Abstract: A female connection bracket includes a catch in the first end portion of the body. A male bracket includes a first end portion of the male bracket, and, the first end portion includes a pivot opening and a latching opening. A clip includes a latch portion and a gripping portion, the gripping portion includes a barb residing in the pivot opening of the male bracket rotatably affixing the clip to the male bracket. The latch portion of the clip releasably resides in the latch opening of the male bracket. The male bracket resides in an open channel formed by first and second guides of the female connection bracket. The latch of the clip releasably interengages the catch in the body of the female connection bracket, alternately, retaining and securing, or, releasing, the male bracket with respect to the female connection bracket.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a flat substrate has a thickness, T. A roller press station is used to press T-nuts into holes in the substrate. An optical vision system detects the location of the holes in the moving substrate and aligns the t-nuts with the holes. A computer controlled pick and place robot takes T-nuts from an escapement of a hopper feed system and aligns, but does not fully insert, the t-nuts in the substrate. A conveyor system feeds the substrates through the optical vision system, the pick and place robot station and the roller press station. A first roller is spaced apart from a second roller by a gap in the roller press station and the gap is less than the thickness of the substrate. The hopper feed system includes a bulk hopper, a bowl, a track and an escapement.

Abstract: A female connection bracket includes a catch in the first end portion of the body. A male bracket includes a first end portion of the male bracket, and, the first end portion includes a pivot opening and a latching opening. A clip includes a latch portion and a gripping portion, the gripping portion includes a barb residing in the pivot opening of the male bracket rotatably affixing the clip to the male bracket. The latch portion of the clip releasably resides in the latch opening of the male bracket. The male bracket resides in an open channel formed by first and second guides of the female connection bracket. The latch of the clip releasably interengages the catch in the body of the female connection bracket, alternately, retaining and securing, or, releasing, the male bracket with respect to the female connection bracket.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a flat substrate has a thickness, T. A roller press station is used to press T-nuts into holes in the substrate. An optical vision system detects the location of the holes in the moving substrate and aligns the t-nuts with the holes. A computer controlled pick and place robot takes T-nuts from an escapement of a hopper feed system and aligns, but does not fully insert, the t-nuts in the substrate. A conveyor system feeds the substrates through the optical vision system, the pick and place robot station and the roller press station. A first roller is spaced apart from a second roller by a gap in the roller press station and the gap is less than the thickness of the substrate. The hopper feed system includes a bulk hopper, a bowl, a track and an escapement.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A tufting button and locking member, in combination with a furniture cushion and fabric thereover wherein the tufting button includes a head and an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft includes a ratchet portion. The ratchet portion includes a plurality of ridges therein. The locking member includes a pawl. The elongated shaft of the tufting button is inserted into and through the furniture cushion and fabric thereover. The elongated shaft resides, partially, within the locking member. A portion of the plurality of ridges engages the pawl of the locking member compressing the furniture cushion.

Abstract: A connection bracket and a support couples with a male bracket. The connection bracket includes: a first end portion and a second end portion; an opening in the first end portion; a central body extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a first guide and a second guide; the first guide integral with the central body and being folded to form an open channel, and the second guide integral with the central body and being folded to form the open channel. First and second spacers integral with the central body include first and second passageways therethrough. The central body includes an opening and a spring-loaded latch which extends from the central body into the opening and is movable with respect to the central body and the opening and secures the male bracket to the connection bracket.

Abstract: A connection bracket and a support couples with a male bracket. The connection bracket includes: a first end portion and a second end portion; an opening in the first end portion; a central body extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a first guide and a second guide; the first guide integral with the central body and being folded to form an open channel, and the second guide integral with the central body and being folded to form the open channel First and second spacers integral with the central body include first and second passageways therethrough. The central body includes an opening and a spring-loaded latch which extends from the central body into the opening and is movable with respect to the central body and the opening and secures the male bracket to the connection bracket.

Abstract: A tufting button and locking member, in combination with a furniture cushion and fabric thereover is disclosed. The tufting button includes a head and an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft includes a ratchet portion. The ratchet portion includes a plurality of ridges therein. The locking member includes a pawl. The elongated shaft of the tufting button is inserted into and through the furniture cushion and fabric thereover. The elongated shaft resides, partially, within the locking member. A portion of the plurality of ridges engages the pawl of the locking member compressing the furniture cushion.

