US2156003A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1939- G. TINNERMAN FASTENING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1958 A R f I// III ATTORNEY 5 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES FASTENING DEVICE George A. Tinnerman, Rocky'River, Ohio, assignor to Albert H. Tinnerman, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 11, 1938, Serial No. 213,219

7 Claims. (01. 85-36) V This invention relates to fastening devices and particularly to those that are constructed of sheet metal cold rolled metal and the like. The device has particular application in holding two articles together through the medium of a projection that either forms part of one of the articles or extends through an opening therein, and that projects into and through an opening in the other article. The fastener may be used in holding articles that are made of plastic materials, die castings or any other materials which are used in commercial practice'in many industries. Examples of articles with which the present fastener may be used are nameplates, drawer pulls or any article where access for positioning the fastener may be had principally from one side only of the device to which the article is intended to be attached.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device which may be positioned upon a projecting portion of one article and inserted through an opening in another article and which will, by the act of insertion, automatically effect a locking connection between the two articles.

Additionally the invention contemplates a fastener which may be formed from a single thickness of blank material of such size and shape that the desired degree of flexibility and locking action may be obtained without loss or waste of material.

A further object is to provide a combination of article and fastening device by means of which the article and fastener as a unit, may be applied to another article through an opening and thereby result in an automatic locking connection therebetween.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of two articles that are held in assembled relationship by a device that is made according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 in Fig.- 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken through a modifled form of assembly construction; Fig. 4 is a section showing a modified fastener construction; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another modified form of fastener construction; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken through a stud to which the fastener of Fig. 5 is applied; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of afastener, and Fig, 8 is a section taken through two parts that are held in assembled relationship by means of the fastener shown in Fig. 7.

The fastening device illustrated in the various figures is preferably formed from a substantially rectangular section of sheet metal, or strip stock in a continuous direction, as a result of which of the desired width. The blank is suitably slit and deformed to make the desired yielding and holding formations and is then shaped preferably to the form of a split'ring which is adapted to fit over a projection 5 that is formed on or asso- 5 ciated with one article 6 and is adapted to extend throughan opening I in another article 8 to effect a locking or holding action therebetween.

Referring now to Fig. l, the fastening device has a body ill in the form of a split ring with yieldable arms ll formed therefrom. Each arm preferably has a portion thereof extending outwardly, as at [2, and another portion extending inwardly as at l3, the inwardly extending portion being located adjacent the free end of the arm whereby a shoulder is formed intermediate the ends of the arm. The arms are yieldable with respect to the body and normally tend to spring outwardly therefrom, as a result of which, they are moved inwardly by engagement with the wall of the opening through which the fastener is passed and are then automatically moved outwardly to engage the article behind the opening thereby resisting movement of the fastener in a reverse direction through the opening.

The yieldable arms may assume various shapes and forms depending upon the particular use for which the fastener isintended; thus for example in Fig. 3, the arms are extended outwardly and an intermediate shoulder is not formed. In this illustration, therefore, reliance'for the locking action is placed upon the free ends of the arms which are intended to engage a rearward face of the article through which the fastener is passed.

To hold the fastener upon one of the articles prior to the insertion thereof into the opening in another. article, I prefer to utilize prongs or other suitably formed means integral with the body of the fastener for engaging the projection with suflicient gripping action to resist movement of the fastener axially of the projection. Thus in Figs. 1 and 2, the holding means-constitute prongs 20 that are formed in the ends of the blank from which the fastener is made. Again in Figs. 4 and 5, the holding means comprise prongs 25 which are struck inwardly from the body at spaced intervals.

In practice, the prongs or other holding means permit the fastener to be applied to the projection 5 by movement of the body in an axialdirection with respect to the projection but resist 'movement in an opposite direction. It is to be understood that the resiliency of the body tends to bind the holding means against the projection and that the diameter of the fastener is so chosen with respect to that of the projection, with which the fastener is intended to be used, that the fastener must be sprungoutwardly in order to fit it onto the projection. Additionally, the opening I in the article 8 to which the article 6 is intended to be attached has such relation to the diameter of the fasten r that the fastener arms will be sprung inwardly as the fastener is passed through the opening.

