US3734551A

US3734551A - Closure-fastener for cabinets or the like

Info

Publication number: US3734551A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hughes; H Adams
Original assignee: Latch Plastics Inc
Current assignee: Latch Plastics Inc
Priority date: 1971-06-28
Filing date: 1971-06-28
Publication date: 1973-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-22
Also published as: FR2144325A5; IT958546B; DE2230232A1

Abstract

The catch and strike components of the fastener are each unitarily formed, as by a molding operation, from polypropylene or other suitable plastic material to economically produce a lowcost fastener which may be quickly and easily installed, and which is relatively silent and quite durable and reliable in operation. The fastener self-compensates for minor misalignments, and may be employed to produce gripping forces of varying magnitude.

Description

nite States Patent 1 1 Hughes et al.

1541 CLOSURE-FASTENER FOR CABINETS OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Robert T. Hughes, Thomasville; Houston L. Adams, Hickory, both of NC.

[73] Assignee: Latch Plastics, Inc., Hickory, N.C.

[22] Filed: June 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 157,289

[52] US. Cl. ..292/17, 24/217, 292/341.18 [51] Int. Cl ..E05c 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..292/17, 76, 341.18;

24/201 TR, 201 C, 208 A, 216, 217; 16/86 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ahlgren ..292/341.18

7/1960 Ahlgren ..292/17 5/1900 Almonte ..292/17 Primary Examiner.lames A. Leppink Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer Att0rneyJoseph H. Heard [57] ABSTRACT The catch and strike components of the fastener are each unitarily formed, as by a molding operation, from polypropylene or other suitable plastic material to economically produce a low-cost fastener which may be quickly and easily installed, and which is relatively silent and quite durable and reliable in operation. The fastener self-compensates for minor misalignments, and may be employed to produce gripping forces of varying magnitude.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEL MY 2 2 i975 INVENTORS 05527 7 #06455 #00570 4, 4

CLOSURE-FASTENER FOR CABINETS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to closure-fasteners for cabinets or the like, various prior-art examples of which are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,208,486, 2,946,612, 3,038,747, 3,269,763 and 3,103,378.

Heretofore most cabinet fasteners of the type in question, which customarily include a strike or male component and a cooperating catch or female component, have been formed entirely of metal. Such metallic fasteners have necessarily been relatively expensive, due to the considerable cost of metal forming and/or fabricating operations, and have also possessed certain other disadvantages or deficiencies. For example, they usually produce a loud clicking noise in operation, which noise is objectionable in certain utilizations, and tend after a period of time to rust and/or to collect dust and the like within surface crevices from which such matter cannot be readily removed. The latter material, in addition to impairing the appearance of the fastener, may in time also adversely effect its operation.

More recent developments in the art have been directed toward fasteners having either a catch component or a strike component formed of some type of plastic material. Due to the difficulties of attaining the necessary structural strength, it has in most instances been proposed that the catch component, which is usually larger than the strike component, be the one formed from the plastic and that such component be supportively recess-mounted within the cabinet body. Recess-mounting of the component might, in some instances and as opposed to surface mounting thereof, have also been deemed to be of assistance in reducing alignment problems occasioned during installation of the fastener by the slippery nature of the plastic material from which the component was formed.

