Snap fastener

Abstract

A male snap component is provided which is particularly useful for replacing an existing male snap component of a snap fastener which has been pulled free from a panel within which is was supported. The male snap component comprises a head, a shank extending from the head and an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head. The anchor has a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position for engaging an opposite side of the panel as the head when inserted through a bore formed in the panel where the previous male snap component was located. The fingers flex inwardly to permit insertion of the anchor through the bore from an accessible side of the panel. Subsequent rotation of the shank clamps the panel between the head and anchor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a snap fastener and more particularly to a male component of a snap fastener which is arranged to be anchored in a supporting surface.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Snap fasteners are commonly used on vehicles, for example boats, campers and the like, for anchoring textile covers thereon while permitting the covers to be readily removed by releasing the snap fasteners. In boats, the male snap component of the fastener is typically rigidly secured to a body of the boat by threading the male snap component to a fiberglass panel of the body of the boat. Repeated connection and disconnection of the mating female snap component of the cover with the male snap component however, tends to pull the male snap component free from the fiberglass panel of the body while causing sufficient damage to the panel that simply threading the male snap component back into the panel does not rigidly secure it to the body of the boat. Also a backside of the panel is typically inaccessible, making it more difficult to repair a male snap component which has been pulled free from a fiberglass panel.

[0003] Conventional male snap components in fiberglass panels which have been pulled free from the panel are commonly repaired by filling the original installation hole with a liquid repair compound which becomes rigid when set. The compound is then re-drilled for the installation of a new screw type male snap component. This method of repair is tedious, costly and of inadequate strength and quality as compared to an original installation.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,911 to Terrels et al, provides a snap fastener having a male snap component which is arranged to replace a conventional threaded male snap component which has been pulled free from its respective panel. The male snap component of Terrel et al is formed in two parts including an anchor member received within a bore in the panel and a wedge member having the snap head thereon which is slidably received within the anchor member for expanding the anchor member in the bore when the wedge member is received therein. Pulling on the snap head when removing a female snap component mounted thereon however, acts in a direction to pull the wedge member from the anchor member, thus releasing the anchor member from the bore within which it is intended to be secured.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a male snap component for mating with a female snap component of a snap fastener in which the female snap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which the annular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed position and in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, the male snap component comprising:

[0006] a head having an annular sidewall with a main portion of circumference approximately equal to the circumference of the annular periphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position;

[0007] a shank extending from the head; and

[0008] an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head and having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head.

[0009] The use of an anchor secured to the shank having gripping fingers extending upwardly towards the head ensures that the male snap component of the fastener is adequately secured when mounted through the fiberglass panel of a boat for example. Upward pulling motion on the head of the snap fastener only acts to engage the fingers with the panel instead of pulling the male snap component free as in the prior art noted above.

[0010] The fingers are preferably spaced circumferentially about shank and arranged to project towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank. Also, the fingers are preferably flexible between an inserting position adjacent the shank and an anchoring position spaced outwardly from the shank. The male snap component can thus be mounted in the panel structure of the body of a boat and the like without requiring access to the other side of the panel structure as the flexible fingers permit insertion from above.

[0011] A spacer may be supported about the shank adjacent the head which is arranged to centre the shank in a bore within which the shank is inserted.

[0012] In one arrangement, the spacer comprises a collar threadably supported on the shank. Alternatively, the spacer may comprise a collar formed about the shank adjacent the head.

[0013] A stop member may be mounted on the shank opposite the head with the anchor being supported on the shank between the head and the stop member. The stop member preferably comprises a collar arranged to be secured about the shank for restricting removal of the anchor from the shank. The collar may be formed of resilient material which is fit snugly on the shank.

[0014] There may be provided a washer formed of nylon supported about the shank between the head and the anchor. A washer is particularly useful when replacing a pulled out male snap fastener for concealing surrounding crack marks and the like caused by the male snap fastener being pulled out.

