1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to fasteners, and more particularly relates to a fastener for pivotably attaching a first component to a second component.
2. Description of Related Art
In manufacturing, fasteners are usually utilized to fasten a first component to a second component. A common fastener may include a wrench-engaging head and a cylindrical shank with an external thread that can engage with a threaded hole in the components. However, the first component cannot be pivotable relative to the second component when such fasteners are used.
Referring to
The rotatable member 20 defines a first mounting hole 211 therein. The chassis 30 includes a lower flange 31 in which a second mounting hole 311 is defined. A diameter of the first mounting hole 211 is greater than that of the second mounting hole 311.
The fastener 10 includes a pivot portion 11 and a shaft 12 extending from the pivot portion 11. The pivot portion 11 includes a first circular end 111, a second circular end 112, and a neck 113 connecting the first end 111 to the second end 112. A diameter of the first end 111 is greater than that of the second end 112. A diameter of the neck 113 is less than that of the second end 112. Thus, an annular groove 114 is formed between the first end 111 and the second end 112. The diameter of the first end 111 of the fastener 10 is slightly greater than that of the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20. The diameter of the second end 112 of the fastener 10 is slightly less than that of the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20, but greater than that of the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30.
The shaft 12 of the fastener 10 includes a cylindrical main body 121 extending from the second end 112 of the pivot portion 11 and a plurality of protrusions 122 regularly formed around the main body 121 for interference fitting with the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. Each adjacent protrusion 122 forms a space 123 therebetween. A diameter of the shaft 12 is less than that of the second end 112 of the pivot portion 11, but slightly greater than that of the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. Each of the protrusions 122 includes a sloping corner 1221.
Referring to
In the embodiment, the shaft 12 engaging in the hole 311 is an interference fit. The first end 111 of the fastener 10 is pressed into the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20, and exterior surfaces of the first end 111 of the fastener 10 and the rotatable member 20 are coplanar (See
However, in other embodiments, the first end 111 of the fastener 10 may protrude from and resist against the exterior surface of the rotatable member 20, thus the rotatable member 20 pivotally engages with the neck 113 of the fastener 10 and rotates relative to the chassis 30.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200820301462.7 | Jul 2008 | CN | national |