Patent ID: 7762739
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: A01B,A01D,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fastener, comprising: a housing, wherein the housing forms a housing cavity, wherein the housing cavity includes a recess; a cage at least partially disposed in said housing cavity, wherein the cage defines: a cage cavity, and one or more passages aligned with said recess; one or more retaining members at least partially retained within said one or more passages; a plunger at least partially disposed in said cage cavity, wherein said plunger is at least partially movable within said cage cavity between: wherein said plunger includes a first axial end, a second axial end, and a side surface between the first and second axial ends, wherein the side surface includes: a first retaining member engagement surface, wherein the first retaining member engagement surface defines a first axial segment of the plunger having a first diameter, a second retaining member engagement surface, wherein the second retaining member engagement surface defines a second axial segment of the plunger to have a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, wherein contact of the one or more retaining member with the first retaining member engagement surface results in the one or more retaining members being displaced radially outwardly, wherein contact of the one or more retaining members with the second retaining member engagement surface results in the one or more retaining members being displaced radially inwardly; wherein the plunger is completely contained within the cage cavity, wherein the cage cavity includes an inner surface forming a cage cavity diameter, wherein the first retaining member engagement surface of the plunger always directly and constantly contacts the inner surface of the cage cavity, wherein the cage cavity diameter is substantially equal to but slightly greater than the first diameter defined by the first retaining member engagement surface; an urging member for urging said plunger, wherein said urging member is completely contained within the cage cavity; and an end plug including a outer threaded surface, wherein the inner surface of the cage cavity includes an inner threaded surface, wherein the outer threaded surface of the end plug threadingly engages the inner threaded surface of the cage cavity, wherein the end plug at least partially closes said cage cavity and contacts said urging member; wherein the plunger includes a neck portion having a first axial end, wherein the first axial end includes a receiving cavity for insertion of the plunger actuator into the plunger prior to the at least partial disposing of the plunger within the cage cavity, wherein the receiving cavity includes: an axial opening defining an axial passage, wherein the receiving cavity further includes, a radial opening defining a radial passage, wherein the axial passage and the radial passage intersect; wherein the plunger actuator includes: a cable attached to an anchor, wherein the anchor is inserted into the radial opening and then disposed within the radial passage, wherein the cable passes through the axial passage and extends axially beyond the axial opening, wherein the end plug includes a passage, wherein said cable that extends axially beyond the axial opening passes through said end plug passage wherein the anchor is sized relative to the axial opening such that the anchor will not pass through the axial opening when the cable is pulled.