Quick fastener

Abstract

A quick fastener provides for the securing together of a plurality of thin sheets of material, and is especially well suited for securing together multiple sheets of paper of a document or the like. The present fastener essentially comprises two resilient components, with a first component having a post extending therefrom and the second component having a mating receptacle formed therein. The post includes a bulb on the distal end thereof, with the receptacle having a relief formed therein for accepting the bulb of the post. The post resiliently snaps into the receptacle to secure the two components together. The outer surfaces of the two fastener components are essentially identical and form a symmetrical external configuration when assembled. Each outer surface comprises a low, smoothly rounded shape of a large radius elliptical cross section, to provide ease of stacking documents and the like secured by the present fasteners and to preclude their catching or snagging upon one another or upon another article. One or both components may include release slots along one or more sides or edges thereof, permitting a fingernail, letter opener, etc. to be inserted therein to pry the two components apart. Another embodiment includes a connecting strap securing the two components together, which strap may also serve as a hanger for suspending an article secured by the fastener(s). The various embodiments of the present fastener may be combined as desired, and the fastener components may be colored to match the material with which they are used.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A reusable quick fastener for removably assembling a plurality of thin sheets of material together, comprising: 
 a first component and a second component;    each said component formed as a single piece having a unitary, monolithic structure;    each said component having a low, smoothly shaped outer surface defined by a large radius arc and devoid of any passages therethrough and protrusions extending therefrom, for precluding snagging upon another article;    each said component further comprising an externally symmetrical assembly when assembled together;    a contact surface disposed upon said first component and said second component, respectively opposite each said outer surface;    said contact surface of said first component having first fastener means extending generally centrally therefrom, and devoid of other protrusions and depressions;    said contact surface of said second component having second fastener means formed generally centrally therewith, and devoid of other protrusions and depressions; and    said first fastener means of said first component removably mating with said second fastener means of said second component for removably securing said first component and said second component together as desired.    
     
     
         2 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , including: 
 an outer periphery defining each said component;    a flexible interconnecting link extending between each respective said outer periphery of said first component and said second component; and    said first component, said second component, and said interconnecting link forming a single, unitary, monolithic structure.    
     
     
         3 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , including: 
 an outer periphery defining each said component; and    at least one release slot formed in at least one said outer periphery, for ease of separating each said component from one another.    
     
     
         4 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first fastener means of said first component comprises a smoothly finished, generally cylindrical post.    
     
     
         5 . The quick fastener according to  claim 4 , including: 
 a distal end formed upon said post; and    a bulb formed upon said distal end of said post.    
     
     
         6 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said second fastener means of said second component comprises a smoothly finished, generally cylindrical receptacle.    
     
     
         7 . The quick fastener according to  claim 6 , including: 
 a distal end formed within said receptacle; and    a relief formed within said distal end of said receptacle.    
     
     
         8 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said contact surface is formed having a surface configuration selected from surface configurations consisting of flat surfaces and concave surfaces.    
     
     
         9 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said second fastener means of said second component includes a projecting rim.    
     
     
         10 . The quick fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said component is formed of a resilient plastic material.    
     
     
         11 . A reusable quick fastener for removably assembling a plurality of thin sheets of material together, comprising: 
 a first component and a second component;    each said component formed as a single piece having a unitary, monolithic structure;    each said component further comprising an externally symmetrical assembly when assembled together;    an outer periphery defining each said component;    at least one release slot formed in at least one said outer periphery, for ease of separating each said component from one another;    a contact surface disposed upon said first component and said second component, respectively opposite each said outer surface;    said contact surface of said first component having first fastener means extending generally centrally therefrom, and devoid of other protrusions and depressions;    said contact surface of said second component having second fastener means formed generally centrally therewith, and devoid of other protrusions and depressions; and    said first fastener means of said first component removably mating with said second fastener means of said second component for removably securing said first component and said second component together as desired.    
     
     
         12 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , including: 
 an outer periphery defining each said component;    a flexible interconnecting link extending between each respective said outer periphery of said first component and said second component; and    said first component, said second component, and said interconnecting link forming a single, unitary, monolithic structure.    
     
     
         13 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each said component has a low, smoothly shaped outer surface defined by a large radius arc and devoid of any passages therethrough and protrusions extending therefrom, for precluding snagging upon another article.    
     
     
         14 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first fastener means of said first component comprises a smoothly finished, generally cylindrical post.    
     
     
         15 . The quick fastener according to  claim 14 , including: 
 a distal end formed upon said post; and    a bulb formed upon said distal end of said post.    
     
     
         16 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said second fastener means of said second component comprises a smoothly finished, generally cylindrical receptacle.    
     
     
         17 . The quick fastener according to  claim 16 , including: 
 a distal end formed within said receptacle; and    a relief formed within said distal end of said receptacle.    
     
     
         18 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each said contact surface is formed having a surface configuration selected from surface configurations consisting of flat surfaces and concave surfaces.    
     
     
         19 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said second fastener means of said second component includes a projecting rim.    
     
     
         20 . The quick fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each said component is formed of a resilient plastic material.