[0015] The head preferably includes a flared upper portion extending from the main portion opposite the shank having a greater circumference than the main portion.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of replacing an existing male snap component of a snap fastener supported in a bore extending through a panel structure which is arranged to mate with a female snap component in which the female snap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which the annular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed position and in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, said method comprising:

[0017] removing the existing male snap component from the bore in the panel structure;

[0018] providing a replacement male snap component comprising a head having an annular sidewall with a main portion of circumference approximately equal to the circumference of the annular periphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position, a shank extending from the head, and an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head, the anchor having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position;

[0019] inserting the shank of the replacement male snap component into the bore in the panel by flexing the fingers inwardly towards the shank until the head and anchor are located on opposing sides of the panel structure;

[0020] engaging the fingers with the panel structure; and

[0021] rotating the shank relative to the anchor until the panel structure is clamped between the head and anchor.

[0022] The method may include enlarging a diameter of the bore in the panel structure to conceal surrounding cracks from a pulled out existing male snap component before inserting the replacement male snap component. The enlarged bore preferably has a diameter which is greater than a diameter of the shank and which is less than a diameter of the fingers in the relaxed position. Upon insertion into the bore, the fingers are preferably flexed adjacent the shank to fit within the bore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the male snap component.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the male snap component according to FIG. 1 upon insertion into the fiberglass panel of a boat body.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a top plan view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a sectional view from above along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a replacement male component of a snap fastener generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The replacement male component 10 is particularly useful for vehicles, for example boats, campers and the like, where textile covers, for example vinyl or canvas, are secured to the body of the vehicle using snap fasteners. The male snap component 10 is arranged to replace an existing male snap component which has been pulled free from a panel structure, as in the fiberglass panels of the body of a boat.

[0029] In a conventional boat fastener, the existing male snap component is secured to a fiberglass panel 12 having a hardened gel coating 14 on an outer side thereof with an inner side of the panel 12 typically being inaccessible as the inner side surrounds a hollow interior of the body of the boat. A predrilled installation bore is provided in the panel for receiving the existing male snap component. The existing male snap component includes a head portion for mating with a female snap component 16 on a canvas cover 18 and a screw portion which includes tapering threads as in a wood-type screw.

[0030] The female snap component 16 generally comprises a socket having an annular periphery 20 which is movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which an overall circumference of the annular periphery is increased in relation to the relaxed position and in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position. The female snap component 16 is suitably sized for mounting on the existing male snap component for securing the cover 18 to the panel 12.

[0031] In use removal of the female snap component pulls upwardly on the male snap component 10 which can cause the male snap component of an existing boat fastener to be pulled free from the panel causing a broken edge 22 surrounding the installation bore within which the existing male snap component was mounted. The broken edge 22 once fractured, is unable to adequately secure a male snap component having a wood-type screw thread thereafter. When using the replacement male snap component 10, the broken edge 22 is drilled out by a replacement bore 24 extending through the panel.

[0032] The replacement male snap component 10 includes a shank 25 which is generally cylindrical and elongate having a head end 26 and a threaded end 28. An external surface of the shank 28 is threaded externally as in a machine screw, having a consistent diameter and extending substantially the full length of the shank.

[0033] The shank 25 includes a shank head 30 secured to the head end 26 thereof which has a socket 32 for receiving a driver therein, for example a standard screwdriver bit.

[0034] A snap head 34 is arranged to be secured about the shank head 30 so as to define a flat mounting surface 36 at an inner side thereof lying perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shank 25 for engaging the outer surface of the panel 12 in a mounted position as shown in FIG. 2. The snap head 34 is secured about the shank head 30 in a manner so as be formed integrally therewith. The snap head 34 includes an annular wall 38 having a main portion 39 which is cylindrical with a circumference which is substantially identical to the annular periphery 20 of the female snap component in a relaxed position thereof. The annular wall 38 also includes a flared upper portion 40 at a top end opposite the shank 25 which has a circumference which is slightly greater than that of the main portion 39 so that the flared portion 40 acts as a retainer for securing the annular periphery 20 of the female snap component on the main portion of the male snap component 10 in a mounted position similarly to conventional snap fasteners.