A further modification of the means for locking the fastener against an article is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the body has flared portions 40 formed adjacent one end thereof. These flared portions or wings are capable of being moved radially inwardly to permit passage of the fastener through the opening and of moving outwardly automatically at the completion of the inserting operation.

While I have illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, an article having a projection in the form of a stud that is formed integrally with the article and that is adapted to receive the fastener, it is to be understood that I may, if desired, make the projection separate from the article and extend it through an opening therein. Thus, for example in Fig. 3 I have shown the article 6 as having an opening, I therein through which amember having a shank 5| is adapted to extend. A head 52 on the shank engages the article so that application of the fastener to the shank holds the member firmly in place. Thereupon, the fastener and member, as a unit, may be passed through an opening in the other article in the same manner as that used where a molded projection is employed.

A further modification of my invention is shown in Fig. 7 wherein the fastener is provided with an abutment 30 which may take the form of a flange that is flared outwardly to engage one side of an article so as to limit the movement of a fastener into the opening in such article. in Fig. 8, the flange .is shown as engaging the front side of the article 8 while the arms ll engage the opposite side. This form of construction may be inserted into the opening prior the stud 5, wherefore the fastener is automatically held in stud receiving position on the article. Thereafter, insertion of the stud will automatically effect a locking action between the parts by virtue of the fact that the stud is of sufficient size to force the body open. vIt is to be understood that this form of fastener has holding means thereon such. as the prongs 20 which have been described in connection with the illustration 'in Fig. 1.

While I have illustrated and described my fastener as having particular value in locking parts together where access to one of them may be had from only one side thereof, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable for use in connected parts where access may be had to both sides of each part. The advantage of the fastener is that it effects an automatic locking action between the two parts merely by an axial movement of the fastener, and that where it is inserted through one of the parts it can be snapped into position in a simple and expeditious manner. The yielding characteristics of the body of the fastener, and of the retaining means associated therewith, not only looks the fastener to one of the parts but also locks parts together at the same time. Additionally, the yieldable characteristics prevent loosening of the fastener and of the parts notwithstanding the fact that the parts when in use are subjected to vibration. The device therefore has adaptation in automo-. tive work for holding various assemblies together and particularly for locking items, such as name plates, against removal by an unauthorized person. As applied to articles that are molded from plastic material, the fastener has wide application because it can be held securely in place with out requiring irregular formations in the molded parts.

I claim:-

1. A fastening device having a body, comprising resilient substantially cylindrical split ring, the body having resilient fingers formed therefrom intermediate the ends thereof, and having article gripping portions disposed between the fingers,

2. A fastening device comprising a substantial- 1y cylindrical sheet metal split ring having resilient fingers formed therefrom and'having article gripping portions disposed between the fingers 3. A fastening device having a body compris- 7 ing a resilient sheet metal ring having fingers formed therefrom and having portions thereof disposed between the fingers and having inward- 1y extending prongs disposed on at least one of the edges thereof,

4. A fastening device having a body comprising a resilient split sheet metal ring having axially extending fingers bent outwardly therefrom, said fingers extending inwardly adjacent the ends thereof, said body having portions thereof disposed between and around the ends of the fingers and having inwardly extending prongs at spaced intervals thereof.

5,. In combination, a part to be joined having an opening therein and another part to be joined having a stud of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length adapted to extend into the opening, a fastener in the form of a split ring disposed on the stud and behind the opening, the fastener having a gripping engagement with the stud, and yieldable arms formed from the fastener and having shoulders thereon insertable into the opening to hold the article and fastener in assembled relation.

6. In combination, a part to be joined having an opening therein, and a second part having a stud adapted to extend through the opening and to project beyond the other part, said stud having a substantially uniform diameter throughout its length, afastener in the form of a split ring engageable with the stud by movement of the fastener in an axial direction of the stud, the fastener being smaller than the stud but being resilient and adapted to be expanded for application to the stud and to be held thereon solely by the spring 'tension of the-metal, said fastener having yieldable fingers that are insertable into the opening in the first named part regardless of the thickness of such part whereby the parts may be held in tight fitting assembly.

7. A sheet metal fastener comprising a split ring of substantially cylindrical form having a radially exending flange adjacent one end thereofand having fingers formed integrally and ex- GEORGE A. TINNERMAN.

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