Ykk Corporation of America

Ykk Corporation

Chuck G LeCompte

Jonathan Hampton Sharp

Chad A Clark

Rodney H Helwig

Garland Jesse Brock

Kathryn Sullivan

William George Wilson

Joshua T Butsch

Hidetsugu Tanaka

A snap member of a fastener includes a base; a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member including a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth, an axis of the protrusion and an axis of the cavity being collinear; and a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape.

Snap fastener with hook

A button assembly that includes a button and a removable screw is provided. A method of attaching a button to a garment is provided. The method includes a step of placing a portion of the garment between the button and a removable screw, a step of penetrating the portion of the garment with the removable screw such that the removable screw is engaged with the garment, and a step of engaging the removable screw with the button.

Button assembled with removable screw and method of attaching removable screw

A female snap assembly includes a cage and an engagement member. The cage defines a receiving region, and the engagement member is within the receiving region. The engagement member includes a base, an inner engagement wall extending from base, and an outer engagement wall extending from the base. In some examples, the engagement member defines a channel between the inner engagement wall and the outer engagement wall. In various examples, the inner engagement wall defines at least one notch extending through the inner engagement wall.

Snap button assembly

A button assembly includes a top assembly, an attachment body, and a resilient member. The top assembly includes a cap and a locking ring defining a receiving area, and the locking ring includes a top protrusion extending into the receiving area. The attachment body includes a locking feature that includes a body protrusion and a notched portion. The resilient member is located between the cap and the attachment body such that the cap is movable toward the attachment body. In some examples, the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning the top protrusion of the locking ring with the notched portion of the locking feature, pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body, and rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion of the locking ring is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.

Button assembly with removable cap

Female snap assembly with caged engagement member

Disclosed is an illuminated marker device including: an inner surface; an outer surface, the outer surface including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being translucent; and a post, the post extending from the inner surface away from the outer surface. Also disclosed is an illuminated marker device including: an inner surface; an outer surface, the outer surface including a graphics portion and a background portion, a one of the graphics portion and the background portion including a photoluminescent material; and a post, the post extending from the inner surface away from the outer surface.

Illuminated marker

A cap and washer fastener assembly includes a cap with an upper surface and a lower surface with a post extending from the lower surface. The assembly also includes a washer with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hole. The assembly includes an assembled configuration wherein the post of the cap is inserted into the hole of the washer and a portion of the post is permanently deformed within the cavity. In the assembled configuration, a substrate layer is disposed between the cap and the washer. The cap and washer are configured so they are prevented from rotating relative to one another and relative to the substrate when in the assembled configuration.

Non-rotatable fastener assembly and associated methods

Fasteners including male and female assemblies. At least one of the male or female assembly may have a flexible base that flexes to conform to a non-planar mounting surface. The flexible base is bonded to the stud and/or the socket using techniques that provide a high degree of strength to withstand repeated engagement and disengagement of the fastener. Moreover, in certain embodiments the bonding techniques eliminate the need for mechanical means (for example, threads) to secure the stud to the flexible base. Mechanical tests show that the male assembly according to certain embodiments has 62% more strength than known male assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Frankfort, KY, United States of America

Chuck G LeCompte