CA1098291A - Fixing device for face-to-face union of two panels - Google Patents
Fixing device for face-to-face union of two panelsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1098291A CA1098291A CA297,471A CA297471A CA1098291A CA 1098291 A CA1098291 A CA 1098291A CA 297471 A CA297471 A CA 297471A CA 1098291 A CA1098291 A CA 1098291A
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- barrel
- hole
- barrel portion
- male member
- engaging
- Prior art date
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Abstract
FIXING DEVICE FOR FACE-TO-FACE UNION OF TWO PANELS
Abstract of the Disclosure:
Disclosed is a fixing device which comprises male and female members and thereby serves to bring two panels into adjacent face-to-face union. The male member possesses all axially spaced double flanged head portion adapted to snap into tight engagement with a key-hole shaped aperture in one of the two panels given to be joined and a shaft portion extending from one face of the head portion, the shaft portion being provided at the leading end thereof with a bulbous engaging portion adapted to be coupled with the female member. The female member possesses a sac-like barrel portion adapted to be inserted through a hole in the other panel and provided at one extremity thereof with an opening to expose the hollow interior thereof and a head flange serving to limit the depth to which the barrel portion is inserted through the hole. The female member barrel portion is provided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate the length of the hollow interior of the barrel portion and adapted to admit the engaging portion of the shaft portion into freely relievable capture. The male member has the entire shaft portion thereof, except for the bulbous portion, shaped in a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of swinging motion with the bulbous engaging portion in the captured position serving as a fulcrum, the shaft portion of the male member having a length such that the base part of the shaft is exposed from the opening of the barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between the head flange formed at the barrel opening and the main flange of the head portion of the male member when the shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby the swinging motion is permitted.
Abstract of the Disclosure:
Disclosed is a fixing device which comprises male and female members and thereby serves to bring two panels into adjacent face-to-face union. The male member possesses all axially spaced double flanged head portion adapted to snap into tight engagement with a key-hole shaped aperture in one of the two panels given to be joined and a shaft portion extending from one face of the head portion, the shaft portion being provided at the leading end thereof with a bulbous engaging portion adapted to be coupled with the female member. The female member possesses a sac-like barrel portion adapted to be inserted through a hole in the other panel and provided at one extremity thereof with an opening to expose the hollow interior thereof and a head flange serving to limit the depth to which the barrel portion is inserted through the hole. The female member barrel portion is provided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate the length of the hollow interior of the barrel portion and adapted to admit the engaging portion of the shaft portion into freely relievable capture. The male member has the entire shaft portion thereof, except for the bulbous portion, shaped in a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of swinging motion with the bulbous engaging portion in the captured position serving as a fulcrum, the shaft portion of the male member having a length such that the base part of the shaft is exposed from the opening of the barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between the head flange formed at the barrel opening and the main flange of the head portion of the male member when the shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby the swinging motion is permitted.
Description
8.~L
Background of the Invention:
-This invention relates to a fixing device used for intimateface-to-face union of two panels. More particularly, the present invention rela-tes to an improved plastic fixing device which is -5 effectively used for astening to the inner wall of an automobile body a decorative panel intended for interior decoration of the automobile.
Generally, the decorative panel used for lining the automobile body comprises a foundational plate and a decorative sheet such as of fabric or vinyl leather applied to the surface of the foun-dational plate.- When the decorative panel is fastened to the inner wall of the automobile body, there must be adopted a device :, .
capable of enabling the reverse surface of the panel to be directly united with the inner wall of the automobile without ever impairing the decorative sheet-in any way. For this reason, the fixing device used for fastening the decorative panel o~ this class is given a construction such that it can be planted directly in the reverse surface of the decorative panel. Preparatory to setting a given decorative panel to the inner wall of an automobile body, the fixing devlce is planted in the reverse surface of the decora-tive panel. As the decora-tive panel is brought closer to the inner wall, the engaging leg of the fixing device is lodged in a hole perforated in advance in the inner wall. Then, a blow is delivered from behind the surface of the decorative panel to the flxing device by a hammer to drive the engaging leg forcibly into the hole, bringing the decorative panel into fast attachment to the inner wall.
The fixing device for fastening the decorative panel, thus, can be finally driven into the hole in the inner wall by use of a hammer to bring the decorative panel into fast union with -the inner wall. The fixing device proposed to date has becll dirccted mainl~
to fast union of the decorative panel. It, therefore, can be expected to provide strong attachment of the decorative panel but ~ can never be expec-ted to permit separation of the decorative " - - 1 -~ ,,;
Background of the Invention:
-This invention relates to a fixing device used for intimateface-to-face union of two panels. More particularly, the present invention rela-tes to an improved plastic fixing device which is -5 effectively used for astening to the inner wall of an automobile body a decorative panel intended for interior decoration of the automobile.
Generally, the decorative panel used for lining the automobile body comprises a foundational plate and a decorative sheet such as of fabric or vinyl leather applied to the surface of the foun-dational plate.- When the decorative panel is fastened to the inner wall of the automobile body, there must be adopted a device :, .
capable of enabling the reverse surface of the panel to be directly united with the inner wall of the automobile without ever impairing the decorative sheet-in any way. For this reason, the fixing device used for fastening the decorative panel o~ this class is given a construction such that it can be planted directly in the reverse surface of the decorative panel. Preparatory to setting a given decorative panel to the inner wall of an automobile body, the fixing devlce is planted in the reverse surface of the decora-tive panel. As the decora-tive panel is brought closer to the inner wall, the engaging leg of the fixing device is lodged in a hole perforated in advance in the inner wall. Then, a blow is delivered from behind the surface of the decorative panel to the flxing device by a hammer to drive the engaging leg forcibly into the hole, bringing the decorative panel into fast attachment to the inner wall.
The fixing device for fastening the decorative panel, thus, can be finally driven into the hole in the inner wall by use of a hammer to bring the decorative panel into fast union with -the inner wall. The fixing device proposed to date has becll dirccted mainl~
to fast union of the decorative panel. It, therefore, can be expected to provide strong attachment of the decorative panel but ~ can never be expec-ted to permit separation of the decorative " - - 1 -~ ,,;
2~
panel from the inner wall.
