FASTENER SHIELD

Abstract

A fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position. The seated position can include the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat. An apparatus can include the fastener shield. Also, a technique can include securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin, with a fastener shield shielding at a moveable part of the fastener shield while securing the pin fastener to the shank of the pin.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/381,817, filed Nov. 1, 2022, titled FASTENER SHIELD, which is incorporated herein by reference. If any disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict, and/or broader disclosure, and/or broader definition of terms, the present disclosure controls. If such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, the later-dated disclosure controls.

BACKGROUND

Fasteners have included pins with pin fasteners for the pins. For example, such fasteners have included butterfly clutches with moveable parts.

SUMMARY

The inventor has recognized that it can be advantageous to have a shield, which may shield at least a portion of a pin fastener.

According to one aspect, an apparatus can include a fastener shield. The fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position. The seated position can include the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat.

According to another aspect, a technique can include securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin. The pin fastener can include at least one moveable part that is moveable to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The technique can also include shielding the moveable part with a fastener shield while the pin fastener is secured to the shank of the pin. The fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that receives at least a portion of the pin fastener in a seated position that allows actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that engages the pin fastener and holds the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seated position.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. The concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Similarly, the invention is not limited to implementations that address the particular techniques, tools, environments, disadvantages, or advantages discussed in the Background, the Detailed Description, or the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pin and shielded fastener secured to a sheet of material.

FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the pin and shielded fastener of FIG. 1 secured to the sheet of material.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pin and shielded fastener of FIG. 1 secured to the sheet of material.

FIG. 4 is a view that includes a top perspective view of the shielded fastener and a bottom perspective view of the pin of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a fastener shield like the fastener shield that shields the fastener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5. A rear view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5 is the same as the front view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5. A left-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5 is the same as the right-side view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a pin and a shielded fastener along with a tool positioned to actuate the shielded fastener to release the shielded fastener from the pin.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of another fastener shield.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12. A rear view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12 is the same as the front view of FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a right-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12. A left-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12 is the same as the right-side view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the fastener shield of FIG. 12.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a shielded fastener that includes the fastener shield of FIG. 12 secured to a fastener.

FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener shield of FIG. 5 and a fastener, illustrating the movement of the fastener shield and the fastener towards each other to be secured together.

FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of the fastener shield and the fastener of FIG. 19 with the fastener shield being partially positioned to be secured together.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view like FIG. 20, but with the fastener and the fastener shield secured together.

FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of another fastener shield.

FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a front view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22. A rear view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22 is the same as the front view of FIG. 24.

FIG. 25 is a right-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22. A left-side view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22 is the same as the right-side view of FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the fastener shield of FIG. 22. Note that the views of the fastener shield of FIGS. 22-27 are slightly rotated from the described orientations.

The description and drawings may refer to the same or similar features in different drawings with the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a pin apparatus 100 can be secured to material such as a sheet 101. For example, the material may be a sheet 101 of fabric or some other material. The pin apparatus 100 can include a pin 102, which can include a shank 104 and a head 106. Also, a decoration 108 may be secured to the head 106, such as with an adhesive, via a magnet, via over molding, or some other securing method, so that the decoration 108 becomes part of the head 106. For example, the decoration 108 could be a figurine (as shown in FIG. 1) or a button, such as a button to replace a button that has fallen off an item of clothing, or a button to be changed for a different look.

The pin apparatus 100 can also include a fastener 120, which can be secured to the shank 104 of the pin 102. In an example where the fastener 120 is a butterfly clutch (see also FIG. 19), the fastener 120 can include a base that can be in the form of a disc-shaped flange 122 and an elongate handle 124 extending down from the disc-shaped flange 122 and across the flange 122. A centrally located hole 126 can extend downwardly into the flange 122 to receive the shank 104 of the pin 102.

The fastener 120 can also include one or more moveable parts that can be actuated to transition the fastener 120 between a fastening configuration, wherein the fastener can grasp the shank 104 of the pin 102, and a releasing configuration, wherein the fastener can release its grasp on the shank 104 of the pin 102. For example, the fastener 120 can include a pair of lever arms 130, with one lever arm extending down from the flange 122 on each side of the handle 124. The fastener 120 can bias the lever arms 130 outwardly away from the handle 124 via spring force toward the fastening configuration. The lever arms 130 can be manually squeezed inwardly toward the handle 124, moving the fastener 120 to the releasing configuration. When the manual squeezing force on the lever arms 130 is released, the lever arms 130 can spring outwardly, moving the fastener 120 back to the fastening configuration, where the fastener 120 can grasp the shank 104 of the pin 102 if the shank 104 extends into the hole 126 in the fastener 120.

