US2321518A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1943- P. F. RossMANN 2,321,518

FASTENING DEVICE I Filed May 23, 1941 INVENTOR BY ,5M i@ ATTORN EY Patented June 8, 1943 FASTENIN G DEVICE Peter F. Rossmann, Bualo, N. Y., assgnor to Irving Rossi, West Orange, N. J.

Application May 23, 1941, Serial No. 394,844 I Claims.

The present invention relates to fastening devices for temporarily assembling or clamping together perforated metal pieces, such vas sheets, prior to a riveting or other operation.

In my copending patent application, Serial No. 384,461, led March 21, 1941, there is described a device of this character comprising substantially a retainer having a pair of spaced resilient prongs or legs having lower ends provided with lateral protuberances or shoulders and normally urged towards each other. Said prongs are arranged for movement through the opening of a suitable support in sliding engagement with a spreader element arranged therebetween and also held by said support. In the non-use position of the device, the lower ends of the prongs are separated by said spreader and if they are caused to slide past said spreader against the action of a spring by the aid of a suitable tool such as a plier applied to said member on the one hand and said support on the other hand, the lower ends will approach each other so as to allow insertion into the aligned riveting holes of the work to be assembled or clamped. Release of said plier will result in the prongs to move in the reverse direction, thus causing a separation thereof by said spreader element and engagement of the under-surface of the work to be assembled by said protuberances, resulting in a firm clamping action. Removal of the clamping device may be effected in the same manner in a reverse direction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastener of the above type which can be readily inserted and removed without the use of a special tool.

Another object is to provide a fastener of the above character of simplified construction'and which does not depend upon accurately machined parts for its eiciency.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken with reference to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of `one form of a fastening device or sheet holder embodying the improvements of the invention, shown inserted in the work in unclamped position,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the device in operative or clamped position,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

, walls of the frame I0.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a section taken on line5-'5' of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an isometric View showing the spreader element forming part ofl they clamping device illustrated.

Like reference characters identify like parts in the diiierent views of the drawing.

In the drawing, item I0 represents a U-shaped frame or body having a pair of parallel walls` or legs and a bottom portion I 0' engaging the upper of a pair of aligned perforate sheets A and B to be assembled. A pair of spaced resilient prongs or legs II and I2 forming a, retainer, having lower ends at rst bent inwardly asshown at I 3 and I 4 and followed bylcurved or arc-shaped extensions forming shoulders or protuberances `I 5 and I6, are passed through a suitable opening in the bottom portion I0 in sliding engagement with a T-shaped spreader element having a seat portion 2| resting against the inner faceof the bottom I0' and a spreader portion 20 at right angle thereto and projecting through the hole in the bottom I0. The seat portion 2I is provided with recesses as shown more clearly in Figure 6 for passing the legs or pro'ngs Illand I2.- 'Figure 3 shows the combined cross-sectional Width of the prongs I I and I2 and the spreader 20 to substantially equal the width or diameter of the holes in the sheets A and B. l

In the example shown. the prongs I I and I2 are formed by a U-shaped unitary steel wirel bent to further provide a support therefor by a circularly bent upper portion I1 and to provide acertain degree of resiliency in the longitudinal direction of the prongs by the provision of an-intermediate loop-shaped portion I8. A pin 2-2 is passed through the portion I'I and has its opposite end arranged to slide within slots 23 in the The legs II and I2 are advantageously of semi-circular or segmental cross section with their at surfaces facing each other as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

In order to move the prongs II and I2 from the inoperative position of the device, Figure 1, to i operative position, Figure 2, there is provided accordingI to the present invention a toggle mechanism comprising a channel-shaped lever 25 produced from sheet material and pivoted to a pin or shaft 26 journaled in opposite holes in the Walls of the frame Il). A further channel-shaped member or lconnecting link 2'I adapted ,to nest within the lever 25 is pivoted on the one hand to the lever 25 at an intermediate point 28 thereof and on the other hand to the pin 22 supporting the prongs II and I2. Item 30 is a stiening tube secured to and encircling the intermediate portions of the legs I2 and I3 to prevent bulging or bending of the latter.