In the case of an automobile which has been lined with decorative panels by use of the conventional fixing device~ if a plate glass in -the door is broken or any of parts used inside the door goes out of order, an access to the door interior for the puxpose of replacement of broken glass or inspection of parts in trouble must be gained by forcibly prying the decorative panel off ~;~
- the door shell. Since the foundational sheet used in the decora-tive panel is generally made of a material inferior in strength to the metallic sheet of which the automobile body is formed, the :
immoderate force exerted in prying the panel off the.door shell can break the foundational sheet so seriously as to render it no longer usable or can cause the engaging leg of the fixing device to be scraped against the edge of the hole so heavily as to.be ~ 15 completely deprived of its function. The work of removal of the ~ decorative panel involved in such a case, therefore, has proved ~ :
`~ extremely difficult. Partlcularly since the fixed device of this class has a function such that.attachment of one decorative panel requires use of a plurality of such devices, the possibility of ~0 the work of removal inflicting damage to the decorative panel has been fairly high.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device which enables two panels to be brought into perfect union with appropriate force and, when there arises rlecessity for ~ 25 separating the panels from each other, also enables them to be -. released from the union with no damage inflicted on either the panels or the fixing device.itself~ ~
Summary of the Invention: :
To accomplish the object described above according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing device which comprises I ~.
a male member and a female member serving to bring two panels into adjacent face-to-face union, with the male member possessing a head portion adapted to snap into tight engagement with a hole ~' - 2 -,~ ~
2~3~
perforated in one of the two panels given to be joined and a shaft portion extending from one face of the head portion. The head portion is provided with a main flange adapted to limit the depth to which the head portion is inserted -through the hole, a neck portion adapted to be retained in the hole, and a retainlng flange adapted to engage the opposite surface of the panel and -serve to prevent the neck portion from being pulled axially out of the hole. The shaft portion is provided at the leading end thereof with an engaging substantially spherical bulbous portion ; 10 having a predetermined diameter adapted to be coupled with the ~;~ female member, with the female member possessing a barrel portion -adapted to be inserted through a hole in the other panel and provided at one extremity thereo with an opening to eY~pose the hollow interior thereof, and a resilient sealing head flange adapted to limit the depth to which the barrel portion lS inserted through the hole, with the barrel portion being continuous through- -out its length and including a closed generally spherical extremity .
~; opposite said opening. ~The female member barrel por-tion is pro-vided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate ~; 20 the length~of the hollow interior of the barrel portion, and that ~ step portion presents an effective diameter less than the pre-; determined diameter and adapted to admit the engaging bulbous portion of the shaft portion into resilient capture. A c1rcum-ferentially spaced shoulder means is disposed on the exterior of the barrel portion and axially positioned between the one level and the head flange. The male member has the substantially cylin-drical shaft portion thereof throughout its entire length above the bulbous pGrtion having a diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of substantial swinying motion with the bulbous portion in a captured state ':
: .
~ ; - 3 "
serving as a fulcrum and to permit radial inward collapse of the barrel portion during insertion in the panel hole when preassembled to the male member. The shaft portion of the male member has a length such that the base part of the silaf-t is exposed from the opening of the barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between the head flange formed a-t the barrel opening and the main flange of -the head portion of the male member when the shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby the swinging motion is permitted.
~ 10 Brief Explanation of the Drawing:
; FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front elevation illustrating the male and female members of this invention as held in mutually separated state.
FIG. 2 is a partially sec-tioned front elevation of the fixing device of the invention as held in working~state.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective exploded view of the fixing device.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 represent other preferred embodiments - ~ of the present invention; FIG. 4 being a front view in centrally longitudinal section illustrating a state in which the male and female mer~ers already coupled wikh each other are poised partly into the hole perforated in the supporting panel and FIG. 5 being a partially sectioned Eront view illustrating a state in which the female member of FIG. 4 is on the verge of being ,~
fastened against the hole perforated in the supporting panel.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 represent still other preferred embodi-ments of the present invention; FIG. 6 being a partially sectioned front view illustrating the fixing device in i-ts s-tate of use and FIG. 7 being a perspective partially cutaway view of tlie female member.
2~
The other objects and characteristic features of the present invention will become apparent from the descriptlon of the invention to be given herein below with reference to illustrated preferred embodiments.
Detailed ~escription of Preferred Embodiments:
A male member 1 is provided with a head portion 5 adapted to come into engagement with a pyriform fitting hole 4 perforated in a decorative panel 3 and a shaft portion 6 adapted to be admitted by a female member 2 into fast capture. The head portion 5 is provided with a retaining flange 8 of a small diameter and a main flange 9 of a large diameter, the two flanges being opposed to each other across an intervening neck portion 7 having a circular periphery. The shaft portion 6 extends perpendlcularly from one side o~ the main flange 9 along the axial line of the ~ .~
; 15 neck portion 7, and the shaft portion 6 is provided at~ the leading end thereof with a substantially spherical bulbous engaging portion ,: 10.
The pyriform fitting hole 4 perforated in the decorative panel 3 is formed of a circular hole 4a of a large diameter and 2~ a hole 4b of a small diameter, the two holes continuing partly into each other. The large-diameter hole 4a possesses a diameter greater than the diameter of the retaining flange ~ of the llead portion 5 but smaller than the diameter of the main flange 9.
The small-diameter hole 4b which continues ,, .
:~ , ~, ~,.
from the large~diameter hole 4a po3æesse~ a diameter smaller than ths diameter of che retaining flange 8. The conætriction 4c where the two holes 4a9 4b oontinue into each other has a width enough for permitting passage of the neck portion 7 oonnecting the retaining flange 8 and the main flange 9.
For attaohment of the male member 1 to the fitting hole 4, the re-taining flange 8 is inserted from one side of the decorative panel 3 into the large-diameter hole 4a until the main flange 9 collides into the panel surface and then, with the male member held in that ~tate, the whole male member is moved sid6wise in the direction of the 6mall-diameter hole 4b until it is tran~ferred past the constri¢tion 4c into the small-diameter portion 4b. Consequently, the male member is brought into fast engagement with the deoorative panel by the retaining fiange 8 and the main flange 9 being brought into clinging oontaot with the opposite sides of the decorative panel. If, in this case, the head portion 5 thus ~` reoeived in the small-diameter hole 4b is suffered to move into tha large-diameter hole 4a~ i-t will automatically slip off the fitting hole. rrhi~
undesired slip can be prevented by ~haping the neck portion 7 o~ the head portion 5 in a length prefixed to equal the wall thicknes~ of the de¢oratlve panel so that, when the male mernber 1 is received in the small-diameter hole 4b, the opposed surfaces of th0 retaining flange 8 and the main flange 9 come into clinging engagement effectively with the opposite surfaces of the decorative panel.
.
rrha female member 2 which is to be coupled with the male member 1 ~;
has, as its main struoture, a barrel portion 11 po~sessed of the 6hapa of a substantially inverted cone and a hollow interior and it is further provided with a fi-tting flange 13 formed in the shape of an umbrella along the outer periphery of an opening 12 at tha mouth of the hollow interior~ The barrel portion 11 is provided on the outar surface thereof with a plurality of engaging projection~ 14 terminating to confront the q~
lower surface of the fitting flange 130 In the hollow interior of ths barrel portion 11, there is provided an annular engaging step portion 15 serving to admit the engaging portion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion of the male member 1 into fast captureO
In this preferred embodiment, the b~rrel portion 11 ie shaped so that its diameter at the opening at which the outside diameter is largest is slightly smaller than -the diameter of a hole perforatad in a support-ing panel 16. In oontrast, the engaging projections 14 which rise from the outer surf`aoe of the barrel portion are so shaped that the imaginary circle drawn through the apexes thereof has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 17~ At their ends opposed to the fitting flanga 13 these engaging projections 14 are provided eaoh with a step l~o Between these steps 14' and the fitting flange 13) there are consequently formed gaps 18 for admitting the edge of the hole 17, The barrel portion 11 serves to admit the shaft portion 6 of the male member 1 into tight engagement with the female member. In this preferred ~ embodiment~ the barrel portion 11 i8 shaped so as to have a dep~h enough for receiving the entire length of the shaft portion 6 including the engaging portion 10 At one level in the entire depth of the inner wall surface~ there is provided the engaging step portion 15 serving to admit the engaging portion 10 into fa3t capture. Besi.de~, the inside diameter o~ the barrel portion between the opening 12 and the engaging step por-tion 15 is greater than the diameter of thè shaft portion 6 and tha$ of the engaging portion 10 so as to facilitate insertion of the two portions.
~t the same time~ the open space 19 which oocurs between the ~haft por-tion 6 in~erted into the barrel portion and the inner wall surface of the barrel portion provides freedom of motion for the shaft portion.
~he engaging step portion 15 i6 formed in an annular shape along the inner wall surface of the ~arrel portion, and the surface of this portion 15 on the openi.ng 12 side i9 inclined so as to facilitata ad~ance of the ~ 7 --engaging portion 10 past -the step portion. The opposite surface of the portion 15 is cur~ed inwardly with greaSer sharpness so that the en-gaging portion 10 once admit-ted into tight capture below the step por-tion will experience greater difficulty in escaping from the capture than when it is admi-tted into the capture. ~his engaging step portion 15 is so oonstructed that when the engaging por-tion 10 is admitted ~nto tight capture and its bulbou~ ~urface is pressed against the inner edge of th~
step por-tion 15, the ~haft portion 6 reaches a depth at which its ba3e part is partially exposed from the opening 12 of the barrel portion 11 and~ when the male member 1 iæ lifted while the two member~ are in a coupled state, the lower surface of the main flange 9 slightly rises from the upper surfaoe of the fitting flange 13 of the female member 2. It :
goes without saying that the engaging step portion 15 is formed with an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the bulbous engaglng por-tion lQ and that it expands outwardly by ~:irtue of the resiliency of its pla~tic material so as to admit the engaging portion 10 into ti8ht oapture~
he female member 2 which is construoted as desoribed abova to cor- :respond to the male member 1 is set in position in the hole 17 perforated in the supporting panel 16 by inserting the barrel portion 11 into the ~ 20 hole 17 and subsequently allowing it to advance until the lower surfaoe -~ of the fitting fl~nge 13 oollides into the panel surface and9 at the same ~:
time~ the engaging projections 14 for~ed on 'he outer surface of the barrel pGrtion oomplete their pa sage through the hole 17.
The female member 2 is at-taohed fast to the ~upporting pane~ by the faot that the barrel portion 11 once contracted inwardly owing to 1ts : oontact with the unyielding edge of the hole resumes its original shap0by virtue of reslliency of its plastic material and the engaging pro-jections 14 are consequently allowed to expand to their full si~e on the opposite side of the hole. ln this sase, the female member is pre-vented from being pulled out of the hole by the olinging eng~gement of . - 8 -the engaging projections wi-th the panel. At the same time, the umbrella-shaped fitting fl~nge 13 is spread out and pressed down against the sur-face of the supporting panel in oonsequence of the insertion desoribed above. Owing to the resiliency~ the fitting flange 13 cling~ to the ~upporting panel without any possibility of loosening and it also co~ers and seals the hole 17.
With the fixing devi~le of this invention which is oonstructad as described above9 desired fast union of the decorative panel with the supporting panel i3 accomplished by first setting the male member 1 in the fitting hole 4 formed in the decorative panel 3 by the method de-soribed above for thereby causing the shaft portion 6 to rise from the raverse side of the decorative panel and, at the same tims~ se-tting the female member 2 in the hole perforated in the supporting panel 16 and, subsequently to eompletion of the setting of the two members in the holes~
~ 5 bringing the dscorative panel close to the supporting panel for thereby .~ oau~ing the shaft portion 6 protruding from the reve~se. surface of the : deoorative panel to be posed in the openlng of the~barrel portion~ then delivering a blow from the surfaoe side of the deccrative panel to the head portion 5 of the male member with a suitable tool such as a hammer for thereby oausing the engaging portion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion to thrust into the engaging step portion 15 within the barrel portion 11~
FIG. 2 illustrates the male and female members in: a ooupled state.
~he barrel portion 11 in which the shaft portion of the male member 1 i8 introduoed by the blow delivered to the head portion of the male msmber fulfils its role of joining the two members by oausing ths engaging por-tion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion to be admitted into tight engagement with the engaging step portion 15. In this oase, the engaging portion 10 is rather easily brou~ht into the engagement beoause it is guided along the in¢linsd surfaoe on the opening 12 side of the engaging step portion and rnade to slide ~qmoothly past the step portionO
Once it is admitted into fast capture inside the step portion, it is pressed against the sharply curved ~urface on the opposite side of the step portion a~d cannot easily be pulled ou-t9 Since the engaging por-tion 10 is formed in a bulbous shape, however, the ætep portion is rssiliently expanded outwardly to release the engaging portio~ from the capture if the shaft portion is drawn with a force greater than the force exerted during the preceding insertion of the engaging member.
Further in this ca~e, since the shaft portion 6 inserted in the ,:10 barrel portion 11 has a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion and~ con~equen-tly, the space 19 occurs betwsen the shaft portion and the inner wall surface of the barrel portion, the shaft por-tion enjoys freedom of swi.nging motion with the engaging portlon 10 ser-~i.ng as a fulorum~
'~he fixing device of the present invention9 therefore, not merely permits the decorative panel 3 to be fastened to the supporting panal 16 by the union of the male and female membsrs theraof but also allows the decorative panel to be released from the supporting panel by oausing th~ -:
shaft portion inserted in the barrel portion to be pulled with a force ~ 20 enough to overcome tha ~orce with which the engaging step portion keep~
.~ the bulbous engaging portion in capture~ Further in this caæe, since the shaft portion held inside the barrel portion ~njoys ~reedom of swinging motion relative to the barrel portion~ the direotion in which the shaf-t portion oan be pulled out of the barrel portion can bè selectsd with proportionally ample freedom. Thus, the decorative panel can be ssparated from the supporting panel without-exerting any unwanted load to bear upon the male member.
Particularly, the freedom of æwinging motion which is enjoyed by the ~haft portion proves greatly advantageous with respect -to the actual work in which one decorative panel iB fastened to the supporting panel by use of a mu].tiplicity of sllch fixing devices.
