Wire strap connector

Claim 2

In combination with a panel having an aperture therein, a fastener comprising a substantially flat flexible strap having anchor and locking elements formed integral therewith adjacent opposite ends thereof and respectively received in said aperture with said locking element received in said anchor element for locking said strap to said panel, the improvement of said locking element comprising an integral member depending from one surface of said strap and reinforcing means defining an integral reinforcement on said strap provided by a circumferential flange extending above the surface of said strap and integral with said one surface substantially about the entire periphery thereof, surrounding and spaced from said integral member whereby an area of the strap between said reinforcing means and integral member defines a diaphragm allowing relative movement of said strap and said panel.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of said reinforcing means comprising a head extending above a surface of said strap to define a thickness greater than the thickness of the remainder of said strap.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 including the further improvement of said reinforcing means including a web integral with at least a portion of said head and a portion of said strap.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of said anchor element comprising a hollow cylindrical portion extending substantially perpendicular from said strap and terminating in a free end spaced from said strap, a hollow tapered portion integral with the free end of said cylindrical portion and means defining slots in said portions into locking segments engaged by said locking element to lock said fastener to said support.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4, including the further improvement of said integral member extending substantially perpendicular to said surface and having a first portion adjacent said surface and a free end which is substantially oval in cross section and means on said free end defining a substantially circular locking portion engaging said locking segments.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of said locking element comprising a shank extending substantially perpendicular to said surface, means defining bulbous portion at the free end of said shank, and tapered fins extending from said bulbous portion toward said surface, said fins having camming surfaces engaging said anchor element during insertion of said locking element in said anchor element said camming surfaces terminating into projections adapted to lock said locking element to said anchor element.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of said anchor element comprising a hollow member extending from a surface opposite said surface of said strap, means defining slots extending from the free end of said hollow member toward the opposite surface to segment said hollow member with at least one of said slots terminating at a point spaced from said surface to maintain an integral connection between segments disposed on opposite sides of said at least one slot.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 7, including the further improvement of said at least one slot being disposed substantially along a main axis of said strap and on a side adjacent the main body of said strap.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the improvement of said locking element comprising an oval body portion extending away from said one surface and terminating in a free end, means defining a substantially circular portion on said free end of said body portion.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 1, including the improvement of said locking element having diametrically opposed ribs on the peripheral surface thereof with tapered surfaces on said ribs extending toward said one surface and terminating adjacent said one surface to define locking edges.

Claim 12

A one-piece resilient fastener for securing an elongated segment to an apertured support, comprising an elongated strap having an anchor member at one end thereof integral with one side of said strap and a locking member at an opposite end of said strap integral with an opposite side of said strap, said locking member adapted to be received in said anchor member for securing said strap into the aperture of the support, the improvement of means defining an area portion surrounding the juncture between said strap and said locking element, said area portion having a terminal edge spaced axially transversely of the peripheral surface of said locking element, and reinforcing means integral with said strap defining a thickness axially of said locking element greater than the thickness of said area portion, integral with said area portion substantially about the entire periphery thereof and terminating adjacent said terminal edge whereby said area portion defines an integral flexible connection between said strap and said locking member.

Claim 13

A one-piece resilient fastener for securing an elongated segment to an apertured support, comprising an elongated strap having an anchor member at one end thereof integral with one side of said strap and a locking member at an opposite end of said strap integral with an opposite side of said strap, said locking member adapted to be received in said anchor member for securing said strap into the aperture of the support, the improvement of means defining an area portion surrounding the juncture between said strap and said locking element, said area portion having a terminal edge spaced axially transversely of the peripheral surface of said locking element, and reinforcing means integral with said strap defining a thickness axially of said locking element greater than the thickness of said area portion, integral with said area portion substantially about the entire periphery thereof and terminating adjacent said terminal edge whereby said area portion defines an integral flexible connection between said strap and said locking member.

Claim 14

A one-piece resilient fastener comprising an elongated strap having opposed sides and opposite ends, means defining a recess on one of said sides adjacent one end thereof, an elongated locking element integral with the other of said sides and extending outwardly therefrom with the cross-sectional area of said locking element being less than the cross-sectional area of said recess whereby said recessed area defines a portion of reduced thickness surrounded by at least a portion of greater thickness and said reduced thickness portion allows flexing between said strap and said locking element while maintaining an integral connection therebetween, said locking element comprising a shank extending from said other side, means defining tapered surfaces on opposed sides of said shank, said tapered surfaces having a progressively increasing dimension therebetween from the free end of said shank toward said other side and terminating spaced from said other side to define locking shoulders, and a hollow anchor element extending from said other side adjacent said opposite end, said hollow anchor element having enlarged members on the free end thereof defining separate locking elements adapted to be flexed relative to said hollow member to lock said fastener to an aperture support.

Claim 15

A one-piece resilient fastener comprising an elongated strap having opposed sides and opposite ends, means defining a recess on one of said sides adjacent one end thereof, an elongated locking element integral with the other of said sides and extending outwardly therefrom with the cross-sectional area of said locking element being less than the cross-sectional area of said recess whereby said recessed area defines a portion of reduced thickness surrounded by at least a portion of greater thickness and said reduced thickness portion allows flexing between said strap and said locking element while maintaining an integral connection therebetween, said locking element comprising a shank extending from said other side, means defining tapered surfaces on opposed sides of said shank, said tapered surfaces having a progressively increasing dimension therebetween from the free end of said shank toward said other side and terminating spaced from said other side to define locking shoulders, and a hollow anchor element extending from said other side adjacent said opposite end, said hollow anchor element having enlarged members on the free end thereof defining separate locking elements adapted to be flexed relative to said hollow member to lock said fastener to an aperture support.