Attachment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9706659-B2
Application number	US-201414570490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods that relate to an attachment device. According to an example, a device may include an elongated shaft including a top portion, a central portion, and a bottom portion, the central portion between the top portion and the bottom portion, a first fastener in the bottom portion of the shaft, a second fastener in the top portion of the shaft, the second fastener having an adjustable fastening location along the top portion of the shaft, and a spring situated between the first fastener and the second fastener such that a spring force of the spring varies depending on a selected fastening location on the second fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
an elongated shaft including a top portion, a central portion, and a bottom portion, the central portion between the top portion and the bottom portion;
a first fastener in the bottom portion of the shaft, wherein the first fastener comprises a first group of barb projections, each barb projection of the first group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the bottom portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft;
a second fastener in the top portion of the shaft, the second fastener having an adjustable fastening location along the top portion of the shaft; and
a spring situated between the first fastener and the second fastener such that a spring force of the spring varies depending on a selected fastening location on the second fastener.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second fastener comprises:
a second group of barb projections in the top portion of the shaft, each barb projection of the second group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft; and
a third group of barb projections in the top portion of the shaft and closer to the central portion of the shaft than the second group of barb projections, each barb projection of the third group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second fastener further comprises a fourth group of barb projections in the top portion of the shaft and closer to the central portion of the shaft than the third group of barb projections, each barb projection of the fourth group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

4. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a washer with an inner radius greater than a width of the shaft and less than a distance between the center of the shaft and an outer edge of a projection of the second group of barb projections, the washer situated between at least one of (1) the second group of barb projections and the third group of barb projections and (2) the third group of barb projections and the central portion of the shaft.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the shaft includes a first width and the central portion of the shaft includes a second width greater than the first width.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion includes a stabilizing structure mechanically coupled between the first fastener and the central portion of the shaft, the stabilizing structure allowing the first fastener to flex towards the shaft and resisting the first fastener flexing away from the shaft.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizing structure includes an arch opening towards the first fastener.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the bottom portion of the shaft is less than a width of the central portion of the shaft.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a frustum mechanically coupled to the shaft, the frustum mechanically coupling the top portion of the shaft to the central portion of the shaft.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener includes two groups of three barb projections.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener includes a group of two barb projections in a “U” shaped configuration.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second fastener is removable.

13. A device comprising:
a rounded shaft including a top portion with a first diameter, a central portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter and mechanically coupled to the top portion at a first end of the central portion by a frustum, and a bottom portion with a third diameter less than the second diameter and connected to a second end of the central portion, the second end of the central portion opposite the first end of the central portion;
a stabilizing structure including a flexible arch with a span greater than the third diameter connected to and opening away from the second end of the central portion;
a first group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the stabilizing structure and the bottom portion of the shaft, wherein the first group of barb projections angled away from the bottom portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft;
a second group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft, the second group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft; and
a third group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft, the third group of barb projections closer to the central portion of the shaft than the second group of barb projections and angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a washer including an inner diameter greater than the first diameter, the washer situated between at least one of (1) the second group of barb projections and the third group of barb projections and (2) the third group of barb projections and the central portion of the shaft.

15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a spring between the washer and the first group of barb projections and including a diameter greater than an inner diameter of the washer and less than an outer diameter of the washer.

16. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a fourth group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft, the fourth group of barb projections closer to the central portion of the shaft than the third group of barb projections and angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

17. The device of claim 16 , further comprising a fifth group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft, the fifth group of barb projections closer to the central portion of the shaft than the fourth group of barb projections and angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

18. A method comprising:
pressing a first group of barb projections mechanically coupled to a shaft of an attachment device through a hole in a component and a hole in a structure, wherein the shaft includes a top portion, a central portion, and a bottom portion, the central portion between the top portion and the bottom portion, the first group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the bottom portion of the shaft, and each barb projection of the first group of barb projections angled away from the shaft from the bottom portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft;
situating a spring over the component; and
pressing a washer over a second group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft so as to provide a compression force on the spring and provide a corresponding force on the component, wherein each barb projection of the second group of barb projections is angled away from the shaft from the top portion of the shaft towards the central portion of the shaft.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising pressing the washer over a third group of barb projections mechanically coupled to the top portion of the shaft, the third group of barb projections closer to the central portion of the shaft than the second group of barb projections and each barb projectio

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Burleson Grace
• Sackerman Brian
• Canny Sarah

Classifications

• H05K1/18 Primary

  structurally associated with non-printed electric components (H05K1/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0642 Primary

  the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other · CPC title

• F16B21/086

  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