To be more ~pecific, when the decorative panel is fastened to the supporting panel, generall~ about 10 to 20 fixing devices are used so that the decorative panel may be attached uniforml~ throughout the entire surfa¢e thereof to the supporting panel. When the decorative panel is to be removed from the supporting panel as i~ invaria~ly the case ~ith the fixing dsvice of the present invention, there is adoptad a method whereby a proper tool su¢h as a screw driver iY in~erted through the crack bebween the decorative panal and the supporting panel and then wrenched. to break the union of the male and female members o~ one fixing device after anothsr. In this case~ the fixing device is forcibly pulled : out owing to the bending force genarated in the decorative panel~ .~
~ctually~ therefore7 th0 male member driving into the hole 17 per~orated in the panel is drawn out not perpendicularly but diagonally relative to the panel. Also in the oase of a fixing devioe which is so constructed that it is directly attached to the perforated hole as well as in the c~se of a ~lXing device whiGh is so Gonstructed that it i8 ~astened to the perforated hole through the medium of a female member simllarly to : the fixing device of thi~ invention~ the shaft portion inserted 80 tightly as not to give rise to a space between itself and the perforated hole or the ~emale member encounters great resistance and oannot ea~ily be pulled out9 Con~equently~ the fi~ing devioe itself austaina damage 3nd al80 inflicts injuries bo the decorative panely particularly to tha edge of the fitting hole.
'rhe fixing device of the pre~ent invention is so constructed that the shaft porbion received in the female member enjoys freedom of swing-ing motion and freely ~elects the direction of its remov~l by constantly corresponding to the bending motion of the panel~ with the result that it i~ drawn out of the female member withou-t giving a change to the force with whioh it i~ held in engagement with the female member ~hus~ the removal of the fixing devi¢e can be effected without inflict-ing any damage to either the fixing device itself or the decorative panel and the work of removal is easy.
In the preferred embodiment described above7 the base part of the shaft portion 6 is exposed from the opening 12 of the b~rral portion 11 and the lower surface of the main flange 9 risea slightly abov~ the fitting flange 13 when the engaging portion 10 is held in a state coupled with the engaging step pcrtion 15 Thus, the shaft portion i9 permitted to generate a swinging motion quite freely.
The preferred embodiment desoribed so far represent~ an application wherein the male member and the female member ar~ set respeotively in the decorativ* panel and the supporting panel. ~ecause of the con-struction desoribed above, however~ the fixing device of this invention accomplished desired union of the t-~o panels by another procedure whioh comprises the steps of preparatorily coupling the male and female members with each other9 then setting the head portion 5 of the male member in the fitting hole 4 of the decorati~e panel and~ with the male member held in that state~ posing the female membe:r 2 in the hole 17 perforat~d in the supporting panel and forcing it into the hole. In this case~ the barrel portlon 11 is temporari.ly con-tracted inwardly to permit the en gagement of the engaging proj~otions 14 while the famale member 2 i~
being attached to the hole 17. Owing to -the inner space 19 formed a~
described previously between the inner wall of the barrel portion and the shaft portion 6~ this atta¢hment of the ooupled members can be effected in entirely the same manner as when the female member alone ~ :
i8 attached~ ;
: Parti¢ularly in the case of a fixing device which comprises two members like those involved in the present invention, the fact that the two members can be preparatorily joined to each other proves highly advantageous from the viewpoints of management of p~rts and efficiancy .
of operation.
FIG. 4 and FIG~ 5 illustrate another preferred embodiment.of this invention which is modified to enhance the effects of the invention de-scribed a~ove. Inside the female member 2, a plurality of split engaging step portions 15 are disposed in the circumferential direotion on the inner wall surface o~ the barrel portion 11. Substantially in an annular shape~ the engaging step portions 15 serve collectively to keep in tight capture the bulbous engaging portion 10 ~ormed at the leading end of the shaft portion of the male member 1. While in this ~tate9 the engaging portion 10 is pressed down against the bottom of the barrel portionO
The shaft portion 6 is shaped in a length greater than the depth of .. the barrel portion so that~ when the engaging portion 10! lS admitted into tight capture in the barrel portion, the base p~rt of the shaft portion 6 will be exposed from the opening 12 of the barrel portion llo ~; Consequently~ a gap occurs between the main flange 9 o~ the male memberand the fitting ~lange 13 formed along the ~eriphery of the opening 12 in the barrel portion.
- The fixing devioe of the present pref~rred embodiment iB attached to the decorative panel with the male and female members thereof held in a coupled state as illustrated, and it is then inserted into the hole 17 . perforated in the supporting panelO Since the dia~eter of ths shaft portion 6 is smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion 11 and9 consequently~ ~ space occurs between the main flange 9 and the fitting flange 13 as decreased pre~iously, the barrel portion oah readily be contraoted inwardly and the engaging proje¢tions 14 can easily be brought into hooked engagement with the edge of -the perforated hole 17 while the female member 2 is attached to the hole. Also in this pre-ferred embodiment~ the shaft portion 6 received in the barrel portion is not held in tight contact with the inner wall ~urfaoe of the barrel portion. Owing to the spaoe thu~ formed, the shaft portion can be freely adjusted to the direotion of pull and drawn out with ease.
In the present preferred embodiment9 the numeral 20 denotes re-silient piec0s disposed aslant upwardly from the periphery of the main flange 9. These resilient pieoes 20 fulfil the function of pressing the head portion of the male member against the decorative panel to 0nsure safe attachment of the head portion to the decorative panel.
FIG 6 and FIG. 7 illu~trate another modification of the female member used in the fixing device of this invention. Specifically, the female member ~ has engaging projections 21, 21 provided in the shape of the arms of` an anchor at the forward end of the barrel portion 11 adapted to admit the shaft portion 6 of the male member.
;~ This preferred ambodiment is characterized by the fact that the engaging projections 21, 21 serving to fasten the female member to the hole 17 perforated in the supporting panel 16 àre not direatly provided on the periphery of the barrel portion as in the preceding preferred embodiment but are extended from the leading end of the barrel portion as descrioed above. The barrel portion 11 is formed in a ~mall depth as compared with the countertype in any o~ the preceding preferred embodiments and engaging step portions 15 are provided in the opening portion of the barrel portion~ At the same -time, the shaft portion 6 of the male membsr is formed in a small length so that the engaging portion 10 formed at the leading end of the shaft portion will be admitted into fast capture at a small depth of the barrel interior.
The engaging projections 21 mentioned above represent modified mean~
adapted to keep the female member 2 in engagement with the supporting panel. The faat that the shaft portion 6 has a rsduced length so as to have the engaging portion 10 admitted into oapture at a smaller depth means that the angle in whioh the shaft portion enjoy~ freedom of swing-ing motion is inareased as much and further that de~ired removal of the ~haft portion can be accomplished easily.
The barrel portion 1l in the present preferred embodiment has the engaging pro~ections 21, 21 formed in the shape of the arms of an anohor and has the leading ends of the projections adapted to come into intimate contact with the hole 17 in the panel. Thus, the expansion of the barrel portion is not restricted at all by the hole 17 and the shaft portion~
therefore~ can be pulled out of the barrel portion at a fixed amount of foroe at all times. This is also true in the oase of the force to be used in driving -the shaft portion in-to fast oapture.
In this preferred embodiment~ auxiliary ribs 22~ 22 are provided on the outer surface of the barrel portion because of the neoessity of sup porting the engaging projections 21, 21 while providing re~iliency for the expansion of the barrel portion.
