Fastening device

Abstract

A fastening device is disclosed which consists of a first portion that may be made as an integral part of an object such as small electronic devices, tools or cup holders and other items, or may be separately fastened thereto; and a second portion that may be made as an integral part of some apparel of a user, a supporting structure such as a wall, dash board of a vehicle, a pole, or other surface, or it may fastened thereto. The first portion has a generally keyhole shaped slot having a narrow slot with parallel sides, a flared entrance at one end of the slot, an enlarged hole at the other end of the narrow slot and channel behind the slot and hole. The second portion has a mushroom shape with a stem and a flat, button shaped top. The stem is attached perpendicularly to one side of the top, has a generally circular cross section and has one flat side along the length of the stem. The diameter of the button shaped top is larger than the width of the slot and the diameter of the circular hole and less than the width of the channel. The stem can only pass along the slot into the hole when its flattened side is parallel to a particular side of the slot while the top passes through the channel. When the stem is rotated ninety degrees so that its flat side is oriented perpendicular to the sides of the narrow slot, or parallel to the other side of the slot the stem will not pass back through the slot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fastening device which permits the attachment and removal of small, portable devices, such as cellular telephones, small electronic devices, tools, and other small items to the apparel of a user, to a supporting structure such as a wall, a dash board of a vehicle, a pole, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellular telephones and other small electronic devices such as portable radios and music players are commonly used all over the world. There is a disadvantage that such cellular telephones and other electronic devices are small and too often become misplaced, sat on, knocked onto the ground and stepped on, or fall into the water, especially when the telephone or other small device is located on a patio, poolside, on a boat, on an recreational vehicle, or in a vehicle and is not carried in a holster or other carrier attached to a person' attire or to a supporting surface. This is too often the case when people are wearing bathing suits and are outdoors on a patio, poolside or on a boat. There is no way to attach a holster or carrier to a person dressed in such attire. The cellular telephones or other devices can only be placed on tables, chairs, seats, lounges, shelves, dashboards, or other places where they can be sat on, covered, or knocked off where they have been placed.

Conventional holsters available for use in carrying such cellular telephones are designed for carrying the telephones on a person, such as on their belt. Other holders available for use with cellular telephones are typically attached to a dashboard of a vehicle, a sort of cradle, and the telephone is positioned in the cradle. Most of these cradles are part of a hands-free system for using the cellular telephones in vehicles. These existing holsters or cradles do not work in locations and situations such as described in the previous paragraph.

On a boat or recreational vehicle drinks in a glass, bottle, can or other container can, when available, be placed in shallow recesses or wells (cup or glass holders) molded into plastic pieces of the boat. However, too often, such a cup or glass holders are not available or not located in a position that is convenient for a user and they then place these items on various flat surfaces from which they are too easily knocked over, or slide when the boat or recreational vehicle is in motion. In addition, even when a glass, bottle or can is positioned in such a cup or glass holder, if the container is full and the boat pitches off vertical in a swell from another boat or due to rough water, the contents therein spills because the container does not remain in a vertical position.

Thus, there is a need in the art for fastening apparatus that may be used to safely and securely mount small devices such as, but not limited thereto, cellular telephones, small electronic devices, tools and cup holders in a secure manner exactly where they are needed and prevents them from getting lost, from being sat on, knocked to the ground or into water, in environments such as on a patio, at a poolside, on a boat, on a recreational vehicle, in a vehicle or in any other location while at the same time making the items easily detachable for immediate use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the novel fastening device of the present invention meets the aforementioned needs of the prior art. The fastening device comprises two pieces. There is a first or female portion and means for fastening the first portion to a person, a pole, or any other surface, no matter where located, to safely and securely mount small electronic devices, tools, cup holders and other items to the first portion. There is a second or male portion that is attached to small electronic devices, tools, cup holders and other items of any kind, and the second portion is easily attachable to and detachable from the first portion to safely and securely mount them to the first portion.

It is also contemplated that the location of the first and second portions may be reversed. The second portion may be fastened to a person, a pole, or any other surface, no matter where located; and the first portion may be fastened to a small electronic device, a tool, a cup holder and to other items.

The first portion includes a generally keyhole shaped slot having a narrow slot with parallel sides, a flared entrance at one end of the slot and an enlarged hole at the other end of the narrow slot.

The second portion has a mushroom shape with a stem and a flat, button shaped top. The stem which is attached perpendicularly to one side of the top has a generally circular cross section but has one flat side along the length of the stem. The diameter of the button shaped top is larger than the diameter of the circular hole at one end of the narrow slot. The button therefore cannot pass through generally circular hole or the slot. The stem of the second portion can only pass through and along the slot when its flattened side is parallel to only one particular side of the slot.

When the stem of the second portion is oriented so that its flat side is parallel to the particular side of the slot and has passed through the narrow slot to the circular hole and is rotated ninety degrees so that the flat side is oriented perpendicular to the sides of the narrow slot, the second portion will not pass back through the slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a slotted first portion of the fastening device;

FIG. 2 shows a three dimensional view of a mushroom shaped second portion of the fastening device;

FIGS. 3A-3C show three isometric views of the slotted first portion of the fastening device in a discrete form that can be fastened to a surface;

FIGS. 4A-4C show three isometric views of the mushroom shaped second portion of the fastening device in a discrete form that can be fastened to a surface;

FIG. 5 shows the second portion of the fastening device in a first position in preparation for attaching the second portion to the first portion;

FIG. 6 shows the second portion of the fastening device as its stem passes through a narrow slot of the first portion as it is being attached thereto;

FIG. 7 shows the second portion of the fastening device after its stem has passed fully through the narrow slot of the first portion into a larger circular hole at the end of the slot;

FIG. 8 shows the second portion alter its stem has been rotated ninety degrees from the first position to a second position while being in the larger circular hole at the end of the narrow slot thus locking the second portion to the first portion;

FIG. 9 shows how the second portion cannot exit back through the narrow slot while it is in any position other than the first position; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B show the slotted first portion of the fastening device made as part of a separate fastener for snapping onto a circular pole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 is shown a three dimensional view of the slotted first portion 10 of the fastening device. It comprises a relatively flat member 10 having all open end in which is a flattish hollow area 12 and through one wall of first portion 10 there is a narrow slot 13 with a flared entrance at one end of slot 13 and an offset circular hole 14 at the other end of slot 13. First portion 10 may be manufactured as a discrete, separate piece and attached to a surface using an adhesive to which surface it is desired to attach an electronic device, tool, cup holder or other items; or first portion 10 may be made as an integral part of an another item such as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Details of first portion 10 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3A-3C.

In FIG. 2 is shown a three dimensional view of a mushroom shaped second portion 9 of the novel fastening device. Portion 9 may be manufactured as an integral part of an electronic device, tool, cup holder or other item or it may be made separately with a flat portion 21 first shown in FIGS. 4A-4C and attached to an electronic device, tool, cup holder or other item using an adhesive 18. Flat portion 21 is not shown in FIG. 2 to make it easier to see the details of button top 15 and stem portion 16 of the mushroom shaped second portion 9. It can be seen that stem 16 has a generally circular cross section but has one flat side 17 that facilitates its function in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. The diameter of button top 15 is only slightly less than the width of hollow area 12 of first portion 10 which permits it to pass into area 12 as stem passes 16 passes through narrow slot 13 as will be better understood further upon reading further in this description of the fastening device.

FIGS. 3A-3C show three isometric views of the slotted first portion 10 of the fastening device in a discrete form that can be fastened to a surface by an adhesive or by any other means. FIG. 3A is a front view of first portion 10 of the fastening device, FIG. 3B is a side view and FIG. 3C is a top view. In the front view of FIG. 3A hollow area 12 in first portion 10 is seen and how it is open at the top side of first portion 10. Area 12 is shown in dotted line form because it is internal to first portion 10. Hollow area 12 has a width W1a with a rounded bottom as shown.

