Connector for plates

Claim 1

A one-piece plastic connector adapted for use in a polygonal shaped aperture in a flat plate, including an imperforate head portion, operating means disposed on one surface of said head portion, a noncircular fitting portion means disposed on the other surface of said head portion and having means defining a configuration substantially complimentary to the shape of said polygonal aperture in said plate, said fitting portion means including slanted surfaces tapering toward each of the corners thereof in the direction of said head but terminating in axially spaced relation to said head, a centrally disposed resilient plate-like anchor member extending axially out from and angularly disposed relative to said slanted surfaces on said fitting portion, said member having side-to-side dimension slightly smaller than the largest dimension of the aperture in said plate but greater than the distance between opposite sides of said polygonal aperture, said member being provided with inclined shoulders on the sides where the anchor member joins said fitting portion, said anchor member further including a pair of through apertures that form a centrally disposed rigid post-like member extending from the distal portion of the transverse surfaces of said plate-like member to the center of said imperforate head with its associated noncircular fitting portion, a free entering end including relatively flexible beam-like transverse portions extending radially outwardly from said post-like member a substantial extent, a pair of resilient substantially uniform thickness side walls extending generally perpendicular from the ends of said transverse member to a point intermediate the axial extent of said post-like member and thence angularly inwardly to their point of attachment to said fitting portion to thereby provide inclined shoulders in the form of resilient cam surfaces whereby upon application to a complimentary apertured workpiece said side walls and said free entering beam-like end portions flex during rotation until said fitting portion is seated in said aperture.