Referring still to FIGS. 1-4, the pin apparatus 100 can also include a fastener shield 140, which can be mounted on the fastener 120 to act as a shield for the fastener 120. For example, such a shield 140 can shield the lever arms 130 of the fastener from being accidentally moved inwardly toward the releasing configuration, which could in turn accidentally release the fastener 120 from the pin 102. Also, the shield 140 can shield surrounding materials, including a user's skin, from being harmed by the fastener 120. For example, the shield 140 may shield a user's skin from being scratched by the lever arms 130 of the fastener. Such shielding can inhibit the shielded contact, but it may not absolutely prevent such contact in all situations.

The fastener 120 and shield 140 can be two separate devices that can be joined together to form a shielded fastener. Alternatively, the fastener 120 and the shield 140 may be formed together as one continuous device.

Referring to FIGS. 5-10, an example of a shield 140 will be discussed. The example shield 140 can be symmetrical from front to back and from side to side. The shield 140 can include a body 142, which can be ring-shaped. A pair of front and rear supports 144 can extend in from the body 142. Each support 144 can form a partial ring, and can extend downwardly along the body 142, so that the bottoms of the supports 144 can form a continuous bottom with the body 142. The supports 144 can extend up to top support surfaces 146 that are positioned below top surfaces of the body 142. Thus, the supports 144 can form top support surfaces 146, with a top portion of the body 142 extending above and around the top support surfaces 146. The shield 140 can define left-side and right-side gaps 148 between the supports 144 adjacent to the body 142.

The shield 140 can also include catches 160 that can include protrusions extending up from a top of the body 142 and radially in beyond inner surfaces of the body 142. Specifically, the catches 160 can extend in from the body in an area above the left-side and right-side gaps 148 between the supports 144. The shield 140 can thereby define a seat 166, which can be defined by the top surfaces of the supports 144, inner surfaces of the body 142, and downwardly facing surfaces of the catches 160 (the downwardly facing surfaces of the portions of the catches that extend above the left-side and right-side gaps 148).

Edges of the shield 140 can be beveled and/or rounded. For example, a bottom outer edge of the body 142 may be rounded and/or beveled to keep the shield 140 from catching on adjacent surfaces, such as surfaces of the skin of users of the pin apparatus 100, where the shield 140 may be positioned against the skin of a user, such as where the apparatus is secured to footwear or some other clothing item of the user.

When the shield 140 is mounted on the fastener 120, the outer portion of the flange 122 of the fastener 120 can be positioned in the seat 166, between the top support surfaces 146, the inner surface of the body 142, and the downwardly-facing surfaces of the catches 160. These surfaces of the shield 140 can secure the shield 140 on the fastener 120 in the mounted position. Also, the shield 140 can be rotated relative to the fastener 120 so that the handle 124 of the fastener 120 extends from front to rear, between the two supports 144. In this position, the lever arms 130 of the fastener can be squeezed in directions extending in from the left-side and right-side gaps 148 between the supports 144.

The pin apparatus 100 can be used by separating the pin 102 from the fastener 120 if the fastener 120 is currently secured to the pin 102. This can include squeezing the lever arms 130 of the fastener 120 in toward the handle 124 of the fastener, to move the fastener 120 from the secured position to the releasing position. Referring to FIG. 11, if the shield 140 is already mounted on the fastener 120, then a tool 170 (such as tweezers or some other tool) may be used to squeeze the lever arms 130. Specifically, fingers of the tool 170 can extend into the left-side and right-side gaps and the fingers 172 can be squeezed inwardly to push the lever arms 130 in toward the handle 124 of the fastener 120. In this manner, the tool 170 can grasp the fastener 120, so that the tool 170 can be pulled away from the pin 102 to separate the fastener 120 from the pin 102.

With the pin 102 separated from the fastener 120, the pin can be pushed through some material such as a sheet 101 to which the pin apparatus is to be attached. The fastener 120 can be oriented with the hole 126 facing toward a tip of the pin, and the fastener 120 can be pushed onto the pin 102. If the shield 140 has been mounted on the fastener 120 prior to the fastener 120 being secured to the pin 102, then the fastener 120 can be shielded during and after its fastening to the pin 102 and the sheet 101. Alternatively, the shield 140 may be mounted on the fastener 120 after the fastener 120 has been secured to the pin 102, so that the fastener 120 will then be shielded by the material of the shield 140 being on multiple sides of the fastener 120, including the shield including material on multiple sides of at least shielded portions of the fastener 120.