While providing some advantages over completely metallic fasteners in the areas of manufacturing cost and noise reduction, composite metallic-and-plastic fasteners of the aforesaid type are still subject to both such problems and also to the durability problem. The latter problem is even more severe than in the case of fasteners formed entirely of metal, due to the tendency of the plastic component of the composite fastener to wear away rather rapidly under the impetus of repeated dynamic engagement with the metallic component. Additionally, the limited advantages offered by a composite fastener are frequently offset, if not entirely counteracted, by the difficulties encountered in the installation procedures customarily employed therefor. Thus, in order to be commercially successful, a cabinet fastener should possess not only the various attributes and benefits previously noted herein, but should also be capable of rapid installation by a person perhaps possessing only minimal skills in alignment techniques and only the rudimentary tools. This capability is not possessed by those fasteners including components which necessarily must be recess-mounted within the cabinet body. Additionally, recess-mounted fasteners are obviously considerably more difficult to clean than are surface-mounted ones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved cabinetclosure fastener which can be economically massproduced at an extremely low cost, which can be quickly and easily installed even by a person utilizing only a screw driver and possessing little familiarity with alignment techniques, and which in operation is highly reliable, efficient, easily-maintainable, durable and quiet. Additionally, the fastener of the present invention may be installed in such a manner as to produce a gripping force of greater or lesser magnitude, in accordance with the requirements of the particular installation, and is of such construction as to selfcompensate for possible minor misalignments which might arise, as from warpage of the cabinet structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention both the catch component and the strike component of the fastener are each molded from and formed entirely of polypropylene or comparable high-strength and wearresistant plastic material having a memory such as to return to the molded shape thereof following temporary deformation. Each of the aforesaid fastener components includes a substantially flat base member, of generally rectangular shape, by which it is adapted to be surface mounted upon any convenient part of the cabinet requiring a fastener. Each base member has a pair of elongate screw-receiving slots extending therethrough adjacent its opposite end portions and, at the various corner areas of the major rear face thereof adapted to engagingly overlie the adjacent cabinet surface, further has a plurality of pointed projections capable of penetrating such surface (assuming, of course, that the cabinet is constructed of wood or comparable material). The aforesaid projections minimize the possibility of accidental positional displacement of the components during and/or after their installation, and further may be advantageously employed during installation as markers to facilitate proper alignment of the components with one another.

A generally U-shaped member is formed integrally along part of one side thereof with the base member of the catch component, and projects a substantial distance generally perpendicularly from the central portion of the second or front major face of such base member. The U-shaped member includes apair of confronting leg portions which extend forwardly from a connecting rearward portion and define therebetween an interior cavity opening through both side faces of the U-shaped member. The aforesaid leg portions are curved from rear to front first inwardly toward one another and then outwardly away from one another to first define therebetween a relatively narrow throat and then a relatively wide mouth which sequentially communicate with the aforesaid cavity. While the leg portions of the U-shaped member are of substantial thickness throughout the major part of their lengths, such thickness preferably being at least equal to the throatspacing therebetween, they taper in thickness at their free outer ends to present substantially linear edges thereat. Only the rearward portion and the rearwardmost lengths of the leg portions of the U-shaped member are joined directly to the base member of the catch component. Along the major portion of their lengths and adjacent their free outer ends, such leg portions are separated from the base member for free resilient movement of the leg portions toward and away from one another.

The strike component of the fastener includes a generally flat strike member formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicular from the central section of the second or forward major face of the case member of such component. The strike member has a relatively thick leading edge of generally cylindrical shape and is adapted to be matingly received by and within the U-shaped member of the catch component in the closed condition of the fastener. The relative dimensions of the strike member of the strike component and the U-shaped member of the catch component are such that the leg portions of the latter move relative to one another as the strike and catch components are brought into or out of mated relationship, but are in an unstressed conditon at other times. This feature contributes to the durability of the fastener and also permits the catch member and the U-shaped member to be readily moved laterally into and out of desired degrees of mating relationship with each other, through an open side face of the U-shaped member and at any time prior to final installation of the fastener, for the purpose of varying as desired the gripping force exerted by the fastener during use.

If misalignment between the strike and catch components of the fastener should occur, as by reason of warpage of the cabinet upon which the fastener is installed, the fastener is capable in many instances of compensating for such misalignment. This capability is attributable in large part to the plastic construction and resilient nature of the strike component, as well as the catch component, of the fastener. To guard against the possibility of detrimental engagement betweeen the strike component and the cabinet surface upon which the catch component is mounted, particularly when the components are misaligned, the U-shaped member of the catch component includes a membrane extending partially across the cavity therewithin at the inner side face of the U-shaped member. The dimensions of the membrane are such that the same does not impede the necessary resilient movement of the leg portions of the U-shaped member of the catch component toward and away from one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter in the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fastener constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the two components thereof unmated but in positions such as they might occupy relative to one another when affixed to a cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the two components of the fastener in mated relationship and from the opposite side thereof, the rear face of the base member of the catch component being exposed to view in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the catch component of the fastener as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the strike component of the fastener as viewed in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the fully-mated components of the fastener as viewed in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIG. 2, and also showing in phantom lines a relationship between the two components which produces a gripping force of less than maximum magnitude.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fastener shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawing generally comprises a catch component 10 and a strike component 12 each unitarily formed, as by an injection molding operation, entirely of polypropylene or comparable high-strength, wearresistant and exceedingly durable plastic material hav-' ing good memory characteristics; i.e., the ability or tendency to always return to the molded shape thereof following a temporary deformation.