Various preferred embodiments of -the fixing devioe of the present invent1on have been describsd. The fixing device of this invention is 90 constructsd that the male member and the female member thereof oan be joined by inserting the shaft portion provided on the male member into the barrel portion of the female member, whereby the two panels in which the two members are set respectively is brought into fast union.
Then, the two members in a ooupled state oan be separated frcm each other and the panel~ are like~ise released from each other by pulling the shaft portion out of the barrel portion~ The fixing devioe~ accordingly~
proves highl~ advantageous for the purpose of fastening deocrative panels and ot~er similar panels to their respeotive supporting panels as de-soribed previously.
panel from the inner wall.
In the case of an automobile which has been lined with decorative panels by use of the conventional fixing device~ if a plate glass in -the door is broken or any of parts used inside the door goes out of order, an access to the door interior for the puxpose of replacement of broken glass or inspection of parts in trouble must be gained by forcibly prying the decorative panel off ~;~
- the door shell. Since the foundational sheet used in the decora-tive panel is generally made of a material inferior in strength to the metallic sheet of which the automobile body is formed, the :
immoderate force exerted in prying the panel off the.door shell can break the foundational sheet so seriously as to render it no longer usable or can cause the engaging leg of the fixing device to be scraped against the edge of the hole so heavily as to.be ~ 15 completely deprived of its function. The work of removal of the ~ decorative panel involved in such a case, therefore, has proved ~ :
`~ extremely difficult. Partlcularly since the fixed device of this class has a function such that.attachment of one decorative panel requires use of a plurality of such devices, the possibility of ~0 the work of removal inflicting damage to the decorative panel has been fairly high.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device which enables two panels to be brought into perfect union with appropriate force and, when there arises rlecessity for ~ 25 separating the panels from each other, also enables them to be -. released from the union with no damage inflicted on either the panels or the fixing device.itself~ ~
Summary of the Invention: :
To accomplish the object described above according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing device which comprises I ~.
a male member and a female member serving to bring two panels into adjacent face-to-face union, with the male member possessing a head portion adapted to snap into tight engagement with a hole ~' - 2 -,~ ~
2~3~
perforated in one of the two panels given to be joined and a shaft portion extending from one face of the head portion. The head portion is provided with a main flange adapted to limit the depth to which the head portion is inserted -through the hole, a neck portion adapted to be retained in the hole, and a retainlng flange adapted to engage the opposite surface of the panel and -serve to prevent the neck portion from being pulled axially out of the hole. The shaft portion is provided at the leading end thereof with an engaging substantially spherical bulbous portion ; 10 having a predetermined diameter adapted to be coupled with the ~;~ female member, with the female member possessing a barrel portion -adapted to be inserted through a hole in the other panel and provided at one extremity thereo with an opening to eY~pose the hollow interior thereof, and a resilient sealing head flange adapted to limit the depth to which the barrel portion lS inserted through the hole, with the barrel portion being continuous through- -out its length and including a closed generally spherical extremity .
~; opposite said opening. ~The female member barrel por-tion is pro-vided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate ~; 20 the length~of the hollow interior of the barrel portion, and that ~ step portion presents an effective diameter less than the pre-; determined diameter and adapted to admit the engaging bulbous portion of the shaft portion into resilient capture. A c1rcum-ferentially spaced shoulder means is disposed on the exterior of the barrel portion and axially positioned between the one level and the head flange. The male member has the substantially cylin-drical shaft portion thereof throughout its entire length above the bulbous pGrtion having a diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of substantial swinying motion with the bulbous portion in a captured state ':
: .
~ ; - 3 "
serving as a fulcrum and to permit radial inward collapse of the barrel portion during insertion in the panel hole when preassembled to the male member. The shaft portion of the male member has a length such that the base part of the silaf-t is exposed from the opening of the barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between the head flange formed a-t the barrel opening and the main flange of -the head portion of the male member when the shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby the swinging motion is permitted.
~ 10 Brief Explanation of the Drawing:
; FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front elevation illustrating the male and female members of this invention as held in mutually separated state.
FIG. 2 is a partially sec-tioned front elevation of the fixing device of the invention as held in working~state.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective exploded view of the fixing device.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 represent other preferred embodiments - ~ of the present invention; FIG. 4 being a front view in centrally longitudinal section illustrating a state in which the male and female mer~ers already coupled wikh each other are poised partly into the hole perforated in the supporting panel and FIG. 5 being a partially sectioned Eront view illustrating a state in which the female member of FIG. 4 is on the verge of being ,~
fastened against the hole perforated in the supporting panel.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 represent still other preferred embodi-ments of the present invention; FIG. 6 being a partially sectioned front view illustrating the fixing device in i-ts s-tate of use and FIG. 7 being a perspective partially cutaway view of tlie female member.
2~
The other objects and characteristic features of the present invention will become apparent from the descriptlon of the invention to be given herein below with reference to illustrated preferred embodiments.
Detailed ~escription of Preferred Embodiments:
A male member 1 is provided with a head portion 5 adapted to come into engagement with a pyriform fitting hole 4 perforated in a decorative panel 3 and a shaft portion 6 adapted to be admitted by a female member 2 into fast capture. The head portion 5 is provided with a retaining flange 8 of a small diameter and a main flange 9 of a large diameter, the two flanges being opposed to each other across an intervening neck portion 7 having a circular periphery. The shaft portion 6 extends perpendlcularly from one side o~ the main flange 9 along the axial line of the ~ .~
; 15 neck portion 7, and the shaft portion 6 is provided at~ the leading end thereof with a substantially spherical bulbous engaging portion ,: 10.
The pyriform fitting hole 4 perforated in the decorative panel 3 is formed of a circular hole 4a of a large diameter and 2~ a hole 4b of a small diameter, the two holes continuing partly into each other. The large-diameter hole 4a possesses a diameter greater than the diameter of the retaining flange ~ of the llead portion 5 but smaller than the diameter of the main flange 9.
The small-diameter hole 4b which continues ,, .
:~ , ~, ~,.
from the large~diameter hole 4a po3æesse~ a diameter smaller than ths diameter of che retaining flange 8. The conætriction 4c where the two holes 4a9 4b oontinue into each other has a width enough for permitting passage of the neck portion 7 oonnecting the retaining flange 8 and the main flange 9.
For attaohment of the male member 1 to the fitting hole 4, the re-taining flange 8 is inserted from one side of the decorative panel 3 into the large-diameter hole 4a until the main flange 9 collides into the panel surface and then, with the male member held in that ~tate, the whole male member is moved sid6wise in the direction of the 6mall-diameter hole 4b until it is tran~ferred past the constri¢tion 4c into the small-diameter portion 4b. Consequently, the male member is brought into fast engagement with the deoorative panel by the retaining fiange 8 and the main flange 9 being brought into clinging oontaot with the opposite sides of the decorative panel. If, in this case, the head portion 5 thus ~` reoeived in the small-diameter hole 4b is suffered to move into tha large-diameter hole 4a~ i-t will automatically slip off the fitting hole. rrhi~
undesired slip can be prevented by ~haping the neck portion 7 o~ the head portion 5 in a length prefixed to equal the wall thicknes~ of the de¢oratlve panel so that, when the male mernber 1 is received in the small-diameter hole 4b, the opposed surfaces of th0 retaining flange 8 and the main flange 9 come into clinging engagement effectively with the opposite surfaces of the decorative panel.
