Fastener system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9562549-B2
Application number	US-201514668627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A fastener system that includes a female fastener assembly with a housing having a channel defined therein and a switch member movable within the channel between removing and fastening positions. The switch member includes a receiver portion having a post opening defined therein and a switch portion. The housing includes a lower opening. The post opening includes a removing portion that is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the removing position and a fastening portion that is aligned with the post opening when the switch member is in the fastening position. The system also includes a male fastener assembly having a post with a slot therein. The post is received through the lower opening in the housing and the post opening so that the slot is aligned with the channel. The slot receives a portion of the receiver portion when the switch member is in the fastening position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener system for joining a first item and a second item, the fastener system comprising:
a female fastener assembly that includes a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a channel defined therein, wherein the female fastener assembly further comprises a switch member that is movable within the channel in the housing between a removing position and a fastening position, wherein the switch member includes a receiver portion having a post opening defined therein and a switch portion, wherein the receiver portion is movable to the removing position in a first direction and to the fastening position in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, wherein the switch portion includes a biasing force that biases the switch portion toward a third direction that is not parallel to the first and second directions when the switch portion is in the fastening position, wherein the housing includes a lower opening defined therein that extends through the lower surface thereof and is in communication with the channel, wherein the post opening includes a fastening portion and a removing portion, wherein the removing portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the removing position and the fastening portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the fastening position, and
a male fastener assembly that includes a post having a slot defined therein,
wherein at least a portion of the post is received through the lower opening in the housing and the post opening such that the slot is aligned with the channel, and wherein the slot receives a portion of the receiver portion when the switch member is in the fastening position.

2. The fastener system of claim 1 wherein the switch portion is spring biased upwardly when the first and second directions are oriented horizontally.

3. A fastener system for joining a first item and a second item, the fastener system comprising:
a female fastener assembly that includes a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a channel defined therein, wherein the female fastener assembly further comprises a switch member that is movable within the channel in the housing between a removing position and a fastening position, wherein the switch member includes a receiver portion having a post opening defined therein and a switch portion, wherein the receiver portion is movable to the removing position in a first direction and to the fastening position in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, wherein the switch portion is biased in a third direction that is not parallel to the first and second directions, wherein the switch portion includes a shaft that extends outwardly from at least one side thereof, wherein the housing includes a lower opening defined therein that extends through the lower surface thereof and is in communication with the channel, wherein the post opening includes a fastening portion and a removing portion, wherein the removing portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the removing position and the fastening portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the fastening position, wherein the housing has a slot defined therein that is in communication with the channel, and wherein the shaft is received in the slot when the switch member is in the fastening position, and
a male fastener assembly that includes a post having a slot defined therein,
wherein at least a portion of the post is received through the lower opening in the housing and the post opening such that the slot is aligned with the channel, and wherein the slot receives a portion of the receiver portion when the switch member is in the fastening position.

4. The fastener system of claim 1 wherein the lower opening of the housing is a self-aligning opening and is at least partially defined by an inclined surface, whereby when the post is inserted into the lower opening, the inclined surface guides the post into the lower opening.

5. The fastener system of claim 4 wherein the post includes an inclined surface that engages the inclined surface of the housing when the post is inserted into the lower opening.

6. The fastener system of claim 1 wherein the removing portion of the post opening has a width that is wider than a width of the fastening portion of the post opening.

7. The fastener system of claim 6 wherein the post has a girth that is smaller than the width of the removing portion of the post opening and a width of the lower opening of the housing.

8. The fastener system of claim 1 wherein the male fastener assembly includes an insert extending downwardly from the post.

9. A fastener system comprising:
a first item having an opening defined therein,
a female fastener assembly that is secured to the first item and includes a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a channel defined therein, wherein the female fastener assembly further comprises a switch member that is movable within the channel in the housing between a removing position and a fastening position, wherein the switch member includes a receiver portion having a post opening defined therein and a switch portion, wherein the receiver portion is movable to the removing position in a first direction and to the fastening position in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, wherein the switch portion includes a biasing force that biases the switch portion toward a third direction that is not parallel to the first and second directions when the switch portion is in the fastening position, wherein the housing includes a lower opening defined therein that extends through the lower surface thereof, is in communication with the channel and is aligned with the opening in the first item, wherein the post opening includes a fastening portion and a removing portion, wherein the removing portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the removing position and the fastening portion is aligned with the lower opening when the switch member is in the fastening position,
a second item, and
a male fastener assembly that is secured to the second item and includes a post having a slot defined therein,
wherein at least a portion of the post is received through the opening in the first item, the lower opening in the housing and the post opening such that the slot is aligned with the channel, and wherein the slot receives a portion of the receiver portion when the switch member is in the fastening position.

10. The fastener system of claim 9 wherein the switch portion is spring biased upwardly when the first and second directions are oriented horizontally.

11. The fastener system of claim 10 wherein the switch portion includes a shaft that extends outwardly from at least one side thereof, wherein the housing has a slot defined therein that is in communication with the channel, and wherein the shaft is received in the slot when the switch member is in the fastening position.

12. The fastener system of claim 9 wherein the lower opening of the housing is a self-aligning opening and is at least partially defined by an inclined surface, whereby when the post is inserted into the lower opening, the inclined surface guides the post into the lower opening.

13. The fastener system of claim 9 wherein the male fastener assembly includes an insert extending downwardly from the post that is received and secured in an opening in the second item.

14. A fastener system for joining a first item and a second item,

Assignees

• C&D Zodiac Inc

Inventors

• Mcclure Richard

Classifications

• F16B21/065

  with an additional locking element · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• F16B2/12 Primary

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• F16B5/0607

  joining sheets or plates to each other (F16B5/0692, F16B21/082 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B21/09

  Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot · CPC title