As seen in FIG. 3A there is a narrow slot 13 and a circular hole 14 cut through a front wall of first portion 10 to facilitate attaching second portion 9 to first portion 10 in accordance with the teaching of the invention. Slot 13 has a flared entrance which facilitates stem 16 of second portion 9 entering slot 13 as second portion 9 is attached to first portion 10 as is better shown and described with reference to FIGS. 5-9. The width of slot 13 is W3a. At the bottom of slot 13 is a circular hole 14 the center of which is offset to the left from the axis of slot 13. The diameter of hole 14 is W2a. The width W1a of hollow area 13 is larger that either the widths W2a and W3a to facilitate attaching second portion 9 to first portion 10. The reason for each dimension will be better understood upon reading further in this detailed description.

FIG. 3B is a side view of first portion 10. Hollow area 13 is shown as a dotted line. First portion 10 is flat and on its rear is a layer of self stick material 19 with a release paper covering the adhesive. When the paper is removed portion 10 may be adhesively attached to a flat surface in a manner well known in the art. If portion 10 is to be attached to an irregular surface there are adhesive layered materials that incorporate a thin foam layer. Alternatively, the shape of rear surface of first portion 10 adjacent to adhesive layer 19 may be curved or any other shape to facilitate mounting on specific types of surfaces.

FIG. 3C is a top view of first portion 10. Easily seen are adhesive layer 19, hollow area 12, and narrow slot 13. It may be seen that slot 13 is not centered on hollow area 12. This is in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

FIGS. 4A-4C show three isometric views of the mushroom shaped second portion 9 of the fastening device in a discrete form that can be fastened to a surface. FIG. 4A is a top view of second portion 9, FIG. 4B is a first side view and FIG. 4C is a second side view. In FIG. 4A it can be seen that button top 15 has a general circular cross section with a diameter of W1. but has a flat side 17. The diameter of the circular portion of stem 16 is W2, and the dimension to flat surface 17 is W3. Dimension W1 is greater than dimension W2 which is in turn greater than dimension W3. These dimensions and their relationships are necessary for the operation of the present invention.

In the first side view of second portion 9 shown in FIG. 4B the portion of stem 16 that has a diameter of W2 is seen. The height of stem portion 16 is only slightly larger than the thickness of the wall of first portion 10 through which slot 13 and hole 14 are formed. This assures that button top 15 can enter and slide inside hollow area 12 as second portion 9 is attached to first portion 10. Adhesive layer 18 on flat surface 21 is also seen in FIG. 4B. While surface 21 is shown as flat it may also be curved to facilitate fastening second portion 9 to curved surfaces. Alternatively, the thickness of surface 21 may be thin enough, while yet strong enough, that it can be easily warped to be adhesively fastened to a curved surface. In the second side view of second portion 9 shown in FIG. 4C the narrower dimension W3 of stem 16 is seen.

FIG. 5 shows second portion 9 of the fastening device fastened to a side of a small electronic device, a tool, a cup holder etcetera only generally represented as rectangular device 20 and in a horizontal position in preparation for attaching second portion 9 to first portion 10. While not shown in FIG. 5, second portion 10 may be part of a separate item 23 as shown in FIGS. 10A or 10B or may separate, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B and be attached to something by means such as adhesive layer 19 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. Device 20 will normally be oriented in an upright manner as represented in FIG. 8, but is swung ninety degrees to the horizontal as shown in FIGS. 5-7 in order to attach device 20 with second portion 9 fastened thereto to a first portion 10. Once in this position and second portion 9 is aligned adjacent to first portion 10, device 20 is moved downward as represented by the arrow in FIG. 5.

A unique facet of second portion 9 of the present fastening device is that the flat side 17 of its stem 16 must be oriented to the left with respect to first portion 10 as shown in FIG. 5 or it cannot slide along through narrow slot 13. Upon button top 15 entering hollow area 12 it will only permit stem 16 exiting slot 13 when oriented as shown in FIG. 5.

