Patent US3327122A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3803670A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3803670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fastener device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1974-04-16
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for fastening together lapped panels having a hole therethrough. The device has a snap pin with a head and a shank portion with a pair of radially spaced resilient and flexible fingers adapted to extend through the hole of the panels and receive a washer releasably retained thereon by a pair of generally opposed lobes on the free ends of the fingers.
Inventors
- 👤 W Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B21/00; F16B21/06; F16B21/08; F16B21/086; A; A47; A47C; A47C5/00; A47C5/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A fastener device for fastening together lapped panels having generally axially aligned holes therethrough comprising; a retainer washer having a hole therethrough and a one-piece snap pin of a homogeneous plastic material, said snap pin having a head adjacent one end and an integral shank portion extending generally axially therefrom with at least two radially spaced generally axially extending integral resiliently flexible fingers, each of said fingers having an integral lobe adjacent its free end, said fingers being adapted to slidably receive said washer thereon and extend through said hole thereof, each of said lobes having an abutment surface thereon extending generally radially outward of said fingers and lapping said washer when slidably received on said fingers to retain said washer thereon when urged generally axially away from said head of said snap pin, a web integral with and extending generally axially between said radially spaced fingers with its free end terminating immediately adjacent the annular face of said retainer washer when said retainer washer is received on said fingers with the outer face thereof bearing on said abutment surfaces of said lobes, and said lobes being dimensioned with respect to said hole of said washer such that when urged generally radially inwardly said fingers are flexed and said lobes will slide through said hole in said washer, whereby when said snap pin is inserted through the generally axially aligned holes in the lapped panels and said washer which flexes said fingers and initially shifts said lobes generally radially inwardly they snap generally radially outwardly to lap said abutment surfaces with said washer on said shank to fasten the panels together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A fastener device for fastening together lapped panels having generally axially aligned holes therethrough comprising; a retainer washer having a hole therethrough and a one-piece snap pin of a homogeneous plastic material, said snap pin having a head adjacent one end and an integral shank portion extending generally axially therefrom with at least two radially spaced generally axially extending integral resiliently flexible fingers, each of said fingers having an integral lobe adjacent its free end, said fingers being adapted to slidably receive said washer thereon and extend through said hole thereof, each of said lobes having an abutment surface thereon extending generally radially outward of said fingers and lapping said washer when slidably received on said fingers to retain said washer thereon when urged generally axially away from said head of said snap pin, a web integral with and extending generally axially between said radially spaced fingers with its free end terminating immediately adjacent the annular face of said retainer washer when said retainer washer is received on said fingers with the outer face thereof bearing on said abutment surfaces of said lobes, and said lobes being dimensioned with respect to said hole of said washer such that when urged generally radially inwardly said fingers are flexed and said lobes will slide through said hole in said washer, whereby when said snap pin is inserted through the generally axially aligned holes in the lapped panels and said washer which flexes said fingers and initially shifts said lobes generally radially inwardly they snap generally radially outwardly to lap said abutment surfaces with said washer on said shank to fasten the panels together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
The fastener device of claim 1 for fastening lapped panels of a slightly flexible and resilient material such as corrugated cardboard wherein the axial distance between said abutment surface of each of said lobes and said head of said snap pin is dimensioned such that when said washer is received on said fingers and bearing on said abutment surface the axial distance between the adjacent opposed faces of said head and said washer is intentionally dimensioned less than the total thickness of the lapped panels in their normal uncompressed state, whereby the panels are placed in compression by said fastener immediately adjacent thereto and said fingers of said snap pin are placed in tension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fastener device of claim 2 wherein said axial distance between the adjacent opposed faces of said head and said washer is not more than nine-tenth of the thickness of the lapped panels in their fRee uncompressed state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The fastener device of claim 2 wherein each of said abutment surfaces terminates generally radially outwardly of its associated finger such that the effective length of said snap pin is increased when said fingers are flexed to move said lobes generally radially inward and decreased when said fingers return to their normal unflexed position whereby assembly of said retainer washer on said snap pin to fasten the panels together is facilitated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein said web is also integral with said head of said snap pin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein said snap pin has only one pair of radially spaced fingers with one pair of generally radially opposed lobes each integral with its associated finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein each of said lobes has an outer cam surface sloping generally radially inwardly as said cam surface extends generally axially away from said head of said snap pin and terminates generally radially inwardly of the hole of said washer when said hole of said washer is coaxial with said shank and said fingers are in their normal unflexed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The fastener device of claim 7 wherein each of said lobes has an inner surface which slopes generally radially outwardly as said inner surface extends generally axially away from said head of said snap pin to allow said lugs to be displaced generally radially inwardly sufficiently for said retainer washer to pass over said lugs to be received on and removed from said fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein each of said lobes has an inner surface which slopes generally radially outwardly as said inner surface extends generally axially away from said head of said snap pin to allow said lugs to be displaced generally radially inwardly sufficiently for said retainer washer to pass over said lugs to be received on and removed from said fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein said homogeneous plastic material is a polypropylene plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein both said washer and said snap pin are each a homogeneous polypropylene, polyethylene, high impact polystyrene, nylon or cycolac plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
The fastener device of claim 1 for fastening lapped panels of an incompressible material wherein the axial distance between said abutment surface of each of said lobes and said head of said snap pin is dimensioned such that when said washer is received on said fingers and bearing on said abutment surface, the axial distance between the adjacent opposed faces of said head and said washer is intentionally dimensioned to be substantially equal to the total thickness of the lapped panels immediately adjacent the aligned holes in said panels through which said snap pin extends when fastening the lapped panels together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The fastener device of claim 17 wherein each of said abutment surfaces terminates generally radially outwardly of its associated finger such that the effective length of said snap pin is increased when said fingers are flexed to move said lobes generally radially inward and decreased when said fingers return to their normal unflexed position whereby assembly of said retainer washer on said snap pin to fasten the panels together is facilitated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The fastener device of claim 1 wherein each of said abutment surfaces terminates generally radially outwardly of its associated finger such that the effective length of said snap pin is increased when said fingers are flexed to move said lobes generally radially inward and decreased when said fingers return to their normal unflexed position whereby assembly of said retainer washer on said snap pin to fasten the panels together is facilitated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-15 | 1977-10-15 | 1978-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-15 | 1981-10-15 | 1982-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-15 | 1985-10-15 | 1986-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |