Tee tree fastener

Claim 2

A fastener of the type which is adapted for joining at least two members together, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice in a first member and into a slot in a second member; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, said abutting means having at least two flat surfaces adapted for continuously contacting a slot wall, said surfaces being oriented substantially perpendicular to each other thereby preventing rotation of said fastener relative to said slot once it has been inserted into the slot regardless of the initial orientation of said fastener relative to said slot; and means integral with said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member, whereby the two members may be securely fastened, and wherein no possibility exists of said fastener rotating with respect to the slot.

Claim 3

A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said resilient engaging means comprises reusable means on a first side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot, and non-reusable means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot.

Claim 4

A fastener according to claim 1, further comprising second head means integral with said shank means, which is adapted for engaging a third member, whereby the third member is secured to the first and second members.

Claim 5

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a first fastening position or a second fastening position, comprising: an elongate shank; a head member which is integral with an upper portion of said shank; an elongate rail member integral with and substantially parallel to said shank, said rail member having a substantially T-shaped cross-section; a plurality of first resilient teeth attached to a side of said shank which is opposite said rail member, said teeth being angled toward said head member at a first angle; and a plurality of second teeth attached to second and third sides of said shank which are substantially perpendicular to said first side, said second teeth being angled toward said head member at a second angle whereby said fastener is adapted to be inserted into a slot, electively, in either a first fastening orientation or a second fastening orientation, with said rail member adapted to abut sides of the slot to prevent rotation of said fastener.

Claim 6

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a first fastening position or a second fastening position, comprising: an elongate shank; a head member which is integral with an upper portion of said shank; an elongate rail member integral with and substantially parallel to said shank, said rail member having a substantially T-shaped cross-section; a plurality of first resilient teeth attached to a side of said shank which is opposite said rail member, said teeth being angled toward said head member at a first angle; and a plurality of second teeth attached to second and third sides of said shank which are substantially perpendicular to said first side, said second teeth being angled toward said head member at a second angle whereby said fastener is adapted to be inserted into a slot, electively, in either a first fastening orientation or a second fastening orientation, with said rail member adapted to abut sides of the slot to prevent rotation of said fastener.

Claim 7

A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said second angle is less than said first angle.

Claim 8

A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said first teeth are non-reusable.

Claim 9

A fastener according to claim 4, wherein said second teeth are reusable.

Claim 10

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in the second member; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot; second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions; and means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, said abutting means comprising a T-shaped rail extending from said shank means and having a side edge, a top edge and a lower edge, said top edge adapted to engage a first slot wall, and said lower edge adapted to engage a second slot wall when said fastener is in the first rotational position, whereby said fastener is prevented from rotating relative to the slot.

Claim 11

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in the second member; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot; second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions; and means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, said abutting means comprising a T-shaped rail extending from said shank means and having a side edge, a top edge and a lower edge, said top edge adapted to engage a first slot wall, and said lower edge adapted to engage a second slot wall when said fastener is in the first rotational position, whereby said fastener is prevented from rotating relative to the slot.

Claim 12

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in a second member, said shank means including a tip portion having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross-section; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means, which are adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot; and second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions.

Claim 13

A two-way fastener which is adapted for joining at least two members together in, electively, either a reusable position or a non-reusable position, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice which is defined in a first member and into a slot which is defined in a second member, said shank means including a tip portion having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross-section; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; first engagement means on at least a first side of said shank means, which are adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a first rotational position relative to the slot; and second engagement means on a second side of said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging the lower surface of the second member when said shank means is in a second rotational position relative to the slot, whereby said fastener may join the members together in either the first or second rotational positions.

Claim 14

A fastener of the type which is adapted for joining at least two members together, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice in a first member and into a slot in a second member, said shank means having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross section; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, thereby preventing rotation of said fastener relative to said slot once it has been inserted into the slot; and means integral with said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member, whereby the two members may be securely fastened, and wherein no possibility exists of said fastener rotating with respect to the slot.

Claim 15

A fastener of the type which is adapted for joining at least two members together, comprising: shank means adapted for axial insertion into an orifice in a first member and into a slot in a second member, said shank means having a rounded tip end and a head portion which has a rectangular cross section; head means which is integral with said shank means and is adapted for engaging an upper surface of the first member; means integral with said shank means which is adapted for abutting the walls of the slot, thereby preventing rotation of said fastener relative to said slot once it has been inserted into the slot; and means integral with said shank means which is adapted for resiliently engaging a lower surface of the second member, whereby the two members may be securely fastened, and wherein no possibility exists of said fastener rotating with respect to the slot.