Combination fastener

Abstract

This invention pertains fasteners which are characterized by easy insertion and extraordinarily difficult separation of items that they attach together. This is achieved by a combination of snapping segments with multi-engagement configurations of engageable holes. The snapping segments may comprise anti-opening and / or anti-sliding portions, which immensely increase the strength with which the fasteners hold the objects together. Provision of an elastic body in the vicinity of the bottom section of the fasteners provides water and gas proof properties, and further eliminates squeaking noises. Vehicles comprising objects connected together by the fastening devices described and claimed herein are part of the instant invention.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of provisional patent application 60 / 246,634 (filed Nov. 8, 2000), 60 / 249,996 (filed Nov. 20, 2000), 60 / 267,281 (filed Feb. 8, 2001), 60 / 283,286 (filed Apr. 12, 2001), 60 / 289,343 (filed May 7, 2001), and 60 / 302,194 (filed Jun. 29, 2001), all six of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention pertains fasteners, and more particularly fasteners which attach one object to another object, with special emphasis to objects in the Automotive Industry. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the original conventional technology of fasteners employed to securely attach one object to another, such as for example one part to another in the case of an automobile or an appliance, has utilized a nut on one of the two objects, usually welded or glued to the back of said object, and a bolt passing through a hole on the second object in a manner to be engaged by the nut, thereby s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The meaning of “substantially coaxial” includes cases that the top engageable continuous hole, and the bottom engageable continuous hole are in a condition selected from deviating from being commensurate, being misaligned, and a combination thereof, as long as they can still by concurrently engaged with the same screw or bolt or other suitable engageable member. In this manner, the prevailing torque is highly improved, even without the need of other frictional elements.

[0016] Continuous hole, such as any of the engageable holes utilized in the instant invention for example, is a continuous hole on a continuous portion of an object, such as the top section or the bottom section of the fasteners of the present invention for example. An engageable continuous hole provides considerably higher engagement strength than a hole made by two neighboring separated portions of one or more objects (discontinuous hole).

[0048] The guiding sub-sectors leaning against each other may preferably have reinforcing base disposed between said sub-sectors and the bottom section. This is very important for increasing the rigidity of the fastener's structure.

[0049] At least one of the snapping segments comprises an anti-opening portion, which dramatically increases the strength by which two or more objects may by held together by the fasteners of this invention, since the anti-opening portions prevent the snapping segments from spreading apart.

[0051] It is highly preferable that the upper free-ended top section and the lower free-ended top section are just wide enough to accept the upper top engageable continuous hole, and the lower top engageable continuous hole, respectively. This is very important for minimizing the structure of the fastener, and unexpectedly improving its strength, instead of reducing it.

[0052] It is highly preferable and critical in many applications that at least two of the upper top engageable continuous hole, the lower top engageable continuous hole, and the bottom engageable continuous hole are in a condition selected from deviating from being commensurate, being misaligned, and a combination thereof. In this manner, the prevailing torque is highly improved, even without the need of other frictional elements.

Problems solved by technology

This arrangement presents many problems, among which, one of the most important is that in the case that one object is hollow, the nut has to be in place at the back of the hollow object before assembling the two objects together.

If for any reason the nut is misplaced, and / or if it becomes desirable to introduce a new fastening connection between the two objects, the task of achieving such connection becomes very difficult if not impossible for all practical purposes.

In addition, vibration during the operation of a device, such as an automobile or appliance for example, containing the two objects results very often in loosening of the bolt or “quick nut” and in either full disassembling of the objects from each other, or in a vibration noise which is most annoying and often of unacceptable levels.

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