US2620537A - Resilient fastener formed of folded metallic strips - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1952 D I 2,620,537

JEAN EMILE FRANCOIS GOBIN DIT DAUDE NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME JEAN E- F. GOBIN-DAUDE RESILIENT FASTENER FORMED OF FOLDED METALLIC STRIPS Filed Feb. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4. f 3Fioa5.

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JEAN EMILE FRANCOIS GOBIN DIT DAUDE NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME JEAN E- F. GOBlN-DAUDE RESILIENT FASTENER FORMED OF FOLDED METALLIC STRIPS Filed Feb. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fio. 2 6.

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' I Jlmsimtfnnngms Guam DITDHUDE wow evcumvas or NAME JEAN e1 opuwonune ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1952 RESILIENT FASTENER, FORIHED OF F OLDED METALLIC STRIPS Jean Emile Francois Gobin an Daud, Neuilly sur-Seine, France, now by change of name Jean E. F. Gobin-Daud Application February 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,897

In France November 15, 1938 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 15, 1958 Claims.

The present invention relates to resilient fasteners and in particular, but not exclusively, to those of the type described in French Patent No. 829,099, dated Nov. 15, 1937, and constituted by a metallic strip suitably cut out and folded so that the central portion thereof constitutes the fastener head and thetwo ends, located against each other after folding, form two resilient arms constituting together the stem of the fastener.

The object of my invention is to make it possible to act positively upon the resilient arms of said fasteners, and to move toward each other the projecting portions of their arms, so that the stem of the fastener can be moved freely in the orifice of the support on which it is to be fixed or from which it is. to be detached.

Certain embodiments of the fastening device according to my invention are further to include a part or tool which immobilizes the arms of the fastener in retracted position. These fastening devices then have the advantage that they can be riveted on the work, even when the possibility of fixing or detaching every fastener individually is excluded, for instance when it is desired to fix upon any rigid support a piece of work which is itself rigid, such as a door or observation panel.

Preferred embodiments of my invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in which:

Figs. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment;

Figs. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment;

Figs. 9 to 11 show a third embodiment;

Figs. 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment;

Figs. 14 to 19 show a fifth embodiment;

Figs. 20 to 23 show a sixth embodiment;

Figs. 24 to 26 show another embodiment;

Figs. 27 to 31 show still another embodiment.

The fastener shown by Figs. 1 to 5 is of the type described in the above mentioned patent and constituted by a fiat metallic strip cut as shown by Fig. l, and folded along lines a-a, b-b, cc and d-d of said Fig. 1 so as to be given the shape shown by Figs. 2 to 5. It includes a head I and two resilient arms 2a, 2b provided with penetration inclined surfaces 3a, 3b and fixed or holding surfaces 4a and 4b; the points where surfaces 3a, 9b meet inclined surfaces 4a and 4b constitute projections 5a and 5b.

According to my invention, the head I of this fastener is provided with 'a longitudinal slot 6, and its resilient arms with slots the portions Ia, lb of which are also longitudinal as far as folding linesc-c, d-d, whereas portions 8a, Obare slightly inclined toward projections to and 52) respectively.

Figs. 2 to 4 show that, by introducing the end of a fiat tool, say the blade 9 of a. screw-driver, into slot 6 and slots Ia and lb and pushing it into slots 8a and 8b, a resilient displacement of resilient arms 2a and 2b is produced which brings projections 5a and 5b toward each other, as shown in particular by Fig. 4, so that they no longer project outwardly beyond the edges of the orifice of the support. It is then possible to introduce into or to remove the fastener from this orifice.

The resilient pressure of the side walls of slots 8a and 8b on the blade 9 of the screw-driver is generally sufficient to ensure that when the screw-driver is pulled out, the fastener also comes therewith. When this pressure risks being insuflicient, it is advantageous to make use of the fastener and tool shown by Figs. 6 to 8, the latter making it possible to remove with certainty the fastener through a positive action. after the projections have been retracted. For this purpose the edges Ila and Nb of'slot 6 are farther from fold lines I2a and I2b than the edges I3a and I3b of slots Ia and lb, and the blade 9 of the tool is wider at it end I3, thus forming one or two steps I4. In order to remove such a fastener, after having driven blade 9 into slots 8a and 8b as above indicated, said blade is slightly pivoted so as to engage step I4 under one of the edges Ila or III) of the slot 6 of the fastener head I. A traction exerted on the handle of the tool is positively transmitted to the head I of the fastener, which is then easily removed.

In this embodiment, projections 5a, 512, instead of being sharp as in Figs. 1 to 5, are more obtuse.