.
rrha female member 2 which is to be coupled with the male member 1 ~;
has, as its main struoture, a barrel portion 11 po~sessed of the 6hapa of a substantially inverted cone and a hollow interior and it is further provided with a fi-tting flange 13 formed in the shape of an umbrella along the outer periphery of an opening 12 at tha mouth of the hollow interior~ The barrel portion 11 is provided on the outar surface thereof with a plurality of engaging projection~ 14 terminating to confront the q~
lower surface of the fitting flange 130 In the hollow interior of ths barrel portion 11, there is provided an annular engaging step portion 15 serving to admit the engaging portion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion of the male member 1 into fast captureO
In this preferred embodiment, the b~rrel portion 11 ie shaped so that its diameter at the opening at which the outside diameter is largest is slightly smaller than -the diameter of a hole perforatad in a support-ing panel 16. In oontrast, the engaging projections 14 which rise from the outer surf`aoe of the barrel portion are so shaped that the imaginary circle drawn through the apexes thereof has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 17~ At their ends opposed to the fitting flanga 13 these engaging projections 14 are provided eaoh with a step l~o Between these steps 14' and the fitting flange 13) there are consequently formed gaps 18 for admitting the edge of the hole 17, The barrel portion 11 serves to admit the shaft portion 6 of the male member 1 into tight engagement with the female member. In this preferred ~ embodiment~ the barrel portion 11 i8 shaped so as to have a dep~h enough for receiving the entire length of the shaft portion 6 including the engaging portion 10 At one level in the entire depth of the inner wall surface~ there is provided the engaging step portion 15 serving to admit the engaging portion 10 into fa3t capture. Besi.de~, the inside diameter o~ the barrel portion between the opening 12 and the engaging step por-tion 15 is greater than the diameter of thè shaft portion 6 and tha$ of the engaging portion 10 so as to facilitate insertion of the two portions.
~t the same time~ the open space 19 which oocurs between the ~haft por-tion 6 in~erted into the barrel portion and the inner wall surface of the barrel portion provides freedom of motion for the shaft portion.
~he engaging step portion 15 i6 formed in an annular shape along the inner wall surface of the ~arrel portion, and the surface of this portion 15 on the openi.ng 12 side i9 inclined so as to facilitata ad~ance of the ~ 7 --engaging portion 10 past -the step portion. The opposite surface of the portion 15 is cur~ed inwardly with greaSer sharpness so that the en-gaging portion 10 once admit-ted into tight capture below the step por-tion will experience greater difficulty in escaping from the capture than when it is admi-tted into the capture. ~his engaging step portion 15 is so oonstructed that when the engaging por-tion 10 is admitted ~nto tight capture and its bulbou~ ~urface is pressed against the inner edge of th~
step por-tion 15, the ~haft portion 6 reaches a depth at which its ba3e part is partially exposed from the opening 12 of the barrel portion 11 and~ when the male member 1 iæ lifted while the two member~ are in a coupled state, the lower surface of the main flange 9 slightly rises from the upper surfaoe of the fitting flange 13 of the female member 2. It :
goes without saying that the engaging step portion 15 is formed with an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the bulbous engaglng por-tion lQ and that it expands outwardly by ~:irtue of the resiliency of its pla~tic material so as to admit the engaging portion 10 into ti8ht oapture~
he female member 2 which is construoted as desoribed abova to cor- :respond to the male member 1 is set in position in the hole 17 perforated in the supporting panel 16 by inserting the barrel portion 11 into the ~ 20 hole 17 and subsequently allowing it to advance until the lower surfaoe -~ of the fitting fl~nge 13 oollides into the panel surface and9 at the same ~:
time~ the engaging projections 14 for~ed on 'he outer surface of the barrel pGrtion oomplete their pa sage through the hole 17.
The female member 2 is at-taohed fast to the ~upporting pane~ by the faot that the barrel portion 11 once contracted inwardly owing to 1ts : oontact with the unyielding edge of the hole resumes its original shap0by virtue of reslliency of its plastic material and the engaging pro-jections 14 are consequently allowed to expand to their full si~e on the opposite side of the hole. ln this sase, the female member is pre-vented from being pulled out of the hole by the olinging eng~gement of . - 8 -the engaging projections wi-th the panel. At the same time, the umbrella-shaped fitting fl~nge 13 is spread out and pressed down against the sur-face of the supporting panel in oonsequence of the insertion desoribed above. Owing to the resiliency~ the fitting flange 13 cling~ to the ~upporting panel without any possibility of loosening and it also co~ers and seals the hole 17.
With the fixing devi~le of this invention which is oonstructad as described above9 desired fast union of the decorative panel with the supporting panel i3 accomplished by first setting the male member 1 in the fitting hole 4 formed in the decorative panel 3 by the method de-soribed above for thereby causing the shaft portion 6 to rise from the raverse side of the decorative panel and, at the same tims~ se-tting the female member 2 in the hole perforated in the supporting panel 16 and, subsequently to eompletion of the setting of the two members in the holes~
~ 5 bringing the dscorative panel close to the supporting panel for thereby .~ oau~ing the shaft portion 6 protruding from the reve~se. surface of the : deoorative panel to be posed in the openlng of the~barrel portion~ then delivering a blow from the surfaoe side of the deccrative panel to the head portion 5 of the male member with a suitable tool such as a hammer for thereby oausing the engaging portion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion to thrust into the engaging step portion 15 within the barrel portion 11~
FIG. 2 illustrates the male and female members in: a ooupled state.
~he barrel portion 11 in which the shaft portion of the male member 1 i8 introduoed by the blow delivered to the head portion of the male msmber fulfils its role of joining the two members by oausing ths engaging por-tion 10 at the leading end of the shaft portion to be admitted into tight engagement with the engaging step portion 15. In this oase, the engaging portion 10 is rather easily brou~ht into the engagement beoause it is guided along the in¢linsd surfaoe on the opening 12 side of the engaging step portion and rnade to slide ~qmoothly past the step portionO
Once it is admitted into fast capture inside the step portion, it is pressed against the sharply curved ~urface on the opposite side of the step portion a~d cannot easily be pulled ou-t9 Since the engaging por-tion 10 is formed in a bulbous shape, however, the ætep portion is rssiliently expanded outwardly to release the engaging portio~ from the capture if the shaft portion is drawn with a force greater than the force exerted during the preceding insertion of the engaging member.