If element 20 with a second portion 9 attached thereto is rotated one-hundred eighty degrees so that flat side 17 is to the right, such as shown in FIG. 9, stem 16 cannot enter slot 13. This will be better understood upon reading further in this detailed description and particularly with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 6 shows the second portion 9 of the fastening device as its stem 16 begins to pass into slot 13 of first portion 10 in order to be attached thereto. As previously described the horizontal width and depth (into the page) dimensions of hollow area 12 are slightly larger than the width and thickness dimensions of button shaped top 15 of second member 9. This permits top 15 to be able to enter in and pass through to the bottom of area 12 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Because slot 13 is not centered on either hollow area 12 or hole 14 as shown and described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3C, stem 16 must be oriented with respect to slot 13 so that its flat side 17 is to the left as shown in FIG. 6 in order for it to enter in and pass through slot 13.

The entrance of slot 13 is flared to facilitate stem 16 entering into slot 13. Once stem 16 enters slot 13, continued downward movement of device 20 causes button 15 and stem 16 to pass to the bottom of hollow area 12 as shown in FIG. 7. The downward movement of device 20 ceases when button 15 hits the bottom of hollow area 12. At this point device 20 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the arrow in FIG. 7 to lock second portion 9 to first portion 10 as shown in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 8 device 20 has been rotated ninety degrees back to the vertical as shown. In this position the wider dimension W2 of stem 16 prevents it from passing back through slot 13 that has a narrower width W3. This is evident in viewing this figure.

In FIG. 9 device 20 is shown rotated ninety degrees more in the counterclockwise direction. In this position stem 16 is in a position that prevents it from passing upward through slot 13. This is due to the fact that slot 13 is not centered with respect hollow area 12 as previously described.

As a result, device 20 must be rotated back to the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 5-7 in order that stem 16 with flat side 17 is in a position that it can pass back through slot 13 so that device 20 maybe detached from first portion 10. The orientation of second portion 9 on device 20 is chosen for the convenience of a person using the fastening device comprising first portion 10 and second portion 9. Some people feel more comfortable rotating device 20 with second portion 9 attached thereto one way versus another to attach it to a first portion 10. Another value to this unique operation is when a person is using second portion 9 with a cell phone (device 20) that will be attached to a belt mounted first portion 10. When a person sits down they may rotate the cell phone to be parallel to the upper part of their leg. If the phone is in the position shown in FIG. 5 it will detach from first portion 10 attached to their belt. Thus, the person will attach second portion 9 to the cell phone so that when they rotate the phone to be parallel to the upper portion of their leg when they sit down, the orientation of second portion 9 fastened to the phone with respect to first portion 10 on their belt will be as shown in FIG. 9 and the phone will not detach from first portion 10.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B is shown slotted first portion 10 of the fastening device made as an integral part of a separate fastener 23 for snapping onto a circular pole. The attachment of a device 20 with a second portion 9 attached thereto to fastener 23 is as previously described. These two figures show that first portion 10 does not have to be a discrete part, such as shown in the other figures, but may be integrated into anything else as needed. Only a separate fastener is shown FIGS. 10A and 10B.

While not shown in any the figures second portion 9 may also be made as an integral part of something else while still being within the teaching of the invention. In addition, the positions of first portion 10 and second portion 9 may be reversed. Second portion 9 may be attached to or be made as an integral part of an electronic device, tool, cup holder or other item.

While what has been taught herein are preferred embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, such as described in the previous paragraph. For example, the novel fastening device of the present invention may be used to removably attach a glass or cup holder to any surface. For another example, the first portion 10 of the fastening device may be magnetically attached to a steel surface. In yet another example the button shaped top of the second portion may have another shape such as spherical with the flat sided stem attached thereto.

