Patent US3776092A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fastener
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-16
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A resilient synthetic plastics fastener having a head and a shank extending outwardly from the undersurface of the head and comprising a longitudinal stem and two longitudinal flanges lying one on each side of the stem. The flanges are joined to the stem by resilient webs and are compressible inwardly of the shank towards the stem. Each flange has a longitudinal edge remote from the web and an outer surface which comprises a longitudinal operative face adjacent the said edge and a longitudinal inoperative face between the operative face and the web. The operative face of each flange is convexly curved in section and is adapted to engage the rim of a circular aperture when the shank is inserted through the aperture and the inoperative face is adapted to clear the rim of the aperture so as to substantially reduce the area of interference between the flanges and the rim of the aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 C Seckerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B21/00; F16B21/06; F16B21/08; F16B21/086; F16B21/088; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0685; F16L; F16L3/00; F16L3/08; F16L3/12; F16L3/13; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3427; Y10T24/3439; Y10T24/344; Y10T24/3444
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A fastener comprising a head having an undersurface and a shank which extends outwardly from the undersurface of the head and which is adapted for insertion through a circular aperture in a panel, the shank comprising a longitudinally extending central stem which is approximately U-shaped on any transverse section therethrough and includes two longitudinally extending walls lying in parallel planes and joined by a resilient web at one end thereof so as to be resiliently compressible towards one another and two longitudinally extending flanges lying on opposite sides of the stem and joined to the stem by resilient webs disposed at the same end of the stem, said end being the end of the stem most remote from the web of the stem, so as to be resiliently compressible inwardly of the shank towards the stem, each flange having a free longitudinal edge adjacent the web of the stem, a first outer surface comprising a longitudinally extending operative face adjacent the longitudinal edge which, on any transverse section through the flange is convexly curved and adapted to engage the rim of the circular aperture as the shank of the fastener is passed therethrough, and a second outer surface comprising a longitudinally extending inoperative face, said inoperative face being disposed between the operative face and the adjacent web joining the flange to the stem, the inoperative face being adapted to clear the rim of the circular aperture as the shank of the fastener is passed therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A fastener comprising a head having an undersurface and a shank which extends outwardly from the undersurface of the head and which is adapted for insertion through a circular aperture in a panel, the shank comprising a longitudinally extending central stem which is approximately U-shaped on any transverse section therethrough and includes two longitudinally extending walls lying in parallel planes and joined by a resilient web at one end thereof so as to be resiliently compressible towards one another and two longitudinally extending flanges lying on opposite sides of the stem and joined to the stem by resilient webs disposed at the same end of the stem, said end being the end of the stem most remote from the web of the stem, so as to be resiliently compressible inwardly of the shank towards the stem, each flange having a free longitudinal edge adjacent the web of the stem, a first outer surface comprising a longitudinally extending operative face adjacent the longitudinal edge which, on any transverse section through the flange is convexly curved and adapted to engage the rim of the circular aperture as the shank of the fastener is passed therethrough, and a second outer surface comprising a longitudinally extending inoperative face, said inoperative face being disposed between the operative face and the adjacent web joining the flange to the stem, the inoperative face being adapted to clear the rim of the circular aperture as the shank of the fastener is passed therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said operative faces extend in combination over less than 180* of an imaginary circle circumscribing the shank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fastener as claimed in 2, wherein the inoperative faces of the flanges are substantially flat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stem and the flanges terminate at the end of the shank remote from the head in a solid tapered tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stem of the shank is joined to the head and the flanges terminate short of the head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative faces of the flanges are compressible towards one another in a direction substantially normal to the planes of the walls of the stem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 6, wherein the operative faces of the flanges diverge outwardly from the head to form two shoulders on opposite sides of the shank and converge from the shoulders towards the end of the shank remote from the head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fastener as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stem has a portion adjacent the head which is solid and which consTitutes an abutment adapted to limit movement of the shank when the shank is engaged in the aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |