Claims
- 1. A clamp-type fastener for securing together two panels having aligned apertures, comprising:
a retainer having an axial bore; attachment means on a base of said retainer for attaching said retainer to a first panel; upward-facing cam means integral with said retainer, said cam means being concentric with said bore and disposed along a top surface of the retainer; a pin having a head and a shaft, the shaft of said pin extending axially through said bore and beyond the base of the retainer, said pin being rotatable within said retainer between clamped and released positions; downward-facing force bearing means affixed to said head of said pin in engagement with said cam means whereby turning said pin moves said shaft axially with respect to said retainer, an elastomeric sleeve fitted about a portion of said shaft which extends beyond the base of said retainer, a first end of said sleeve being in abutment with said base; and an end cap secured to said pin adjacent a distal end thereof, said end cap being in abutment with a second end of said sleeve such that when said pin is turned to said clamped position, said sleeve is compressed by said end cap and the sides of said sleeve bulge outwardly.
- 2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said cam means includes a helical cam surface.
- 3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said cam means includes at least one radially extending groove in said helical cam surface and said force bearing means includes an axially protruding detent whereby the pin is held in a rotationally stable position when said detent occupies a groove.
- 4. The fastener of claim 2 wherein said force bearing means further includes a second helical surface in mating relationship with said first cam helical surface.
- 5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric sleeve is composed of rubber.
- 6. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said end cap is rigidly secured to said pin.
- 7. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said panel attachment means is clinch-type fastening means.
- 8. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the head of said pin further includes tool-driving means.
- 9. The fastener of claim 1 further including a knob composed of plastic and affixed to the head of said pin.
- 10. The fastener of claim 9 wherein said force bearing means is located along an end wall of a cylindrical cavity on the underside of the knob.
- 11. The fastener of claim 10 wherein said retainer includes an upward extending cylindrical wall adjacent said cam surface closely fitting within said cavity on the underside of the knob.
- 12. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said force bearing means is a two-tiered cam ramp including a stop on a side of said detent which engages said upward-facing cam means to prevent the over-turning of said pin.
- 13. An assembly including the fastener of claim 1 further comprising:
a first panel affixed to said retainer by said attachment means; a first circular aperture in said first panel greater in diameter than said elastomeric sleeve; a second panel in face-to-face abutment with a backside of said first panel, said second panel having a second circular hole through which said sleeve extends, said second hole being substantially the same size as said first hole and aligned with said first circular aperture in said first panel; and wherein said elastomeric sleeve is forceably compressed by said end cap such that the outer surface of said sleeve applies a clamp force against a backside of said second panel when said knob and said pin are turned to said clamped position.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application is related to provisional patent application serial No. 60/294,013 entitled “Quick-Turn Rubber Panel Fastener” filed on May 30, 2001, priority from which is hereby claimed.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/15179 |
5/14/2002 |
WO |
|