Components

10, 12 include generally flat and rectangularly-

shaped base members

14, 16, respectively, which each have elongate screw-receiving slots 18 extending through the opposite end portions thereof, the slots 18 within base member 14 extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal dimension of such member and the slots 18 within base member 16 extending parallel to the longitudinal dimension thereof. The major rear faces 14, 16' of

base members

14, 16 are adapted to engagingly overlie the surfaces of the cabinet portions (not shown) upon which the

respective components

10, 12 are mounted, and have integrally-formed pointed projections 20 extending from each of their corner areas for penetrating engagement with such cabinet surfaces.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, strike component 12 would customarily be affixed to the inner surface of the cabinet door (not shown), by conventional screws inserted through slots 18 of its base member 16, while catch component 10 of the fastener would similarly be mounted upon any convenient adjacent interior surface of the cabinet. It is of course understood, however, that if desired catch component 10 might be mounted upon the cabinet door and strike component 12 upon an interior surface of the cabinet, and that the orientation of the components relative to the horizontal and vertical might vary from that shown in the drawing in a particular installation. In any case, the projections 20 upon the major rear faces 14, 16' of

base members

14, 16 materially assist in the rapid and proper installation of the fastener. For example, if rear face 14 of catch base member 14 is pressed firmly against the cabinet surface upon which catch component 10 is to be mounted, the projections 20 extending from face 14' will penetrate into such surface and maintain, or at least greatly assist in maintaining, catch component 10 in its desired position while screws (not shown) are inserted through the slots 18 of base member 14. Strike component 12 may then be mated with catch component 10 as shown in FIG. 2, if not already in mated relationship therewith and in a manner more specifically described hereinafter, and the cabinet door closed rather abruptly upon the fastener. This will cause the projections 20 upon base member 16 of strike component 12 to penetrate into the cabinet-door surface at the location thereon where strike component 12 should be mounted to insure proper alignment between it and catch component 10. Following insertion of screws within the slots 18 of base member 16 at such cabinet-surface location, the projections 20 upon base member 16 will also thereafter assist such screws in positively maintaining strike component 12 in its desired position. A similar continuing benefit is derived from the projections 20 upon base member 14 of catch component 10. The projections 20 therefore completely overcome any mounting difficulties which might be occasioned by the slippery nature of the plastic material from which catch component and strike component 12 are formed, and greatly facilitate the rapid installation of the fastener in a desired location wherein its components are properly aligned with one another.

It is of course understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of one of many possible techniques which might be employed in the installation of the fastener.

Catch component 10 of the fastener further includes, in addition to its aforesaid base member 14, a generally U-shaped member 22 having a pair of confronting leg portions 22' extending forwardly from a connecting rearward portion 22" and defining therebetween an interior cavity 24 opening through both side faces of member 22. Leg portions 22 of U-shaped member 22 curve from rear to front first inwardly toward one another, to define therebetween a relatively narrow throat 26 communicating rearwardly with cavity 24, and then outwardly away from one another to define therebetween a relatively large mouth 28 communicating rearwardly with throat 26. Throughout most of their lengths leg portions 22 have an appreciable thickness dimension, preferably at least equal to the gap normally therebetween at throat 26, but such leg portions taper at their free outer ends to present substantially linear edges thereat.

U-shaped member 22 extends substantially perpendicularly from the central portion of the second (i.e., front) major face of base member 14 of catch component 10. At that side of U-shaped member 22 adjacent base member 14, rear portion 22" of the former is integrally joined to the latter. The rearmost lengths of leg portions 22 of U-shaped member 22 are also formed integrally with and joined to base member 14. However, along the forwardmost and major port of their lengths, leg portions 22 are separated from and not directly connected to base member 14, by virtue in part of notches 30 provided within the forward edge of base member 14 and extending inwardly therefrom adjacent leg portions 22, so that the forwardmost lengths of leg portions 22 are free for resilient movement toward and away from each other.

