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:
Aug. 05, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1995
Thomas W Richardson, Burr Ridge, IL (US);
Mary Jane Richardson, Burr Ridge, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus for orienting a fastener in a clasping arrangement with a workpiece, the fastener presenting a first leg and a second leg joined by a bight intermediate the first leg and the second leg, comprises a deflector for engaging the first leg and the second leg. The deflector comprises a generally planar surface and a single cavity intersecting the surface in a substantially elliptical opening having a major axis and a minor axis. The cavity has at least a first interior wall and a second interior wall. The first wall slopes from the opening in a first direction toward a depth limit; the second wall slopes from the opening in a second direction toward the depth limit. The depth limit is substantially coincident with one of the first axis and the second axis. The deflector structure and the fastener interact when meeting in response to a driving force by the first leg being deflected along the first wall in the first direction and by the second leg being deflected along the second wall in the second direction.