Fastener shield

Abstract

A fastener shield can include a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position. The seated position can include the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration. The fastener shield can also include a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat. An apparatus can include the fastener shield. Also, a technique can include securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin, with a fastener shield shielding at a moveable part of the fastener shield while securing the pin fastener to the shank of the pin.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fastener shield comprising:
 a body defining a seat that is designed to receive at least a portion of a pin fastener in a seated position, the seated position comprising the body shielding at least one moveable part of the pin fastener while allowing actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration; and 
 a catch that is designed to engage the pin fastener and hold the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines an aperture that is designed to receive a tool for actuating the at least one moveable part with the pin fastener in the seated position to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the catch comprises at least one protrusion that engages a base of the pin fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fastener shield is designed to change shape in response to receiving an actuating force, the changing of shape moving the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the pin fastener in the seated position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a pin being fastened by the pin fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pin comprises a decorative element secured to a head of the pin. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a sheet of material between the pin fastener and the head of the pin, with a shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pin fastener is a butterfly clutch. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 securing a pin fastener to a shank of a pin, the pin fastener comprising at least one moveable part that is moveable to transition the pin fastener between a fastening configuration and a releasing configuration;   shielding the moveable part with a fastener shield while the pin fastener is secured to the shank of the pin, the fastener shield comprising:
 a body defining a seat that receives at least a portion of the pin fastener in a seated position that allows actuation of the at least one moveable part to transition the pin fastener between the fastening configuration and the releasing configuration; and 
 a catch that engages the pin fastener and holds the at least a portion of the pin fastener in the seated position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin is performed while the moveable part is shielded by the fastener shield with the at least a portion of the pin fastener being held by the catch in the seated position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the securing of the pin fastener to the shank of the pin secures the pin to a sheet of material, with a shank of the pin passing through the sheet of material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pin comprises a decorative head. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pin fastener is a butterfly clutch.