Quick-disconnect fastening system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10215213-B2
Application number	US-201615296748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A fastener assembly is provided having a cylindrical shank with a plurality of annular grooves formed along a length of the shank. A plurality of elongated ribs extends perpendicular to the grooves along the length. A fastener disc is provided with a central opening with a diameter less than a cylindrical shank diameter wherein an inner edge of the central opening includes a contact surface. The fastener disc is retained on the fastener portion in a locked position when the contact surface engages one of the plurality of grooves with a friction fit. The fastener disc is rotated to a release position so that the elongated rib contacts the inner edge thereby releasing the contact surface from the grooves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener assembly comprising:
a cylindrical shank with a plurality of annular grooves formed along a length of the shank;
a plurality of elongated ribs that extend perpendicular to the grooves along the length; and
a fastener disc with a central opening with a diameter less than a cylindrical shank diameter wherein an inner edge of the central opening includes a contact surface;
wherein the fastener disc is retained on the cylindrical shank in a locked position when the contact surface engages one of the plurality of grooves with a friction fit; and
wherein the fastener disc is rotated to a release position so that the elongated rib contacts the inner edge thereby releasing the contact surface from the grooves.

2. The fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated ribs have drafted sides that act as a cam surface when the disc is rotated.

3. The fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein in the release position, the rib causes the contact surface to deflect so that the diameter of the central opening is greater than the cylindrical shank.

4. The fastener assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of deflectable tabs connected to the fastener disc, wherein the contact surface comprises an inner edge of each deflectable tab is defined along the central opening of the fastener disc.

5. The fastener assembly of claim 4 wherein the fastening disc includes a plurality of slots that project radially outward from the central opening, one of the deflectable tabs is formed between each of the slots.

6. The fastener assembly of claim 4 wherein the plurality of tabs comprises four deflectable tabs, wherein the fastener disc is turned generally an eighth-turn to the release position.

7. The fastener assembly of claim 1 further comprising a radial opening extending from the central opening and defined between each of the tabs, wherein the elongated rib is aligned with the radial opening with the disc is in the locked position.

8. The fastener assembly of claim 1 further comprising a disassembly tool, to engage and rotate the disc to the release position.

9. The fastener assembly of claim 8 wherein the disassembly tool comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein each tooth is shaped to engage a slot between each deflectable tab.

10. The fastener assembly of claim 8 wherein the disassembly tool grips a peripheral edge of the disc.

11. The fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein the grooves are defined between the elongated ribs.

12. A quick-disconnect fastener assembly comprising:
a mating part with a hardware portion and a fastener portion, the fastener portion comprising:
a cylindrical shank with a plurality of annular grooves formed along a length of the shank, and
a plurality of elongated plateaus that extend the length of the cylindrical shank perpendicular to the grooves, wherein the elongated plateaus have drafted sides;
a fastener disc with a central opening with a diameter less than a cylindrical shank diameter, a plurality of slots that project radially outward from the central opening, and a chamfered opening between each of the slots and the central opening, wherein a chamfer angle of the chamfered opening is generally equal to a draft angle of the drafted sides along the plateaus; and
a plurality of deflectable tabs, each tab defined between two adjacent slots, wherein an inner edge of each deflectable tab is defined along the central opening;
wherein the fastener disc is retained on the mating part when the cylindrical shank is inserted through the central opening so that each of the elongated plateaus is aligned with one of the chamfered openings and the plurality of deflectable tabs is engaged with one of the plurality of grooves with a snap-fit, and
wherein the fastener disc is disconnected from the mating part by rotation of the disc whereby the elongated plateaus contact the inner edge of the deflectable tabs and release the deflectable tabs from the grooves so that the cylindrical shank is removable from the central opening.

13. The quick-disconnect fastener assembly of claim 12 wherein the hardware portion of the mating part comprises a hook.

14. The quick-disconnect fastener assembly of claim 12 wherein the hardware portion of the mating part comprises a fastener head.

15. The quick-disconnect fastener assembly of claim 12 wherein the mating part comprises a frangible connection for disconnecting the hardware portion.

Assignees

• Liberty Hardware Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Forrest Earl David
• GIRI Sagar Kishor
• Mohandoss Jegatheesan

Classifications

• F16B21/073 Primary

  the socket having a resilient part on its inside · CPC title

• B25B15/005

  with cross- or star-shaped cross-section · CPC title

• F16B21/186

  external, i.e. with contracting action · CPC title

• A47G25/0607

  Clothes hooks · CPC title

• A47G29/10

  Key holders; Key boards (key cases A45C11/32) · CPC title