Figs. 9 to 11 also show a fastener which can be removed through a positive action. In this case the fastener is a disymmetrical one. Its head I is not provided with a slot, but its resilient arms 2a ,and 2b have slots formed therein. as above. However, these slots are of a special shape, including in addition to portions 2Ia and 2Ib, which play the same part as the slots 8a and 8b of the above described embodiments, portions 22a and 22b substantially at right angles to portions 2Ia and 2| 1) and connected therewith. A pull piece 23, for instance cut from sheet iron. carries a lug or pin 24 at one of its ends, and is bent at its other end, at 25. Pin 24 is engaged in the slots of resilient arms 2a and 2b and has a wider end 26 which prevents it from escaping from the slots, eventually with the interposition of a washer 21a.

In order to remove such a fastener, it suflices to pull out the bent end 25 of pull piece 23, thus causing pin 24 to slide in slots 2Ia and 2I b, and

bringing arms 2a and 2b toward each other and retracting projections 28a and 28b, until said pin 24 comes to rest against the ends of said slots. If the bent end 25 of pull piece 23 is further pulled out, the pull is then transmitted positively through pin 24 and the edges of slots 2 la and 2 lb to the arms 2a. and 2b of the fastener which can then be easily removed.

In order to make it possible to drive this fastener into position while leaving the pull piece in the position shown by Fig. 9, slot portions 22a. and 22b must be provided. Pin 24 slides in these slot portions when the fastener is driven into position, during the resilient displacement of arms 2a and 21: caused by the action of the edges of the orifice formed in the assembly in which the fastener is to be set upon inclined surfaces 3a, 3b and 2a, 2b.

It should be noted that the connection between pin 24 and the side walls of slots Ma and 2|b is irreversible, and that it sufllces to dispense with the portions 22a and 22b of the said slots, or to arrange pull piece 23 and pin 24 in such manner that the latter cannot penetrate into these slot portions, to ensure a positive locking of this fastener.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a fastener of the pull piece type, made to operate like the preceding one, but of symmetrical structure. In this case, the head I of the fastener is provided with a slot parallel to folds |2a and |2b, and through which slides the end of pull piece 23. Arms 2a and 2b are located at a sufficient distance from each other to enable this pull piece to pass between them. For the remainder, the arrangement is equivalent.

Figs. 14 to 19 show a modification.

The fastener, shown in elevational view by Fig. 1'7, is constituted by a metallic wire section the central portion of which constitutes the round head I, and the ends of which, first bent at 90 in the plane of the head, toward the center thereof, are then curved at 90 perpendicularly to said plane to form arms 2a and 21), each of which includes a penetration inclined surface 3a, 3b and a fixed inclined surface 4a, 4b, connected together to form bends a and 5b.

Th head I of this fastener rests upon cupshaped part 30 located between flange 3| and the cylindrical portion 32 of a sleeve shown in elevation by Fig. 18. A cap 34 engages through its folded edges 35 the flange 38 of annular piece 31. A screw 38 includes a head 39 the under face of which rests upon the head I of the fastener and the upper face of which is in contact with the under face of cap 34-. A central orifice 40 is provided in cap 34 to permit of passing a screw driver therethrough. The threaded portion 4| of screw 38 engages an orifice 42 of suitable diameter of piece 43, shown by Fig. 19. This piece 43, made of sheet metal bent and folded into U shape, is provided with a plurality of holes through which pass tubular studs 45a, 45b and 46a, 43b intended positively to displace the elastic arms 2a and 2b of the fastener, as it will be hereinafter explained. For this purpose, piece 43 is adapted to slide without rotating in the slot 44 provided in sleeve 33. The bends 5a and 5b of said fastener project to the outside of the slots 41a and 41b of sleeve 33. Annular piece 31 serves to rivet the whole of the fastener upon the piece of work 43 as shown by Figs. 15 and 16.

The operation is as follows:

By rotating screw 38 in the clockwise direction, for instance by means of a screw-driver '4 engaged in the groove 50 of its head 39, I produce an upward sliding of piece 43, which cannot rotate. In the course of this sliding movement, tubular studs 45a and 45b come into contact with inclined parts 3a, 3b, slide thereon and produce a, resilient deformation of arms 2a and 2b with a retraction of bends 5a and 5b, as shown by Fig. 16.

When all the fasteners riveted on the piece of work have been resiliently deformed in this way, it is possible to remove as a whole said piece of work by moving it away from support 48 to which said piece of work was fixed through said fasteners, or, on the contrary, to place it on said support by introducing said fasteners into the orifices provided for this purpose in said support.

By rotating screw 38 in the opposite direction, that is to say in the anticlockwise direction, I cause piece 43 to slide downwardly. Tubular studs 46a and 46b come into contact with inclined surfaces 3a and 3b, slide thereon and produce a resilient deformation of arms 2a and 2b with a displacement of bends 5a and 5b away from each other, as shown by Fig. 15. The fastener is then locked in fixed position.