Further in this ca~e, since the shaft portion 6 inserted in the ,:10 barrel portion 11 has a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion and~ con~equen-tly, the space 19 occurs betwsen the shaft portion and the inner wall surface of the barrel portion, the shaft por-tion enjoys freedom of swi.nging motion with the engaging portlon 10 ser-~i.ng as a fulorum~
'~he fixing device of the present invention9 therefore, not merely permits the decorative panel 3 to be fastened to the supporting panal 16 by the union of the male and female membsrs theraof but also allows the decorative panel to be released from the supporting panel by oausing th~ -:
shaft portion inserted in the barrel portion to be pulled with a force ~ 20 enough to overcome tha ~orce with which the engaging step portion keep~
.~ the bulbous engaging portion in capture~ Further in this caæe, since the shaft portion held inside the barrel portion ~njoys ~reedom of swinging motion relative to the barrel portion~ the direotion in which the shaf-t portion oan be pulled out of the barrel portion can bè selectsd with proportionally ample freedom. Thus, the decorative panel can be ssparated from the supporting panel without-exerting any unwanted load to bear upon the male member.
Particularly, the freedom of æwinging motion which is enjoyed by the ~haft portion proves greatly advantageous with respect -to the actual work in which one decorative panel iB fastened to the supporting panel by use of a mu].tiplicity of sllch fixing devices.
To be more ~pecific, when the decorative panel is fastened to the supporting panel, generall~ about 10 to 20 fixing devices are used so that the decorative panel may be attached uniforml~ throughout the entire surfa¢e thereof to the supporting panel. When the decorative panel is to be removed from the supporting panel as i~ invaria~ly the case ~ith the fixing dsvice of the present invention, there is adoptad a method whereby a proper tool su¢h as a screw driver iY in~erted through the crack bebween the decorative panal and the supporting panel and then wrenched. to break the union of the male and female members o~ one fixing device after anothsr. In this case~ the fixing device is forcibly pulled : out owing to the bending force genarated in the decorative panel~ .~
~ctually~ therefore7 th0 male member driving into the hole 17 per~orated in the panel is drawn out not perpendicularly but diagonally relative to the panel. Also in the oase of a fixing devioe which is so constructed that it is directly attached to the perforated hole as well as in the c~se of a ~lXing device whiGh is so Gonstructed that it i8 ~astened to the perforated hole through the medium of a female member simllarly to : the fixing device of thi~ invention~ the shaft portion inserted 80 tightly as not to give rise to a space between itself and the perforated hole or the ~emale member encounters great resistance and oannot ea~ily be pulled out9 Con~equently~ the fi~ing devioe itself austaina damage 3nd al80 inflicts injuries bo the decorative panely particularly to tha edge of the fitting hole.
'rhe fixing device of the pre~ent invention is so constructed that the shaft porbion received in the female member enjoys freedom of swing-ing motion and freely ~elects the direction of its remov~l by constantly corresponding to the bending motion of the panel~ with the result that it i~ drawn out of the female member withou-t giving a change to the force with whioh it i~ held in engagement with the female member ~hus~ the removal of the fixing devi¢e can be effected without inflict-ing any damage to either the fixing device itself or the decorative panel and the work of removal is easy.
In the preferred embodiment described above7 the base part of the shaft portion 6 is exposed from the opening 12 of the b~rral portion 11 and the lower surface of the main flange 9 risea slightly abov~ the fitting flange 13 when the engaging portion 10 is held in a state coupled with the engaging step pcrtion 15 Thus, the shaft portion i9 permitted to generate a swinging motion quite freely.
The preferred embodiment desoribed so far represent~ an application wherein the male member and the female member ar~ set respeotively in the decorativ* panel and the supporting panel. ~ecause of the con-struction desoribed above, however~ the fixing device of this invention accomplished desired union of the t-~o panels by another procedure whioh comprises the steps of preparatorily coupling the male and female members with each other9 then setting the head portion 5 of the male member in the fitting hole 4 of the decorati~e panel and~ with the male member held in that state~ posing the female membe:r 2 in the hole 17 perforat~d in the supporting panel and forcing it into the hole. In this case~ the barrel portlon 11 is temporari.ly con-tracted inwardly to permit the en gagement of the engaging proj~otions 14 while the famale member 2 i~
being attached to the hole 17. Owing to -the inner space 19 formed a~
described previously between the inner wall of the barrel portion and the shaft portion 6~ this atta¢hment of the ooupled members can be effected in entirely the same manner as when the female member alone ~ :
i8 attached~ ;
: Parti¢ularly in the case of a fixing device which comprises two members like those involved in the present invention, the fact that the two members can be preparatorily joined to each other proves highly advantageous from the viewpoints of management of p~rts and efficiancy .
of operation.
FIG. 4 and FIG~ 5 illustrate another preferred embodiment.of this invention which is modified to enhance the effects of the invention de-scribed a~ove. Inside the female member 2, a plurality of split engaging step portions 15 are disposed in the circumferential direotion on the inner wall surface o~ the barrel portion 11. Substantially in an annular shape~ the engaging step portions 15 serve collectively to keep in tight capture the bulbous engaging portion 10 ~ormed at the leading end of the shaft portion of the male member 1. While in this ~tate9 the engaging portion 10 is pressed down against the bottom of the barrel portionO
The shaft portion 6 is shaped in a length greater than the depth of .. the barrel portion so that~ when the engaging portion 10! lS admitted into tight capture in the barrel portion, the base p~rt of the shaft portion 6 will be exposed from the opening 12 of the barrel portion llo ~; Consequently~ a gap occurs between the main flange 9 o~ the male memberand the fitting ~lange 13 formed along the ~eriphery of the opening 12 in the barrel portion.
- The fixing devioe of the present pref~rred embodiment iB attached to the decorative panel with the male and female members thereof held in a coupled state as illustrated, and it is then inserted into the hole 17 . perforated in the supporting panelO Since the dia~eter of ths shaft portion 6 is smaller than the inside diameter of the barrel portion 11 and9 consequently~ ~ space occurs between the main flange 9 and the fitting flange 13 as decreased pre~iously, the barrel portion oah readily be contraoted inwardly and the engaging proje¢tions 14 can easily be brought into hooked engagement with the edge of -the perforated hole 17 while the female member 2 is attached to the hole. Also in this pre-ferred embodiment~ the shaft portion 6 received in the barrel portion is not held in tight contact with the inner wall ~urfaoe of the barrel portion. Owing to the spaoe thu~ formed, the shaft portion can be freely adjusted to the direotion of pull and drawn out with ease.
In the present preferred embodiment9 the numeral 20 denotes re-silient piec0s disposed aslant upwardly from the periphery of the main flange 9. These resilient pieoes 20 fulfil the function of pressing the head portion of the male member against the decorative panel to 0nsure safe attachment of the head portion to the decorative panel.
FIG 6 and FIG. 7 illu~trate another modification of the female member used in the fixing device of this invention. Specifically, the female member ~ has engaging projections 21, 21 provided in the shape of the arms of` an anchor at the forward end of the barrel portion 11 adapted to admit the shaft portion 6 of the male member.