Claims

1. Fastening means for fastening a first member to a second member, the fastening means comprising:

a first portion that is an integral part of a first member or is fastened thereto, the first portion having a generally keyhole shaped opening consisting of a narrow slot having a first end and a second end, the slot also having a first side and a second side that are generally parallel and spaced apart a first width, and a hole at a first end of the slot, the hole having a second width that is greater than the first width; and

a second portion that is an integral part of a second member or is fastened thereto, the second portion having a top that has a third width greater than either the first width of the slot or the second width of the hole so that the top cannot pass through either the slot or the hole, and a stem that is attached to the second portion, the stem spacing the top from the second portion, the stem having one flat side and the width of the stem to its flat side is a fourth width that is less than the first width of the slot and permits the stem to pass along the slot between the second end of the slot and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member from the first member when the flat side is parallel and adjacent to a particular one side of the slot, but prevents the stem from passing along the slot from the hole at the first end and the second end of the slot when the flat side is not parallel and adjacent to the particular one side of the slot to thereby retain the second member to the first member.

2. The fastening means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the slot has an axis passing along the mid point between the first and second sides of the slot, wherein the hole has a mid point and the mid point of the hole is offset from the axis of the slot.

3. The fastening means in accordance with claim 2 wherein the offset of the hole to the slot only permits the stem to pass along the slot between the second end of the slot and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member from the first member when the flat side is parallel and adjacent to a particular one side of the slot.

4. The fastening means in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first member of which the first portion is an integral part or is fastened thereto is a small electronic device, tool, cup holder or other small item.

5. The fastening means in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second member of which the second portion is an integral part or is fastened thereto is a part of some apparel of a user, a supporting structure such as a wall, dash board of a vehicle, a pole, or other surface to which the first member is to be fastened.

6. The fastening means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the slot and hole are through a first wall of a first thickness, the stem has a length that is greater than the first thickness, and the second end of the slot has a tapered opening that guides the stem into the slot.

7. The fastening means in accordance with claim 6 wherein there is a channel behind the first wall, the channel has a fifth width parallel to the first wall that is slightly greater than the third width of the top of the second portion, and when the second portion is entering the channel and is in a first orientation the flat side of the stem is in a position to be parallel and adjacent to the particular one side of the slot to thereby permit the stem to pass along the slot between the second end and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member to or from the first member.

8. The fastening means in accordance with claim 7 wherein when the second portion is in any orientation other than the first orientation the flat side of the stem is not in a position to be parallel and adjacent to the particular one side of the slot and the stem therefore cannot pass along the slot from the hole at the first end and the second end of the slot and the second member is thereby retained to the first member.

9. The fastening means in accordance with claim 8 wherein the slot has an axis passing along the mid point between the first and second sides of the slot, wherein the hole has a mid point and the mid point of the hole is offset from the axis of the slot.

10. The fastening means in accordance with claim 9 wherein the offset of the hole to the slot only permits the stem to pass along the slot between the second end of the slot and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member from the first member when the flat side is parallel and adjacent to a particular one side of the slot.

11. The fastening means in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is a channel behind the first wall, the channel has a fifth width parallel to the first wall that is slightly greater than the third width of the top of the second portion, and when the second portion is entering the channel and is in a first orientation the flat side of the stem is in a position to be parallel and adjacent to the particular one side of the slot to permit the stem to pass along the slot between the second end and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member from the first member.

12. The fastening means in accordance with claim 11 wherein when the second portion is in any orientation other than the first orientation the flat side of the stem is not in a position to be parallel and adjacent to the particular one side of the slot and the stem therefore cannot pass along the slot from the hole at the first end and the second end of the slot and the second member is thereby retained to the first member.

13. The fastening means in accordance with claim 12 wherein the slot has an axis passing along the mid point between the first and second sides of the slot, wherein the hole has a mid point and the mid point of the hole is offset from the axis of the slot.

14. The fastening means in accordance with claim 13 wherein the offset of the hole to the slot only permits the stem to pass along the slot between the second end of the slot and the hole at the first end of the slot to either attach or remove the second member from the first member when the flat side is parallel and adjacent to a particular one side of the slot.