Follower Captive Within Groove Patents (Class 411/46)
  • Patent number: 9528540
    Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener is assembled into a shipping configuration in which the pin is retained in a first position relative to the grommet with longitudinally extending leg members of the grommet in an unexpanded state. Cooperating members are provided on the pin and the grommet to engage each other in a locking configuration in which the pin is retained in a second position relative to the grommet causing the longitudinally extending leg members to be in a laterally expanded state. A driving member is provided on the pin to engage a periphery of an aperture of a joining part to cause the joining part to automatically drive the pin from the first position to the second position simultaneously with the insertion of the assembled pin and grommet into the aperture of the joining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NEWFREY LLC
    Inventors: Oday Amer Jamil, Terri Lynn Wernert, Tien The Diep
  • Patent number: 8851813
    Abstract: A variable grip blind rivet has a rivet body with a first shank adapted to be inserted into a hole in a workpiece and having an axial bore, and a flange at a first end of the first shank for abutting the workpiece when the first shank is inserted into the hole in the workpiece. A mandrel has a head, for engaging a second end of the first shank, and a second shank adapted to extend through the axial bore. The head has an abutment portion for abutting the first end of the first shank. At least one protrusion adjacent the abutment portion defines a recess for receiving the first end of the first shank during setting of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Robin Smith, Steven Victor Jones, Graham Frank Harry Williams, Harold Martin Bone, John Davies, David John Brookes
  • Patent number: 8491243
    Abstract: A variable grip blind rivet includes a tubular rivet body and a mandrel. The rivet body has a first shank, insertable into a hole in a workpiece, and a flange at a first end of the first shank for abutting the workpiece when so inserted. The mandrel has a head, for engaging a second end of the first shank, and a second shank adapted to extend through the axial bore of the rivet body. The head has an abutment portion for abutting the first end of the first shank, and the second shank has a first reduced diameter portion adapted to break when a predetermined tensile is loaded applied. At least one protrusion adjacent the abutment portion defines a recess for receiving the first end of the first shank during setting of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Robin Smith, Steven Victor Jones, Graham Frank Harry Williams, Harold Martin Bone, John Davies, David John Brookes
  • Patent number: 8438802
    Abstract: A window system for installation in a structure is provided. The window system includes a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure. The window system further includes at least one window pane having a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure; at least one sash that surrounds the at least one window pane, wherein the sash has a front side that faces away from the structure and a back side that faces into the structure when the window system is installed in a structure; at least one window frame comprising at least one head, sill, and jamb; and at least one mounting base integral to the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Muhler Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry M. Hay, Bruce Weber
  • Patent number: 8287217
    Abstract: An expansion anchor comprising a tubular body, which extends along a longitudinal axis and displays a deformable end portion on which there are obtained longitudinal slots which divide the end portion itself into a series of anchoring fins, and an expansion nut, which is partially engaged onto said end portion and is adapted to be displaced by a screw so as to radially expand said anchoring fins outwards; each anchoring fin being shaped so as to display an annular ridge on its end and two protruding side teeth, which are arranged on the side edge of said anchoring fin at the two ends of the ridge; each anchoring fin further displaying an external friction surface provided with a plurality of annular notches or cavities coaxial to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ITW Construction Products Italy S.R.L. Con Unico Socio
    Inventor: Roberto Pisoni
  • Patent number: 7896594
    Abstract: A self-drilling masonry bolt including a body portion having a bolt member and an outer sleeve portion, a head portion and a drilling tip whereby, the self-drilling masonry bolt provides a simple and effective means for securing an item to cement, wood or any other suitable material without the requirement of multiple tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: Domenico Nardi, Michael Valenzisi
  • Patent number: 7862272
    Abstract: A clip which is easily removed from an object to be fixed is provided. The clip includes: two parts including a first member 1 and a second member 2, the first member having a head portion 4 and a shaft portion 5, and the second member having a flange portion 11 and a leg portion 12, wherein an opening 13 is formed in the flange portion of the second member, and the leg portion of the second member is split into two split leg portions 16 to form a gap 17, which communicates with the opening and into which the shaft portion of the first member is inserted between the split leg portions 16, and wherein elastic blades 18 projecting radially are provided in multiple stages along a vertical direction on outer peripheral surfaces of the split leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7862273
    Abstract: A part mounting mechanism includes a boss, and a resin clip adapted to be assembled to the boss. The resin clip includes holding pieces, elastic engagement pieces, and a connecting portion. The part mounting mechanism also includes projecting portions formed on facing inner surfaces of the connecting portion at predetermined intervals in a staggered fashion along a direction in which the boss is inserted. When the boss is inserted into the connecting portion, the projecting portions bite into the distal end portion of the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Ooyama, Takeshi Kuroda, Oomi Arisaka
