Fixing device, especially for panels

Claim 1

Fixing device comprising a male part having a mounting head, a pressure head axially spaced from said mounting head, a retaining head having a retaining surface directed towards said mounting head, a snap-fastener surface, a retaining edge defined by the intersection of said retaining surface with said snap-fastener surface, an elongate cylindrical body between said pressure head and said retaining head, at least three axially extending ribs integrally formed on said elongate body directly below said pressure head, said ribs extending radially in an equal spaced arrangement about the center of said cylindrical body and a female part having a receptacle for said body, the interior wall portion adjacent the opening for said receptacle defining a circular opening having a diameter of substantially the same size as the diameter defined by an imaginary circle drawn through the outer marginal surface of said ribs to thereby provide axial centering and entrainment of said elongate body relative to said receptacle, and at least one circumferential sector for retaining said retaining head axially, wherein said retaining edge is adapted to penetrate said at least one retaining sector to provide an axial abutment opposing withdrawal of said male part from said receptacle.