Self-Locking Fastener

Abstract

A self-locking fastener includes a base member and a clip member. The base member includes a buckle base, a buckle point and a buckle pin. The clip member includes a plurality of resilient locking arms disposed toward one side thereof. When the clip member is coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the base member extends out along the resilient locking arms. The resilient locking arms are fitted on the buckle pin. Free ends of the resilient locking arms lean against the inner end of the buckle point to stop the buckle point from sliding out along the resilient locking arms. Through the resilient locking arms and the buckle point, the free ends of the resilient locking arms are to lean against the inner end of the buckle point to achieve a self-locking connection of the base member and the clip member. The structure of present invention is simple. When packing a product, the two sheets of material are only required to have holes. The buckle point is inserted through the holes and coupled to the clip member so as to fix the two sheets of material. When detached, the connection of the buckle point and the buckle pin is cut off so as to detach the base member from the clip member. It is easy and convenient to use and operate the present invention, without the need to use a special apparatus. This can lower the packing cost.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a self-locking fastener, and more particularly to one capable of connecting two sheets of material.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A popular way to package a consumer product is to use so called “Clamshell,” which consists of two clear plastic materials with the product in the middle. The two plastics are vacuum-formed in the shape of the product, and the edges are sealed with special welding machines. The two pieces can also be vacuum-formed together in one piece with the bottom folded leaving the other three sides open for sealing. The advantages of clamshell are the clear material displays the product without having to open the package, and security of product as one cannot open it without breaking the clamshell.

The disadvantage of the clamshell is having to use a special welding machine to weld the two pieces together. This calls for an investment in machinery and welding fixtures. For small volume users, this might prove to be economically impossible. Occasionally, staples are used to connect the two clear plastic, it gives a very poor image on the product. Even though clamshells provide very good protection for the product, opening a clamshell can be a tough job for the consumer if the edges are completely sealed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking fastener so as to overcome the problems of the prior art.

In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the self-locking fastener of the present invention comprises a base member and a clip member. The base member comprises a buckle base, a buckle point and a buckle pin which is connected between the buckle base and the buckle point. The clip member comprises a plurality of resilient locking arms disposed toward one side thereof. The plurality resilient locking arms are used to lean against an inner end of the buckle point. When the clip member is coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the base member extends out along the resilient locking arms. The resilient locking arms are fitted on the buckle pin. Free ends of the resilient locking arms lean against the inner end of the buckle point to stop the buckle point from sliding out along the resilient locking arms.

Preferably, the clip member has a through hole. The resilient locking arms are tilted from an inner edge of the through hole toward the same side of the clip member. The free ends of the resilient locking arms surround the through hole to define a passage for insertion of the buckle point.

Preferably, the resilient locking arms each have a curved guide surface.

Preferably, the resilient locking arms are tilted in a fan-shaped configuration, and the joint of the resilient locking arms and the inner edge of the through hole is gradually narrowed.

Preferably, the buckle point is a sphere.

Preferably, gaps are formed between the abutted resilient locking arms to reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms.

Preferably, the buckle pin has a base portion and a connection portion which extends from the base portion and is tapered toward the buckle point. The base portion is integrally formed with the buckle base. The connection portion is connected with the buckle point.

The joint of the connection portion and the buckle point has a width smaller than that of the buckle point. The buckle point has an engaging portion at the inner end thereof for the resilient locking arms to lean against thereat.

Preferably, the base portion has a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending from an outer wall thereof.

Preferably, the base member and the clip member 20 are made of plastic.

Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages.

1. The clip member is provided with the plurality of resilient locking arms which are disposed in the same direction and the base member is provided with the buckle point. The free ends of the resilient locking arms are to lean against the inner end of the buckle point to achieve a self-locking connection of the base member and the clip member. The structure of present invention is simple. When packing a product, the two sheets of material are only required to have holes. The buckle point is inserted through the holes and coupled to the clip member so as to fix the two sheets of material. When detached, the connection of the buckle point and the buckle pin is cut off so as to detach the base member from the clip member. It is easy and convenient to use and operate the present invention, without the need to use a special apparatus. This can lower the packing cost.

2. The buckle pin is provided with the reinforcement ribs to enhance the connection of the buckle base and the buckle pin, such that the base member and the clip member can be connected firmly and reliably to enhance the quality of packing.

3. The resilient locking arms each have the curved guide surface to cooperate the spherical buckle point, so that the buckle point can easily slide out from the passage surrounded by the free ends of the resilient locking members. The assembly is simple and quick.