Referring to FIGS. 12-17, another shield 240 will be described. The shield 240 can be structured similarly to the shield 140 discussed above. This can include the shield 240 having a body 242, supports 244 with top support surfaces 246, right-side and left-side gaps 248 defined between the supports 244, catches 260, and a seat 266. The shield 240 can also include a pair of actuation protrusions 268 extending in from central locations on the supports 144. For example, this can include a front actuation protrusion extending rearward from a central portion of the front support and a rear actuation protrusion extending forward from a central portion of the rear support. In some situations, the actuation surfaces may not be formed on actuation protrusions, such as where a surface of an annular body is configured to actuate the lever arms 130 of the fastener 120, as discussed below.

Referring to FIG. 18, the shield 240 can be mounted on the fastener 120 in the same way as the shield 140 is mounted on the fastener 120. However, the fastener 120 can be rotated about ninety degrees relative to the orientation of the fastener 120 in the shield 140. Thus, each of the actuation protrusions 268 can extend inward toward one of the lever arms 130 of the fastener 120 and end in an actuation surface 270 that faces the corresponding lever arm 130, as illustrated in FIG. 18.

At least a portion of the shield 240 can be formed of a flexible material so that the shield 240 can be squeezed by applying pressure to the front and rear of the body 242 (such as with a thumb and finger of a user), to deform (change the shape of) the shield 240 and move the actuation protrusions 268 towards each other, so that the actuation protrusions 268 apply pressure to the lever arms 130, squeezing the lever arms 130 toward the handle 124 of the fastener 120. This movement of the lever arms 130 can move the fastener from the secured position to the released position. When the squeezing pressure on the shield 240 is released, the shield 240 can spring back to its original shape shown in FIGS. 12-18, and the lever arms can spring back out to their secured position.

Referring to FIGS. 22-27, another example of a shield 340 will be discussed. The example shield 340 can be symmetrical from front to back and from side to side. The shield 340 can include a body 342, which can be ring-shaped. A pair of front and rear supports 344 can extend in from the body 342. Each support 344 can form a partial ring, and can extend along the body 342, so that the bottoms of the supports 344 can form a continuous bottom with the body 342. The supports 344 can extend up to top support surfaces 346 that are positioned even with top surfaces of the body 342 to form continuous surfaces therewith. Thus, the supports 344 can form top support surfaces 346, with a top portion of the body 342 extending at an even height with and around the top support surfaces 346. The shield 340 can define left-side and right-side gaps 348 between the supports 344 adjacent to the body 342.

The shield 340 can also include catches 360 that can include protrusions extending up from a top of the body 342 and radially in beyond inner surfaces of the body 342. Specifically, the catches 360 can extend in from the body in an area above the left-side and right-side gaps 348 between the supports 344. The shield 340 can thereby define a seat 366, which can be defined by the top surfaces of the supports 344, inner surfaces of the catches 360, and downwardly facing surfaces of the catches 360 (the downwardly facing surfaces of the portions of the catches that extend above the left-side and right-side gaps 348).

Edges of the shield 340 can be beveled and/or rounded. For example, a bottom outer edge of the body 342 may be rounded and/or beveled to keep the shield 340 from catching on adjacent surfaces, such as surfaces of the skin of users of the pin apparatus 100, where the shield 340 may be positioned against the skin of a user, such as where the apparatus is secured to footwear or some other clothing item of the user.

When the shield 340 is mounted on the fastener 120, the outer portion of the flange 122 of the fastener 120 can be positioned in the seat 366, between the top support surfaces 346, the inner surfaces of the catches 360, and the downwardly-facing surfaces of the catches 360. These surfaces of the shield 340 can secure the shield 340 on the fastener 120 in the mounted position. Also, the shield 340 can be rotated relative to the fastener 120 so that the handle 124 of the fastener 120 extends from front to rear, between the two supports 344. In this position, the lever arms 130 of the fastener can be squeezed in directions extending in from the left-side and right-side gaps 348 between the supports 344.

The pin 102 and the fastener 120 can each be made of metal material. The fastener 120 can be formed as a standard metal butterfly clutch in an example. However, the fastener could be some other type of fastener that is configured to be secured to the shank of a pin, and the fastener 120 and/or pin 102 could be made of a non-metal material.

The shield 140, the shield 240, and the shield 340 can each be made using manufacturing methods, such as molding (e.g., injection molding), additive methods (e.g., 3d printing), and/or subtractive methods (e.g., drilling, milling, cutting). The shields can be made of materials that are sufficiently strong, durable, rigid and/or flexible for the uses discussed herein. For example, the shields can be formed of molded polymer materials. For example, the shield 240 may be made of elastomeric material, and the shield 140 and the shield 340 may be made of a more rigid polymer material.

