured second substrate, the fastener comprising;

a base member having a generally flat top wall and being mounted to the first substrate;

a locking member having a generally flat bottom wall positioned adjacent the generally flat top wall of the base member and being mounted for rotation relative to the base member between an insertion position for insertion of the base member and the locking member through the aperture formed in the second substrate and a locking position for releasably securing the first and second substrates together upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member;

a resilient member operable to bias the locking member toward the base member upon compression of the resilient member;

a pair of spaced apart detents extending inwardly from the generally flat top wall of the base member; and

a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending outwardly from the generally flat bottom wall of the locking member,

wherein the pair of detents of the base member and the pair of protrusions of the locking member are configured to releasably engage in the insertion position of the locking member and disengage upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member toward the locking position, and

further wherein the protrusions of the locking member are configured to releasable engage with the detents of the bosses upon rotation of the locking member to the locking position.

16. A fastener installation, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate having an aperture formed therein;

a pair of spaced apart bosses extending outwardly from the second substrate adjacent the aperture;

a detent formed in each of the pair of bosses; and

a fastener mounted to the first substrate and configured to releasably secure the first substrate to the apertured second substrate, the fastener comprising;

a base member having a generally flat top wall and being mounted to the first substrate;

a locking member having a generally flat bottom wall positioned adjacent the generally flat top wall of the base member and being mounted for rotation relative to the base member between an insertion position for insertion of the base member and the locking member through the aperture formed in the second substrate and a locking position for releasably securing the first and second substrates together upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member;

a pair of spaced apart detents extending inwardly from the generally flat top wall of the base member; and

a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending outwardly from the generally flat bottom wall of the locking member,

wherein the pair of detents of the base member and the pair of protrusions of the locking member are configured to releasably engage in the insertion position of the locking member and disengage upon rotation of the locking member relative to the base member toward the locking position, and

further wherein the protrusions of the locking member are configured to releasably engage with the detents of the bosses upon rotation of the locking member to the locking position.