The present invention relates generally to appliance fastening apparatuses and more particularly to a fastener attached to a hole in an appliance.
It is common to employ many sheet metal anchor nuts to secure screws extending through a hole within an internal liner of a refrigerator appliance. These screws are typically used to attach shelf mounting brackets within the liner. Examples of such anchoring devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,263 entitled “Nut Plate Fastener” which issued to Macfee, Jr. et al. on Mar. 3, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,178 entitled “Screw Anchoring Device and Method” which issued to Pruehs on Apr. 20, 1982; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,476 entitled “Screw Anchor” which issued to Hoadley on Apr. 9, 1974, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
In commercial practice, the most common type are those like the '178 Pruehs patent, however, a double-sided, pressure sensitive adhesive tape is required between the flat portion of the fastener and an exterior surface of the liner. This extra adhesive tape is intended to both seal the liner hole against insulating foam leakage and to also supplementally secure the fastener to the liner while the foam is injected into the appliance between the liner and an outer metallic shell. Nevertheless, in practice, the foam injection still disengages and displaces one or more of the many fasteners which then necessitates scrapping the entire appliance since it is cost prohibitive to rectify the internal fastener placement after the foam has been injected. In an effort to overcome this problem, an operator is often forced to manually apply a second layer of adhesive tape external to the fastener to supplementally hold it against the liner prior to foam injection. Needless to say, placement of a single adhesive tape layer, let alone two, for each of many screw anchoring fasteners is very labor intensive and expensive, yet is still prone to displacement concerns when the foam is injected. Furthermore, a reduction in foam leakage is desired in order to reduce manual rework and aesthetic concerns inside the liner.
In accordance with the present invention, an appliance fastening apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a polymeric fastener includes an anti-rotational formation or surface. Another aspect of the appliance fastening apparatus includes a polymeric section essentially encapsulating a metallic nut therein. In yet another aspect, flexible polymeric barbed legs extend through a hole in an appliance wall such that wedge-shaped or barbed sections thereof are essentially on an opposite surface of the appliance wall from a polymeric head and/or metallic nut coupled thereto. A further aspect employs a flexible and polymeric umbrella to assist in deterring insulating material from leaking through an appliance hole. A method of using and/or manufacturing a polymeric appliance fastener is also provided.
The present appliance fastening apparatus is advantageous over traditional devices. For example, the present fastener will not be dislocated or removed during foam insertion. Furthermore, the present fastener deters foam leakage through the appliance hole without requiring adhesive tape. Moreover, the present apparatus is advantageously useful for a hole in an appliance interior liner, such as to secure shelf bracketry, and is also usable for a hole in an exterior shell of the appliance such as to secure a leveling or anti-tipping foot. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and associated claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The preferred refrigerator and freezer appliance 23 further include a structural, outer metallic shell or wall 51 and an interior liner or wall 53 which is a structural, thermo-formed or vacuum formed polymeric member. A hole 55 (see
Referring now to
Each polymeric leg 75 includes a medial stem section 101 and a wedge shaped or barbed end section 103 having internal and external tapers on tips thereof. The external and laterally facing surfaces (i.e., opposite a hollow bore 111) of each leg has an arcuate shape such that when the legs are all compressed together toward the centerline, they generally define circular cross-sections along the length thereof. Each leg 75 is spaced apart from its adjacent neighbors in a partially severed manner by slotted openings 107 having terminal points of which are preferably slighting spaced away from the underside surface of head 73 depending upon the leg flexure and stiffness desired. The triangular point 109 of each barbed section extends completely through hole 55 in the appliance wall such that point 109 is on an opposite surface of the wall from umbrella 77 and head 73.
A generally cylindrical, hollow bore 111 projects within legs 75 coaxial with the centerline. This bore 111 preferably terminates in a generally conical end 113 internal to head 73 and aligned with a centerline of an aperture 117 of nut 71. The very thin distance between the end of bore 111 and the bottom of partial passageway 89 is little more than molding flash which defines a bridging segment 119 spanning across aperture 117 of nut 71. Bridging segment 119 assists in sealing the fastener to deter foam from leaking through the appliance hole 55. Bridging segment 119 is frangible or breakable upon piercing insertion of threaded screw 27. It is preferred that threaded screw 27 have a flat or rounded distal end such that it need not be a self-piercing screw, however, a self-piercing screw can alternately be employed. At least one flexible barbed leg is employed, more preferably at least three such legs are used, and it is most preferable to use six equilaterally spaced apart legs, especially if a circular hole is employed in the appliance wall.
Nut 71 is best illustrated in
An alternate configuration of fastener 225 is illustrated in
While various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it should be appreciated that other variations may be employed. For example, while a stamped sheet metal nut is disclosed, it should alternately be clear that a cast, machined, sintered, or even injection molded polymeric nut may be used, although the present cost and strength benefits may not be obtained. Furthermore, additional polymeric sections may be constructed between the legs, umbrella, head and anti-rotational surfaces, and/or appended thereto, although some of the present cost and packaging benefits may not be realized. Additionally, the presently disclosed arcuate leg, umbrella, and head peripheries may be substituted with one or more straight surfaces, especially if the appliance hole shape is rectangular, however, certain advantages may not be realized. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and any other departures from the disclosed embodiments which fall within the true spirit of this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/890,655, filed on Oct. 14, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/059690 | 10/8/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61890655 | Oct 2013 | US |