Fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12404892-B2
Application number	US-202418605661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2024
Priority date	Apr 13, 2023
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

The present application provides a fastener for fastening a first component in a second component having a circular hole. The fastener includes a main body and a retaining member. The main body includes a head for connecting the first component and a shaft portion extending from the head. The retaining member includes a receiving barrel and a plurality of retaining arms. The shaft portion passes through and is connected to the receiving barrel to limit the axial and radial movements of the retaining member along the shaft portion relative to the main body. The plurality of retaining arms extend upwardly from the receiving barrel and are distributed about the central axis of the receiving barrel. The plurality of retaining arms are deflectable towards the shaft portion. The plurality of retaining arms are located between the shaft portion and a hole and abut against the hole to retain the second component between the head and the plurality of retaining arms when the retaining member is inserted into the hole. The main body is made of a first material, and the retaining member is made of a second material that is more wear-resistant than the first material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for fastening a first component in a second component having a circular hole, the fastener comprising:
a main body comprising a head configured to connect the first component and a shaft portion extending from the head; and
a retaining member comprising a receiving barrel and a plurality of retaining arms extending upwardly from the receiving barrel and distributed about a central axis of the receiving barrel, the shaft portion passing through and connected to the receiving barrel to limit axial and radial movement of the retaining member along the shaft portion relative to the main body, the plurality of retaining arms being configured to be deflectable toward the shaft portion, wherein the plurality of retaining arms and the shaft portion are configured such that the plurality of retaining arms are located between the shaft portion and the hole and abut against the hole to hold the second component between the head and the plurality of retaining arms when the retaining member is inserted into the hole;
wherein the main body is made of a first material and the retaining member is made of a second material that is more wear-resistant than the first material.

2. The fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the first material is plastic and the second material is metal.

3. The fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the retaining member is removably assembled on the main body.

4. The fastener according to claim 1 ,
wherein the shaft portion comprises a shaft body and an upper stop structure and a lower stop structure disposed on the shaft body, wherein the upper stop structure is spaced apart from the head, and the lower stop structure is located below the upper stop structure with facing the upper stop structure and being spaced apart from the upper stop structure; and
wherein the receiving barrel of the retaining member cooperates with the upper stop structure and the lower stop structure to limit the axial movement of the retaining member along the shaft portion relative to the main body, and wherein the receiving barrel cooperates with the portion of the shaft portion between the upper stop structure and the lower stop structure to limit the radial movement of the retaining member along the shaft portion relative to the main body.

5. The fastener according to claim 4 , wherein the receiving barrel comprises a barrel body, wherein an outer diameter of the portion of the shaft body received in the barrel body matches an inner diameter of the barrel body.

6. The fastener according to claim 5 , wherein
the receiving barrel further comprises a plurality of upper connecting legs extending from an upper end of the barrel body and arranged about a central axis of the barrel body, and the plurality of upper connecting legs and the plurality of retaining arms are arranged alternately about the central axis of the barrel body; and
the shaft portion further comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged about the central axis of the shaft portion and protruding outwardly from the shaft body , and the upper stop structure comprises a plurality of upper stop bosses respectively formed by the plurality of protrusions;
wherein the plurality of upper connecting legs respectively abut against the plurality of upper stop bosses.

7. The fastener according to claim 6 , wherein
the receiving barrel further comprises a plurality of lower connecting legs extending from a lower end of the barrel body and arranged about the central axis of the barrel body, and the plurality of lower connecting legs extend inwardly obliquely towards the central axis of the barrel body; and
the shaft portion further comprises a plurality of lower recesses arranged about the central axis of the shaft portion and recessed inwardly from the shaft body, and the lower stop structure comprises a plurality of lower stop bosses respectively formed by the plurality of lower recesses;
wherein the plurality of lower connecting legs respectively abut against the plurality of lower stop bosses, and the plurality of lower connecting legs are respectively at least partially received by the plurality of lower recesses.

8. The fastener according to claim 7 , wherein the receiving barrel further comprises a plurality of guiding tabs extending from the lower end of the barrel body and arranged about the central axis of the barrel body, the plurality of guiding tabs extending inwardly obliquely towards the central axis of the barrel body, and the plurality of guiding tabs and the plurality of lower connecting legs being alternately arranged about the central axis of the barrel body.

9. The fastener according to claim 8 , wherein the barrel body has a hexagonal cross section, and the receiving barrel comprises three lower connecting legs, three guiding tabs, three upper connecting legs and three retaining arms, wherein the three lower connecting legs and the three guiding tabs respectively extend downwardly from six sides of the barrel body, and the three upper connecting legs and the three retaining arms respectively extend upwardly from the six sides of the barrel body.

10. The fastener according to claim 8 , wherein the receiving barrel has a break enabling the receiving barrel to expand in the radial direction of the receiving barrel.

11. The fastener according to claim 8 ,
wherein the shaft portion comprises a plurality of upper ribs located above the upper stop structure, and the plurality of upper ribs being arranged about the central axis of the shaft portion and cooperating with the hole to center the fastener in the hole; and
wherein the shaft portion further comprises a plurality of receiving recesses formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of upper ribs, and the plurality of receiving recesses are configured to respectively receive the plurality of retaining arms when the plurality of retaining arms are deflected towards the shaft portion.

12. The fastener according to claim 11 , wherein
the plurality of retaining arms have a substantially V shape such that each of the plurality of retaining arms has a lower portion extending obliquely away from the central axis of the barrel body from the barrel body and an upper portion extending obliquely inwardly toward the central axis of the barrel body from the lower portion, and the upper portion has a contact portion for abutting against the hole.

13. The fastener according to claim 12 , wherein the end of the upper portion is bent outwardly to form a limiting stop retaining the upper portion in the hole.

14. The fastener according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of retaining arms have arcuate protrusions on outer surfaces thereof.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Li Zhilin
• He Jiahui

Classifications

• F16B5/065

  the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance · CPC title

• F16B5/10

  by means of bayonet connections ({F16B5/0092 takes precedence}; fastening devices locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• F16B5/00

  Joining sheets or plates {, e.g. panels,} to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them ({F16B17/00 takes precedence;} by sticking together F16B11/00; dowel connections F16B13/00; pins, including deformable elements F16B19/00; covering of walls E04F13/00; fastening signs, plates, panels or boards to a supporting structure, fastening readily-detachable elements, e.g. letters to signs, plates, panels, or boards, G09F7/00) · CPC title

• F16B21/076 Primary

  the socket having a resilient part on its outside (F16B21/075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B21/086 Primary

  the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion · CPC title