Abstract: A device for opening/closing an article includes an assembly button and a clasp casing with a mechanism including a housing, locking member and latch; the mechanism structured so with the housing in a first position and the button is inserted into the casing, the locking member immobilizes the button at least with respect to translation, when the housing is made to rotate and passes from its first to a second position, the member is moved until the button is released and the latch is driven with translational movement into the casing until the button is pushed out of the casing and the housing and the member are immobilized, when the button is reinserted into the casing, it pushes the latch which releases the housing, which is rotated and passes from its second to first position and the member is moved until the button is immobilized with respect to translation.

Abstract: A retention clip is provided. The retention clip comprises a spring section, a first elbow section extending from the spring section, a handle section extending from the first elbow section, and a second elbow section opposite the first elbow section. The second elbow section may extend between the handle section and the spring section. A retention assembly is also provided. The retention assembly may comprise a mounting fitting and a housing disposed in the mounting fitting. The housing may define a perimeter of an opening. A retention clip may be disposed around the housing with an elbow section extending into the perimeter to obstruct the opening.

Abstract: A female snap is provided with: a first member for at least partially establishing an opening into which a post is inserted; and a second member which is able to restrict expansion of the opening in order to either increase the force needed for engagement/disengagement, or prohibit engagement/disengagement, of the post with respect to the female snap. The extent of expansion of the opening that is permitted by the second member varies depending on the relative positions of a contracting part of the second member and a contacted part of the first member in a peripheral direction going around the direction of insertion of the post into the opening.

Abstract: A joint member includes a base member and a key member. The base member includes: a cylindrical portion having a first opening at one end and second opening at other end that is inserted into the through-hole; a flange portion that is formed around a first opening of the cylindrical portion; hook members that are connected to opposite inner walls of the cylindrical portion; a rib that is formed on at least one of the hook members and extends toward the first opening. The key member includes: a pushing portion that is insertable into the cylindrical portion through the first opening, butts against the rib portion to rotate the hook member toward the second opening. When the pushing portion is inserted in the cylindrical portion, the flange portion and the hook member sandwich the packing members, and the ribs close the opening at the other end of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A shoe comprising a shoe upper including a male member and a shoe sole including a female receptor for locking with the male member. The male member locks with the female receptor by moving the male member with respect to the female receptor in a first direction, which locks the shoe upper with the shoe sole. The male member unlocks from the female receptor by moving the male member an additional distance further in the first direction, which unlocks the shoe upper from the shoe sole. The female receptor includes resilient arms to hold and release the male member and a stop to prevent movement of the resilient arms in a second direction.

Abstract: A fastening device and a method of using same is provided. The fastening device includes a male member having a projection on a first side and a securing means on a second opposing side. A female member configured to receive the projection detachably secures the female member onto the male member. The female member and the male member comprises a ratchet system to removeably secure the female member onto the male member. The securing means on the second opposing side of the male member is configured to mate with a corresponding securing member mounted on an object. By securing a material such as a shade screen or a tarp on the male member by mating the male member with the female member, the shade screen or tarp may be detachably fastened onto an object.

Abstract: A shoe comprising a shoe upper including a male member and a shoe sole including a female receptor for locking with the male member. The male member locks with the female receptor by moving the male member with respect to the female receptor in a first direction, which locks the shoe upper with the shoe sole. The male member unlocks from the female receptor by moving the male member an additional distance further in the first direction, which unlocks the shoe upper from the shoe sole. The female receptor includes resilient arms to hold and release the male member and a stop to prevent movement of the resilient arms in a second direction.

Abstract: A novel quick release locking mechanism is disclosed. The locking mechanism is comprised of a male latch member and a female receptacle. The male latch member is comprised of an arbor with a planar handle at its proximal end and a catch apparatus at its distal end. The arbor is further equipped with a slidable annulus that moves between the lower margin of the planar handle and the catch apparatus. The female receptacle is comprised of a housing and a duality of notched resilient arms. Operation of the locking mechanism is achieved by introduction of the male latch member into the female receptacle with sufficient force to urge open the resilient arms which then springably close around the catch means, thus locking the mechanism. The female receptacle is further supplied with appropriate stops to prevent separation forces from inducing upward travel of the resilient arms during use, thus increasing lock strength and durability.

Abstract: A marine fastener is disclosed using a base plate, a retainer nut, the Jaw button, and a spring made of thermoplastic, with the inner back opening of the spring cooperating with a ridge on the outer opening of the jaw button in order to selectively bias the jaw button in respect to the base plate.

Abstract: A wedge-type actuator for actuating drum brakes including guide rollers positioned between the wedge and a plunger that contacts the leading brake shoe. The guide rollers are carried between a guiding surface on the wedge and a guiding surface in the housing, to take up the reaction forces caused by the larger actuation forces needed to operate the trailing brake shoe. The disclosed arrangement provides more even braking forces, and thereby results in more even brake shoe wear.

Abstract: An electromagnetic release apparatus and method are provided for unfastening a magnetically actuated surveillance marker clip assembly from an article. The release apparatus includes a primary solenoid coil that, when energized, produces a magnetic field of sufficient force to initially unlock the clip assembly for removal. A secondary magnet produces another magnetic field sufficient in force to retain the clip assembly in the unlocked position. The secondary magnet is mounted to a piston slidably received in the central bore of the primary solenoid coil. The primary solenoid coil is energized by inserting the clip assembly into the central bore of the coil, thereby, pressing the piston downwardly until it closes a "one-shot" microswitch. The electrical charge of a capacitor is then discharged through the primary coil to produce the relatively high power magnetic field for unlocking the clip assembly.