At the side face of U-shaped member 22 adjacent base member 14, a membrane 31 extends partially across cavity 24 of member 22. At the opposite or outer side face of member 22, and elsewhere throughout its span, cavity 24 is completely open. As is best apparent from FIG. 3, the thickness of membrane 31 is less than the thickness of base member 14.

Strike component 12 of the fastener further includes, in addition to its base member 16, a strike member 32 formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicular from the central section of the second (i.e., front) major face of base member 16. Strike member 32 has a width equal to the full width of base member 16, and while generally flat has a relatively thick leading edge portion 32' of generally cylindrical shape and a web-like thickened inner end portion 32".

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the thickness of the central portion of strike member 32 is approximately equal to the gap-spacing between leg portions 22 of U- shaped member 22 at throat 26 thereof. The thickness (i.e., diameter) of cylindrical leading edge portion 32' of strike member 32 is significiantly greater than the gap-spacing between leg portions 22' of U-shaped member 22 at throat 26, although considerably less than the spacing between leg portions 22 at mouth 28 of member 22 and also less than the corresponding dimension of cavity 24 of member 22. The relative lengths of U-shaped member 22 of catch component 10 and of strike member 32 of strike component 12 are such that when the two components are in mated relationship with one another, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, leading edge portion 32 of strike member 32 is disposed within cavity 24 of U-shaped member 22, while the central portion of strike member 32 is disposed within throat 26 of U-shaped member 22, and web portion 32" of strike member 32 is closely received within mouth 28 of U-shaped member 22, with the terminal linear edges of leg portions 22' of member 22 in engagement with base member 16 of strike component 12. The lateral or width dimension of strike member 32 is slightly less than the corresponding dimension of U- shaped member 22, and when components l0, 12 are in mated relationship (see FIG. 5) strike member 32 will be precisely laterally centered within U-shaped member 22 when the adjacent surface of leading edge portion 32 of member 32 is in engagement with the membrane 31 within cavity 24.

OPERATION Although the present fastener permits a variety of installation techniques to be employed, it may be assumed for purposes of illustration that catch component 10 is first secured to some convenient part of the interior surface of a cabinet, utilizing the projections 20 upon the rear face of its base member 10 and conventional woodscrews (not shown) in the manner previously described herein. Assuming that strike component 12 is not already mated with catch component 10 and that a maximum gripping force is desired in the particular installation of the fastener, the components may be brought into mated relationship quickly and easily by passing strike member 32 of strike component 12 laterally into U-shaped member 22, through the open outer side face of the latter, and continuing the aforesaid lateral movement until leading edge portion 32 of strike member 32 engages membrane 31. As noted previously, and as is shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, strike member 32 will then be laterally centered within U-shaped member 22 of catch component 10. The cabinet door or other closure (not shown) may then be closed rather abruptly, so as to cause penetration of the projections 20 upon base member 16 of strike component 12 into the surface of such door, after which strike component 12 may be secured to that surface, utilizing conventional wood-screws (not shown) and the aforesaid projections 20, with the assurance that

components

10, 12 are properly aligned with one another. The elongate nature of the screwreceiving slots 18, and the fact that the same extend in different relative directions upon catch component 10 and strike component 12, respectively, facilitate adjustment of the relative positions of the components if required to attain or re-attain the desired alignment thereof. Additionally, the projections 20 materially assist in preventing inadvertent slippage of the

components

10, 12 not only during installation, but also following such installation and during subsequent use of the fastener.

Each time during such usage that the cabinet door (not shown) is closed, leading edge portion 32' of strike member 32 will pass freely into mouth 28 of U- shaped member 22, and will be guided by the curved contour thereof into throat 26. At the latter point in time, portion 32' of strike member 32 will cam or flex leg portions 22 of U-shaped member 22 outwardly away from one another a sufficieint distance for portion 32' of member 32 to pass through throat 26 and into cavity 24 of member 22. After passage of leading edge portion 32' of strike member 32 into cavity 24, the lesser thickness of the central section of strike member 32 permits resilient leg portions 22' of U- shaped member 22 to immediately return inwardly toward one another. Once this occurs, leg portions 22' of U-shaped member 22 and all other portions of catch component 10 and strike component 12 return to and remain in an unstressed condition until such time as the cabinet door is again opened. Upon such opening of the cabinet door, edge portion 32 of strike member 32 moves along the same path of travel described above, but in the opposite direction, passing from cavity 24 of U-shaped member 22 first to and through throat 26 and then from mouth 28 of member 22. As edge portion 32 of strike member 32 again traverses throat 26 of member 22, leg portions 22' of the latter flex away from one another to permit such passage, and then immediately return to their unstressed positions illustrated in the drawing.

