GB2154647A

GB2154647A - Separable fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2154647A
Application number: GB08404865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heino Arff
Original assignee: ITW Ateco GmbH
Current assignee: ITW Ateco GmbH
Priority date: 1983-02-19
Filing date: 1984-02-25
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: FR2560017A1; FR2560017B1; GB8404865D0; GB2154647B

Abstract

A separable fastener having a socket (10) including a receiver slot (27) having a lead-in opening (26) connected to the receiver slot (27) as well as a locking edge (29) adjacent the receiver slot (27), and a plug-in part (11) which includes a springily yielding locking-portion (22) which engages behind the locking edge (29) when the plug-in part (11) is pushed into the receiver slot (27), and an actuator-portion (21) connected to the locking- portion 22 for unlocking the locking-portion (22). The locking- portion (22) seen in the direction of insertion of the plug-in part (11) lies in front of the actuator-portion (21) and the actuator-portion (21) even in the case of uninterrupted actuation can move freely with respect to the socket (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Separable fastener The invention refers to a separable fastener having a socket which exhibits a receiver slot and which at one end exhibits a lead-in opening connected to the receiver slot as well as a locking edge in the region of the reciever slot, and a plug-in part which exhibits a springily yielding locking-portion which engages behind the locking edge when the plug-in part is pushed into the receiver slot, as well as an actuator-portion connected to the locking-portion for the purpose of unlocking the lockingportion.

A fastener of that kind is known for many applications, for example, for separating and connecting tapes, straps, parts of handbags, belts, parts of garments, etc. The socket has on one side an opening, one edge of which, running across the direction of insertion of the plug-in part, serves as a locking edge which cooperates with a locking-stop on a tongue which is connected to the plug-in part so as to yield springily. In the slack state the tongue stretches obliquely outwards so that upon plugging the plug-in part into the socket the tongue gets temporarily deformed into the plane of the plug-in part until it can snap back into the opening in the socket.

For unlocking, one finger or the thumb of one hand is passed through the opening in the socket to the locking tongue in order to bring it into the position for unlocking. While the tongue is being deformed back into the unlocking position the plug-in part must at the same time be pulled out, so that final separation of the parts of the fastener is brought about. During the withdrawal of the plug-in part the locking tongue must be released because it slides under a web of the socket where it cannot be gripped by hand. Therefore for separating the known fastener both hands are normally necessary, the one for actuation of the locking tongue and the other for pulling out the plug-in part.It is further disadvantageous that the locking tongue is not naturally capable of filling out completely the opening in the socket housing, so that the housing in this region exhibits a recess which for certain applications makes it optically unfavourably noticeable.

The problem underlying the invention is to create a separable fastener in which the socket and the plug-in part may be separated by single-handed actuation.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by the locking-portion, seen in the direction of insertion of the plug-in part, lying in front of the actuator-portion and the actuator-portion even in the case of uninterrupted actuation being able to move freely with respect to the socket.

Whilst in the case of the known fastener the actuator-portion seen in the direction of insertion lies in front of the locking-edge, the sequence of actuator portion and locking-edge in the case of the fastener in accordance with the invention is reversed. Whilst in the case of the known fastener the actuator portion slides along underneath a web portion of the socket, in the case of the fastener in accordance with the invention the actuator-portion can be moved freely with respect to the socket and consequently also does not need to be released during the process of separation. On the contrary, the actuator portion may be seized by hand together with the rest of the plug-in part during the whole process of separation. This may be done by one hand so that a separate brief actuation of the actuator portion and other portions of the plug-in part is not necessary.The fastener in accordance with the invention is therefore with regard to the process of separation much simpler and more convenient to handle than the known fastener.

According to one refinement of the invention it is provided that the fastener exhibits for the actuation a cut-out which is open to the receiver slot and extends up to the lead-in opening and which partially admits the actuator-portion. During the locking of the parts of the fastener the actuator-portion lies in the cut-out for the actuation. The length of lever of the locking-portion can thereby be shortened or respectively the amount of deflection of the actuator portion for unlocking the locking-edge on the socket from the locking-portion can be reduced.

A further refinement of the invention provides that a spring tongue moulded in one piece with the plug-in part is provided, which seen in the direction of insertion is hinged onto the front end. The known fastener too provides a spring-tongue but the locking-edge lies at the free end of the locking tongue, whilst in the case of the fastener in accordance with the invention it is provided between the free end and the hinge region.

A further refinement of the invention provides that the actuator-portion in the locked position of the plug-in part lies approximately at the height of the surface of the socket. The actuator-portion thereby lies at the height of the outer contour of the fastener, which imparts to it a satisfactory appearance. Furthermore it can be better actuated by hand than when it is arranged recessed.

According to a further refinement of the invention it is provided that the locking portion exhibits a locking shoulder running across the direction of insertion, in front of which is arranged a lead-in portion rising like a ramp.

The ramplike step enables the deformation of the locking portion, so that the locking shoulder after complete introduction of the plug-in part can catch behind the locking-edge.

The locking-edge on the socket may be formed at an undercut in the receiver slot, for example, by a crossweb in the socket. Alternatively a refinement of the invention provides for this by the socket being box-shaped and the undercut being formed by a recess in the inner wall of the receiver slot, into which fits the ramplike lead-in portion. Through the way in accordance with the invention, of actuation of the locking-portion it is no longer necessary to provide in the socket a corresponding opening. On the contrary it may be moulded as a closed box.

If the fastener in accordance with the invention must be employed for tapes, belts etc., a refinement of the invention provides that the plug-in part exhibits at the rear a slot for receiving the end of a belt or the like and the plug-in part exhibits at least one hole extending across the slot for a fixing pin, a rivet or the like.

In the case of fastener parts moulded from plastics the pin may be moulded in one piece with the plug-in part but so that it can be sheared off.

In this connection, according to a further refinement of the invention the socket is made in two parts with a box part which contains the receiver slot and onto which is moulded at least one fixing pin and with a backing plate having a hole for the fixing pin.

The fixing pin may be riveted into the backing plate. Another preferred possibility consists in the fixing pin being provided partially or wholly round the perimeter with a row of teeth which cooperate with a locktooth in the hole in the backing plate. Furthermore the backing plate in the region of the holes may have a spring member in order to apply between the box part and the backing plate a corresponding prestress. Through this prestress sideways forces in shear may be absorbed and kept away from the fixing pins.

Snapping-in of the fixing pins has in addition the advantage that separation of the backing plate and the box part is possible, for example, for fitting a new socket.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with the aid of drawings.

Figure 1 shows in perspective the fastener in accordance with the invention in the locked position; Figure 2 shows in perspective the plug-in part of the fastener as in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a section through the plug in part as in Fig. 2; Figure 4 shows a section through the socket of the fastener as in Fig. 1; Figure 5 shows a plan of the box part of the socket as in Fig. 4; Figure 6 shows a view of the underside of the box part of the socket as in Fig. 4; Figure 7 shows a section through part of a backing plate; and Figure 8 shows the backing plate as in Fig.

7 from underneath on a smaller scale.

The drawings are merely diagrammatic and not true to scale.

Before going into the details of the embodiment, it should be emphasized that each of the features described is on its own or in combination with features from the Claims of significance essential to the invention.

The fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 has a socket 10 and a plug-in part 11 which are shown in the locked position. The plug-in part (see Figs. 2 and 3) has a plug-in portion 1 2 and a grip portion 1 3. The rectangular blockshaped grip portion 1 3 has a slot 14 open towards the back, into which the end of a belt, of the flap of a handbag or the like may be inserted. By means of two pins 15, 1 6 which are integrally moulded and can be sheared off, the belt may be connected to the plug-in part 11. The pins pass across the slot 14 through corresponding holes and are riveted as they are driven in.

The flat plug-in portion 1 2 is likewise rectangular, but a little narrower and flatter than the grip portion 11. It has two slots 17, 18 running at a distance apart, which extend up into the grip portion 11 and are connected together there through a cross-slot 1 9. In this way a tongue 20 is formed, which is connected near the front free end of the plug-in portion 1 2 and consequently can pivot about an axis lying in the plane of the plug-in portion 1 2. The tongue exhibits in the end region of it a rasied actuator portion 21, the surface of which lies approximately at the same hieght as the surface of the grip portion 11. The actuator portion 21 is corrugated as indicated in the drawing.In front of the actuator portion 21, seen in the direction of insertion, a ramplike step 22 is moulded onto the surface of the tongue 20. The ramp of the step 22 rises towards the actuator portion 21.

Between the step 22 and the actuator portion 21 a groove 23 is formed, running across. At the transition between the plug-in portion 1 2 and the grip portion 11 a circumferential shoulder 24 is formed as a stop.

In the case of the illustration as in Fig. 3 a separate reflector piece 25 is inserted in an opening in the actuator portion 21.

The comparatively flat box part 1 2A has at the rear of it a lead-in opening 26 beyond which a receiver slot 27 is opened into the box part 1 2. On the upper part of the inside of the receiver slot 27 a recess 28 is moulded which is wedge-shaped in cross section and which adjoins a wedgelike projection 29 pointing downwards. In the upper wall 30 of the box part 1 2A there is further moulded a cutout 31 for actuation, which is open towards the lead-in opening 26. In the lower wall 32 of the box part 12A a cut-out 33 is likewise moulded for reasons of manufacturing tech nique.

Four pins 34 are moulded in one piece onto the underside of the box part 12A. They are plugged into stepped holes 36 in a framelike fixing-plate 35 (see also Fig. 1) in order to fasten a piece of belt lying betwen them onto the socket 10.

The plug-in portion 1 2 of the plug-in part 11 is so dimensioned that in width and height it fits into the receiver slot 27. Upon the introduction of the plug-in portion 1 2 into the receiver slot 27 the ramp portion 22 slides against the descending oblique face of the projection 29, whereby the spring tongue 20 gets deflected downwards. Since it exhibits less thickness than the adjacent portions (see also Fig. 3) the tongue 20 can execute this pivoting motion. With continued introduction of the plug-in part 1 2 the back edge of the step 22 finally snaps behind the ledgelike projection 29 and the step 22 snaps into the recess 28. The plug-in part 11 is thereby locked into the socket 10. The actuator portion 21 is admitted by the actuation-cut-out 31 (see Fig. 1).

If the fastener is to be unlocked, one hand seizes the grip portion 1 3 and presses, for example, with the thumb on the actuator portion 21. The pivoting motion of the tongue 20 which thereby takes place, brings the step 22 out of engagement with the recess 28 or respectively the projection 29, so that the plug-in part 11 may be removed from the socket 10.

The socket 10 and the plug-in part 11 are preferably moulded from plastics.

Fig. 7 shows part of a backing plate 35', the underside of which is shown partially in Fig. 8. Bushlike extensions 40 are moulded onto the backing plate 35' for receiving a fixing pin 34'. The hole in the bush 40 is narrowed at the top by an approximately semicircular collar 41. Opposite the collar 41 extends a web 42 which is connected at the ends to the backing plate 35' or respectively the bush 40. In between them a slit 43 extends along the rear of the web 42. On the front of it the web 42 has a locktooth 44 which cooperates with a row of saw teeth 45 on the pin 34', as illustrated in Fig. 7. The pin 34' which is provided with a tip is guided by it through the upper portion of the hole which is bounded by the collar 41. Preferably the hole and the pin deviate in cross-section from a circular shape in order to preserve a positional alignment. But in the case of the employment of a number of pins these may also be circular in cross-section.

Onto the bush 40 or respectively the backing plate 35' there is furthermore moulded a flange 45 extending upwards in the shape of a tapered ring. This may be laid against the underside of the box part when it is being connected to the backing plate 35'. The flnge 45 thereby absorbs the shear forces and hence keeps them away from the fixing pin 34'.

The combination of box part and backing plate 35' as shown is easy to assemble. The separation of the two parts can also be readily effected.

Claims

1. A separable fastener having a socket which exhibits a receiver slot and which at one end exhibits a lead-in opening connected to the receiver slot as well as a locking edge in the region of the receiver slot, and a plug-in part which exhibits a springily yielding locking-portion which engages behind the locking edge when the plug-in part is pushed into the receiver slot, as well as an actuator-portion connected to the locking portion for the purpose of unlocking the locking-portion, characterized in that the locking-portion (22) seen in the direction of insertion of the plug-in part (11) lies in front of the actuator-portion (21) and the actuator-portion (21) even in the case of uninterrupted actuation can move freely with respect to the socket (10).

2. A fastener as in Claim 1, characterized in that the socket (10) exhibits for the actuation a cut-out (31) which is open to the receiver slot (27) and extends up to the leadin opening (26) and which partially admits the actuator-portion (21).

3. A fastener as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a spring tongue (20) moulded in one piece with the plug-in part (11) is provided, which seen in the direction of insertion is hinged onto the front end.

4. A fastener as in one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuator portion (21) in the locked position of the plug-in part (11) lies approximately at the height of the surface of the socket (10).

5. A fastener as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the locking portion (22) exhibits a locking shoulder running across the direction of insertion, in front of which is arranged a lead-in portion rising like a ramp.

6. A fastener as in Claim 5, characterized in that the locking edge is formed by an undercut (28) in the receiver slot (27).

7. A fastener as in Claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the socket (10) is box-shaped and the undercut is formed by a recess (28) in the inner wall of the receiver slot (27), into which fits the ramplike lead-in portion (22).

8. A fastener as in one of the Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the plug-in part (11) exhibits a stop-shoulder (24) which in the locked position rests against the endwall of the socket (10) bounding the lead-in opening (26) and the actuator-portion (21) extends towards the rear beyond the stop-shoulder (24) against the direction of insertion.

9. A fastener as in one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plug-in part (11) exhibits at the rear a slot (14) for receiving the end of a belt or of the flap of a handbag or the like and the plug-in part (11) exhibits at least one hole extending across the slot (14) for a fixing pin (15, 16), a rivet or the like.

10. A fastener as in one of the Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the socket (10) is made in two parts with a box part (12) which contains the receiver slot (27) and onto which is moulded at least one fixing pin (34) and with a backing plate (35) having a hole (36) for the fixing pine (34).

11. A fastener as in Claim 10, characterized in that the fixing pin (34') exhibits a row of teeth (45) running axially, which cooperates with a toothlike springily yielding projection (44) in the hole in the backing plate (35').

1 2. A fastener as in Claim 11, characterized in that the hole exhibits a web (42) which is connected at both ends to the wall of the hole and onto which the toothlike projection (44) is moulded and the web (42) has a clearance from the wall of the hole across a recess (43).

13. A fastener as in Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the backing plate (35') exhibits in the region of the holes spring portions (46) which rest springily against the box part.