  • Patent number: 7837408
    Abstract: A board fixing module fixes a board to a base body. The board fixing module includes: a fixing element embedded into the base body, a bottom portion passed through the board and a latch element latched with the fixing element, and a passing rod passed into the latch element for maintaining the latch condition of the latch element and the fixing element. The invention is characterized in that users simply need to press the passing rod inward to release the latch condition of the latch element and the fixing element in order to separate the board from the base body, and thus the invention achieves the effect of a convenient installation or dismount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kenmark Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Hawang
  • Patent number: 7698787
    Abstract: A w-base fastener includes multiple legs that compress towards a common member, to which the legs are attached, during the installation through an opening of a structure. These legs then engage the backside of the structure to which the fastener is mounted to hold the fastener in a mounted position within the opening. The fastener also includes a head or similar structure that permits items to be mounted to the fastener. The w-base fastener described herein also includes opposite flex arm features for thermal expansion for assembling moldings to a panel. Embodiments of the invention are used to provide for the ease of assembly, proper fit, and functional retention of moldings to structural panels, while also providing for the thermal expansion of the moldings. Aspects of the invention may be advantageously employed on automotive body side moldings including doors, rockers, wheel flares and other areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Scroggie, Robert Osterland
  • Publication number: 20080240882
    Abstract: A molded plastic rivet (10) for affixing two parts to each other when said rivet is inserted through two mutually aligned apertures in said parts, said rivet comprising, a pin (14) having a head (38), a shank (36) and first and second latching offsets (40,42) at the distal end of the shank, a rivet body (12) having a head (20), and a shank that is insertable in said apertures and comprises several legs running away from the head of the rivet body, wherein approximately diametrically opposite protrusions (50,52) are configured on the side of the head of the rivet body at regions opposite the shank of the rivet body and are fitted with recesses or apertures (54,56) for receiving the arms of a fork-shaped assembly tool (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Schwarzkopf
  • Publication number: 20080199272
    Abstract: A fastener to affix a component in a support fitted with an aperture, comprising an affixation casing of resilient plastic, further a hollow conical shell, and at one end a radial flange that cooperates in sealing manner with the support surface facing it when the affixation casing has been mounted in said aperture, the casing being fitted peripherally with radial bosses, ribs or the like that engage from below the aperture rim when the affixation casing, being temporarily deformed radially at its bosses, ribs or the like is being inserted into said aperture, further comprising a plastic core which is fitted with a head and which can be inserted from the affixation casing's flanged end into the core cavity and which radially expands the casing and prevents it from being removable from the aperture, characterized by at least one radially inwardly pointing boss on the wall of the casing cavity and by the core being fitted at its end with a preferably peripheral groove that is entered by said boss when the core
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Limpert, Udo Henkelmann
  • Patent number: 7413367
    Abstract: A combinational commodity engaging unit which can connect by engaging plates of a computer desk, a TV cabinet etc. in order to assemble the combinational commodity without using an auxiliary tool, the engaging unit includes at least: a fixing seat embedded in a first plate, a hollow engaging member embedded in a second plate and having its bottom portion engaged in the fixing seat, and a fixing rod extended into the interior of the hollow engaging member to maintain the hollow engaging member in a state of engaging the fixing seat. By combination of the above stated fixing seat, hollow engaging member and fixing rod, the combinational commodity can be assembled without using an auxiliary tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kenmark Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Hawang
  • Patent number: 7341395
    Abstract: A combinational bolt which comprises a screw unit and a sleeve unit. The screw unit has a plurality of threads on a surface of a front terminal, the threads make the screw unit connect with a target object, another terminal of the screw unit forms a first concave portion. The sleeve unit, which is set inside the target object, also connects and surrounds the screw unit. A sink-proof portion is set on the surface of one terminal of the sleeve unit, the sink-proof portion makes the sleeve unit clamp onto the target object, and the outer surface of the sleeve unit has a plurality of strengthen circle units and a plurality of cut slots, and a second concave portion forms inside the sleeve unit, the first concave portion and the second concave portion clamp together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Ju-Chiung Tseng
  • Patent number: 7237995
    Abstract: A device, for attaching a panel to a support, incorporates a body with an elongated lower sector having a lower segment, an intermediate segment and an upper segment in which incuts are made to operatively engage and locate a retention bushing. The retention bushing has an annular head and alternated elongate and short legs that are configured to engage the lower and intermediate segments respectively when the retention bushing is at a lower position on the elongated lower sector, and configured so that the elongate legs are deflected outwardly by engagement with vertical ribs on the elongate lower sector while the short legs engage the upper segment, when the bushing is a high position on the elongate lower sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Espana, S.A.