The fastening device shown by Figs. 20 to 23 is of the same type as that shown by Figs. 14 to 19. In particular, its fastener is similar, with the difference that no passage for screw 38 is provided between the radial parts of the fastener head I.

This head I rests in cup-shaped part 30, extending between flange 3| and the cylindrical part 32 of sleeve 5|. This sleeve is very similar to the sleeve 33 shown by Fig. 18 and diifers therefrom only in that slot 52 is of uniform width, its only function being to guide the inclined surfaces 3a, 4a and 3b, 4b of the fastener and to prevent it from rotating. Cap 53 has its edges 53a clamped on those of sleeve 5|. It includes a plane annular portion 54 riveted at 55 on the piece of work 56. Through the central orifice 51 of cap 53 the head 58 of a push piece pro- Jects in the state of rest. This head 58 is provided with a groove 60 and is connected with body 6| through a shoulder 59 bearing, in the position of rest, against the edge of the central orifice 51 of cap 53. Body 6| is provided with a large vertical notch 62, in which are normally engaged the radial portions 63a and 63b of the fastener head I, and with a horizontal slot 34 into which said radial portions can penetrate. Piston 65 includes a vertical wall 66 and a conical collar 61, the inclination of which is substantially equal to that of the resilient inclined surfaces 4a and 4b. The lower edge 68 of body 6| is engaged in piston 65.

The operation is easy to understand. When a pressure is exerted upon the push-piece, for instance by means of a screw-driver engaged in groove 60, this pressure is transmitted to piston 65, which slides in sleeve 5|, and the conical collar '61 of which, through its action upon inclined surfaces 4a and 4b, positively displaces toward each other the resilient arms of the fastener arms. When this displacement is sufiicient for retracting bends 5a and 5b, the push-piece is rotated in such manner as to engage into its horizontal slot 64 the radial portion 63a of the fastener and also eventually the radial portion 631), which then prevents any sliding of the pushpiece and holds the arms of the fastener in retracted position (Fig. 21).

When such a locking of the resilient arms is not necessary, for instance when the head of the fastener is riveted upon a flexible movable panel,

or one or two fasteners at most are riveted upor a rigid observation door, I may utilize the fasten ing device illustrated by Figs. 24 to 26.

This device is of the same type as the preceding one and differs therefrom only in that push-piece 58 and piston 65 are replaced by pull-piece 10. This pull-piece, shown separately by Fig. 26, includes a cylindrical body H the flaring upper end of which is covered by a cap I2; two longitudinal slots 13a and 13b are provided for the bends a and 5b of thefastener, and a large notch 14, also longitudinal, affords passage for the radial portions 63a and 63b of said fastener. Two stamped portions 15a and 15b cooperate with inclined surfaces 3a and 3b.

In order positively to bring the resilient arms of this fastener into retracted position, it sufflces to exert a pull on pull-piece ill, stamped portions 15a and 15!) then compressing inclined surfaces 3a and 3b and thus retracting bends 5a and 5b. By further pulling piece 10, the operator drives toward himself the fastening device, and the piece of work 16 on which this device is riveted.

In the embodimen of Figs. 27 to 31, the arms 82a, 82b are constituted by the ends of a metal strip bent into the shape shown by Fig. 27. Instead of being twisted as in the embodiment of Figs. to 5 (where the arms 2a, 2b are adjacent to ach other 2 (1 located in parallel planes respectively), the metal strip is, in this case, merely bent so that said arms 82a, 82?) are located in two planes intersecting each other along a line, at right angles to the plane of Fig. 27, normally located in, or close to, the surface alon which the head I of the fastener bears against one side of the piece of work.

A portion 85a, 85b of the end of each of these arms is bent at right angles thereto, so as to constitute projections whicsh are applied, by the resilience of the fastener, against the other side of said piece of work after the arms have been passed through the aperture formed in this piece of work.

In order to permit an easy removal or setting of this fastener, I make use of a tool 89, constituted by a blade provided with a central longitudinal notch 90 so as thus to constitute a kind of fork. The head of the fastener is provided with a notch 86, 81a, 81b located in a plane at right angles to the.,planes of arms 82a and 82b and adapted to accommodate this tool to permit free passage thereof.

Thus when, as shown by Fig. 28, this tool is driven into this slot and against the outer sides of arms 82a, 82b, the branches of the fork formed by this tool slide along said arms and cause them to pivot toward each other so as to be finally nearly parallel, for which position, the projections formed by bent portions 85a, 85b are retracted to the inside of the aperture of the piece of work and the fastener can be easily removed, or, on the contrary introduced.