Abstract: A rivet bolt in combination with an attachment wherein the rivet bolt includes: a flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, and, a shaft having a threaded portion. An upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt includes an upper edge and an interior base surface having a drive head socket. The attachment receives the rivet bolt and comprises: a top surface, a bottom surface, a cylindrical bore therethrough, and an inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface to the cylindrical bore. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt is deformed and rotatably and slidingly engages the inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface of the attachment to the cylindrical bore therethrough. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt resides partially within the cylindrical bore. A process for making a rivet bolt in combination with an attachment is disclosed.

Abstract: A fastener in combination with an ornamental piece of wood and a furniture substrate wherein the fastener includes a first portion with branches. Each of the branches of the first portion of the fastener include an arc-shaped end surface. The fastener includes a threaded portion. The fastener includes a flange portion positioned intermediate the first portion and the threaded portion. The ornamental piece of wood includes an aperture therein. The threaded portion of the fastener is threaded into the aperture in the ornamental piece of wood. The flange of the fastener engages the ornamental piece of wood. The furniture substrate includes a slot therein. The first portion of the fastener interengages the slot in the furniture substrate securing the ornamental piece of wood to the furniture substrate. The first portion of the fastener is slidable with respect to the slot positioning the ornamental piece of wood with respect to the furniture substrate.

Abstract: A rivet bolt in combination with an attachment wherein the rivet bolt includes: a flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, and, a shaft having a threaded portion. An upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt includes an upper edge and an interior base surface having a drive head socket. The attachment receives the rivet bolt and comprises: a top surface, a bottom surface, a cylindrical bore therethrough, and an inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface to the cylindrical bore. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt is deformed and rotatably and slidingly engages the inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface of the attachment to the cylindrical bore therethrough. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt resides partially within the cylindrical bore. A process for making a rivet bolt in combination with an attachment is disclosed.

Abstract: A fastener in combination with a substrate wherein the fastener is affixed to the substrate in a manner that does not damage the substrate. The fastener comprises a barrel having an interior, an exterior, a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. The first end portion of the barrel includes a flange. The exterior of the barrel proximate the flange includes a gripping portion with a spline having at least 12 teeth. The interior of the barrel proximate the second end portion of the barrel includes a counterbore. The interior of the barrel proximate the intermediate portion is threaded. The second end portion of the barrel is flared. The substrate includes a cylindrically shaped bore extending therethrough. The barrel of the fastener partially resides in the bore of the substrate and the 12-toothed spline on the exterior of the barrel of the fastener engages the bore of the substrate and surrounding material with minimal deformation.

Abstract: A fastener includes a t-nut having a barrel and a flange. The flange includes an opening which leads to a threaded barrel. The threaded barrel extends from the opening in the flange to a distal end portion thereof. An end cap has an annular recess on a first side thereof and has a raised annular ridge on a second side thereof. The raised annular ridge of the end cap is affixed to the flange of the t-nut by welding the end cap to the flange. Dirt, water and moisture cannot enter the barrel because the end cap is sealed to the flange. Additionally, the barrel may be relatively short as it is fully threaded prior to the affixation of the end cap to the flange.

Abstract: A integrally molded fastener for use in connection with a substrate, the substrate includes foam backing and a slot therein and the substrate includes a front side and a back side. An upper plate has first and second longitudinal tabs and first and second transverse tabs. A longitudinal head is interconnected with an upper plate by a shank. A shaft extends from the upper plate and branches extend from the shaft. The longitudinal head includes cutting edges, the fastener and the longitudinal head are rotatable and, cutting edges of the longitudinal head cut the foam backing of the substrate as the fastener and the longitudinal head are rotated. A method for using the integrally molded fastener which includes engaging, slidingly, the side wall portions proximate the wider portion of the longitudinal tabs with the walls of the slot first. Riding the side wall portions of the longitudinal tabs on the front side of said substrate and as rotation of the fastener and the longitudinal tabs continues.