US3852982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resilient ring fastener
Assignee: Twisty Inc
•
Filing: 1972-12-04
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A fastener for retaining the ends of a flexible ring including a male fastener element which is received through an entrance opening and slot and retained against a seat in a female fastener element. The resiliency and flexibility of the cable ring are utilized to retain the fastener element in position. The overall diameter of the fastener elements is not substantially greater than that of the resilient cable, therefore keys or other items secured on the ring may be passed over the fastener element in order that a selected key may be removed without the necessity of removing any other key. The entrance slot for the shank portion of the male element is oriented radially outwardly from the finished ring configuration to maximize the locked security of the fastener elements and facilitate connection and removal of the fastener element as desired.
Inventors
- 👤 F Faris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:43
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B15/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/80; Y10T70/8432; Y10T70/8676; Y10T70/8703; Y10T70/873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A ring and fastener for releasably joining the ends of a resilient cable into a substantially circular continuous member comprising: a link of longitudinally resilient and flexible cable, a male fastener element having a body portion, a shank portion, and an enlarged head portion, a female fastener element having a body portion, a shank bore at one end of said body portion, and a head entrance bore in said body portion, said head entrance bore having a diameter in excess of the diameter of said enlarged head, a shank slot extending from said heAd entrance bore into said shaft bore, a head seat communicating with said head entrance bore and said shank slot, the first end of said cable having said male fastener element secured thereto, the second end of said cable having said female fastener element secured thereto, said male and said female fastener elements secure said ends of said cable into a substantially circular ring, the unsecured end of said female fastener element is rounded and forms an outer surface concentric with said head seat, the spacing between said head seat and said outer surface being substantially equal to the length of said shank of said male fastener element, said body portion of said male fastener is enlarged and extends radially outwardly from said shank portion, the distance from said head seat to the unsecured end of said female fastener element is substantially equal to the distance from the attachment point of said head to said enlarged body portion of said male fastener element, said enlarged body portion of said male fastener element being held substantially in contact with the unsecured end of said female fastener element, said cable exerting a resilient circumferential bias and holding said enlarged head portion of said male fastener element in contact with said head seat of said female fastener element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
A ring and fastener for releasably joining the ends of a resilient cable into a substantially circular continuous member comprising: a link of longitudinally resilient and flexible cable, a male fastener element having a body portion, a shank portion, and an enlarged head portion, a female fastener element having a body portion, a shank bore at one end of said body portion, and a head entrance bore in said body portion, said head entrance bore having a diameter in excess of the diameter of said enlarged head, a shank slot extending from said heAd entrance bore into said shaft bore, a head seat communicating with said head entrance bore and said shank slot, the first end of said cable having said male fastener element secured thereto, the second end of said cable having said female fastener element secured thereto, said male and said female fastener elements secure said ends of said cable into a substantially circular ring, the unsecured end of said female fastener element is rounded and forms an outer surface concentric with said head seat, the spacing between said head seat and said outer surface being substantially equal to the length of said shank of said male fastener element, said body portion of said male fastener is enlarged and extends radially outwardly from said shank portion, the distance from said head seat to the unsecured end of said female fastener element is substantially equal to the distance from the attachment point of said head to said enlarged body portion of said male fastener element, said enlarged body portion of said male fastener element being held substantially in contact with the unsecured end of said female fastener element, said cable exerting a resilient circumferential bias and holding said enlarged head portion of said male fastener element in contact with said head seat of said female fastener element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The ring and fastener of claim 1, wherein: said male fastener shank portion is fixed in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said first end of said cable; said female fastener element having a shaft bore extending from said head seat to the unsecured end of said element; said element being fixed on said second end of said cable with the longitudinal axis of said shaft bore in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ring and fastener of claim 1, wherein the axis of said entrance bore is substantially at right angles to the axis of said shank bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ring and fastener of claim 1, wherein said head is substantially spherical, and said head seat has a seating surface that corresponds to a portion of a sphere having substantially the same diameter as said head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ring and fastener of claim 1, wherein said male and female fastener elements are comprised of non-resilient material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ring and fastener of claim 2, wherein said entrance bore is connected to said shaft bore by a head counter bore having a diameter in excess of said head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ring and fastener of claim 1, wherein said shank slot is oriented in a direction radially outwardly of the circle formed by the cable when its ends are secured together by said fastener elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE37657C
Cited
US66244A
Cited
US561855A
Cited
US1435347A
Cited
US2574579A
Cited
US2771768A
Cited
US3237977A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |