QUICK TURN FASTENER

• US 20150285289A1
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Burton, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,957,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/02 in one piece with protrusions or ridges on the shaft
• 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: F16B 33/006 Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/042 locking by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/085 with at least one unthreaded portion in both the nut and the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/30 Locking exclusively by special shape of the screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49881 of separate helix [e.g., screw thread]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A fastener for use in connection with a tubular boss has a shaft with at least one rib along the length thereof and at least one thread segment extending at least partially around the shaft. The shaft is inserted into the boss in first position, and rotated to a second position wherein the at least one thread segment engages at least one column formed in the tubular boss. The shaft can be integrally formed with a first molded part to be fastened to a second molded part with an integrally formed tubular boss. Various locking features for locking the shaft in the boss are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly comprising:

a shaft having at least one rib along its length and at least one thread segment extending at least partially around the shaft from the at least one rib;

a plurality of thread forming threads extending from the at least one thread segment;

a tubular boss having a cylindrical opening with at least one column disposed therein; and

wherein the shaft is inserted into the tubular boss in a first position and rotated into a second position such that the at least one thread segment engages the at least one column via some of the plurality of thread forming threads.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes at least one channel opening.

3. The fastener of claim 1, further comprising a locking feature.

4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the locking feature is a flex tab formed at an end of the shaft.

5. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the locking feature is a tab and ramp.

6. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the locking feature is a thread relief formed in the plurality of thread forming threads.

7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thread forming threads are in a helical pattern.

8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thread forming threads are in a non-helical pattern.

9. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the shaft is integrally formed with a first molded part and the tubular boss is integrally formed with a second molded part.

10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the first molded part is a stud of a lamp assembly fastener and the second molded part is a lamp assembly.

11. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thread forming threads are made of a first material and the at least one column is made from a second material and the first materials is harder than the second material.

12. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least one of the shaft and cylindrical opening is tapered at least five degrees.

13. A method for attaching a first molded part to a second molded part, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a shaft integrally formed on the first molded part, the shaft including at least one rib along its length and at least one thread segment extending at least partially around the shaft from the at least one rib;

providing a tubular boss integrally formed on the second molded part, the tubular boss having a cylindrical opening and at least one initially unthreaded column disposed therein;

inserting the shaft into the tubular boss in a first position;

rotating the shaft to a second position, wherein the at least one thread segment forms threads in the at least one initially unthreaded column to engage the at least one thread segment to the at least one initially unthreaded column.

14. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the shaft includes at least one channel opening.

15. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the shaft has a flex tab at an end and the tubular boss has first and second initially unthreaded columns and rotating the shaft to a second position, wherein the flex tab is seated between the first and second initially unthreaded columns.

16. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the shaft has a flange with a tab and the tubular boss has a ramp and rotating the shaft to a second position, wherein the tab is positioned behind the ramp.

17. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the at least one thread segment includes a thread relief and rotating the shaft to a second position, wherein the thread relief is seated behind the at least one initially unthreaded column.

18. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the threads of the at least one thread segment are formed in a helical pattern.

19. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the threads of the at least one thread segment are formed in a non-helical pattern and before rotating the shaft to a second position, positioning the shaft in the tubular boss to a desired depth.

20. The fastener of claim 13, wherein the shaft is integrally formed with a first molded part and the tubular boss is integrally formed with a second molded part.