Abstract: A fastener of the kind in which a pin can be inserted into a closed housing between balls provided in a tapering space within the housing, which balls prevent the subsequent removal of the pin through the exercise of clamping action on the pin upon attempts to remove the pin from the housing, wherein the housing having a chamber housing a substantially freely rotatable body having a tapering cavity therein and a central aperture for the insertion of the pin therethrough, the cavity containing the balls, the balls having linear contact with the wall of said cavity.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector for fitting over an elongated axially projecting stem formed with an enlarged-in-diameter button and including a plastic dome jacketing an electrically conductive cap having an integral pair of oppositely disposed peripheral skirts projecting axially in one direction from a flexible transverse top wall. Such skirts are formed on their free extremities with radially inwardly projecting opposed collars which, in the unflexed condition of the top wall, are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of such button. The top wall may be flexed about a transverse axis to angle the respective skirts outwardly to space such collars transversely apart a distance sufficient to clear such button and a pair of relatively rigid finger grasp ears are disposed on the opposite sides of such transverse axis and project in the axial direction opposite such skirts to be pressed together to flex such top wall and space such collars sufficiently far apart to clear the button.

Abstract: A safety clutch for an earring has a body member provided with a through hole arranged for receiving a post of an earring or other article to be releasably attached to the body member. Provided on the body member is a suitable resilient biasing arrangement disposed for normally engaging with the post of the earring and holding the post secure with respect to the body member. The retainer includes a clutch pin slidably disposed in a recess provided in the body member and arranged communicating with the hole so as to cause the clutch pin to selectively come into retaining engagement with a groove provided in the post of the associated earring. A coiled helical spring or other suitable biasing device is disposed in the bottom of the recess, beneath the clutch pin, for forcing the pin toward a position in which the pin engagingly holds the post in place in the hole provided in the body member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for removably fixing one element on another, by interlocking, particularly for fixing an instrument panel assembly on the dashboard of an automobile, said device comprising a clip to be fastened to a first element and a pin with a shouldered head to be fastened to a second element which is to be fixed to said first element, said clip being constituted by a frame inside which are connected two resilient lips, defining a central housing for the penetration of said pin and at least one lateral housing for receiving a member for spacing said lips apart in order to release said pin, said lip-spacing member being rotatably mounted on said frame.

Abstract: A monitor actuating assembly and a reusable fastener device for selective attachment to an article. The assembly, which may carry an alarm actuating element or the like, is readily attachable to the article and is constructed to be released therefrom only by use of a special tool. The reusable fastener device includes a body in which a one-piece, clip-like device is mounted. The body has a pin receiving bore and the clip-like device includes a pair of resilient fingers to frictionally engage the pin for securing the fastener device and, hence, the article to the assembly. The clip-like device is further constructed so as to receive generally radial force from the tool so as to pivot the fingers out of engagement with the pin to enable authorized release of the article from the assembly.

Abstract: A monitor actuating device and a releasable, reusable fastener therefor is provided. The monitor actuating device is designed for attachment to a monitored article and for release therefrom only by the use of a specially designed tool. The actuating device includes a pin member, such as a headed tack or the like, extending therefrom and/or therethrough, which is designed to pierce the monitored article, such as an article of clothing or the like. The reusable fastener is selectively attachable to the free end of the pin member to capture the monitored article and/or the monitor actuating device on the pin and to prevent removal of the monitored article and/or the monitor actuating device from the pin. The reusable fastener is designed for release from the pin only upon the use of a special tool to prevent, or at least render more difficult, the unauthorized removal of the monitor actuating device from the monitored article.

Abstract: A button for clothes is composed of a button body and a reverse button having a needle member as a set. The button body is formed on its base plate center with an axial hole for insertion of the needle member of the reverse button. The inside of the button body is provided with an engaging means for firm engagement of the needle member of the reverse button inserted into the inside through the axial hole and a detaching means for release of engagement of the needle member that is engaged with the button body. The engaging means is formed by an engaging member provided with a ring portion to be retained between the base plate and an ornament member by means of a thin plate member. The ring portion is formed integrally with two pawl pieces which extend diametrically from the ring portion toward the center. Each of the pawl pieces is formed with a semi-circular notch at its respective ends whereby the notches form a circular hole that coincides with the axial hole of the base plate.

Abstract: A releasable, reusable, tamperproof device for attaching an anti-theft monitor to an article of merchandise is disclosed. The attachment device includes a tack adapted to be passed through the monitor and the article and into a keeper. The keeper encloses a one-way fastener of the type having opposed legs defining surfaces for gripping the pointed shank of the tack. Compression of the opposed legs to a releasing position permits withdrawal of the tack. In accordance with one embodiment, the keeper includes openings through which rotatable key means are insertable for engaging and displacing the legs to the tack-releasing position. In another embodiment the keeper incorporates flexible diaphragms dividing the keeper into a pair of side chambers separated by a central chamber enclosing the one-way fastener. Pressurization of the side chambers deflects the diaphragms into engagement with the fastener legs and causes displacement thereof to the tack-releasing position.