Abstract: An improved panel fastener assembly is provided and includes a panel retainer having a first connector and a sheet retainer having a second connector. One of the connectors includes a neck extending to a head that presents a flat face opposite the neck and a contact surface between the neck and an outer edge. The other connector includes a body and a plurality of resiliently deflectable locking elements that each extend from a side of the body and define a locking surface opposing a surface of the body. The panel retainer and the sheet retainer are connectable via the first and second connectors. A method of fastening together a panel and a sheet is also provided. The method comprises installing the panel retainer on a panel, anchoring the sheet retainer to a sheet, and connecting together the panel and sheet retainers via the first and second connectors.

Abstract: A female snap assembly includes a cage and an engagement member. The cage defines a receiving region, and the engagement member is within the receiving region. The engagement member includes a base, an inner engagement wall extending from base, and an outer engagement wall extending from the base. In some examples, the engagement member defines a channel between the inner engagement wall and the outer engagement wall. In various examples, the inner engagement wall defines at least one notch extending through the inner engagement wall.

Abstract: A connector includes a first member and a second member sandwiching an attachment portion of a garment having a conductive member, the first member having a first garment retaining portion to be contacted with one surface of the attachment portion and a projection made of a conductive material and disposed in a position different from the first garment retaining portion to project in a direction perpendicular to the first garment retaining portion, the second member having a second garment retaining portion to be contacted with the other surface of the attachment portion and a projection accommodating portion disposed in a position different from the second garment retaining portion, the projection having a slit extending in the direction perpendicular to the first garment retaining portion, and when the projection is fitted into the projection accommodating portion, the projection is electrically connected to the conductive member.

Abstract: A concealment system for a first vehicle component having a cutout and receiving aperture exposed by removal of a second component, includes a pre-insert configured to be inserted into the receiving aperture, and a filler insert having an outer surface and configured to be inserted into the cutout such that the outer surface of the filler insert is substantially flush with a visible outer surface of the vehicle component. The filler insert being inserted into and retained within the pre-insert.

Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive, easy-to-assemble vehicular seat having few components. The vehicular seat 1A has a surface skin 13 and a backboard 12 to which the surface skin 13 is attached, wherein the surface skin 13 has a first surface skin 13a and a second surface skin 13b connected to the first surface skin 13a, protruding members 16 and holes 17 are provided as a connecting structure for connecting the backboard 12 and the second surface skin 13b, and the second surface skin 13b is formed from a soft material such as an elastomer.

Abstract: A pressure snap fastener with a bivalent closure comprises a first portion, to be associated with a first flap, and a second portion, to be associated to a second flap; where the portions, as associated with one another join the flaps. The pressure snap fastener further includes first temporary engagement means providing a temporary closure, in which the two portions are joined by a weakly joining and are free of partially swinging, and include second stable engagement means, providing a stable closure, in which the two portions are tightly coupled.

Abstract: Provided is a resin snap fastener, which has excellent heat resistance, rigidity and toughness, and reduced decrease in rigidity when absorbing water, and which does not emit endocrine disrupters. The snap fastener is obtained by molding a resin composition comprising 45-100 parts by weight of wollastonite with respect to 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin.

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 clip for releasably securing a panel to a support, including a socket member, and a ball member. The socket member includes a base having a bore positioned at a center point of the base and a collar located around the bore, the collar being partitioned into segment walls separated by gaps. The ball member includes a base having a collar positioned around the center and a cylindrical pillar with a spherical member projecting from a top surface of the base at a generally perpendicular angle to the base. The spherical member of the cylindrical pillar is pushed through the collar of the socket member, causing the segment walls to flex back to allow the spherical member to emerge from above the segment walls and the pillar to be encircled by the segment walls when the segment walls flex back to their original position, resulting in a secure snap fit engagement of the ball and socket members.

Abstract: A universal dust shroud includes a unitary mounting bracket on top of the shroud body. The bracket includes a plurality of collar sections attached to the body via a ‘Z’ shaped joint which allows the collar sections to move radially inwardly and outwardly relative to each other to accommodate different angle grinders. The bracket may include slots formed at the base of the bracket. The slots allow air to flow in through the slots, out past the grinding disk, and to the vacuum port. As such, the slots can aid in cooling the grinder output and bearings, and helps keep dust and debris away from the bearings in order to extend the life of the grinder.