The necessary resilient movement of leg portions 22' of U-shaped member 22 is realized by the resilient properties of the polypropylene or comparable plastic material from which

components

10, 12 are formed, and also by the fact that such leg portions 22 are separated along the forward and major lengths thereof from base member 14 of catch component 10. The notches 30 provided within the forward edge of base member 14 of catch component 10 contribute significantly to the realization of the aforesaid free movement of the forward lengths of leg portions 22' toward and away from one another, and also discourage the imposition of undesirable torsional stresses upon leg portions 22' during passage of

components

10, 12 into and/or out of mating relation with one another. The fact that membrane 31 also extends across only the rearmost part of cavity 24 and is of small thickness is also noteworthy in the foregoing regard, since otherwise such membrane might unduly restrict the desired resilient movement of leg portions 22' toward and away from one another and/or cause the imposition of undesirable torsional stresses thereon during such movement.

The present fastener self-compensates for minor misalignments which might occur, as by reason of warpage of the cabinet, between its

components

10, 12. If due to such misalignments strike member 32 should not, during closing of the cabinet door (not shown) pass directly into the center of U-shaped member 22, its leading edge portion 32 would nevertheless enter the relatively large mouth 28 of member 22 and be directed by a camming action to and through throat 26 of member 22. This result is occasioned not only by the curvatures of leading edge portion 32 of strike member 32 and of leg portions 22 of U-shaped member 22, but also by such leg portions terminating in linear edges (rather than in flat surfaces) and by the resilience of strike member 32 arising from the fact that it is formed of the same plastic material as catch component 10.

Since the material employed, preferably polypropylene, has excellent memory characteristics, strike member 32 returns upon subsequent opening of the cabinet door (not shown) to its original unstressed condition and position even though in a stressed condition when the cabinet door is misaligned and closed.

In some conditions of misalignment, strike member 32 might tend to engage the cabinet surface upon which catch component 10 is mounted during movement of the two

components

10, 12 into and/or out of mating relationship with one another. Membrane 31 assists in preventing this undesirable result and the resulting wearing of strike member 32 which might otherwise occur by reason of such engagement. During both normal and abnormal use of the fastener, therefore, all dynamic engagement is between one plastic surface and another plastic surface, which contributes significantly to the durability of the fastener and the ease and quietness of its operation. It might further be noted in the latter regard that the location of slots 18 within

base member

14, 16 of the respective components of the fastener is such that no portion of either component will engage a screw extending through either of the slots of the other component at any time.

In some installations a gripping force of less than maximum magnitude might be desirable. This can readily be achieved with the present fastener by, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 5, mounting catch component 10 and strike component 12 in laterally offset relationship to one another such that strike member 32 projects laterally to a desired extent through and beyond the open side face of U-shaped member 22. The magnitude of the gripping force of the fastener will of course decrease as the magnitude of such projection is increased, and a wide range of adjustment is possible due to the relatively large width dimensions of U- shaped member 22 and strike member 32. Since strike member 32 is freely slidable in a lateral direction through the open side of U-shaped member 22, the aforesaid adjustment can be made with great ease and facility during either original installation of the fastener, which installation can transpire in the same manner as when a maximum gripping force is desired, or at some subsequent time.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided an improved and highly economical fastener possessing all of the benefits hereinbefore noted, along with many practical advantages. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically shown and described, it is to be understood that this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A fastener for a cabinet or the like, comprising:

a catch component and a strike component each molded from and formed entirely of high-strength, wear-resistant plastic material having the memory tendency to return to the molded shape thereof following temporary deformation;

each of said catch and strike components including a substantially flat base member having a major rear face adapted to engagingly overlie and be affixed to a section of the cabinet, each of said base members having elongate screw-receiving slots extending therethrough adjacent its opposite end portions and having a plurality of spaced pointed projections formed integrally with and projecting from said major face for pentrating engagement with said cabinet section adapted to be engaged thereby;

said catch component further including a generally U-shaped member having a pair of confronting leg portions extending forwardly from a connecting rearward portion and defining therebetween an interior cavity opening through both side faces of said U-shaped member; said leg portions curving from rear to front first inwardly toward one another, to define therebetween a relatively narrow throat communicating rearwardly with said cavity, and then outwardly away from one another, to define therebetween a relatively large mouth communicating rearwardly with said throat, and tapering in thickness at their free outer ends to present substanti ally linear edges thereat;

said U-shaped member being integrally formed,

along one side face of said rearward portion thereof, with said base member of said catch component and projecting substantially perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member, said base member being joined to said leg portions of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward lengths thereof only and the forward lengths of said leg portions being separated from said base member for free resilient movement toward and away from each other;

and said strike component further including an elongate and generally flat strike member formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member thereof, said strike member having a relatively thick leading edge portion of generally cylindrical shape and being adapted to be matingly received by and within said U-shaped member of said catch component in the closed condition of the fastener.

2. A fastener as in claim 1, wherein said components are molded from polypropylene and the surfaces thereof are slippery and smooth.

3. A fastener as in claim 1, wherein said base member of said catch component is provided with a pair of notches extending therein inwardly from one edge thereof adjacent said leg portions of said U-shaped member for separating adjacent lengths of said leg portions from said base member and for thereby facilitating said free resilient movement of said leg portions toward and away from each other.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a membrane extends pa'rtially across said cavity of said U-shaped member adjacent said one side face of said member, said membrane being engageable with said cylindrical portion of said strike member for laterally centering said cylindrical portion within said U-shaped member when said components are brought into mating relationship with one another 5. A fastener as in claim 4, wherein said membrane has a thickness less than the thickness of said base member of said catch component, and said membrane extends across only a portion of said cavity within said U-shaped member.

6. A fastener as in claim 1, wherein the relative dimensions of said U-shaped member of said catch component and of said strike member of said strike component are such that said U-shaped member is in a substantially unstressed condition while said components are in mated relationship with one another.

7. A fastener for a cabinet or the like, comprising:

each of said catch and strike components including a substantially flat base member having a major rear face adapted to engagingly overlie and be af fixed to a section of the cabinet, each of said base members having elongate screw-receiving slots extending therethrough adjacent its opposite end portions and having a plurality of spaced pointed projections formed integrally with and projecting from said major face for penetrating engagement with said cabinet section adapted to be engaged thereby;

said catch component further including a generally U-shaped member having a pair of confronting leg portions extending forwardly from a connecting rearward portion and defining therebetween an interior cavity opening through both side faces of said U-shaped member; said leg portions curving from rear to front first inwardly toward one another, to define therebetween a relatively narrow throat communicating rearwardly with said cavity, and then outwardly away from one another, to define therebetween a relatively large mouth communicating rearwardly with said throat, and tapering in thickness at their free outer ends to present substantially linear edges thereat;

said U-shaped member being integrally formed, along one side face of said rearward portion thereof, with said base member of said catch component and projecting substantially perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member, said base member being joined to said leg portions of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward lengths thereof only and the forward lengths of said leg portions being separated from said base member for free resilient movement toward and away from each other;

said strike component further including an elongate and generally flat strike member formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member thereof, said strike member having a relatively thick leading edge portion of generally cylindrical shape and being adapted to be matingly received by and within said U-shaped member of said catch component in the closed condition of the fastener;

a membrane extending partially across said cavity of said U-shaped member adjacent said one side face of said member, said membrane being engageable with said cylindrical portion of said strike member for laterally centering said cylindrical portion within said U-shaped member when said components are brought into mating relationship with one another, and said cavity of said U-shaped member being open at the other side thereof for permitting free movement of said strike member laterally therethrough prior to installation of said fastener.

ing said free resilient movement of said leg portions toward and away from each other.

10. A fastener as in claim 7, wherein the relative dimensions of said U-shaped member of said catch component and of said strike member of said strike component are such that said U-shaped member is in a substantially unstressed condition while said components are in mated relationship with one another.

Claims

1. A fastener for a cabinet or the like, comprising: a catch component and a strike component each molded from and formed entirelY of high-strength, wear-resistant plastic material having the memory tendency to return to the molded shape thereof following temporary deformation; each of said catch and strike components including a substantially flat base member having a major rear face adapted to engagingly overlie and be affixed to a section of the cabinet, each of said base members having elongate screwreceiving slots extending therethrough adjacent its opposite end portions and having a plurality of spaced pointed projections formed integrally with and projecting from said major face for pentrating engagement with said cabinet section adapted to be engaged thereby; said catch component further including a generally U-shaped member having a pair of confronting leg portions extending forwardly from a connecting rearward portion and defining therebetween an interior cavity opening through both side faces of said U-shaped member; said leg portions curving from rear to front first inwardly toward one another, to define therebetween a relatively narrow throat communicating rearwardly with said cavity, and then outwardly away from one another, to define therebetween a relatively large mouth communicating rearwardly with said throat, and tapering in thickness at their free outer ends to present substantially linear edges thereat; said U-shaped member being integrally formed, along one side face of said rearward portion thereof, with said base member of said catch component and projecting substantially perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member, said base member being joined to said leg portions of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward lengths thereof only and the forward lengths of said leg portions being separated from said base member for free resilient movement toward and away from each other; and said strike component further including an elongate and generally flat strike member formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member thereof, said strike member having a relatively thick leading edge portion of generally cylindrical shape and being adapted to be matingly received by and within said U-shaped member of said catch component in the closed condition of the fastener.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a membrane extends partially across said cavity of said U-shaped member adjacent said one side face of said member, said membrane being engageable with said cylindrical portion of said strike member for laterally centering said cylindrical portion within said U-shaped member when said components are brought into mating relationship with one another.

5. A fastener as in claim 4, wherein said membrane has a thickness less than the thickness of said base member of said catch component, and said membrane extends across only a portion of said cavity within said U-shaped member.

7. A fastener for a cabinet or the like, comprising: a catch component and a strike component each molded from and formed entirely of high-strength, wear-resistant plastic material having the memory tendeNcy to return to the molded shape thereof following temporary deformation; each of said catch and strike components including a substantially flat base member having a major rear face adapted to engagingly overlie and be affixed to a section of the cabinet, each of said base members having elongate screw-receiving slots extending therethrough adjacent its opposite end portions and having a plurality of spaced pointed projections formed integrally with and projecting from said major face for penetrating engagement with said cabinet section adapted to be engaged thereby; said catch component further including a generally U-shaped member having a pair of confronting leg portions extending forwardly from a connecting rearward portion and defining therebetween an interior cavity opening through both side faces of said U-shaped member; said leg portions curving from rear to front first inwardly toward one another, to define therebetween a relatively narrow throat communicating rearwardly with said cavity, and then outwardly away from one another, to define therebetween a relatively large mouth communicating rearwardly with said throat, and tapering in thickness at their free outer ends to present substantially linear edges thereat; said U-shaped member being integrally formed, along one side face of said rearward portion thereof, with said base member of said catch component and projecting substantially perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member, said base member being joined to said leg portions of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward lengths thereof only and the forward lengths of said leg portions being separated from said base member for free resilient movement toward and away from each other; said strike component further including an elongate and generally flat strike member formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly from the central section of the other major face of said base member thereof, said strike member having a relatively thick leading edge portion of generally cylindrical shape and being adapted to be matingly received by and within said U-shaped member of said catch component in the closed condition of the fastener; a membrane extending partially across said cavity of said U-shaped member adjacent said one side face of said member, said membrane being engageable with said cylindrical portion of said strike member for laterally centering said cylindrical portion within said U-shaped member when said components are brought into mating relationship with one another, and said cavity of said U-shaped member being open at the other side thereof for permitting free movement of said strike member laterally therethrough prior to installation of said fastener.

8. A fastener as in claim 7, wherein said components are molded from polypropylene and the surfaces thereof are slippery and smooth.

9. A fastener as in claim 1, wherein said base member of said catch component is provided with a pair of notches extending therein inwardly from one edge thereof adjacent said leg portions of said U-shaped member for separating adjacent lengths of said leg portions from said base member and for thereby facilitating said free resilient movement of said leg portions toward and away from each other.