4. The connection portion of the buckle pin is integrally formed with the buckle point, and the width of the connection portion is taped toward the buckle point. The width of the joint of the connection portion and the buckle point is thinner, so that the joint of the buckle point and the buckle pin can be cut off to separate the base member and the clip member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when in use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the self-locking fastener according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base member 10 and a clip member 20 mounted to the base member 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the base member 10 is made of plastic. The base member 10 comprises a buckle base 11, a buckle point 12, and a buckle pin 13 which is connected between the buckle base 11 and the buckle point 12. The buckle base 11 is in a disk shape. The buckle point 12 is a sphere. The shape of the buckle point 12 is not limited to a sphere, which can be a cone or other shapes. The spherical buckle point 12 is conveniently mounted to the clip member 20. The buckle pin 13 has a base portion 131 and a connection portion 132 which extends from the base portion 131 and is tapered toward the buckle point 12. The base portion 131 is integrally formed with the buckle base 11. The connection portion 132 is connected with the buckle point 12. The joint of the connection portion 132 and the buckle point 12 has a width smaller than that of the buckle point 12. The buckle point 12 has an engaging portion 121 at an inner end thereof. The joint of the connection portion 132 and the buckle point 12 is thin, so that the buckle point 12 can be cut off from the buckle pin 13. The base portion 131 has a plurality of reinforcement ribs 14 extending from an outer wall thereof. Through the reinforcement ribs 14, the connection of the buckle base 11 and the buckle pin 13 is reinforced.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the clip member 20 is made of plastic. The clip member 20 comprises a plurality of resilient locking arms 21 disposed toward one side thereof. The plurality of resilient locking arms 21 are used to lean against the engaging portion 121 at the inner end of the buckle point 12. In this embodiment, the clip member 20 has a through hole 201. The resilient locking arms 21 are tilted from an inner edge of the through hole 201 toward the same side of the clip member 20. Free ends of the resilient locking arms 21 surround the through hole 201 to define a passage 202 for insertion of the buckle point 12. The resilient locking arms 21 are tilted in a fan-shaped configuration. The resilient locking arms 21 each have a curved guide surface to guide the spherical buckle point 12 to slide out from the passage 202. The joint of the resilient locking arms 21 and the inner edge of the through hole 201 is gradually narrowed, so that the connection of the resilient locking arms 21 and the inner edge of the through hole 201 is firm. Gaps 203 are formed between the abutted resilient locking arms 21. The reinforcement ribs 14 are engaged in the relative gaps 203. The gaps 203 are to reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms 21, so the resilient locking arms 21 have a better resilience.

When in use, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, two sheets of material 30 each have a hole 31. The two sheets of material 30 are stacked up and the holes 31 are aligned. The base member 10 is placed at an outer side of one sheet of material 30, and the clip member 20 is placed at an outer side of the other sheet of material 30. After that, the buckle point 12 of the base member 10 is inserted through the holes 31 of the two sheets of material 30 to couple with the clip member 20. When the clip member 20 and the base member 10 are coupled, the buckle point 12 of the base member 10 extends out along the resilient locking arms 21. The resilient locking arms 21 are fitted on the buckle pin 13. The free ends of the resilient locking arms 21 lean against the engaging portion 121 at the inner end of the buckle point 12 to stop the buckle point 12 from sliding out along the resilient locking arms 21. In this way, the two sheets of material 30 are firmly fastened between the clip member 20 and the buckle base 11 of the base member 10.

When the base member 10 is moved in an opposite direction relative to the resilient locking arms 21, the buckle point 12 leans against the free ends of the resilient locking arms 21 so that the base member 10 cannot disengage from the clip member 20 so as to fix the two sheets of material 30. If it is necessary to separate the two sheets of material 30, the buckle point 12 is cut off from the buckle pin 13 with a pair of scissors, and the buckle pin 13 is pulled out in the direction opposite to the resilient locking arms 21.

The feature of the present invention is that the clip member is provided with the plurality of resilient locking arms which are disposed in the same direction and the base member is provided with the buckle point. The free ends of the resilient locking arms are to lean against the inner end of the buckle point to achieve a self-locking connection of the base member and the clip member. The structure of present invention is simple. When packing a product, the two sheets of material are only required to have holes. The buckle point is inserted through the holes and coupled to the clip member so as to fix the two sheets of material. When detached, the connection of the buckle point and the buckle pin is cut off so as to detach the base member from the clip member. It is easy and convenient to use and operate the present invention, without the need to use a special apparatus. This can lower packing cost. Furthermore, the buckle pin is provided with the reinforcement ribs to enhance the connection of the buckle base and the buckle pin, such that the base member and the clip member can be connected firmly and reliably to enhance the quality of packing. The resilient locking arms each have the curved guide surface to cooperate the spherical buckle point, so that the buckle point can easily slide out from the passage surrounded by the free ends of the resilient locking members. The assembly is simple and quick. Finally, the connection portion of the buckle pin is integrally formed with the buckle point, and the width of the connection portion is taped toward the buckle point. The width of the joint of the connection portion and the buckle point is thinner, so that the joint of the buckle point and the buckle pin can be cut off to separate the base member and the clip member.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A self-locking fastener comprising a base member and a clip member, the base member comprising a buckle base, a buckle point and a buckle pin which is connected between the buckle base and the buckle point, the clip member comprising a plurality of resilient locking arms disposed toward one side thereof, the plurality resilient locking arms being used to lean against an inner end of the buckle point, wherein when the clip member is coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the base member extends out along the resilient locking arms, the resilient locking arms are fitted on the buckle pin, and free ends of the resilient locking arms lean against the inner end of the buckle point to stop the buckle point from sliding out along the resilient locking arms.

2. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip member has a through hole, the resilient locking arms being tilted from an inner edge of the through hole toward the same side of the clip member, the free ends of the resilient locking arms surrounding the through hole to define a passage for insertion of the buckle point.

3. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient locking arms each have a curved guide surface.

4. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient locking arms are tilted in a fan-shaped configuration, and the joint of the resilient locking arms and the inner edge of the through hole is gradually narrowed.

5. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buckle point is a sphere.

6. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein gaps are formed between the abutted resilient locking arms to reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms.

7. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buckle pin has a base portion and a connection portion which extends from the base portion and is tapered toward the buckle point, the base portion being integrally formed with the buckle base, the connection portion being connected with the buckle point, the joint of the connection portion and the buckle point having a width smaller than that of the buckle point, the buckle point having an engaging portion at the inner end thereof for the resilient locking arms to lean against thereat.

8. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base portion has a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending from an outer wall thereof.

9. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member and the clip member are made of plastic.