Verification arrangement for fastener system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267525-B2
Application number	US-201214006759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2012
Priority date	Mar 24, 2011
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A quarter turn fastener employed to affix a component to a structural base plate includes bar code indicia to verify installation and locking of the fastener. The fastener is positionable in an insertion position relative to the base plate for insertion through a receptacle, and rotatable one quarter turn to releasably secure it, and the component to the base plate. It includes resilient arms to urge an attachment portion of the fastener against the rear surface of the base plate which are configured to obscure at least a portion of the bar code indicia in any position other than the locked position. When rotated to the locked position, the attachment portion is urged against the rear surface of the base plate the resilient arms do not obscure the bar code indicia. Anti-rotation lugs releasably engage the receptacle to releasably latch the fastener in the locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A quarter turn fastener to connect a component with a fastener receiving hole to a base plate having a fastener receptacle, said fastener comprising:
a body rotatable between an insertion position connectable to the base plate and a locked position releasably securing the component to the base plate;
an attachment portion configured to pass through the fastener receiving hole in the component and the fastener receptacle in the base plate;
said attachment portion including at least one abutment surface to abut the back surface of the base plate in said locked position,
a head portion to move said fastener between said insertion position and said locked position;
wherein the component includes machine readable indicia and said fastener is configured to obscure at least a portion of the indicia except when in said locked position.

2. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said head portion includes deformable resilient arms extending laterally outward and toward said attachment portion with ends to engage the front surface of the component and urge said at least one abutment surface toward the rear surface of the base plate, said arms configured such that at least one of said arms obscures at least a portion of the indicia on the component except when said fastener is in said locked position.

3. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient arms include ends spaced axially from said at least one abutment surface a distance less than the thickness of the component and the thickness of the base plate.

4. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 3 wherein said attachment portion of said fastener comprises an energy absorbing configuration.

5. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fastener is further configured so it does not obscure said machine readable indicia when in said locked position.

6. A quarter turn fastener to connect a component with a fastener receiving hole to a base plate having a fastener receptacle, said fastener comprising:
a body rotatable between an insertion position connectable to the base plate and a locked position releasably securing the component to the base plate;
an attachment portion configured to pass through the fastener receiving hole in the component and the fastener receptacle in the base plate;
said attachment portion including at least one abutment surface to abut the back surface of the base plate in said locked position,
a head portion to move said fastener between said insertion position and said locked position;
wherein the component includes machine readable indicia and said fastener is configured to obscure at least a portion of the indicia except when in said locked position
wherein said attachment portion includes opposed long bars each defining an abutment surface for abutment with the rear surface of the base plate and at least one short bar defining at least one anti-rotation lug configured to latch in the receptacle of the base plate when said fastener is in the locked position.

7. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 6 wherein said attachment portion is cruciform shape and includes two opposed short bars, each defining an anti-rotation lug configured to latch in the receptacle of the base plate when said fastener is in the locked position.

8. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said anti-rotation lug includes a radial outward finger, said fingers each defining a seat to receive and releasably retain the component to be affixed to the base plate.

9. A quarter turn fastener as claimed in claim 6 wherein said resilient arms have a width coextensive with the width of said head portion.

10. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket for connection to a base plate, said hanger bracket having a fastener receiving hole and said base plate having a fastener receptacle, comprising:
a fastener body rotatable between an insertion position connectable to the base plate and a locked position releasably securing said hanger bracket to the base plate;
a head portion to move said fastener between said insertion position and said locked position
an attachment portion sized to pass through said fastener receiving hole in said hanger bracket and the fastener receptacle in the base plate;
said attachment portion including at least one abutment surface to abut the back surface of the base plate in said locked position, and
wherein said attachment portion includes two opposed short bars each including a radial outward finger, said fingers each defining a seat to receive and releasably support said hanger bracket
wherein said fastener receiving hole in said hanger bracket includes opposed short slots including outwardly directed tangs extending toward said attachment portion and disposed on said seats of said fingers.

11. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 10 wherein said head portion includes deformable resilient arms extending laterally outward and toward said attachment portion with ends to engage the front face of said hanger bracket and releasably retain said hanger bracket on said seats of said opposed short bars.

12. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 11 wherein the hanger bracket includes machine readable indicia and said deformable arms are configured to obscure at least a portion of the indicia except when said attachment portion is in the locked position.

13. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein said arms have a width coextensive with the width of said head position such that at least one of said arms obscures at least a portion of the indicia on the base plate except when said fastener is in said locked position.

14. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 10 wherein said attachment portion is cruciform shape and includes opposed long bars each defining an abutment surface for abutment with the rear surface of said base plate, and
wherein said short bars define anti-rotation lugs, configured to latch in the receptacle of the base plate when said fastener is in its locked position.

15. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fastener receiving hole in said hanger bracket is cruciform shape and includes opposed short slots and opposed long slots, each including outwardly directed tangs extending toward said attachment portion and said tangs of said short slots are disposed on said seats of said fingers.

16. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 15 wherein said head portion includes deformable resilient arms extending laterally outward and toward said attachment portion with ends to engage the front face of said hanger bracket and releasably retain said hanger bracket on said seats of said opposed short bars deformable resilient arms of said fastener urge said tangs into releasable engagement with said seats.

17. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 16 wherein the hanger bracket includes machine readable indicia and said deformable arms are configured to obscure at least a portion of the indicia except when said attachment portion is in the locked position.

18. A quarter turn fastener and hanger bracket as claimed in claim 17 wherein said arms have a width coextensive with the width of said head portion such that at least one of said arms obscures at least a portion of the indicia on the base plate except when said fastener is in said locked position.

19. An assembly of

Assignees

• Everard Stephen M
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Everard Stephen M

Classifications

• F16B21/02 Primary

  Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) · CPC title

• B60R21/213

  in vehicle roof frames or pillars · CPC title

• F16B1/0071

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16B1/00 Primary

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• F16B2200/95

  with markings, colours, indicators or the like · CPC title