Anti-theft fastening device

Claim 1

A fastening device for securing two or more articles together comprising: (a) a base portion formed to have centrally located two opposing jaws forming an elongated narrow opening and being bent at a calculated angle from said base portion to provide a separation between the jaws which will allow for insertion of a pin from one direction but prevent the pin from being withdrawn in the opposite direction, said base also having extensions by which the base may be held captive. (b) at least one elongated lever arm having a free end, said at least one lever arm being located at the side of the base and lying substantially in the plane of the base and having its longer dimension in a direction perpendicular to the narrow opening formed by the jaws, said at least one lever arm being attached to the base so as to provide mechanical advantage when said at least one lever arm is moved at its free end, the force transferred through the mechanical advantage resulting from movement of said at least one lever arm at its free end being applied to the base substantially between the bends defining the jaws causing a distortion to the central portion of the base relataive to is ends which results in the jaws being moved toward or away from each other; (c) at least one riser having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being pivotally attached to the free end of said at least one lever arm, said at least one risesr transmits movement and force from said upper end to the free end of said at least one lever arm, said at least one riser designed to move said at least one lever arm freely on an arc to a sufficient degree necessary to flex the base for an unlock operation, (d) a means for transmitting force attached to said upper end of said at least one riser which when acted on by external forces transmits force and movement to said at least one riser; wherein when said pin is inserted between said jaws, it is locked in place and can only be removed when sufficient force is transmitted through said transmitting means to cause said at least one riser to move said at least one lever arm in a direction which will move said jaws away from each other to unlock said pin from said jaws.