    Inventors: Jesus Randez Perez, Josep Ventallo Sabater
  • Patent number: 7207759
    Abstract: A fastener comprises a pin and a bushing having a hollow shank that is inserted into holes in a plurality of members being attached. A pin shank is inserted into the bushing shank to effect a widened-diameter coupling condition in which the diameter of the bushing shank is widened, and the members being attached are coupled between the diameter-widened bushing shank and a bushing flange. On the bushing shank are pawls for maintaining a non-widened-diameter coupling condition in which the pin and the bushing are coupled with the pin shank partially inserted into the bushing shank, and the diameter of the bushing shank is not widened. On the pin shank there is a groove for engaging the pawls, which normally extend out beyond the diameter of the attachment holes, but can bend inward. The groove has a depth that will accept the pawls when they are bent inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 6905296
    Abstract: A peel type blind rivet for securement in an aperture of one or more workpieces, the rivet having a tubular shell a flange abutting one side of the workpieces, together with a mandrel with a stem extending through the shell and forming an enlarged head adjacent to the tail end face of the shell, whereby the head has a plurality of axially extending cutting edges for engaging with the body shell the setting process of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Maurice Millington
  • Patent number: 6874983
    Abstract: A fastener for securing a panel to a substrate is herein disclosed. The fastener has a body portion that is received in a substrate and a pin portion that is passed through a panel and driven into the body portion to secure the panel to the substrate. The body portion has a pair of legs that act to retain the body portion within the substrate and which incorporate an interference control mechanism that controls the force required to insert the pin portion of the fastener into the body portion. The interference control mechanism may include a bore formed through a leg of the body portion, a reduced cross-sectional area formed adjacent the base of a leg at the fastener, or an elastomeric member molded into the base of a leg of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Moerke, James T. Kirchen, Mark W. Severin
  • Publication number: 20030194288
    Abstract: A fastener for securing a panel to a substrate is herein disclosed. The fastener has a body portion that is received in a substrate and a pin portion that is passed through a panel and driven into the body portion to secure the panel to the substrate. The body portion has a pair of legs that act to retain the body portion within the substrate and which incorporate an interference control mechanism that controls the force required to insert the pin portion of the fastener into the body portion. The interference control mechanism may include a bore formed through a leg of the body portion, a reduced cross-sectional area formed adjacent the base of a leg at the fastener, or an elastomeric member molded into the base of a leg of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Moerke, James T. Kirchen, Mark W. Severin
  • Patent number: 6540461
    Abstract: A retaining member structure. The structure includes a retaining rod member and a joint clamping member used to retain two object members. The joint clamping member extends between the jointed surfaces of two object members and the upper thereof has receiving slots, and the lower thereof has resilient clamping plates, and the center thereof has a through round hole which is provided for the retaining rod member to extend into, to make a retaining rod extend outside the resilient retaining plate and to further push the plate open to push against the inside of the inner insert hole of an object member, to assemble the retaining member engaged by the retaining rod member and the joint clamping member for fastening two object members. The retaining rod member and the joint clamping member can be separated to withdraw from two object members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kenmark Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Hawang
  • Patent number: 6324731
    Abstract: An isolator fan fastener for securing a cooling fan housing to the interior chassis of a computer is described. The fastener is comprised of a pin made of a hard impact resistant plastic and an isolator grommet made of a soft resiliently flexible plastic. The pin is frictionally engageable with the isolator grommet. In operation the isolator grommet is preinstalled in the fan housing. Insertion of the pin through the chassis and into the isolator grommet completes the mounting. An isolator fan fastener in accordance with the invention yields enhanced acoustical properties when compared to prior art fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Frank V. Pliml, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6279754
    Abstract: A releasable latching apparatus and method of operation for securing a component of a computer system to a computer housing. The latching apparatus includes a casing and a shaft integrated with the casing such that the shaft is operable to move relative to the casing. Incorporated into the latching apparatus is a collet that extends along the shaft. The collet includes a locking portion, which can releasably secure a computer component to a housing by extending away from the shaft and capturing an element of the computer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Hoss, Timothy C. Dearborn