, The slot provided for the tool is located in a plane different from that of bent portions 85a, 85b so that this tool does not come to bear aaginst the edges of said bent portions. Preferably, the end of the tool is bevel-shaped, as shown at 89 so that, even if this end comes into contact with the edges of said bent portions 85a, 851:, the tool slides therealong.

tions might be brought to these fastening devices of the present invention. Thus. for instance, the tubular studs 46a. and 46b of the embodimen shown by Figs. 14 to 16 might be replaced by a single stud acting simultaneously on both of the inclined surfaces 3a and 3b, or by a V-shaped stamped piece playing the same part. Likewise, tubular studs 45a and 45b might be replaced by a single stud disposed in the angle formed by the projecting ends of resilient arms 2a and 2b. The fastening device illustrated by Figs. 20 and 21 might be riveted on the piece of work 56 by means of an annular piece analogous to the annular piece 31 of the preceding embodiment. In this case, if sleeve 5| has a tendency to rotate during the locking operation, it can be prevented from doing this-same as the fastener, by means of a tongue rigid with the fixed annular piece, or with cap 53.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efflcient embodiments of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. For use in fastening an assembly provided with an aperture extending therethrough, a fastener which comprises a resilient metal strip folded, bent and twisted to form a structure including a loop-shaped head adapted to bear against the edge of said aperture onone side of said assembly and two arms extending in a general direction at right angles to the bearing surface of said head so as to be adapted to pass, through said aperture, said arms, which are respectively located in two adjacent planes parallel to each other and to this direction and are provided with lateral projections located in said planes, one projection on one side of one arm and the other on the opposite side of the other arm, :being resiliently urged by the twist imparted to said structure in opposed directions parallel to said planes and transverse to the above mentioned direction so as to have, when passed through said aperture, their projections expanding beyond the edge thereof on the other side of said assembly,

said two arms being provided with respective slots located in two planes at right angles to the above mentioned planes, intersecting each other along a line located substantially in the middle portion of the width of both of said arms and diverging toward said projections, respectively, said head being arranged to permit of moving a flat tool into both of said slots to move said arms and retract said projections toward each other.

2. For use in fastening an assembly provided with an aperture extending therethrough, a fastener which comprises a resilient metal strip folded, bent and twisted to form a structure including a loop-shaped head adapted to bear against the edge of said aperture on one side of said assembly and two arms extending in a general direction at right angles to the bearing surface of said head so as to be adapted to pass through said aperture, said arms, which are respectively located in two adjacent planes parallel to each other and to this direction and are provided with lateral projections located in said planes, one projection on one side of one arm and the other on the opposite side of the other arm. being resiliently urged by the twist imparted to said structure in opposed directions parallel to Wi pa ting for this reason from the scop said planes and transverse to the above mentioned direction so as to have, when passed through said aperture, their projections expanding beyond the edge thereof on the other side of said assembly. said two arms being provided with respective slots located in two planes at right angles to the above mentioned planes, intersecting each other along a line located substantially in said bearing surface of the head and in the middle portion of the width of both of said arms and diverging toward said projections, respectively, said head being provided with a slot parallel to said line and directly above it, whereby a flat tool can be introduced through said last mentioned slot into the two first mentioned slots so as to move said arms and retract said projections toward each Other.

3. For use in fastening an assembly provided with an aperture extending therethrough, a fastener which compirses a metal strip folded and bent to form a structure including a loopshaped head adapted to bear against the edge of said aperture on one side of said assembly and two arms extending from said head in a general direction at right angles to the bearing surface of said head so as to be adapted to pass through said aperture, said arms, which are respectively located in two planes intersecting each other along a line substantially located in said bearing surface and which are provided near their free ends with outward projections transverse to said planes, being resiliently urged by the resilience of said structure to diverge from each other to have, when passed through said aperture, their projections applied against the other side of said assembly on either side of said aperture, respectively, the central part of said head being provided with a hole to accommodate a forked tool capable, when engaged through said hole from the outer side of said head, to engage the outer faces of said arms and to move them toward each other so as to retract said projections to the inside of the periphery of said aperture.

4. A fastener according to claim 3 in which said projections consist of portions of the ends of said strip that form said arms, said portions being bent at right angles to said arms.

5. For use in fastening an assembly provided with an aperture extending therethrough, a fastener which comprises a resilient metal strip folded and bent to form a structure including a slotted loop-shaped head adapted to bear against the edge of said aperture on the one side of said assembly and two arms extending in a general direction at right angles to the hearing surface of said head adapted to project through said aperture, said arms, which are pro- JEAN EMILE FRANCOIS GOBIN n- DAUDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 839,177 Moses Dec. 25, 1906 1,719,891 Kuhl July 9, 1929 1,947,130 Johnson Feb. 13, 1934 1,992,093 Place Feb. 19, 1935 2,941,335 Hall May 19, 1936 2,058,320 Jones Oct. 20, 1936 2,109,402 Place Feb. 22, 1938 2,286,988 Jones June 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Feb. 18, 1938

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