Abstract:
A fastening device for engaging a structure is disclosed. The device has a collar having a passageway for receiving a fastener therethrough, and a flange connected to the collar and having first and second portions, wherein the flange is engageable with the structure. The device has an uninstalled position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially non-coplanar with respect to each other, and an installed position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially coplanar with respect to each other. The present invention further comprises the first and second portions of the flange having serrated or toothed edges engageable with the structure. The collar may be substantially tubular. The present invention may further provide threads in the passageway of the collar for receiving a threaded fastener therethrough.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a fastening device, and more particularly, a fastening device useable for securing a tractor seat to the chassis of a tractor.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Motorized tractors have been a part of the agricultural and domestic landscape ever since the advent of the mechanical engine. Wheeled and treaded tractors have come in an array of shapes and sizes over the years, but one constant among all tractor designs has been the need to interface with a human operator. There have been a number of ways to provide such interfaces. Nevertheless, in tractors designed for both agricultural and domestic uses, history has favored a seated arrangement for a human operator.  
         [0003]     As with the bodies of tractors themselves, seats constructed from metal seat pans have long been the practice for accommodating human users in both agricultural and domestic tractors. Over the years, those skilled in the art have developed various modifications to metal seat pans and metal seat pan mounts to improve the level of comfort provided to the end user. Such improvements have included a variety of conforming and ergonomic shapes, as well as shock-absorbing or spring-mounted seats to attenuate the vibrations and jarring that are part and parcel of agricultural and domestic tractor environments. While such improvements have been useful over the years, the cost of steel has recently suffered sharp increases, leading those skilled in the art to seek alternative materials for seat pan structures.  
         [0004]     The development of widely available and inexpensive commercial plastics have offered workable alternative structures to metal seat pan structures. The use of these plastics has also brought new design challenges. In particular, mounting hardware for metal seat pan structures have included such devices as weld nuts and pierce nuts. Such dedicated nuts are only usable with metal and cannot be employed with hard plastics. Plastics obviously cannot be welded, and pierce nuts generally require that the material to which they are mounted be malleable. Further, threads molded or formed in plastics can increase the expense associated with plastic production, and such molded threads may fail when used in conjunction with some hard or brittle plastics.  
         [0005]     Thus, it would be desirable to have a device capable of permanently securing a structure such as a plastic seat pan to the chassis of a tractor or other vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a fastening device for engaging a structure. The device provides a collar having a passageway for receiving a fastener therethrough. A flange is connected to the collar and has first and second portions, wherein the flange is engageable with the structure. The device has an uninstalled position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially non-coplanar with respect to each other, and an installed position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially coplanar with respect to each other. The present invention further provides the first and second portions of the flange having serrated or toothed edges engageable with the structure. The collar may be substantially tubular and may provide threads in the passageway of the collar for receiving a threaded fastener therethrough. The device is receivable in a slot of the structure wherein the slot provides opposing first and second walls, wherein in the installed position, the first portion of the flange is engageable with the first wall of the slot, and the second portion of the flange is engageable with the second wall of the slot. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout several views and wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure showing the present invention in use with a tractor seat.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure wherein the apparatus is in an uninstalled position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure wherein the apparatus is in the uninstalled position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure wherein the apparatus is in the uninstalled position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a partially cut away plan view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure showing the present invention in the uninstalled position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a front elevation cut away view taken along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A  of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure showing the present invention in the uninstalled position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a partially cut away plan view of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure showing the apparatus in the installed position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a front elevation cut away view taken along line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A  of the fastening device of the present invention for engaging a structure showing the apparatus in the installed position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiments.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-6B  illustrate a fastening device  10  for engaging a structure  12 , such as a seat pan. It will be appreciated that the device  10  is not limited to use with seat pans, but may be used to engage a variety of other structures.  
         [0018]     In order to receive a fastener  13 , such as a bolt, screw, rivet, or other such fastener, the device  10  for engaging a structure  12  has a collar  14  defining a passageway  16  therethrough. The collar  14  is connected to a flange  18  that contacts and engages the structure  12 . Threads  20  may be provided within passageway  16  in order to threadably engage a threaded fastener  13 . The collar  14  is substantially tubular in shape; however, the collar  14  may have any exterior shape to accommodate ease in manufacturing or installation. Similarly, the passageway  16  may be made in any shape in order to accommodate specific fasteners  13 . A substantially tubular or cylindrical passageway  16  is suitable for accommodating threaded fasteners  13 , such as screws and bolts, or non-threaded fasteners, such as nails, rivets, or the like (not shown). The collar  14  has a longitudinal axis  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and a flange end  24 , as seen in  FIGS. 2-4 . The collar  14  and threads  20  may be constructed from any type of various metals, plastics, woods, or other substantially rigid materials suitable for engaging threaded or non-threaded fasteners.  