  • Patent number: 6149183
    Abstract: A snap-in connector (80) including a female connector part (84) including an upper cylindrical portion (120) having a first opening (122) therethrough, a medial flange (130) extending outwardly and a lower portion segmented into a plurality of flexible locking members (140a-d) which snap into and lock with portions of a male connector part as a function of the degree of insertion of the male connector part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Ford
  • Patent number: 5902083
    Abstract: An engaging component includes an engaging stub in the shape of a hollow cylinder with the bottom being secured on a first object to be engaged, and an outer sleeve in the shape of a hollow cylinder having a shank arranged to be inserted into the central hole of the engaging stub through a second object to be engaged. A positioning rod is insertable into a central hole of the outer sleeve, the positioning rod preventing the shank from being taken out of the central hole of the engaging stub, thereby locking the outer sleeve to the engaging stub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Kenmark Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Hwang
  • Patent number: 5775860
    Abstract: A plastic rivet is composed of a resilient material and has a drive pin and a body. Drive pin has a head and a shank. Distal end of shank has a pair of resilient legs, and proximal end of shank has a transverse hole forming deflectable walls. A first pair of protrusions project radially outwardly from the legs, and a second pair of protrusions project radially outwardly from the walls. Body has a head and elongated portion insertable into holes in members to be joined. The elongated portion is comprised of a pair of outwardly tapered longitudinal members projecting from the head and interconnected by an inwardly tapered nose. Shank of drive pin is insertable into a passage which extends through the head and elongated portion of the body. When drive pin is predriven into the body, the first pair of protrusions engages into slots in the passage, retaining the drive pin within the body. As drive pin is driven into the body, legs and walls deflect inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Meyer
  • Patent number: 5685666
    Abstract: A device for connecting pavers (11, 12) together to form roads comprises a base plate (17) from which extend tubular projections (18). The tubular projections can extend into bores (13, 14) formed in the pavers and a fastener (20) is provided which can lock the paver to a respective projection. Typically, the device has four projections to allow four pavers to be locked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignees: Viscount Plastics Pty. Ltd., Pioneer Building Products (Qld) Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald James Marshall, Robert Francis Charlton
  • Patent number: 5586364
    Abstract: A fastening element for fastening hardware elements (31) to parts of furniture units (14) comprises an expansion plug (11) having an axial through housing (17) which can receive an expanded pin (23), which can rotate between a position in which the plug is not expanded, to enable it to be inserted in a hole (16) in the furniture unit (14), and a position in which the plug is expanded to anchor it in the hole. The walls of the axial housing (17) and of the pin (23) have reciprocal contacting surfaces in the expanded position which diverge in the direction of insertion of the plug. A cam plate (32) provided centrally with a polygonal hole (33) for coupling with a protrusion (30) of the pin (23) and peripherally with a raised edge (34) for guiding fingers (22, 22') of the plug (11) for reversibly guiding the expansion of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Franco Ferrari
    Inventors: Franco Ferrari, Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 5261772
    Abstract: A device to detachably connect two, e.g., plate-shaped subassemblies, includes a control element with a projecting retaining portion which can be inserted into aligned openings of the subassemblies and with a head portion to be braced against the first subassembly. The projecting retaining portion has at least one lateral first recess to receive and engage with at lest one locking element of a holding element. The locking element yields flexibly and resiliently when inserting the control element into the holding element. The holding element also has expanding elements to brace against a rear side of the second subassembly. Both the control element and the holding element can be inserted individually in succession or together from a front side of the first subassembly into the aligned openings. The holding element with the expanding elements can be inserted into the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Camloc GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Henninger, Peter Dobbeler, Manuel Carrillo Castillo
  • Patent number: 4276806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece plastics fastener for positively fastening an element to a support, permitting removal of such element while the fastener is self-retained thereon.The subject fastener of this invention is so devised as to enable it if necessary to be mounted on the element to be fastened prior to mounting of the two together on the support, which is important in the event of assembly-line operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: ITW de France
    Inventor: Henri Morel