Abstract: A metallic male snap part is capable of enhancing coupling strength with a female snap part by giving appropriate and sufficient elastic deformability to the projection of the male snap part which can be coupled to a depression of the female snap part. The projection includes a plurality of relatively highly deformable portions and a plurality of relatively low deformable portions, the highly and low deformable portions being arranged alternately in the circumference direction of the projection. The highly deformable portions are more deformable elastically in the radial direction of the projection than the low deformable portions.

Abstract: A metallic male snap part capable of coupling with a female snap part where the projection of the male snap part can be coupled to a depression of the female snap part. The projection includes multiple relatively highly deformable portions and multiple relatively low deformable portions, the highly and low deformable portions being arranged alternately in the circumference direction of the projection. The highly deformable portions are more deformable elastically in the radial direction of the projection than the low deformable portions. Each of the highly deformable portions has a relatively large, outer bulge which bulges more outward in the radial direction than a relatively small, outer bulge of each of the low deformable portions. The projection further includes longitudinal slits and lateral slits to partition the projection into the highly deformable portions and the low deformable portions.

Abstract: A metallic male snap part capable of coupling with a female snap part where the projection of the male snap part can be coupled to a depression of the female snap part. The projection includes multiple relatively highly deformable portions and multiple relatively low deformable portions, the highly and low deformable portions being arranged alternately in the circumference direction of the projection. The highly deformable portions are more deformable elastically in the radial direction of the projection than the low deformable portions. Each of the highly deformable portions has a relatively large, outer bulge which bulges more outward in the radial direction than a relatively small, outer bulge of each of the low deformable portions. The projection further includes longitudinal slits and lateral slits to partition the projection into the highly deformable portions and the low deformable portions.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening an attached or trim part to a support part includes a receptacle part having a pocket with a lateral opening and a guide slot, and a connecting part having at least one flange that can be introduced into the pocket through the lateral opening and having a fastening section. The fastening section has an opening to accommodate a retaining stud projecting from the support part. Located in the opening are latching fingers which can hold the retaining stud in place in the opening.

Abstract: A device for fastening includes a first component including an aperture, and a second component including a base with a perpendicular post to be inserted into the aperture to engage the fastener and of a diameter similar to the diameter of the aperture, a sprung latch with a flange to be inserted into the aperture along with the post that engages the surface of the first component underneath the aperture to fasten the second component to the first component, a rotating actuator that rotates on an axis on the base and actuates the flanges to allow clearance for insertion or extraction from the aperture, and a hinge to assemble the rotating actuator to the base.

Abstract: Snap fastener part comprising an axis (30), a coupling means (10) for coupling with a complementary coupling means of the other snap fastener part, a fixing means (14) for fixing the coupling means (10) to a carrier material (32), a cap (12) for covering the coupling means (10) on a side facing away from the carrier material (32) and a protrusion (28) on the side of the coupling means (10) facing away from the carrier material (32), said protrusion (28) encircling the axis (30), the fixing means (14) comprising at least one leg (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) which engages behind the coupling means (10) on the side facing away from the carrier material (32) when assembled and which is placed between the surface of the coupling means (10) facing away from the carver material (32) and the cap (12).

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 self draining snap fastener socket allows water and other liquids to drain from inside of the self draining snap fastener socket. The self draining snap fastener socket has a snap action attachment/detachment portion defining a channel for a resilient snap member. The channel has an annular side wall extending generally along an axial direction of the self draining snap fastener socket, an upper flange extending from an upper portion of the annular side wall toward a socket center, and a lower flange extending from a lower portion of the annular side wall toward the socket center. A fluid passageway extends from the interior of the self draining snap fastener socket through the annular side wall to outside of the self draining snap fastener socket.

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: An easy-locking buckle structure is composed of a male buckle element and a female buckle element having a smaller area than that of the male buckle element. A post extends downwardly from the bottom of one end of the male buckle element for engagement with a socket with a cylinder, while an upwardly raising holding tab is provided at the other end of the male buckle element. A conical recess with a through hole is provided in the center of the female buckle element. Said conical recess is provided with slots at its sides for connecting with a socket. Holes are pre-punched on the articles to be applied with the buckle such that the post of the male buckle element can pass through and engage with the socket, while the connecting pins of the female buckle element pass through the punched holes on the article such that the conical recess with the hole can aim at and pass through the punched hole on the article before the socket under the article is locked with the female buckle element.