;~ This preferred ambodiment is characterized by the fact that the engaging projections 21, 21 serving to fasten the female member to the hole 17 perforated in the supporting panel 16 àre not direatly provided on the periphery of the barrel portion as in the preceding preferred embodiment but are extended from the leading end of the barrel portion as descrioed above. The barrel portion 11 is formed in a ~mall depth as compared with the countertype in any o~ the preceding preferred embodiments and engaging step portions 15 are provided in the opening portion of the barrel portion~ At the same -time, the shaft portion 6 of the male membsr is formed in a small length so that the engaging portion 10 formed at the leading end of the shaft portion will be admitted into fast capture at a small depth of the barrel interior.
The engaging projections 21 mentioned above represent modified mean~
adapted to keep the female member 2 in engagement with the supporting panel. The faat that the shaft portion 6 has a rsduced length so as to have the engaging portion 10 admitted into oapture at a smaller depth means that the angle in whioh the shaft portion enjoy~ freedom of swing-ing motion is inareased as much and further that de~ired removal of the ~haft portion can be accomplished easily.
The barrel portion 1l in the present preferred embodiment has the engaging pro~ections 21, 21 formed in the shape of the arms of an anohor and has the leading ends of the projections adapted to come into intimate contact with the hole 17 in the panel. Thus, the expansion of the barrel portion is not restricted at all by the hole 17 and the shaft portion~
therefore~ can be pulled out of the barrel portion at a fixed amount of foroe at all times. This is also true in the oase of the force to be used in driving -the shaft portion in-to fast oapture.
In this preferred embodiment~ auxiliary ribs 22~ 22 are provided on the outer surface of the barrel portion because of the neoessity of sup porting the engaging projections 21, 21 while providing re~iliency for the expansion of the barrel portion.
Various preferred embodiments of -the fixing devioe of the present invent1on have been describsd. The fixing device of this invention is 90 constructsd that the male member and the female member thereof oan be joined by inserting the shaft portion provided on the male member into the barrel portion of the female member, whereby the two panels in which the two members are set respectively is brought into fast union.
Then, the two members in a ooupled state oan be separated frcm each other and the panel~ are like~ise released from each other by pulling the shaft portion out of the barrel portion~ The fixing devioe~ accordingly~
proves highl~ advantageous for the purpose of fastening deocrative panels and ot~er similar panels to their respeotive supporting panels as de-soribed previously.
Claims (6)
1. A fixing device comprising a male member and a female member serving to bring two panels into adjacent face-to-face union, said male member possessing a head portion adapted to snap into tight engagement with a hole perforated in one of the two panels given to be joined and a shaft portion extending from one face of said head portion, said head portion being provided with a main flange adapted to limit the depth to which the head portion is inserted through said hole, a neck portion adapted to be retained in the hole and-retaining flange adapted to engage the opposite surface of the panel and serve to prevent the neck portion from being pulled axially out of the hole, said shaft portion being provided at the leading end thereof with an engaging substantially spherical bulbous portion having a pre-determined diameter adapted to be coupled with the female member, said female member possessing a barrel portion adapted to be inserted through a hole in the other panel and provided at one extremity thereof with an opening to expose the hollow interior thereof and a resilient sealing head flange adapted to limit the depth to which the barrel portion is inserted through said hole;
said barrel portion being continuous throughout its length and includes a closed generally sperhical extremity opposite said opening, said female member barrel portion provided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate the length of the hollow interior of the barrel portion, said step portion presenting an effective diameter less than said predetermined diameter and adapted to admit the engaging bulbous portion of said shaft portion into resilient capture, circumferentially spaced shoulder means disposed on the exterior of said barrel portion and axially positioned between said one level and said head flange, said male member having the shaft portion thereof throughout its entire length above said bulbous portion being substantially cylindrical and having a diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of substantial swinging motion with said bulbous portion in a captured state serving as a fulcrum and permitting radial inward collapse of said barrel portion during insertion in said panel hole when preassembled to said male member, said shaft portion of the male member having a length such that the base part of the shaft is exposed from the opening of said barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between said head flange formed at said barrel opening and said main flange of the head portion of said male member when said shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby said swinging motion is permitted.
said barrel portion being continuous throughout its length and includes a closed generally sperhical extremity opposite said opening, said female member barrel portion provided with an engaging step portion at one level intermediate the length of the hollow interior of the barrel portion, said step portion presenting an effective diameter less than said predetermined diameter and adapted to admit the engaging bulbous portion of said shaft portion into resilient capture, circumferentially spaced shoulder means disposed on the exterior of said barrel portion and axially positioned between said one level and said head flange, said male member having the shaft portion thereof throughout its entire length above said bulbous portion being substantially cylindrical and having a diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said barrel portion of the female member in order for the whole male member to enjoy freedom of substantial swinging motion with said bulbous portion in a captured state serving as a fulcrum and permitting radial inward collapse of said barrel portion during insertion in said panel hole when preassembled to said male member, said shaft portion of the male member having a length such that the base part of the shaft is exposed from the opening of said barrel portion whereby a gap is allowed to occur between said head flange formed at said barrel opening and said main flange of the head portion of said male member when said shaft portion is coupled with the female member whereby said swinging motion is permitted.
2. The fixing device according to Claim 1, wherein said engaging step portion provided in the barrel portion is formed in a continuous annular shape along the inner wall surface of the barrel portion.
3. The fixing device according to Claim 1, wherein the shoulder means are formed in the shape of the arms of an anchor projecting from the periphery of the barrel portion and the leading ends of the arms are opposed to the lower surface of the head flange.
4. The fixing device according to Claim 2, wherein the shoulder means are formed in the shape of the arms of an anchor projecting from the periphery of the barrel portion and the leading ends of the arms are opposed to the lower surface of the head flange.
5. The fixing device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said engaging step portion is formed of a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending projections disposed in annular array.
6. The fixing device according to Claim 3 of Claim 4, wherein said engaging step portion is formed of a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending projections disposed in annular array.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,471A CA1098291A (en) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-02-22 | Fixing device for face-to-face union of two panels |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,471A CA1098291A (en) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-02-22 | Fixing device for face-to-face union of two panels |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1098291A true CA1098291A (en) | 1981-03-31 |
Family
ID=4110833
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,471A Expired CA1098291A (en) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-02-22 | Fixing device for face-to-face union of two panels |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1098291A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5104272A (en) * | 1990-02-09 | 1992-04-14 | Itw De France | Method of installing as fastener in a support made of moulded soft material, fastener suitable for implementing this method, fixing incorporating said fastener, and support made of moulded soft material obtained by said method |
| US6042296A (en) * | 1995-09-18 | 2000-03-28 | Southco, Inc. | Snap-in fastener for panels |
-
1978
- 1978-02-22 CA CA297,471A patent/CA1098291A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5104272A (en) * | 1990-02-09 | 1992-04-14 | Itw De France | Method of installing as fastener in a support made of moulded soft material, fastener suitable for implementing this method, fixing incorporating said fastener, and support made of moulded soft material obtained by said method |
| US6042296A (en) * | 1995-09-18 | 2000-03-28 | Southco, Inc. | Snap-in fastener for panels |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |