GB2164695A - An improved fastening stud - Google Patents

Abstract

The stud (10) for resiliently fastening a flap (36) to a board (32) through openings (30) formed in the board (32) comprises a tubular body member (12) which has a pair of resilient wings (14) integral with and diverging away from the body member (12). A fastening formation (16) comprising a pair of arcuate-shaped arms is integral with the end of the body member (12) remote from the wings (14). The arrangement is such that, in use, the free ends of the wings (14) resiliently engage the surface (34) of the board (32) and a hinge pin (38) is connected to the fastening formation (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved fastening stud The present invention relates to a fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member.

Often the fastening together of two members is time consuming and in assemblies in which a multiplicity of fasteners are used the assembly time is costly. For example, our co-pending British application discloses a mechanical digital display apparatus utilising seven pivotally mounted flaps for each figure on the display board. Each flap has two pivots formed by studs having a coil spring and cotter two provide the required resilient mounting and it will be readily appreciated the assembly time of such an apparatus is extremely costly.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantage referred to above.

The present invention consists in a fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member, said stud comprising a tubular body member having at least one pair of resilient wings integral with and diverging away from the body member and a fastening formation on its head portion remote from said wings, the arrangement being such that, in use, the free end of each wing resiliently engages one surface of said second member on opposite sides of the opening and the first member is connected to said fastening formation adjacent the opposite surface of the second member.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa front view, partly in section, of a fastening stud according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure land Figure 5 is a front view, similar to Figure 1, showing the fastening stud of the present invention as used in the assembly of two members.

Referring now to the drawings, the fastener stud 10 is moulded from an acetal copolymer and comprises a hollow, cylindrical body 12 having a pair diametrically opposed wings 14 diverging upwardly from the lower portion of the body 12 and a fastening formation 16 formed on the upper end or head of the body 12.

The wings 14 are resilient and, in use, enable members to be fastened together under tension as hereinafter described. The fastening formation 16 comprises opposed arms 18 of arcuate shape arranged to provide an opening 20 having inwardly converging sides 22 leading to a retention space 24.

The interior surface of the body 12 has an angled flange 26 formed thereon for a purpose referred to hereinafter.

In use, assuming for example that the fastener studs of the present invention are to be used for mounting pivotal flaps onto a board as disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 8310999 and shown in Figure 5 of the present Application, the studs 10 are first disposed in axial alignment with respective circular openings 30 formed in a board 32 of only slightly larger diameter than the studs 10 and then slid partially through the openings 30 until the fastening formtion 16 of each stud emerges from the other, or front surface of the board with the free ends of the wings 14 resiliently engaging the under surface 34 of the board on opposite sides of the opening 30.

Each flap is provided with a pair of spaced, aligned, hinge pins 38 (only one shown in Figure 5) positioned, respectively, in recesses 40 formed in the flap 36, the diameter of the hinge pins 38 being approximately the same as the maximum dimension between the arms 18. Thus, in order to accommodate each hinge pin 38 in its respective retention space 24, it is first forced downwardly between he converging sides 22, urging the arms 18 apart, until it is "snapped" into the space 24 with the arms springing back to their original position.

It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, the flap 36 is always under tension providing a positive location both in the operative and inoperative positions.

The fastening formation 16 may be of an alterantive form, for example, an integral hook-like formation, or threaded boss may be used in place of the opposed arms 18 described above.

Referring now to the angled flange 26 formed on the interior surface of the body 12, this flange is used to locate the fastener stud in a required, predetermined position in an assembly jig and, in instances in which boards 32 of various thicknesses may be used, the width and/or angularity of the flange 26 may be varied to ensure the correct length of the fastener stud 10 is used.

The angularity of the flange 26 referred to above is the angle "A" shown in Figure 2.

1. A fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member, said stud comprising a tubular body member having at least one pair of resilient wings integral with and diverging away from the body member and a fastening formation on its head portion remote from said wings, the arrangement being such that, in use, the free end of each wing resiliently engages one surface of said second member on opposite sides of the opening and the first member is connected to said fastening formation adjacent the opposite surface of the second member.

2. A fastening stud as claimed in claim 1, wherein a location flange is formed on the interior surface of the body member.

3. Afastening stud as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fastening formation comprises a pair of opposed arms arranged to provide an opening leading to a first member retention space.

4. A fastening stud as claimed in claim 3, wherein the opening has inwardly converging sides.

5. Afastening stud as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fastening formation is of hook-like

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An improved fastening stud The present invention relates to a fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member. Often the fastening together of two members is time consuming and in assemblies in which a multiplicity of fasteners are used the assembly time is costly. For example, our co-pending British application discloses a mechanical digital display apparatus utilising seven pivotally mounted flaps for each figure on the display board. Each flap has two pivots formed by studs having a coil spring and cotter two provide the required resilient mounting and it will be readily appreciated the assembly time of such an apparatus is extremely costly. The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantage referred to above. The present invention consists in a fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member, said stud comprising a tubular body member having at least one pair of resilient wings integral with and diverging away from the body member and a fastening formation on its head portion remote from said wings, the arrangement being such that, in use, the free end of each wing resiliently engages one surface of said second member on opposite sides of the opening and the first member is connected to said fastening formation adjacent the opposite surface of the second member. In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa front view, partly in section, of a fastening stud according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure land Figure 5 is a front view, similar to Figure 1, showing the fastening stud of the present invention as used in the assembly of two members. Referring now to the drawings, the fastener stud 10 is moulded from an acetal copolymer and comprises a hollow, cylindrical body 12 having a pair diametrically opposed wings 14 diverging upwardly from the lower portion of the body 12 and a fastening formation 16 formed on the upper end or head of the body 12. The wings 14 are resilient and, in use, enable members to be fastened together under tension as hereinafter described. The fastening formation 16 comprises opposed arms 18 of arcuate shape arranged to provide an opening 20 having inwardly converging sides 22 leading to a retention space 24. The interior surface of the body 12 has an angled flange 26 formed thereon for a purpose referred to hereinafter. In use, assuming for example that the fastener studs of the present invention are to be used for mounting pivotal flaps onto a board as disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 8310999 and shown in Figure 5 of the present Application, the studs 10 are first disposed in axial alignment with respective circular openings 30 formed in a board 32 of only slightly larger diameter than the studs 10 and then slid partially through the openings 30 until the fastening formtion 16 of each stud emerges from the other, or front surface of the board with the free ends of the wings 14 resiliently engaging the under surface 34 of the board on opposite sides of the opening 30. Each flap is provided with a pair of spaced, aligned, hinge pins 38 (only one shown in Figure 5) positioned, respectively, in recesses 40 formed in the flap 36, the diameter of the hinge pins 38 being approximately the same as the maximum dimension between the arms 18. Thus, in order to accommodate each hinge pin 38 in its respective retention space 24, it is first forced downwardly between he converging sides 22, urging the arms 18 apart, until it is "snapped" into the space 24 with the arms springing back to their original position. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, the flap 36 is always under tension providing a positive location both in the operative and inoperative positions. The fastening formation 16 may be of an alterantive form, for example, an integral hook-like formation, or threaded boss may be used in place of the opposed arms 18 described above. Referring now to the angled flange 26 formed on the interior surface of the body 12, this flange is used to locate the fastener stud in a required, predetermined position in an assembly jig and, in instances in which boards 32 of various thicknesses may be used, the width and/or angularity of the flange 26 may be varied to ensure the correct length of the fastener stud 10 is used. The angularity of the flange 26 referred to above is the angle "A" shown in Figure 2. CLAIMS

1. A fastening stud for resiliently fastening a first member to a second member through an opening formed in the second member, said stud comprising a tubular body member having at least one pair of resilient wings integral with and diverging away from the body member and a fastening formation on its head portion remote from said wings, the arrangement being such that, in use, the free end of each wing resiliently engages one surface of said second member on opposite sides of the opening and the first member is connected to said fastening formation adjacent the opposite surface of the second member.

2. A fastening stud as claimed in claim 1, wherein a location flange is formed on the interior surface of the body member.

3. Afastening stud as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fastening formation comprises a pair of opposed arms arranged to provide an opening leading to a first member retention space.

4. A fastening stud as claimed in claim 3, wherein the opening has inwardly converging sides.

5. Afastening stud as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fastening formation is of hook-like shape.

6. Afastening stud as claimed in anyofthe preceding claims moulded from an acetal copolymer.

7. Afastening stud substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accomanying drawings.