         [0019]     In order for the device  10  to engage the structure  12 , a flange  18  is integrally connected to and extends outwardly from the flange end  24  of the collar  14  wherein both the flange  18  and the collar  14  are formed as one piece. Alternatively, the flange  18  may be fixedly connected to the flange end  24  of the collar  14  by way of welding, soldering, or adhesives. As a further alternative, the flange  18  may be removably connected to the flange end  24  of the collar  14  with a press fit, threaded, or similar joint. As can best be seen in  FIG. 5A , the flange  18  has a substantially rectangular shape. The flange  18  is connected to the collar  14  such that the longitudinal axis  22  of the collar  14  is substantially normal to the plane of the flange  18 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-5B , the device  10  is in an uninstalled position when end portions  26  of the flange  18  are bent or otherwise disposed at a substantially obtuse angle with respect to a central portion  28  of the flange  18  such that end portions  26  extend slightly away from the side of the flange  18  that connects to the flange end  24  of the collar  14 . In order to accommodate the fastener  13 , the central portion  28  of the flange  18  further defines a passageway  29  in substantial alignment with the passageway  16  defined by the collar  14 . The collar  14  is disposed on substantially one side of the flange  18  such that the device  10  has the overall appearance of an inverted T-shape.  
         [0020]     In order for the device  10  to securely engage the structure  12 , three teeth  30  are formed in each of the end portions  26  of the flange  18 . Each tooth  30  is integrally formed with and extends from the end portions  26  of the flange  18 . Each tooth  30  provides a sharp point  31  to penetrate the structure  12 , such as a structure made of a hard plastic, metal, or wood material. Although three teeth  30  are depicted on each of the end portions  26  of the flange  18 , a greater number or lesser number of teeth  30  may be provided on either of end portions  26  in order to suit particular applications or structures into which the device  10  is to be engaged. Alternatively, instead of one or more teeth  30  provided on each of end portions  26 , each of end portions  26  may terminate in a roughened or serrated edge (not shown) similarly capable of engaging the structure  12  as teeth  30 .  
         [0021]     The flange  18  may be constructed from any type of various metals or plastics that are substantially rigid and hard enough to penetrate plastics and metals found in seat pan structures, yet capable of deforming slightly with the application of slight or moderate force. As described above, the flange  18  may be formed integrally with the collar  14  or may be fixedly or removably attached to the collar  14  through a variety of means. Although in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-6B , the flange  18  has a substantially rectangular shape, the flange  18  may be constructed in various sizes and shapes in order to correspond to specific applications or environments.  
         [0022]     To engage the structure  12 , the flange  18  moves from the uninstalled position, depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5B , to an installed position, depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6B . As described above, in the uninstalled condition, the end portions  26  of the flange  18  extend at an obtuse angle with respect to the central portion  28  of the flange  18 . This allows the device  10  to be inserted into a slot  32  or other area in the structure  12  such that the device  10  does not immediately engage walls  34  or other portions of the structure  12 . In the installed position, the flange  18  is substantially flat, as depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6B , and both the end portions  26  and central portion  28  of the flange  18  are substantially coplanar with each other. Further, the teeth  30  of the flange  18  are engaged with portions of the walls  34  of the slot  32  located in the structure  12  when the flange  18  and device  10  are in the installed position. In the installed position, the teeth  30  are substantially embedded in the walls  34  of the slot  32  of the structure  12  to secure the device  10  to the structure  12 .  
         [0023]     In operation, a person installing a tractor seat or other structure  12  takes one or more of the fastening devices  10  and inserts them into one or more slots  32  provided in the structure  12 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The precise locations of the devices  10  in relation to the slots  32  and structure  12  depend upon the particular installation arrangement of the structure  12  as it may be mounted on a tractor chassis or other structure  36 . Each of the devices  10  should be installed in a slot  32  or other locale within the structure  12  such that the teeth  30  of the flange  18  are poised to engage walls  34  or other analogous portions of the structure  12 , as depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5B . Once the devices  10  are positioned in this way, each device  10  is struck with a hammer or other impact-imparting apparatus (not shown) so that the device  10  achieves the installed position, as depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6B . The force provided by the impact-imparting apparatus may be applied to the portion of the collar  14  located away from the flange end  24  of the collar  14 , or, alternatively, the impact-imparting apparatus may have a recess to accommodate the collar  14  and a surface that substantially engages the central portion  28  of the flange  18  when imparting a force to the device  10  which takes it from the uninstalled position, as depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5B , to the installed position, as depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6B . As a further alternative, the device  10  may be installed concurrently with the installation of the fastener  13 , as with the tightening of a bolt or in installing a rivet. Regardless of the particular method used for installing the device  10  such that it engages the structure  12 , the goal of such an installation operation is to achieve a substantially coplanar orientation of the end portions  26  and central portion  28  of the flange  18  such that the teeth  30  provided on the end portions  26  of the flange  18  substantially engage the walls  34  of the slot  32  of the structure  12 . In this way, the device  10  has substantially no freedom of movement within the slot  32  of the structure  12 . The fastener  13 , if not installed concurrently with the device  10 , is later inserted through the passageway  16 , engaging threads  20  if provided, and further connects to a corresponding structure  36  provided in conjunction with the chassis of a tractor or other device on which the structure  12  is to be mounted. The device  10  will not become loosened or freed with the application of continuous vibrations and random forces of varying frequencies and magnitudes transmitted to the device  10  through the fastener  13 .  
         [0024]     While the fastening device  10  of the present invention has been developed in conjunction with such structures  12  as seat pans for use on tractors and other vehicles, such devices  10  may also be used with structures far afield of the seating arts. Further, while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, this disclosure is intended to cover various modifications or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.