The present invention relates to fasteners used in construction applications, and more particularly, to fasteners for securing sheet material to building structures.
There are many instances in building construction (including new construction, renovation, remodels, etc.) when it is necessary or desirable to secure a sheet of material to an underlying structural member or members. For example, when assembling adjacent pre-fabricated building sections on site, there is a joint in the roof between the sections (referred to as the “mate-line”). A sheet of heavy duty polymeric material, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, is frequently used to cover this joint and make it weather-tight. Various adhesives and/or mechanical connectors are employed to secure the sheet to the roofs of the adjacent building sections. Although existing adhesives and/or connectors can offer acceptable performance in connecting sheet material to underlying structure(s), further improvements are possible.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved snap fastener for sheet material. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a snap fastener includes first and second fastener sections. The first fastener section has a first section central portion with a pair of upwardly extending first section sidewalls located along opposite first section edges thereof, each sidewall including an inwardly extending engagement arm. The second fastener section has a second section central portion with first and second downwardly extending second section sidewalls located along opposite second section edges thereof, respective first and second engagement portions being connected to the first and second second section sidewalls by inwardly extending first and second legs. The first and second fastener sections are releasably connectable to secure a sheet material therebetween by securing the first and second engagement portions under the first and second engagement arms.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the first leg extends inwardly generally perpendicular to the first sidewall and the second leg curves inwardly and downwardly from the second sidewall. According to another aspect of the present invention, the first engagement and second engagement portions include respective first and second outwardly-extending protrusions, the second protrusion extending outwardly to a greater extent than the first protrusion. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the second fastener section includes a lip overhanging the first second section sidewall.
According to a method aspect of the invention, a method of releasably securing a sheet material to an underlying surface includes affixing an elongated first fastener section having upwardly extending first section sidewalls to the underlying surface, arranging the sheet material over the first fastener section, and connecting an elongated second fastener section having downwardly extending second section sidewalls to the first fastener section such that the sheet material is secured between interlocking engagement arms and engagement portions of the first and second fastener sections. Advantageously, the underlying surface is a roof of a first pre-fabricated modular building section and arranging the sheet material includes arranging the sheet material over a mate line between the first pre-fabricated modular building section and a second pre-fabricated modular building section. According to additional aspect, one of the engagement portions is connected to its sidewall by a curved leg, and connecting the elongated second fastener section includes interlocking the engagement portion with the curved leg with one of the engagement arms more distant from the mate line. According to another aspect, the engagement portion with the curved leg is interlocked with one of the engagement arms before interlocking another one of the engagement portions with another one of the engagement arms.
These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to
The snap fastener 10, and its sections 12, 14, are elongated in a length direction L; any suitable length can be selected therefor based on application requirements and other design considerations. Preferred dimensions for the sections 12, 14 appear in
Referring to
The central portion 18 has lower and upper surfaces 24, 26. In use, the lower surface 24 will ordinarily be oriented toward the underlying structure. An alignment notch 30 is defined (extending in the direction L) in the center of the upper surface 26 to aid in the placement of screws or fasteners when securing the first section to the underlying surface.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
Cumulatively, the first and second fastener sections 12, 14 are flexible enough to allow this engagement to be made under external urging, but rigid enough to retain the engagement once made absent a significant external force. The lip 50 can be used to facilitate un-making the engagement of the first and second fastener sections 12, 14. By striking the underside of the lip 50 with a mallet, the first engagement portion 40 can be popped out from under its corresponding engagement arm 22. The second section 14 can and the sheet 16 can then be removed. The snap fastener 10 and the sheet 16 can then all be re-used.
A particularly advantageous use of the snap fastener 10 will be described with reference to
Referring to
If the building formed by the sections 60 is to be moved, the second fastener sections 14 and the sheet 16 can be readily removed in the manner described above. The building sections 60 can then be moved, and when re-assembled at a new location, the sheet 16 (or a new sheet) need only be replaced and the second sections 14 re-attached. It will be appreciated that a significant savings in time and materials can be thereby realized.
The above embodiment is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. Rather, numerous modifications, and adaptations for particular circumstances, fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described and of the claims appended hereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/669,250, filed on Jul. 9, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4074501 | Sandqvist | Feb 1978 | A |
4410027 | Lucous | Oct 1983 | A |
4586301 | Hickman | May 1986 | A |
5095068 | Chiu | Mar 1992 | A |
6314684 | Aviram | Nov 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61669250 | Jul 2012 | US |