Washer for a snap fastener

Abstract

A washer for use in a snap fastener is adapted to be placed over the lower part of a snap fastener component so that the washer rests between the fabric and the lower part of the snap fastener. The upper part of the snap fastener is placed over the fabric and is pressed into place by a tool press. The washer is made of a resilient material, such as plastic or rubber, which is then squeezed by the tool press to fill in any gaps that would allow water to leak through. In its unassembled state, the washer consists of a flat ring surrounding a center protrusion, which is hollow on its inside. To assemble the snap fastener, the center protrusion is placed over the central post of the lower part of the snap fastener. The central post with the washer is then inserted through a hole in the fabric to which the snap fastener is to be attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washer configured to be placed in a snap fastener, comprising:
 a central protrusion having a hollow inner cavity, a top and a bottom; and   a flange extending outward around the bottom of the central protrusion, wherein the washer is made of a resilient material such that the washer is deformed when placed between components of a snap fastener and pressure is applied.   
     
     
         2 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the central protrusion has an outer contour with a sidewall, a shoulder portion and a top, the shoulder portion having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . A snap fastener component comprising:
 a lower part comprising a bottom plate and a central post extending up from the bottom plate;   an upper part comprising a flange with an aperture therethrough; and   a washer made of resilient material and comprising a central protrusion having a hollow inner cavity, a top and a bottom, and a flange extending outward around the bottom of the central protrusion, wherein in an assembled state, the inner cavity of the washer covers the central post of the lower part, the central protrusion and central post extend through a hole in a section of fabric, and the upper part is disposed over the central protrusion and central post and pressed in place, so that the washer is deformed and fills any remaining empty space between the upper part and lower part.   
     
     
         4 . The snap fastener component according to  claim 3 , wherein the component is a female snap fastener component. 
     
     
         5 . The snap fastener component according to  claim 3 , wherein the component is a male snap fastener component. 
     
     
         6 . The snap fastener component according to  claim 3 , wherein the central protrusion of the washer comprises a sidewall, a shoulder section and a top, wherein the shoulder section has a larger diameter than a diameter of the sidewall, and wherein the aperture of the upper part has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the shoulder section, so that when the upper part is pressed onto the protrusion, the shoulder section is deformed and is pressed underneath the upper part. 
     
     
         7 . The snap fastener component according to  claim 6 , wherein the shoulder section of the washer is deformed by the upper part to extend around an edge of the hole in the fabric. 
     
     
         8 . A method for assembling a snap fastener comprising a lower part with a bottom plate and a central post extending up from the bottom plate, an upper part comprising a flange with an aperture therethrough, and a washer made of resilient material and comprising a central protrusion having a hollow inner cavity, a top, a bottom, and a flange extending outward around the bottom of the central protrusion, the method comprising the following steps:
 placing the washer over the lower part so that the central post extends into the inner cavity of the washer so that the washer covers the lower part,   inserting the protrusion of the washer and central post of the lower part through a hole in a section of fabric,   placing the upper part on a tool press, and   pressing the tool press with the upper part onto the washer and lower part until the washer is deformed, the central post extends through the aperture in the upper part, and the central post is deformed and extends beyond an edge of the aperture of the upper part to secure the upper part to the lower part.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the central protrusion in the washer has a sidewall, a shoulder portion and a top, the shoulder portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of the sidewall, and wherein during the step of pressing, the upper part presses on the shoulder and deforms the shoulder so that the shoulder extends around an edge of the hole in the fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein during the step of pressing, the top of the central protrusion of the washer is broken and the central post extends through the top of the central protrusion.