[0035] The snap head 34 includes an annular flange 42 extending radially outwardly from a base of the snap head so as to lie flush with the flat mounting surface 36 on an inner side thereof. The annular flange 42 is formed integrally with the snap head 34 and is arranged to engage the panel 12 and conceal a periphery of the replacement bore 24 within which the shank 25 is mounted.

[0036] A spacer collar 44 is secured about the shank 25 adjacent the snap head 34 by internal threads threaded on the shank. The spacer collar 44 has an outer diameter which is substantially identical to the diameter of the replacement bore 24 drilled in the panel, being greater in circumference than the shank 25 but less than the snap head 34 and annular flange 42 extending therefrom for centering the shank 25 within the replacement bore 24 when inserted therein. The spacer collar 44 may be integrally machined or formed directly on the shank 25 in further embodiments. The spacer collar 44 is shorter in depth than the panel 12, and therefore is preferably less than {fraction (3/16)} of an inch as the thickness of the panels typically varies from {fraction (3/16)} of an inch to ¼ of an inch in boat applications.

[0037] An anchor 46 is provided in the form of a collar which is threaded onto the shank 25 spaced from the head end 26. The outer diameter of the collar of the anchor 46 is slightly less than that of the spacer collar 44 and the replacement bore 24. The anchor 46 includes a plurality of gripping fingers 48 which are mounted on the collar of the anchor 46 to extend from the top end thereof in the longitudinal direction of the shank towards the head end 26 at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position. Four gripping fingers 48 are preferred as shown in FIG. 4 at evenly spaced positions about a circumference of the shank.

[0038] The gripping fingers 48 are arranged to be flexed inwardly along side the shank in a flexed position as shown in dotted line in FIG. 1 in which the outer diameter at the free ends 49 of the gripping fingers 48 is less than the diameter of the replacement bore 24 to permit insertion of the anchor through the bore when the fingers are flexed.

[0039] A stop member 50 is mounted on the threaded end 28 of the shank. The stop member 50 generally comprises a collar of resilient material which is stretched over the threads of the shank for a snug fit to restrict removal therefrom by friction. The stop member 50 is arranged to retain the anchor 46 on the shank and prevent the anchor from being unthreaded or removed from the shank. The anchor 46 is thus positioned between the head of the shank 25 and the stop member 50. The friction fit of the stop member 50 on the shank 25 permits the stop member and anchor 46 to be removed from the shank by forcibly unthreading the anchor off of the threaded end of the shank if desired. The stop member 50 however prevents accidental removal of the anchor by vibration or other, using friction to keep the stop member secured to the shank.

[0040] A washer 52 is provided about the shank 25 between the anchor 46 and the snap head 34. The washer 52 is formed of nylon material and has an internal opening of a diameter which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the spacer collar 44 so as to permit the washer 52 to be secured about the spacer collar 44 about the shank 25. An outer diameter of the washer 52 is selected so as to span radially outwardly from the shank sufficiently to conceal cracks in the gel coating 14 of the panel if required. The washer 52 forms a tight seal between the snap head and the panel 12 in a mounted position as shown in FIG. 2.

[0041] The replacement male snap component 10 may be used either as the replacement to a failed conventional male snap component or as original equipment installed at the factory. In either instance the bore 24 is first drilled in the panel 12 having a diameter which is suitably sized so as to be greater in size than the shank 25 and the fingers 48 in the flexed position along side the shank, while being smaller in size than the head of the shank 25 and the circumference at the free ends 49 of the fingers are in the relaxed position. When replacing a failed existing male snap component, drilling the bore 24 involves removing the fractured and broken edge 22 shown in dotted line in FIG. 1, surrounding the original installation bore.

[0042] Installation of the male snap component 10 proceeds by selecting a washer having an outer diameter which is suitably sized to cover any possible cracks in the gel coating 14 and by assembling the component with the anchor 46 being spaced from the flat mounting surface 36 at the head end of the shank a spacing which is greater than a thickness of the panel 12. The male snap component 10 is then inserted into the bore by flexing the fingers 48 inwardly into the flexed position along side the shank until the anchor 46 is pushed fully through the bore 24 to be located on a opposite side of the panel from the head end 26 of the shank.

[0043] When abutting the flat mounting surface 36 at the head of the shank 25 against the panel, the spacer collar 44 is aligned with the replacement bore 24 for centering the shank within the bore. Pulling upwardly on the snap head 34 once the anchor has been fully inserted through the bore 24, engages the free ends 49 of the gripping fingers with the back side of the panel 12 so that subsequent rotation of the shank 25 clamps the panel 12 between the snap head 34 and the anchor 46 by action of the threads on the shank. As the shank is rotated for clamping the panel 12, the spacer collar 44 is again checked for alignment with the bore 24 to ensure proper insertion of the collar within the bore as the shank is rotated. Continued rotation of the shank in a direction to tighten the clamping force of the male snap component, causes the washer 52 to be slightly compressed between the head of the shank 25 and the panel 12 for ensuring a tight seal therebetween, while the free ends of the gripping fingers 48 flare outwardly under bending forces to maintain a force of compression on the washer 52.

[0044] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A male snap component for mating with a female snap component of a snap fastener in which the female snap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which the annular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed position and in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, the male snap component comprising:

a head having an annular sidewall with a main portion of circumference approximately equal to the circumference of the annular periphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position;

a shank extending from the head; and

an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head and having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head.

2. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the fingers are spaced circumferentially about shank.

3. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the fingers project towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank.

4. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the fingers are flexible between an inserting position adjacent the shank and an anchoring position spaced outwardly from the shank.

5. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a spacer supported about the shank adjacent the head which is arranged to centre the shank in a bore within which the shank is inserted.

6. The male snap component according to claim 5 wherein the spacer comprises a collar threadably supported on the shank.

7. The male snap component according to claim 5 wherein the spacer comprises a collar formed about the shank adjacent the head.

8. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a stop member on the shank opposite the head, the anchor being supported on the shank between the head and the stop member.

9. The male snap component according to claim 8 wherein the stop member comprises a collar arranged to be secured about the shank.

10. The male snap component according to claim 9 wherein the collar is formed of resilient material which is fit snugly on the shank.

11. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a washer formed of nylon supported about the shank between the head and the anchor.

12. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the head includes a flared upper portion extending from the main portion opposite the shank, the flared upper portion having a greater circumference than the main portion.

13. A method of replacing an existing male snap component of a snap fastener supported in a bore extending through a panel structure which is arranged to mate with a female snap component in which the female snap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which the annular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed position and in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, said method comprising:

removing the existing male snap component from the bore in the panel structure;

providing a replacement male snap component comprising a head having an annular sidewall with a main portion of circumference approximately equal to the circumference of the annular periphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position, a shank extending from the head, and an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head, the anchor having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position;

inserting the shank of the replacement male snap component into the bore in the panel by flexing the fingers inwardly towards the shank until the head and anchor are located on opposing sides of the panel structure;

engaging the fingers with the panel structure; and

rotating the shank relative to the anchor until the panel structure is clamped between the head and anchor.

14. The method according to claim 13 including enlarging a diameter of the bore in the panel structure.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the bore has a diameter which is greater than a diameter of the shank and which is less than a diameter of the fingers in the relaxed position.

16. The method according to claim 13 including providing a spacer about the shank adjacent the head which is arranged to centre the shank within the bore.

17. The method according to claim 13 including providing a washer about the shank between the head and the anchor.

18. The method according to claim 13 including providing a stop member on the shank opposite the head so as to locate the anchor between the head and the stop member.

19. The method according to claim 13 including flexing the fingers adjacent the shank upon insertion into the bore.