Fastening Mechanism

Abstract

A fastening mechanism is provided that a male component configured to be slidably received by a female component. The female component includes a receptacle having an open end and a terminal end proximate to the upper end thereof. A detent is located proximate to the terminal end of the receptacle and is configured to engage an aperture of the male component. The female component is configured to be coupled to a portable object, while the male component can be attached to a larger object. In use, the components are coupled together by sliding the female component on to the male component generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the male component until the detent is received in the aperture of the male component.

1 . A fastening mechanism, comprising:
 a male component configured to be attached to a container, the male component having a post defining a longitudinal axis and a button end, the button end having a greater diameter than a diameter of the post, the button end defining an aperture centered about the longitudinal axis; and   a female component configured to be attached to a portable item, the female component having a receptacle for slidably receiving the male component in which the terminal end of the receptacle is disposed proximate to an upper end of the female component, the female component having a detent extending from an interior wall proximate to the upper end to engage the aperture of the male component;   wherein the male component and the female component are coupled together by sliding the female component on to the male component generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the male component until the detent is received in the aperture of the male component.   
     
     
         2 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the male component includes a backing coupled to a second end of the post. 
     
     
         3 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the male component further includes an annular flange coupled to the post and disposed proximate to an outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         4 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the female component includes a release button configured to retract the detent to release the male component. 
     
     
         5 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the release button has a deflectable arm attached to the detent, wherein the arm is biased such that the detent extends through the detent opening. 
     
     
         6 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the female component is attached to the outer surface of a sleeve configured to house the personal item, and the personal item is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, and a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         7 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the male component is attached to a container selected from a group consisting of a golf bag, a gym bag, a suitcase, a backpack, a briefcase, and a suitcase. 
     
     
         8 . In a fastening mechanism having a male component and a female component, the male component having a post defining a longitudinal axis, a button end attached to the post and defining an aperture on a terminal end aligned with the longitudinal axis of the post, the female component comprising:
 an upper end;   a lower end;   a base wall configured to be coupled to a portable item;   an intermediate wall in spaced relationship with the base wall defining a cavity between the base wall and the intermediate wall, the cavity having an opening at the upper end of the body, the intermediate wall defining a detent opening proximate to the upper end of body;   a peripheral side wall extending outwardly from the intermediate wall;   a flange projecting inwardly from the side wall and positioned over the intermediate wall, the flange defining a receptacle having a width less than the diameter of the button end of the male component, the flange configured such that a terminal end of the receptacle is proximate to the upper end of the body and an open end of the receptacle is proximate to the lower end of the body; and   a detent extending through the detent opening of the intermediate wall to engage the aperture of the male component.   
     
     
         9 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the female component is attached to the outer surface of a sleeve configured to house the personal item, and the personal item is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, and a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         10 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a release button extending through the upper opening into the cavity, the button operatively coupled to the detent extending through the detent opening of the intermediate wall to engage the aperture of the male component, wherein depressing the button causes the detent to disengage from the male component. 
     
     
         11 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the release button has a deflectable arm attached to the detent, wherein the arm is biased such that the detent extends through the detent opening. 
     
     
         12 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the release button further includes two outer arms disposed on opposing sides of the deflectable arm, the outer arms having each having a flanged end that cooperates with a corresponding catch defined by the base wall. 
     
     
         13 . A fastening mechanism, comprising:
 a male component having a post defining a longitudinal axis and a button end, the button end having a greater diameter than a diameter of the post, the button end defining an aperture centered about the longitudinal axis; and   the female component having
 a body having an upper end and a lower end, the body having
 a base wall, 
 an intermediate wall in spaced relationship with the base wall defining a cavity between the base wall and the intermediate wall, the cavity having an opening at the upper end of the body, the intermediate wall defining a detent opening proximate to the upper end of body, 
 a peripheral side wall extending outwardly from the intermediate wall, and 
 a flange projecting inwardly from the side wall and positioned over the intermediate wall, the flange defining a receptacle having a width less than the diameter of the button end of the male component, the flange configured such that a terminal end of the receptacle is proximate to the upper end of the body and an open end of the receptacle is proximate to the lower end of the body; 
 a detent extending through the detent opening of the intermediate wall to engage the aperture of the male component; and 
 
 a release button extending through the upper opening into the cavity of the body, the button operatively coupled to a detent extending through the detent opening of the intermediate wall to engage the aperture of the male component, wherein depressing the button causes the detent to disengage from the male component. 
   
     
     
         14 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the release button has a deflectable arm attached to the detent, wherein the arm is biased such that the detent extends through the detent opening. 
     
     
         15 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the release button further includes two outer arms disposed on opposing sides of the deflectable arm, the outer arms having each having a flanged end that cooperates with a corresponding catch defined by the base wall. 
     
     
         16 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the female component is attached to the outer surface of a sleeve configured to house a personal item. 
     
     
         17 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the personal item is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, and a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         18 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the male component includes an annular flange coupled to the post and disposed proximate to an outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         19 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the male component includes prongs extending from the annular flange to couple to a backing. 
     
     
         20 . A fastening mechanism as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the backing defines an aperture to receive the prongs therethrough.