Rotary entry fastener carrier and strip

Claim 2

A strip of rotary entry fasteners comprising a flexible plastic carrier including a web and pairs of tabs extending generAlly transverse to the web from opposite edges thereof, slots in the tabs, a plurality of fasteners having shanks frictionally and releasably retained in said slots, each shank including a threaded portion supported by a first tab of each pair and a spaced portion supported by a second tab of each pair, and the slot of each first tab having a fastener engaging portion narrower than the major thread diameter and wider than the minor thread diameter.

Claim 3

The strip of claim 1, the portions of each first tab to each side of its slot being urged in opposite directions along the fastener shank by engagement with said threaded portion.

Claim 4

The strip of claim 2, the slot of each first tab further including an entrance bevel portion and a neck portion disposed between said bevel portion and said fastener engaging portion.

Claim 5

The strip of claim 3, said neck portion being narrower than the minor thread diameter.

Claim 6

The strip of claim 4, the slot of each second tab of each pair engaging a nonthreaded shank portion of one said fastener.

Claim 7

The strip of claim 1, an opening in said web corresponding to each pair of tabs.

Claim 8

The strip of claim 6, notches along the opposite edges of said web between adjoining tabs and aligned with said openings.

Claim 9

A carrier for a series of fasteners having at least partly threaded shanks, said carrier comprising an integral body of flexible plastic material including an elongated web portion and a plurality of pairs of spaced, parallel tabs extending generally transversely from opposed edges of the web portion, each tab including an open ended slot receiving a fastener shank through the open end thereof, the slot of at least one tab of each pair receiving a threaded portion of the shank and having a maximum width between the major and minor thread diameters.

Claim 10

A carrier for a series of fasteners having at least partly threaded shanks, said carrier comprising an integral body of flexible plastic material including an elongated web portion and a plurality of pairs of spaced, parallel tabs extending generally transversely from opposed edges of the web portion, each tab including an open ended slot receiving a fastener shank through the open end thereof, the slot of at least one tab of each pair receiving a threaded portion of the shank and having a maximum width between the major and minor thread diameters.

Claim 11

The carrier of claim 8, the slot of the other tab of each pair receiving a nonthreaded portion of said shank and having a width at least substantially as large as the diameter of the nonthreaded portion.

Claim 12

The carrier of claim 8, a series of openings in said web, said openings each corresponding to one said pair of tabs.

Claim 13

The carrier of claim 8, notches extending inwardly from the edges of said web between adjacent tabs.

Claim 14

A combination of a carrier and a series of fasteners, said combination comprising: a plurality of similar fasteners each having a shank, head means and tip means at opposite ends of said shank, and a thread structure on said shank; an elongated web of flexible plastic material having a width smaller than the length of said shanks; a series of spaced upper tabs integral with and extending from one edge of said web; a series of spaced lower tabs integral with and extending from the opposite edge of said web; said upper and lower tabs extending to the same side of and generally transversely of said web; a thread receiving slot in each said lower tab having an entrance neck portion narrower than the minor thread diameter and an enlarged portion inward of said neck portion having a diameter larger than the minor thread diameter and smaller than the major thread diameter; each thread receiving slot engaging the thread structure of one said fastener, the opposed edges of said thread receiving slot being displaced in opposite directions along the axis of the fastener shank by engagement with said thread structure; and an additional slot in each upper tab receiving a portion of each shank spaced from said lower tab.

Claim 15

A combination of a carrier and a series of fasteners, said combination comprising: a plurality of similar fasteners each having a shank, head means and tip means at opposite ends of said shank, and a thread structure on said shank; an elongated web of flexible plastic material having a width smaller than the length of said shanks; a series of spaced upper tabs integral with and extending from one edge of said web; a series of spaced lower tabs integral with and extending from the opposite edge of said web; said upper and lower tabs extending to the same side of and generally transversely of said web; a thread receiving slot in each said lower tab having an entrance neck portion narrower than the minor thread diameter and an enlarged portion inward of said neck portion having a diameter larger than the minor thread diameter and smaller than the major thread diameter; each thread receiving slot engaging the thread structure of one said fastener, the opposed edges of said thread receiving slot being displaced in opposite directions along the axis of the fastener shank by engagement with said thread structure; and an additional slot in each upper tab receiving a portion of each shank spaced from said lower tab.

Claim 16

In combination, an elongaged flexible plastic carrier strip, and a series of rotary entry fasteners having at least partly threaded shanks supported generally parallel with one another by said strip at generally equidistant locations along the strip, the central axis of each said fastener intersecting the longitudinal axis of said strip, said carrier including a plurality of similar holding structures spaced along said strip each for holding one said fastener, each said holding structure comprisIng spaced first and second holding means engageable with the fastener shank at spaced locations therealong, at least one said holding means engaging a threaded portion of said shank, said one holding means comprising a tab member integral with said strip and having an open ended slot defining a pair of legs flanking said slot, the width of said slot being smaller than the major thread diameter and larger than the minor thread diameter of said shank, said shank being inserted into said slot and the threads of said shank urging said legs in opposite directions along the axis of said shank and applying a rotational force to said shank, said other holding means engaging said shank and preventing said rotational movement whereby said shank is held in resilient tension between said first and second holding means.

Claim 17

In combination, an elongaged flexible plastic carrier strip, and a series of rotary entry fasteners having at least partly threaded shanks supported generally parallel with one another by said strip at generally equidistant locations along the strip, the central axis of each said fastener intersecting the longitudinal axis of said strip, said carrier including a plurality of similar holding structures spaced along said strip each for holding one said fastener, each said holding structure comprisIng spaced first and second holding means engageable with the fastener shank at spaced locations therealong, at least one said holding means engaging a threaded portion of said shank, said one holding means comprising a tab member integral with said strip and having an open ended slot defining a pair of legs flanking said slot, the width of said slot being smaller than the major thread diameter and larger than the minor thread diameter of said shank, said shank being inserted into said slot and the threads of said shank urging said legs in opposite directions along the axis of said shank and applying a rotational force to said shank, said other holding means engaging said shank and preventing said rotational movement whereby said shank is held in resilient tension between said first and second holding means.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 13, said slot comprising a neck portion adjacent its open end having a width smaller than the minor thread diameter of said shank, and an enlarged fastener retaining portion inwardly of said neck portion.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14, said enlarged portion being generally circular in shape and having a diameter roughly intermediate said major and minor thread diameters.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 15, said tab having a thickness smaller than the thread pitch of said shank.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 15, said tab having a thickness greater than the thread pitch of said shank.