Abstract: A snap button for attachment to a cloth is composed of male and female buttons engageable with each other. Each of the male and female buttons includes a face plate centrally from which a smashable shank projects, a snap body, and a resilient plate. The snap body has a respective one of concave socket and plug portions in which an axial shank-insertion hole, and a peripheral flange extending from a base portion of the plug and socket portions off an inner open end thereof. The resilient plate is adapted to be pierced by the shank so as to clamp the cloth between the face plate and the resilient plate. As a result, the cloth is held not only between the resilient plate and the shank but also between the shank and the snap body, and this clamp structure prevents the cloth from being removed off the each of the male and female buttons.

Abstract: A bistable member including a bistable, invertable dish- or dome-shaped base portion and an engaging projection extending therefrom. A male member is engaged with the bistable member by pressing the male member against a central apex of the bistable member that is surrounded by the engaging projection, thereby inverting the bistable member from a first stable form to a second stable form. In the second stable form, the engaging protrusion and a portion of the bistable member wrap around a knob of the male member, thereby securing the male member to the bistable member. A subsequently applied triggering energy re-inverts the bistable member, thereby releasing the male member. This assembly is usable as a snap fastener by setting an equilibrium point of the bistable member such that a relatively large triggering energy is required to re-invert the bistable member.

Abstract: A press-button device is provided that includes an upper part and lower part for fastening together fabric and other materials. The upper part has a hollow main part that includes a disc and a hollow central sleeve. Arranged within the main part are a compressible gripping connector within an outer gripping sleeve. A spring is positioned between the outer gripping sleeve and hollow central sleeve. A rivet secures the tops of the outer gripping sleeve and gripping connector to a button. A seal is provided between the button and the main part that protects the inside of the main part and permits axial movement of the button. The upper part also includes a plate positioned in the main part that carries a rigid annular sleeve with a conical-shaped interior surface that abuts against the end of the gripping connector. A washer secures the upper part to fabric or other material. The lower part includes a spherical undercut head for engaging the upper part gripping connector.

Abstract: A clasp formed of beveled members, one a male member and the other a female member, which interengage together and are retained in their connection through capillary and frictional forces. The female member may contain a slot, to facilitate its resilient widening, to receive the male member, once inserted. The male member may include, at its frontal portion, a slot, to provide for its compression, and formation of a bevel proximate its front end to facilitate its interconnection with the female member into the beveled clasp. A modification includes a beaded type connector that interconnects together through the formation of a bead, interiorly of the female member, and a complementary groove, formed proximate the beveled front end of the male member, to facilitate the interconnection of the clasp together, and to sustain its hold during coupling.

Abstract: A detachable decoration system including a first releasably interlockable fastener permanently connected to an article to be decorated and second releasably interlockable fastener permanently connected to a decoration adapted to selectively interlock with the first fastener. Once the interlockable fasteners are disengaged, the decoration is wholly disconnected from the article, thus permitting the article to be washed without damaging the decoration.

Abstract: A snap fastener wherein the male and femal components are sealingly connected with sheet-like carriers of textile or other material. The male component has a male coupling element with a head which defines a cavity and with a collar one side of which is adjacent the inlet of the cavity. A deformable metallic or plastic liner is received in the cavity and has an extension in a depression at the one side of the collar. A first rivet secures the male coupling element to the outer side of a first carrier; to this, end, the shank of the rivet extends through the first carrier and into the liner to deform the latter into sealing engagement with the head as well as to urge the outer side of the first carrier against the extension of the liner.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a plastic base plate 1 provided with a gluing surface 2 for allowing it to be fastened to a support. At least one coupling element 3 is arranged on the side opposite the gluing surface for connection with a fastening device. According to the disclosure, the gluing surface 2 of the base plate 1 is designed with an arched or concave shape where the lowest point P of the arching 4 lies in the zone directly below the coupling element 3.

Abstract: A female member of a snap fastener comprising a holding part to be retained on material and a fitting part provided with a through-hole substantially at its center for closely contacting a fitting head of a male body of the snap fastener. The holding part includes an upper edge inclined to accept the fitting head of the male body and is molded with an elastic synthetic resin in one unit. Since the fitting convex part is inclined in the direction for receiving the fitting head of the male body, it is easy for the fitting head of the male body to slip into the through-hole when inserting the fitting head of the male body, thereby facilitating engagement.

