Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
The present invention may be embodied in many forms. In one exemplary embodiment depicted in
In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more fastening legs 13 extend outwardly and angularly from a common end 16 of the support post 12. The legs 13 define leg ends 15 that are joined to the first side 20 of the base 11 at connection points 19 (
As shown in
The thickness of the fastening legs 13 at leg portion 18 and near the common end 16 is greater than the thickness of the legs at connection points 19. The reduced thickness provides flexibility at this point to permit the legs 13 to flex during installation to a connecting substrate. In one embodiment, the fastening legs 13 may further define at least one angled surface 14 that acts as a contact surface for the connecting substrate when the fastener 10 is inserted into the opening in the connecting substrate. By reducing the installation forces through the reduced connection points, the angled surface 14 is less likely to be damaged during installation, thereby ensuring the desired extraction forces that would be necessary to remove the fastener from the mating substrate.
Known fasteners include an angled surface; however, known fasteners may shear or stretch (or material may scrape off or otherwise become displaced) from the angled surface during the installation of the fastener to the substrate. This damage occurs if the thickness of the leg ends that connect to the base are too thick and rigid, and not sufficiently flexible to permit bending of the fastening legs. With the present invention, there is sufficient flexibility at the leg ends and specifically at connection points 19 (which illustrates a reduced thickness relative to other portions of the fastening legs) to prevent or minimize damage to the legs at the angled surface 14. The thickness of the fastening legs 13 at connection points 19 provides the desired flexibility and structural integrity of the fastening legs at this point and reduces the likelihood of shearing or damage to the angled surface 14. By preventing this damage, the invention ensures greater extraction forces will be necessary to remove the fastener 10 from the connecting substrate.
It should be understood that the configuration of the support post 12 and fastening legs 13 may vary. For example, if one fastening leg 13 is desired, for instance, in a vertical mounting application, the support post 12 may be configured such that during installation into the opening in the substrate, the post 12 will contact one side of the opening while the fastening leg 13 will mount to the opposing side of the substrate opening. In this embodiment, the support post 12 and fastening leg 13 will define a J-shaped configuration, with the fastening leg 13 flexing during installation as described above. It should also be understood that the configuration of the leg ends may vary and yet provide the desired flexibility at the connection points. It should further be understood that the thickness of the leg ends 15 and at connection points 19 may vary depending on the material used and the hardness (durometer) of the material and yet provide the desired durability and flexibility at this point as well as the desired insertion and extraction forces that are required to remove the fastener.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/832,795 filed Jul. 24, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60832795 | Jul 2006 | US |