In use, the prongs are inserted into the aligned holes of the sheets A and B by holding support I0 and lever 25 between the thumb and index until the bottoni l0 engages the upper sheet A as shown in Figure 1. Thereupon the lever 25 is pushed upwardly in the direction of the arrow whereby pin 22 and with it the entire structure II-I8 will be moved upwardly by the pin sliding in the slots 23 until shortly before reaching' the dead center position the loop I8 begins to stretch in such a manner that by further movement of the lever 25 the latter will snap into locked position as shown in Figure 2 wherein pivot 28 has crossed the line connecting the pivots 22 and 26. V y ends of prongs II and I2 have moved towards the frame IIJ so as to become separated by the spreader 20, thus causing the shoulders or protuberances I5 and I6 to engage the underside of sheet B near the edge of the rivetinghole and resulting in a rm clamping of the sheets.

Removal of the device may be `effected in a reverse manner by returning lever 25 to the original position as will be readily understood. In order to lock the toggle mechanism in the nonoperative position, the prongs II and I2 may be provided with inward protuberances 3l adjacent to the pin 26 as shown in Figure 1. In the latterV case a slight resistance will be felt at the be- 'ginning and end of the lever movement. In the construction shown, 'the inner circular-shaped en'ds of the lever 25 engage the spreader 20, thus acting as positioning means for the latter..

yIt ris understood that the toggle mechanism may be omitted and the insertion and removal of the device carried out by the aid of a suitable tool in a manner similar as described in the above 'mentioned prior application. In this case the construction and manufacture of the device shown in the copendi-ng application will be greatly'simplied. l y Y It will b e evident from the foregoing that the invention is not limited to the specic construction and arrangement of parts shown and disclosed herein for illustration, but that the underlying principle of the invention will be susceptible jof numerous modifications and variations 'coming within its broader Scope Aand spirit as Ydefined in the appended claims. The specification and drawing are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a limited sense.

I claim: e

1. A fastening 'device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and 1having their upper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relatively fixed relation to said support `'and projectingthrough the center of said opening, saidprongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with lthe opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming yto the width (jf-'said opening, and means for slidingly supporting said loopby said support.

2. fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary wire member During this operation the lower -f bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and having their upper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader having a seat portion arranged in relatively Xed relation to said support and a spreader portion at right angle thereto projecting through the center of said opening, said seat portion having recesses passing said prongs in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader portion, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader portion substantially conforming to the width of saidopening, and means for slidingly supporting said loop by said support.

3. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary Wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urged toward each other, said prongs being formed with shoulders near the lower ends thereof and having their upper parts bent into resilient loops, a spreader arranged in relativelyxed relation to said support and projecting through the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening and means for slidingly supporting said loop by said support.

4. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary wire member bent intl-fashion to provide a pair of resilient prongshaving their lower ends urged toward each other and having their upper parts bent to vform resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances projecting at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relative xed relation to said support and projecting through the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming `to the width of said opening, a pin supporting the upper end of said member and being slidably lmounted in said support.

5. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilient prongs having' their lower ends urged toward each other 'and having their upper parts vbent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relative ilixed relation to said support and projecting through the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening, a pin supporting said member being -Y siidably mounted in said support and a toggle mechanism for adjusting said pin in its extreme operating position.

6. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a unitary wire member bent in U-iashion to provide a pair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and having their upper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relatively xed relation to said support and projectingthrough the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening, a pin supporting said member slidably mounted in said support, a lever pivoted to said support, the pivoted end of said lever'slidingly engaging said spreader and a link having one end pivoted to said lever and having its opposite end pivoted to said pin whereby movement of said lever towards said support will cause said prongs to move into operative position with a snap action wherein the lower ends thereof are separatedrby said spreader. i

7. A fastening device comprising a ,support provided with an opening, a unitary.- wire member bent in U-fashion to provideapair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and having. their upper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relatively fixed relation to said support and projecting through the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening, a pin supporting said member slidably mounted in said support, a lever pivoted to said support, the pivoted end of said lever slidingly engaging said spreader, a link having one end pivoted to said lever and having its opposite end pivoted to said pin, whereby movement of said lever will cause said prongs to move toward said support and move into operative position with a snap action wherein the lower ends thereof are separated by said spreader, and means to lock said lever in non-operative position.

8. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, a member having a pair of spaced resilient prongs having their lower f ends urged toward each other, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relative fixed relation to said support and projecting through the center of said opening, said prongs being arranged i to have their intermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening, means resiliently connecting said member to said support to allow of movement of said prongs toward and away from said support, a lever pivoted to said support, the pivoted end of said lever slidingly engaging said spreader, and a link having one end pivoted to said lever and having its opposite end pivoted to said member, whereby movement of said lever will cause said prongs to move toward said support into operative position with a snap action.

