The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1994
Morgan D Murphy, Kokomo, IN (US);
Dale J Igram, Kokomo, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corporation, Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
A snap-action fastener suitable for joining two or more members using automated or manual assembly techniques. The fastener includes a pair of legs spaced apart and having complementary ends, with each of the legs being formed so as to be resilient in bending. Flexibly attached to the complementary ends of the legs are first and second arms, respectively. The arms are attached to the legs so as to form first and second hinges, respectively. The arms can be attached to the complementary ends at a midpoint or an end of each arm. Furthermore, the arms are flexibly attached to each other so as to form a third hinge intermediate the first and second hinges. To generate the desired snap-action, the combined lengths of the arms between the complementary ends of the legs is greater than the distance between the complementary ends, such that the snap-action occurs during operation of the fastener between a release position and a fastening position. The fastener further includes a coupling member which is specifically configured so as to be operatively associated with the arms. In particular, the coupling member is configured to secure a first member to a second member when the first member is interconnected with the legs and the fastener is in the fastening position. The above structure provides a bi-stable mechanism which is capable of variations for tailoring the fastener to a variety of applications.