Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
  • B23P19/02—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes for connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
  • F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
  • F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
  • F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
  • F16B5/065—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B2/00—Friction-grip releasable fastenings
  • F16B2/02—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
  • F16B2/04—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening internal, i.e. with spreading action

Definitions

• This invention relates to a resilient fastener including standoff-type fasteners that assemble two flat panels a spaced distance apart. More specifically, it relates to an elastomeric fastener that provides panel grasping and spacing functions solely by its resilience.
• a standoff fastener is an element that attaches two panels a spaced distance apart.
• the panels are generally attached through some type of clipping mechanism, or clamping by threaded fasteners or screws and generally include two types: those that are machined or formed from metal, and those made from plastic. However, whether the fasteners are
• chassis metal must be ductile, limiting the choice of materials used in the chassis, and removal of these fasteners is a destructive process leaving either the
• Plastic fasteners When a plastic standoff utilizes threads, debris can fall into the assembly and the plastic standoffs that do not utilize threads are often not resistant to shock, heat, and vibration. Plastic fasteners that do not require special installation tooling are often damaged upon removal so the fastener becomes unusable for re-assembly. Plastic fasteners are also unable to provide electrical conductivity in the event a grounding contact is needed.
• This fastener has an elastomeric portion, hereinafter the "tail,” that provides retention of the attached panel by the compressive radial grip of displaced tail material.
• a base of the fastener which in some embodiments includes a head and a barrel section, provides a positive stop against the further insertion of the tail into the hole of a panel. The base can also function to positively space two panels apart, providing a standoff function.
• a third embodiment allows the tail-elongation to occur from the opposite side of the fastener by the use of a push-pin extending through the base. All three embodiments as well as other modifications are independent but will also work in conjunction with each other.
• the tail can fit into the hole of the panel when the tail is stretched to a reduced diameter.
• the tail grips the interior surface of the hole as well as the surfaces of the panel around it. This occurs because when the tail is released it attempts to return to its original diameter, however the material of the tail restricted by the panel causes the tail to expand or bulge on either side of the panel. This bulge retains the panel at the location along the tail when the stretching was relaxed. The expansion or bulging is also assisted by the tendency for the tail to return to its free
• the tail is stretched again until the diameter reduces to an amount sufficient to pass the panel back over the tail.
• the fastener invention is its application to a single panel where the protruding base on one side of the panel may serve a useful function such as a support foot commonly found on household or electronic appliances.
• the majority of the tail expansion i.e. bulge
• the majority of the tail expansion occurs on the side of the panel opposite the annular underside surface of the fastener base which
• the base can also include various other structures such as a retainer or a sleeve to achieve additional functions of electrical conductivity, rigid spacing, or other functional characteristics as mentioned further herein.
• the fastener includes a base of enlarged diameter and an elongate elastomeric shank extending from the base providing two states of dimension. The first is a relaxed state wherein the shank is substantially free of all external forces. The second state is tensile, wherein an axial
• attachment means adjacent the base of the fastener securing it to a first panel.
• a second panel has an aperture with a diameter greater than the second tensile state of the shank, but less than the diameter of the shank at the first relaxed state.
• the fastener may further include an internal axial blind bore having an endwall proximate the distal end of a pin slidable within the bore and extending through to the outside of the opposite end of the fastener. Pushing the pin into the bore causes the longitudinal extension of the tail. This provides the above-described tail-stretching function and allows use of the fastener from one side of a panel only. Other aspects of the present invention will be more clearly shown from the following drawings and description of the preferred embodiment.
• Figures 1-3 are a series of side partial sectional views showing, step-wise, the process of assembling panels utilizing the fastener of the invention.
• Figure 4 is a side partial sectional view showing an alternate embodiment of the
• Figures 5-7 are a series of side sectional views showing step-wise the application
• Figure 8 is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 9 is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment.
• the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings depict fasteners which are substantially circular in lateral cross-section at all points along their length. Because they have axial symmetry, the side views shown in the above-described figures of drawing are
• the resilient standoff in these figures depicts a fastener with a head 13 that has an
• the standoff can be assembled to panel 17 before or after it is
• Assembly then proceeds as follows. First, the lead 10 is aligned and inserted into
• the tail can be stretched by manually pulling the lead 10. As the diameter of the lead 10
• the adhesive bond should be strong enough to withstand the repeated stretching
• tail 19 is relaxed and the diameter and length of the tail 19 will attempt to return to its original size, creating a gripping, bulged condition of the tail against the panel.
• the surface of the tail is preferably entirely smooth so that the gripped panel may be attached at any point along the length of the tail such as the location shown by the alternate
• the base 31 of the fastener includes a head 33 and a push-pin actuator 35.
• the headed base of the fastener is first inserted through a hole in a first panel to
• the push-pin can be either molded-over by the resilient
• the pin preferably has a shank 38, head 36,
• the end of the pin may have a retention groove 41 that corresponds to a narrowed retention sleeve in the bore of the fastener to captivate the pin.
• fastener stretches the tail 37 at the opposite end allowing the fitting-over of panel 11.
• the push-pin 35 is pressed again, eliminating the bulge 39 and allowing the panel 11 to
• a barrel portion of the base 40 provides
• the metal retainer 51 may be permanently attached
• the retainer has a counterbore 57, and through-hole 59.
• standoff may be assembled either before or after the self-clinching retainer 51 is installed into ductile panel 53. It can attach itself to the retainer by gripping bulge 52 prior to
• compression bushing inserted over the base 56 of the resilient standoff can also be used.
• the retainer 61 can be temporarily inserted into any panel which therefore is not required to be ductile like the self-clinching embodiment of Figure 8.
• the retainer 61 has a counterbore and a through-
• head 65 combine to provide snap-in attachment means which replaces the clinch feature.
• This embodiment can be employed to assembly panels much the same as described above with regard to the embodiment in Figure 8.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Standing Axle, Rod, Or Tube Structures Coupled By Welding, Adhesion, Or Deposition (AREA)
• Mounting Of Printed Circuit Boards And The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22968030

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2001
  • 2001-12-04 KR KR10-2003-7007423A patent/KR20040014429A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2001-12-04 MX MXPA03005276A patent/MXPA03005276A/es unknown
  • 2001-12-04 WO PCT/US2001/045359 patent/WO2002047866A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-12-04 AU AU2002220044A patent/AU2002220044A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-12-04 JP JP2002549427A patent/JP2004515929A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-12-04 CA CA002429547A patent/CA2429547A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-12-04 CN CNA018206948A patent/CN1481291A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-12-04 EP EP01270405A patent/EP1355761A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-12-14 TW TW090131001A patent/TW524731B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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