9. In a device of the character described, a body member having an opening, a U-shaped unitary wire member providing a pair of resilient prongs having shoulders and biased towards each other, a T-shaped member having a cross portion resting against the inside of said body member and a spreader portion projecting through said opening, said spreader being interposed between said prongs with the combined cross sectional area thereof and said prongs substantially filling a pair of linked levers, one of said levers being lixedly pivoted to said support, andthe other lever being yieldingly pivoted tosaid wire member for clamping said shoulders into engagement with the outer surface of said body member,

10. A fastener yfor temporarily clamping together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging base" provided with an opening, a longitudinally expansible retainer projectable Vandretractable through said opening and havinga pair of spaced resilientlegs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and biased towards each other, a spreader held in relatively fixed relation to said body and having a portion projecting through said openand interposed between said legs whereby to space saidl legs apart, means for slidably supporting ,the inner end of 4said retainer by said body, and

means for tensioning and locking said retainer in they' retracted position to clamp a number of sheets between said shouldersandjsaid base.

11. A fastener for temporarily clamping together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging base provided with an opening, a longitudinally expansible retainer projectable and retractable through said opening and having a pair of spaced resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and urged towards each other, al

spreader held in relatively fixed relation to said body and having a portion projecting through said opening and interposed between said legs whereby to space said legs apart, means for longitudinally guiding the inner end of said retainer between two extreme positions to retract said legs inwardly of and project them outwardly of said body, and further means for tensioning and locking said retainer in the retracted position to clamp a number of sheets between said shoulders and said base.

12. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation oomprising a body having a sheet engaging base provided with an opening equal to the sheet perforations, a longitudinally expansible retainer projectable and retractable through said opening, said retainer having a pair of resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and biased towards each other, a spreader having a cross portion held in relatively lixed relation to said body and a spreader portion projecting through said opening and interposed between said opening, and a toggle mechanism comprising said legs whereby to space said legs apart, said legs and spreader portion having a combined cross sectional diameter substantially conforming to the diameter of said opening, and means for tensioning and locking said retainer in the retracted position to clamp a number of sheets between said shoulders and said base.

13. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging base provided with an opening, a retainer constituted by a U-shaped wire member projectable and retractable through said opening and having resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and biased towards each other, said legs being formed with at least one transverse loop to provide a predetermined longitudinal resiliency of said retainer, a spreader in relatively fixed relation to said body and having a portion interposed between said legs whereby to space said legs apart, means for slidably supporting the inner end of said retainer by said body, and further means ior longitudinally tensioning and 'l'l'in said retainer retijaqted position, 'thereby to lmp a n'rnber of hsheets between 'said 'sl'ioldrs and 'svlbase.` Y y 14. lA as'tener for ytei-np'orvahrily holdingvtolgether perforated sheets in Vs'ixpe'rposedI relation comprising a body having assh'et engaging basenpljovided with an opening and 'end apied to rest against one of the sheets, a retainer slidablethrou'ghusad opening and having a pair 'of resilient legs 'pro- 'vided with shoulders at( their outer vends and biased towards each other, afrernoyablespreader resting 'gwa'inst the inner side of Asaidbase and having a portion 'projeting throu'gljisaidopening' and interposed betweensaid legs whereby to spfae lsaid legs apart, meansinclndingnresilint c'ofnr'b'tn'g means for slidably supporting the inijnd of said retainer by said body, a' lever pivofed to said body', the pi/Otegi' 2end ofwsaid aidllv'eradbewusster.ndipivdedtosaid lastiiifentioned Ineans thereby to retrat said legs inwardly of 'said body upon movement of said leiter. and inw @lm ne engagement... 0l aninber o I, sheetsbetween said shoulders and vsaid baSe vithasnap ,action--.

l5.Y A fastener f ofr tev pora'rily clamping together perforated 'sheets in isuperg)osecl relation Comprising labolir haviea Sheet, engaging, base proyided with ,anuopenng `a A retainer fslidable through said opening being c'orlstzuted` by n a U-shaped1 Wire member havingresilientlegs biasd Vtowardseach other andV prjcyni/ idedn with shoul'dersat their outer ye'ndsv, a spreader resting against the inside ofsaid base andhaving a portion projecting .through ySaid Opening and. interposedbetween said. legs wherebyto spacesaid legs apart, and .resilient locking means interposed between the innerend, of vsaid; retainer a r1d jsaidA body and adapted to maintain said spreader in bearing engagement kwith vsaid .base and to retract saidlegs inwardly of said body and `clainriloa number of sheets between said shoulders and said base.

Perea F. ROSSMNN.

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