Abstract: A door latch lever handle fitting includes a retaining member which is pushed onto a shank portion of a lever handle. The retaining member has tongues which engage flats of the shank portion and tongues which engage in grooves formed in the surface of the shank portion to thereby grip the shank portion. In other embodiments where there are no grooves, different retaining members have modified gripping tongue arrangements. The retaining member is stressed to give axial thrust to take up any residual play in the assembly. Ears of the retainer member are engageable with an abutment lug on the rear face of a base plate of the assembly so that the door handle may be turned through a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A snap fastener wherein the female component has an end wall with a rim extending from one side of the end wall and a centrally located elastically deformable female coupling element provided on a frustoconical central portion of the end wall. The central portion has a concave surface at the other side of the end wall. The male component has a mushroom-shaped male coupling element which can be forced, not unlike an arrowhead, the female coupling element from the concave side of the central portion of the end wall. The force which must be applied to extract the male coupling element from the female coupling element is several times the force which is required to insert the male coupling element because the central portion of the end wall yields more readily in a direction toward the one side of the end wall.

Abstract: A shaft retainer or support means adapted to encircle a midportion of a shaft without need of axial travel over the shaft end portions includes a body portion having a circular channel means of more than about 180 degrees circumference so that the shaft can be inserted laterally into the channel means by slight flexing which is of sufficiently flexible material to allow this. The body portion also includes a second channel extending parallel to the circular channel and interconnected therewith for receiving a locking key member which axially moves along the shaft in the second channel means thereby completing a 360 degree engagement with the circumference of the midportion of the shaft. The preferred embodiment also includes axially locking means for the slideable key member to maintain it in a desired axial position within the second channel of the body.

Abstract: A joint element for securing a speedometer shaft is disclosed which can be readily cut to allow removal of the shaft without damage to other parts when the speedometer is disassembled for service. The joint element comprises a ring of a flexible plastic material with a tapered edge on an inner surface thereof. The convex edge corresponds to a circular tapered recess on the shaft, and notches in said convex edge permit the ring to be pushed onto the shaft until said convex edge mates with said recess and permit the ring to be easily cut from the speedometer shaft after the ring is installed on the shaft.

Abstract: A socket constituting the female member of a snap fastener, which comprises a metal spring button part including an annular base, an inner portion extending inwardly and downwardly from the inner portion of said annular base, and further extending inwardly and upwardly and split into flaps which terminate with tongues arranged circularly for elastic engagement with a stud as the male member of the snap fastener, an outer portion curvedly extending outwardly and downwardly from the outer portion of said annular base and then inwardly to form portions to guide and receive the legs of a backing member of the snap fastener, and a cover plate having a circular opening of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of the circle defined by said tongues, said cover plate being secured to the periphery on the tongue side of said annular base.

Abstract: A snap fastener for use on garment pieces comprises a male member attached by a first rivet to one of the garment pieces and a female member attached by a second rivet to the other garment piece. The male member includes a first cylindrical wall having an annular rim snapped in an annular groove defined in a second cylindrical wall of the female member. The male member and the first rivet have reinforcing ribs biting in the garment piece sandwiched therebetween, and similarly the female member and the second rivet have reinforcing ribs held in biting engagement with the garment sandwiched therebetween. The male and female members, and the first and second rivets are prevented by these reinforcing ribs from rotating with respect to the garment pieces, an advantage which manifests itself especially where the first and second rivets have directional ornamental patterns on their heads.

Abstract: A snap-fit buttom assembly comprises a female and a male member both molded and adapted to be coupled together with a snap-fit and a pair of tack members adapted to be joined with the female and male members for attachment thereof to a pair of fabric pieces separately. The female member, which is composed of a circular plate-like base and a cylindrical socket integral therewith, has along its periphery a plurality of openings each extending through the base and merging with the socket's bore receptive of a plug of the male member. The openings are angularly aligned, about the axis of the female member, with a plurality of inwardly directed locking projections of the socket. In production, the female member can be molded on a pair of mold halves; one mold half for shaping the base has a plurality of projections each having a contour corresponding to the shape of the individual opening.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved plastic socket component of the female snap of a snap fastener, which socket component is attached to one face of a flexible sheet such as the cloth of a garment by means of a rivent driven in from the other face of the flexible sheet and includes a cavity for coupling and uncoupling with a projection formed on a male snap. The cavity is surrounded by a thick peripheral wall having a plurality of relatively long arcuate embossments arranged at small intervals in the peripheral direction on an upper inner surface portion of the wall and a plurality of arcuate slits substantially equal in length to the embossments and arranged outwardly opposite thereto, the slits extending vertically through the peripheral wall. Adjacent pairs of the slits are interposed by thick wall portions having high rigidity.