As discussed above, the shield 140 can be mounted on the fastener 120. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the fastener 120 can be oriented with its handle facing down and can be brought downwardly to the top of the shield 140. As illustrated in FIG. 20, one side of the flange 122 of the fastener 120 can be inserted into the seat 166 below one of the catches 160 (the right side in FIG. 20). In this position, the opposite side of the flange 122 can rest on the other catch 160 (on the left side in FIG. 20). The inner top portion of each catch 160 can be rounded and/or beveled, so that pressing down on the side of the flange 122 that is resting on the other catch 160 can force that side of the flange 122 down relative to the corresponding catch 160 and force the corresponding catch 160 to bend outward, allowing that side of the flange 122 to slide down along the corresponding catch 160 and into the seat 166 of the shield 140 in the seated position, as illustrated in FIG. 21. Also, the catch 160 can spring back inward to help retain the fastener 120 in the seated position, as illustrated in FIG. 21 and other figures, including FIGS. 2-4 and 11. Of course, the shield 140 may be mounted on the fastener 120 in other ways, such as by pressing the shield 140 and the fastener 120 together without angling one side of the flange 122 in first. This can cause both catches 160 to bend, allowing the flange 122 to slide into the seat 166 of the shield 140, after which the catches 160 can spring back to their original position. Also, the shield 240 can be mounted on the fastener 120 in the seated position in the same way as the shield 140, as illustrated in FIG. 18. The shield 340 can also be mounted on the fastener 120 in a similar manner with rounded edges of the fastener 120 assisting with bending at least portions of the shield 340 (such as bending the catches 160 away from each other) to allow the shield 340 to be mounted on the fastener 120.

Shields may be mounted on fasteners in some other way. For example, shields may be over molded on the fastener flanges. Such over molding may be done with shields that are shaped differently, such as having catches and seats that are configured differently (e.g., having catches that are designed to permanently hold the shield on the fastener and that are not designed to bend to allow insertion/removal of the shield from the fastener).

According to one aspect, an apparatus can include a fastener shield. The fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position. The seated position can include the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat.

The body can define an aperture that is designed to receive a tool for actuating the at least one moveable part with the pin fastener in the seated position to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration.

The catch can include at least one protrusion that engages a base of the pin fastener.

At least a portion of the fastener shield can be designed to change shape in response to receiving an actuating force. The changing of shape can move the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration.

The apparatus can further include the pin fastener in the seated position. Also, the apparatus can further include a pin being fastened by the pin fastener. The pin can include a decorative element secured to a head of the pin. The apparatus may further include a sheet of material such as fabric between the pin fastener and the head of the pin, with the shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material. In an example, the pin fastener can be a butterfly clutch, such as a metal butterfly clutch.

According to another aspect, a technique can include securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin. The pin fastener can include at least one moveable part that is moveable to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The technique can also include shielding the moveable part with a fastener shield while the pin fastener is secured to the shank of the pin. The fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that receives at least a portion of the pin fastener in a seated position that allows actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that engages the pin fastener and holds the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seated position.

The securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin can be performed while the moveable part is shielded by the fastener shield with the at least a portion of the pin fastener being held by the catch in the seated position. The securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin can secure the pin to a sheet of material, with a shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material. The pin can include a decorative head. Also, the pin fastener can be a butterfly clutch.

The subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the benefits described herein. A particular implementation of the invention may provide all, some, or none of the benefits described herein. Although operations for the various techniques are described herein in a particular, sequential order for the sake of presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangements in the order of operations, unless a particular ordering is required. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently.

The invention is not limited to implementations that address the particular techniques, tools, environments, disadvantages, or advantages discussed in the Detailed Description or the attached drawings. While particular embodiments are discussed above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a fastener shield comprising: a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position, the seated position comprising the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration; and a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body defines an aperture that is designed to receive a tool for actuating the at least one moveable part with the pin fastener in the seated position to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catch comprises at least one protrusion that engages a base of the pin fastener.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fastener shield is designed to change shape in response to receiving an actuating force, the changing of shape moving the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the pin fastener in the seated position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a pin being fastened by the pin fastener.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pin comprises a decorative element secured to a head of the pin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a sheet of material between the pin fastener and the head of the pin, with a shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pin fastener is a butterfly clutch.

10. A method comprising:

securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin, the pin fastener comprising at least one moveable part that is moveable to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration;

shielding the moveable part with a fastener shield while the pin fastener is secured to the shank of the pin, the fastener shield comprising: a body defining a seat that receives at least a portion of the pin fastener in a seated position that allows actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration; and a catch that engages the pin fastener and holds the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seated position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin is performed while the moveable part is shielded by the fastener shield with the at least a portion of the pin fastener being held by the catch in the seated position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin secures the pin to a sheet of material, with a shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the pin comprises a decorative head.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the pin fastener is a butterfly clutch.