GB2115060A

GB2115060A - Stud and socket fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2115060A
Application number: GB08300752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerhard Mack
Original assignee: A Raymond
Current assignee: A Raymond
Priority date: 1982-02-18
Filing date: 1983-01-12
Publication date: 1983-09-01
Also published as: ES270606U; IT1212700B; IT8319624A0; ES270606Y; FR2521654A1; GB2115060B; FR2521654B3; GB8300752D0

Abstract

A fastener for releasably connecting two components has a locking plate with a locking region (7) containing an elongate aperture (11) to receive a pin (2) and a fixing region (8) contiguous with the locking region with holes (10) or claws for its attachment to one component. Lugs (4) on the pin engage arcuate spring tags (12) when rotated to lock the fastener, over-riding nibs (14) and engaging abutments (13) on the tags. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fasteners The invention relates to a fastener of the turnbuckle type, for detachably joining two components, and comprising a pintle with a turning knob supported on one component and with two supporting lugs projecting laterally at the end of the pintle and a locking plate, which is fixed to the other component, comprising an elongated recess through which the supporting lugs can pass, and two spring tags laterally of the recess, to resiliently engage the supporting lugs, the tags having detents to locate the lugs in the locking position.

Fixing members of this type are used preferably in cases where it is important for the components which have to be joined to be detached easily and rapidly for maintenance or repair work, e.g. when fixing cladding panels, maintenance flaps, rear walls of electrical appliances or the like.

In a known fastener of the above type the locking plate is anchored to a metal carrying plate, in a substantially square fastening hole which is aligned with the recess. Two parallel spring tags lie in a shallow curve along the sides of the recess, and are moulded onto the ends of the plate. The locking action takes place when the knob has been turned through 900.

This fastening member can be used wherever the carrying plate extends over the locking point, far enough for the edges of the plate still to be long enough for the necessary square fixing hole.

If these structural conditions do not obtain, or if the carrying plate has to be prevented from overlapping the locking point for other reasons, then the known locking plate can be anchored onto the supporting plate or onto the component only in conjunction with an intermediate plate, thereby involving an additional fastening member and a further operation in the assembly process.

In the present invention, the locking plate is made with a fixing part of the plate beside the locking part. This not only can solve the abovementioned problem but at the same time enables the locking plate to be made of spring steel.

Manufacture from plastics is also simpler than with the previous constructions, since only two mould halves are required, whereas in the past two further demoulding slides were required.

The locking part can be made still simpler and more effective if, according to a further feature of the invention, the spring tags are moulded onto the locking plate laterally of the recess, at one end only, if they extend around the recess for the pintle, rising slightly from the plate in the direction in which the pintle is turned to lock, and if an abutment edge for the supporting lugs is moulded onto the free end of each of the spring tags. This arrangement gives a larger turning angle for the pintle. The detent locations may be brought right up to the recess and the spring tags made softer than before.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be explained in greater detail below. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locking plate with a part-sectional view of the locking region; Figure 2 shows the same plate in plan; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the associated pintle; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the pintle; Figure 5 shows the fixing member assembled, where the components end adjacent one another; and Figure 6 shows the same assembled fixing member in a case where the components overlap one another.

The fixing member illustrated substantially comprises a locking plate 1 (Figures 1 and 2) and a pintle 2 (Figures 3 and 4). The pintle has a turning knob 3 which lies against the component 5 (see Figures 5 and 6) and two laterally projecting supporting lugs 4 at the other end. An internal hexagon 6 is countersunk in the knob 3 for the insertion of a hexagonal key, whereby the knob 2 can be turned into and out of the locking position.

The locking plate 1 has a locking region 7 with a fixing region 8 beside it. In this example the fixing region 8 is formed by a side plate 9 which adjoins the locking region 7 and contains holes 10. The locking region 7 contains an elongated recess 11 which is shaped so that the pintle 2 and supporting lugs 4 can pass through it.

Two spring tags 12 are provided laterally of the recess 1, as a resilient support for the supporting lugs 4. Each tag has one end contiguous with the locking plate 1 laterally of the recess 11, and the tags are arranged at opposite ends of the recess 1 The tags 12 are desirable brought around a widened recess 1 a for the stem of the pintle 2, in an arcuate shape in the locking direction, and rise slightly from the plate towards their free ends.

Here there is an abutment edge 1 3 on each tag to prevent the supporting lugs 4 from turning any further. A nib 14 or the like is also provided at a distance equal to the width of the lugs 4 from the edge 13, and the lugs 4 engage behind the nibs when turned into the locking position. The abutment edge 1 3 on the free end is taken close to the recess 11, so as to give an angle of rotation of the pintles of approximately 1350 between the free and locked positions.

As indicated in Figure 5, the locking plate 1 is fixed to a component 1 5 by means of screws or rivets 16, so as to bring the recess 11 in the locking region 7 into alignment with the corresponding fastening hole 1 7 in a component 5 to be held. Then the pintle 2 is inserted in the hole 17 and recess 1 far enough to bring the turning knob 3 up against the component 5. The knob is now turned clockwise by means of the key, far enough for the lugs 4 to over-ride the nibs 14 and abut the abutments 13.

Whereas the pintle 2 is most desirably made of hard plastics because of its special shape, the locking plate 1 may be made either of hard elastic plastics or of spring steel. In the latter case claws or staples 18 may, for example, be moulded onto the side plate 9 in the place of the holes 10, and can easily be anchored in the component 1 5 as indicated in Figure 6. In the last mentioned example the component 5 to be fixed lies against the hoiding component 15, and the locking plate 1 is supported on the back of it, with the recess 11 and the two fastening holes 1 7 in the components 5 and 1 5 again superimposed.

The use of the fixing member according to the invention with overlapping components is desirable particularly when the holding component 15, i.e. the carrying plate, is made of cardboard or similar material, where the known locking plate cannot readily be anchored in a square hole.

Claims

1. A fastener of the turnbuckle type for detachably joining two components, and comprising a pintle with a turning knob supported on one component and with two supporting lugs projecting laterally at the end of the pintle and a locking plate, which is fixed to the other component, comprising an elongated recess through which the supporting lugs can pass, and two spring tags laterally of the recess to resiliently engage the supporting lugs, the tags having detent to locates the lugs in the locking position, wherein a fixing region on the locking plate is located beside the locking region in which the recess is located.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the spring tags each have one end only contiguous with the locking plate laterally of the recess, and extend around a part of the recess enlarged to receive the pintle stem, rising slightly from the plate towards their free ends, and an abutment edge for the supporting lugs is formed on the free end of each of the spring tags.

3. A fastener of the turnbuckle type for detachably connecting two components constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.