Releasable reusable expanding fastener

Abstract

Abstract THIS INVENTION IS CONCERNED WITH A RELEASABLE, REUSABLE, EXPANDING FASTENER PARTICULARLY INTENDED FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING TOGETHER SLOTTED METAL CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS. THE FASTENER IS FORMED FROM RESILIENT MATERIAL AND CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS, NAMELY A SLEEVE AND A SLEEVE EXPANDING MEMBER. THE SLEEVE COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF FINGER MEMBERS EXTENDING FROM A FLANGE MEMBER SHOULDERED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE SLEEVE. THE EXPANDING MEMBER COMPRISES A CYLINDRICAL SHAFT PROVIDED WITH A FLANGE AT ONE END, A TAPERED HEAD AT THE OPPOSITE END, A LOCKING RECESS JUST INWARDLY OF THE HEAD AND A GRADUALLY TAPERING CAMMING SURFACE EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF THE LOCKING RECESS. THE FINGERS HAVE LOCKING SHOULDERS WHICH ARE GENERALLY COMPLEMENTARY IN SHAPE TO THE LOCKING RECESS ON THE SHAFT OF THE EXPANDING MEMBER. THESE SHOULDERS ARE LOCATED ON THE INNER SURFACES OF THE FINGERS, SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY THERE-ALONG. THE HEAD ON THE SHAFT AND THE LOCKING SHOULDERS CO-OPERATE WITH ONE SHAFT TO RETAIN THE EXPANDING MEMBER WITHIN THE SLEEVE WHEN THE LATTER IS IN AN UNEXPANDED CONDITION, AND, WHEN THE SLEEVE AND EXPANDING MEMBER HAVE BEEN PASSED THROUGH A PAIR OF ALIGNED APERTURES WITH THE SLEEVE IN THE UNEXPANDED CONDITION, THE EXPANDING MEMBER MAY THEN BE DRIVEN FORWARDLY WITHIN THE SLEEVE TOWARDS THE ENDS OF THE FINGERS WHEREUPON THE LOCKING SHOULDERS WILL COOPERATE WITH THE CAMMING SURFACE ON THE SLEEVE TO EXPAND THE FINGERS AND SECURELY FASTEN THE SLEEVE AND EXPANDING MEMBERS WITHIN THE SAID APERTURES.

Inventors

• 👤 James A Mackenzie

Bibliographic Details