US3745612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resilient fasteners
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-22
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A resilient fastener comprising a head and a compressible shank for insertion through a circular aperture in a panel in which the shank includes a central stem which extends longitudinally of the shank from the head so as to include the axis of the shank and two longitudinally extending flanges which are joined to the stem in such a manner that they are resiliently compressible towards the stem, the shank being substantially S-shaped on any transverse section taken at any point over a major part of the length thereof. Preferably, the central stem has two generally parallel major planar faces and the flanges are compressible in a direction normal to the said planar faces in the manner of a concertina action.
Inventors
- 👤 C Seckerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:15
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B21/00; F16B21/06; F16B21/08; F16B21/086; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0607; F16B5/0621; F16B5/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A resilient fastener comprising a head and a compressible shank adapted to engage through a circular aperture in a panel, the shank comprising a solid central stem having two generally parallel, major planar faces, which stem extends longitudinally of the shank from the head and contains the axis of the shank, and two longitudinally extending flanges joined to opposite longitudinal edges of the stem by flexible webs and terminating short of the head, the outer face of each flange being convexly curved in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank and the inner face of each flange being substantially straight and lying in a plane substantially parAllel to the opposed face of the stem in spaced relationship to said opposed face, whereby said flanges are resiliently compressible towards the stem in a direction normal to the faces of the stem to provide for a smooth, concertinalike compression of said shank during insertion in a panel aperture, said shank being formed with a solid tip and with an external shoulder on each flange and tapering from the shoulders towards the tip and the head, the maximum dimension of the shank in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank in the region of the shoulders being substantially greater along an axis perpendicular to said major faces of the stem than along an axis parallel to said faces, and the head of said fastener being formed with two projections which form extensions of the stem and which are adapted to locate the shank in a circular aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A resilient fastener comprising a head and a compressible shank adapted to engage through a circular aperture in a panel, the shank comprising a solid central stem having two generally parallel, major planar faces, which stem extends longitudinally of the shank from the head and contains the axis of the shank, and two longitudinally extending flanges joined to opposite longitudinal edges of the stem by flexible webs and terminating short of the head, the outer face of each flange being convexly curved in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank and the inner face of each flange being substantially straight and lying in a plane substantially parAllel to the opposed face of the stem in spaced relationship to said opposed face, whereby said flanges are resiliently compressible towards the stem in a direction normal to the faces of the stem to provide for a smooth, concertinalike compression of said shank during insertion in a panel aperture, said shank being formed with a solid tip and with an external shoulder on each flange and tapering from the shoulders towards the tip and the head, the maximum dimension of the shank in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank in the region of the shoulders being substantially greater along an axis perpendicular to said major faces of the stem than along an axis parallel to said faces, and the head of said fastener being formed with two projections which form extensions of the stem and which are adapted to locate the shank in a circular aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer face of each flange is convexly curved in any longitudinal axial plane of the shank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer face of each flange on each side of an axial plane perpendicular to the major faces of the stem is convexly curved in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank about two different axes of curvature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
An assembly of a fastener as claimed in claim 1 secured to an apertured panel formed with a circular aperture, wherein the diameter of the circular aperture is substantially less than the maximum transverse dimension of the shank of the fastener in the said direction of movement of the flanges and the shank is frictionally engaged through the aperture with the head of the fastener bearing against one side of the panel and the flanges compressed inwardly in the said direction by the rim of the aperture, and wherein the distance between a pair of axial planes parallel to the axis of the shank and lying tangent to the outer surfaces of the flexible webs of the fastener is substantially less than the diameter of the circular aperture in the panel whereby, in the assembly, said outer surfaces of the webs are spaced inwardly from the wall of the panel defining the circular aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |