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US3918130A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Initially one piece removable fastener

Assignee: Hartwell Corp
•
Filing: 1974-12-11
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-12-11
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Abstract

Abstract A fastener for removably joining two members, the fastener comprising an expansible grommet and an expander plunger initially joined as a single piece by a frangible connection which is broken in the course of installation of the fastener to permit relative movement of the grommet and plunger in order to join the two members, the grommet and plunger remaining connected in such a manner that as the plunger is moved between an extended and retracted position, the grommet expands and contracts for releasably connecting the two members while the plunger and grommet remain interconnected, and, if desired, the grommet may remain attached to one of the two members intended to be joined by the fastener.

Inventors

  • 👤 L Richard Poe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 09:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/04; F16B19/08; F16B19/10; F16B19/1027; F16B19/1036; F16B19/1081; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/30; Y10T24/309; Y10T24/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 254 words
A fastener for removably joining a first and a second perforated member, comprising: a. an expansible grommet having complementary portions joined by a web, the complementary portions including a pair of confronting head portions and stem portions forming spaced confronting walls; b. opposed expansion cam shoulders adjacent the extremities of the stem portions; c. a latching lug projecting from at least one confronting wall; d. an expander plunger including a handle head disposed outwardly of the grommet head portions and a shank dimensioned to fit between the complementary walls; e. cam elements carried by the shank engageable with the cam shoulders to spread the cam portions upon inward movement relative to the grommet; f. a channel formed in the shank to receive the latching lug and including a shoulder engageable with the latching lug to restrain outward movement of the plunger; g. and means initially forming a frangible connection between the head portions of the grommet and the shank of the plunger to hold the plunger in an extended position relative to the grommet until the frangible connection is sheared; h. the grommet being insertable into the perforated first and second members and the plunger, upon being subjected to a connection shearing force, movable into expanding engagement with the cam sHoulders to expand the grommet into interlocking engagement with the first and second members; i. the plunger thereafter being outwardly movable until engagement between the plunger shoulder and grommet latching lug to permit contraction of the latching lug for removal from the second member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 254 words
A fastener for removably joining a first and a second perforated member, comprising: a. an expansible grommet having complementary portions joined by a web, the complementary portions including a pair of confronting head portions and stem portions forming spaced confronting walls; b. opposed expansion cam shoulders adjacent the extremities of the stem portions; c. a latching lug projecting from at least one confronting wall; d. an expander plunger including a handle head disposed outwardly of the grommet head portions and a shank dimensioned to fit between the complementary walls; e. cam elements carried by the shank engageable with the cam shoulders to spread the cam portions upon inward movement relative to the grommet; f. a channel formed in the shank to receive the latching lug and including a shoulder engageable with the latching lug to restrain outward movement of the plunger; g. and means initially forming a frangible connection between the head portions of the grommet and the shank of the plunger to hold the plunger in an extended position relative to the grommet until the frangible connection is sheared; h. the grommet being insertable into the perforated first and second members and the plunger, upon being subjected to a connection shearing force, movable into expanding engagement with the cam sHoulders to expand the grommet into interlocking engagement with the first and second members; i. the plunger thereafter being outwardly movable until engagement between the plunger shoulder and grommet latching lug to permit contraction of the latching lug for removal from the second member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the web extends between the complementary head portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the web extends between the extremities of the stem portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. a first web extends between the complementary head portions; b. and a second web extends between the extremities of the stem portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the side margins of the grommet stem portions and the plunger shank portions incude interengaging channel and rib elements to restrain movement of the shank portions away from the shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 178 words
A fastener for removably joining a first and a second perforated member, comprising: a. an expansible grommet having complementary head and stem portions defining confronting walls, the stem portions being insertable through the perforations; b. an expander plunger having a handle head and shank, the shank being dimensioned to be received between the confronting walls; c. shearable means initially forming an integral connection between the grommet and shank and initially positioning the plunger in extended relation to the grommet, the shearable means being rupturable upon application of a predetermined force on the handle head; d. cooperating means carried by the grommet stem portions and plunger shank for spreading the stem portions upon predetermined inward movement of the shank; e. and interlocking means operable upon predetermined subsequent outward movement of the plunger shank to prevent disengagement of the plunger from the grommet, the plunger being movable before restrained by the interlocking means to permit disengagement of the cooperating spreading means thereby to permit contraction of the grommet stem portions for release of at least one of the perforated members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 178 words
A fastener for removably joining a first and a second perforated member, comprising: a. an expansible grommet having complementary head and stem portions defining confronting walls, the stem portions being insertable through the perforations; b. an expander plunger having a handle head and shank, the shank being dimensioned to be received between the confronting walls; c. shearable means initially forming an integral connection between the grommet and shank and initially positioning the plunger in extended relation to the grommet, the shearable means being rupturable upon application of a predetermined force on the handle head; d. cooperating means carried by the grommet stem portions and plunger shank for spreading the stem portions upon predetermined inward movement of the shank; e. and interlocking means operable upon predetermined subsequent outward movement of the plunger shank to prevent disengagement of the plunger from the grommet, the plunger being movable before restrained by the interlocking means to permit disengagement of the cooperating spreading means thereby to permit contraction of the grommet stem portions for release of at least one of the perforated members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. a web joins the grommet head portions; b. and guide means limits spreading of the grommet stem portions away from the plunger shank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. a web joins the extremities of the grommet stem portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. the interlocking means includes a stop lug projecting from at least one of the confronting walls of the grommet, and a corresponding recess provided on the shank of the expander plunger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. the interlocking means includes a stop lug provided on the stem portion of the expander plunger, and a latching surface is provided at a head portion of the grommet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. an interengaging means is provided between the grommet and expander plunger to provide resistance to movement of the plunger into the grommet to facilitate seating of the grommet prior to spreading of the stem portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
A fastener, as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. interengaging means carried by the grommet and the plunger relatively positioned for engagement prior to spreading the stem portions to increase the force required to effect spreading the stem portions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3112547A Cited
US3417438A Cited
US3811154A Cited
US3854374A Cited
US3852849A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-11-10 1979-05-12 1979-11-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-11-10 1983-05-12 1983-11-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-11-10 1987-05-12 1987-11-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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