US2006226662A1PendingUtilityA1

Fastener

21
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 17, 2004Filed: Mar 21, 2006Published: Oct 12, 2006
Est. expiryDec 17, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas CaponeJeffrey Bump
Y10T292/17F16B 13/0833
21
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A fastener for more reliable and rapid securing of an article to a component. The fastener incorporates therein or independently uses a substantially flexible member having a resiliently deformable portion to secure the article to the component.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A fastener of an article to a component, said fastener comprising: 
 at least one substantially flexible member, said at least one substantially flexible member including an at least one first portion and a second portion, said second portion being integral with said at least one first portion and being substantially orthogonal to said at least one first portion; and    a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism capable of being coupled to said at least one substantially flexible member in order to secure the article to the component;    wherein said second portion is resiliently deformable with respect to said at least one first portion.    
   
   
       2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion is resiliently deformable with respect to said at least one first portion in a first direction and is substantially non-deformable with respect to said at least one first portion in a second direction.  
   
   
       3 . The fastener of  claim 2 , wherein said first direction is substantially along a longitudinal axis of said at least one first portion and is directed away from said second portion and toward said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       4 . The fastener of  claim 3 , wherein said second direction is directed substantially oppositely to said first direction.  
   
   
       5 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion is elastically alignable with respect to said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       6 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first portion is substantially linear.  
   
   
       7 . The fastener of  claim 6 , wherein said second portion is substantially linear.  
   
   
       8 . The fastener of  claim 7 , further including a third portion, said third portion being integral with said at least one first portion and with said second portion and being elastically alignable with respect to said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       9 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one substantially flexible member further includes at least one recess.  
   
   
       10 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein said recess is a groove.  
   
   
       11 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein said recess is a hole.  
   
   
       12 . The fastener of  claim 10 , wherein said locking mechanism further includes a flap with an edge complementary to said at least one groove.  
   
   
       13 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a tapped hole.  
   
   
       14 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism includes an aperture.  
   
   
       15 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said component comprises a ceiling.  
   
   
       16 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said component comprises a wall.  
   
   
       17 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said component comprises a floor.  
   
   
       18 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a pipe.  
   
   
       19 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises an electrical fixture.  
   
   
       20 . A fastener of an article to a component, said fastener comprising: 
 at least one substantially flexible member, said at least one substantially flexible member including an at least one first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said second portion being integral with said third portion and being substantially orthogonal to said at least one first portion and said third portion being integral with said at least one first portion; and    a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism capable of being coupled to said at least one substantially flexible member in order to secure the article to the component;    wherein said second portion and said third portion are resiliently deformable with respect to said at least one first portion.    
   
   
       21 . The fastener of  claim 20 , wherein said second portion is resiliently deformable with respect to said at least one first portion in a first direction and is substantially non-deformable with respect to said at least one first portion in a second direction.  
   
   
       22 . The fastener of  claim 21 , wherein said first direction is substantially along a longitudinal axis of said at least one first portion and is directed away from said second portion and toward said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       23 . The fastener of  claim 22 , wherein said second direction is directed substantially oppositely to said first direction.  
   
   
       24 . The fastener of  claim 20 , wherein said second portion is disengagably couplable to said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       25 . The fastener of  claim 20 , the fastener further comprising: 
 a fourth portion, said fourth being integrally coupled to said second portion and being disengagably coupled to said at least one first portion.    
   
   
       26 . The fastener of  claim 25 , wherein said fourth portion surrounds said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       27 . The fastener of  claim 20 , wherein said third portion is elastically alignable with respect to said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       28 . The fastener of  claim 27 , wherein said second portion is elastically alignable with respect to said at least one first portion.  
   
   
       29 . A method for attaching an article to a component, the method comprising: 
 resiliently deforming a portion of a substantially flexible member with respect to another portion of the substantially flexible member;    inserting the resiliently deformed portion through an opening in the component; and    engaging the substantially flexible member with a locking mechanism.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein resiliently deforming the portion of the substantially flexible member with respect to the other portion of the substantially flexible member includes elastically aligning the portion of the substantially flexible member with respect to the other portion of the substantially flexible member.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein engaging the substantially flexible member with the locking mechanism includes inserting the substantially flexible member through the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , further including pulling the substantially flexible member through the locking mechanism until the locking mechanism couples the article to the component.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein engaging the substantially flexible member with the locking mechanism includes engaging a flap of the locking mechanism with a recess in the substantially flexible member.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the recess is a groove.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said recess is an opening.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 29 , further including creating an opening in the component.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the component comprises a wall.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the component comprises a ceiling.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the component comprises a floor.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the substantially flexible member is transportable through the locking mechanism in a single direction.

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