Snap tight system

Abstract

A snap tight system including at least one fastening device is used for joining structural members to form an architectural assembly. The snap tight system includes a splice assembly having a first splice portion and a second splice portion. Further, the snap tight system includes a first structural member having one or more first openings, and a second structural member having one or more second openings. Further still, the snap tight system includes the at least one fastening device having a housing with a spring that actuates a first pin and a second pin. The fastening device joins the first structural member to the second structural member, such that the first pin extends through the first splice portion and the one or more first openings and, the second pin extends through the second splice portion and the one or more second openings so as to form the architectural assembly.

1 . A union system for joining structural members to form an architectural element, the union system comprising:
 at least one splice assembly including a first splice portion and a second splice portion;   a plurality of structural members including a first structural member and a second structural member;   one or more first openings arranged on the first structural member of the plurality of structural members;   one or more second openings arranged on the second structural member of the plurality of structural members;   at least one fastening device comprises a housing having a spring actuating a first pin and a second pin; and   wherein the at least one fastening device joins the first structural member to the second structural member, such that the first pin extends through the one or more first openings and the first splice portion, and the second pin extends through the one or more second openings and the second splice portion to form the architectural element.   
   
   
       2 . The union system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structural members are extruded aluminum structural members. 
   
   
       3 . The union system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one splice assembly is an extruded aluminum structural member. 
   
   
       4 . The union system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening device includes means for retaining the spring, and at least a portion of the first and the second pin within the housing. 
   
   
       5 . A union system for joining structural members to form an architectural element, the union system comprising:
 at least one splice assembly including a first splice portion and a second splice portion;   a plurality of structural members including a first structural member and a second structural member;   one or more first openings arranged on the first structural member of the plurality of structural members;   one or more second openings arranged on the second structural member of the plurality of structural members;   at least one fastening device comprises a housing having an elastic stored-energy machine element actuating a first pin and a second pin; and   wherein the at least one fastening device joins the first structural member to the second structural member, such that the first pin extends through the one or more first openings and the first splice portion, and the second pin extends through the one or more second openings and the second splice portion to form the architectural element.   
   
   
       6 . The union system according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastic stored-energy machine element deforms under a compression force, and after release from the compression force recovers back to its approximate original position. 
   
   
       7 . The union system according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of structural members are extruded aluminum structural members. 
   
   
       8 . The union system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one slice assembly is an extruded aluminum structural member. 
   
   
       9 . The union system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fastening device includes means for retaining the spring, and at least a portion of the first and the second pin within the housing. 
   
   
       10 . At least one fastening assembly for joining a plurality of structural members to form an architectural element, the plurality of structural members include a first structural member, a second structural member and at least one splice assembly, wherein one or more first openings are arranged on the first structural member and one or more second openings are arranged on the second structural member, the at least one fastening assembly comprising:
 a housing having an elastic stored-energy machine element actuating a first pin and a second pin; and   wherein the at least one fastening assembly joins the first structural member to the second structural member, such that a portion of the at least one fastening assembly extends through a first opening of the one or more first openings, a second opening of the one or more second openings and the at least one splice assembly to form the architectural element.   
   
   
       11 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the elastic stored-energy machine element deforms under a compression force, and after release from the compression force recovers back to its approximate original position. 
   
   
       12 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of structural members are extruded aluminum structural members. 
   
   
       13 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one slice assembly is an extruded aluminum structural member. 
   
   
       14 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fastening device includes means for retaining the spring, and at least a portion of the first and the second pin within the housing. 
   
   
       15 . A fastening system for joining a plurality of structural members to form an architectural element, the plurality of structural members include a first structural member, a second structural member and at least one splice assembly having a first slice portion and a second slice portion, wherein one or more first openings are arranged on the first structural member and one or more second openings are arranged on the second structural member, the fastening system comprising:
 a housing having a spring actuating a first pin and a second pin; and   wherein the first pin extends through a first opening of the one or more first openings and the first slice portion, and the second pin extends through a second opening of the one or more second openings and the second slice portion, so as to join the first structural member to the second structural member to form the architectural element.   
   
   
       16 . The fastening system according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of structural members are extruded aluminum structural members. 
   
   
       17 . The fastening system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one slice assembly is an extruded aluminum structural member. 
   
   
       18 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fastening device includes means for retaining the spring, and at least a portion of the first and the second pin within the housing. 
   
   
       19 . A snap tight system for joining extruded aluminum structural members to form an architectural element, the snap tight system comprising:
 at least one splice assembly having a first slice portion and a second slice portion;   a plurality of structural members including a first structural member and a second structural member;   one or more first openings arranged on the first structural member of the plurality of structural members;   one or more second openings arranged on the second structural member of the plurality of structural members;   at least one fastening device comprises a housing having a spring actuating a first pin and a second pin; and wherein the first pin extends through a first opening of the one or more first openings and the first slice portion and the second pin extends through a second opening of the one or more second openings and the second slice portion, so as to join the first structural member to the second structural member to form the architectural element.   
   
   
       20 . The at least one fastening assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one fastening device includes means for retaining the spring, and at least a portion of the first and the second pin within the housing.