Fasteners

A fastener to engage and hold a first member to a second member. The fastener has a clip member adapted to install into a first aperture on the first member, the clip member having, a main body and a clipping tongue biased away from the body to engage the aperture. The clip also has a mounting portion extending outwardly. A washer can pass over the mounting portion and the washer has an extension to pass between and wedge the main body and the clipping tongue apart. A fastener then engages the mounting portion to secure the clip member, washer, and second member, to the first member.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fasteners.

In particular, though not solely, the present invention is directed to a blind fastener that may be inserted from one side of two members requiring fastening or securing to each other, for example electronic equipment to a rack (such as used in the telecommunications, information technology (“IT”) security or professional audio industries), where access from another side of the two members is not available or at least is inconvenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is often the requirement to mount or attach equipment to a structure, such as for example electrical equipment in a rack. The racks normally are formed from 2 or 4 vertical elongate structures to form a cabinet type arrangement. Such racks are or can be closed on 3 or more sides, and the front side can have a door. As such, while it is possible to access any side by removing panels or similar it is often inconvenient, at least a time perspective. As such front access for install and removal of equipment and its fastening is the most desirable and convenient. The back side is normally reserved for electrical and network connections and similar.

The two structures that form the front of the rack normally have a series of spaced apertures on the front presenting vertical face. These apertures are to secure, via fasteners, the equipment to the rack. The access to these apertures is normally only from this front, as access from the rear is either blocked by the or other equipment, or is too difficult. Side access is often blocked by side panels that enclose the rack, or is otherwise inconvenient.

Then adding or removing equipment to the rack it is desirable this can be achieve as quickly as possible. This may be desirable because systems need to be powered down before equipment is added or removed, or because there is a short time frame to add or remove the equipment. It is also desirable to make the mechanical physical fastenings, convenient and as secure but as quick as possible.

There is therefore the need for a fastener for use where it is convenient or only possible, to access one side, that is the front side for example, of equipment that needs fastening to such structures or racks. This is opposed to a normal fastener arrangement where, for example, a user passes a bolt through one side and fastens a nut to it on the other.

The modularity of such racks and the equipment connected thereto has resulted in a number of solutions to this problem for rack mounting in the telecommunications, IT, security and professional audio industries.

A captive fastener solution is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,282 and US20050019133. This shows a captive bolt of one thread size which can be switched for a bolt of another thread size by releasing the bolt from a removable retainer. They are used for fastening rack mount panels to equipment racks. These solutions at least have the disadvantage that they must be supplied already attached to the equipment to be installed. Thus whilst they are always attached to the equipment, there will be surplus such fasteners, for example sitting on equipment that is not installed. They also require custom mounts and therefore are not readily adaptable or transferable between pieces of equipment.

Other solutions to aid the accessibility issue are blind nuts to sit behind the front face of the structure such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,894 for a front insertion fastener. This shows a front inserted nut that deforms to capture the structure between a front flange and rear wings that deform laterally to the main axis of the nut. The front flange has a return to engage with the structure edge to reduce rotation while tightening. The rear portion of the nut has a flange that engages with the rear side of the structure also due in part to deformation. Such solutions remove or reduce the need to access the rear of the structure. However, because they deform plastically and therefore permanently they present difficulty in removing in the same way they are inserted and may not be reusable. Such blind or captive nuts also have the disadvantage as they can easily be lost down or within the rack. These also often require specialist tools to install and remove.

A latch style fastener is shown in GB 1123733 where a knurled knob operates a latch tongue to engage and disengage the equipment from the structure. This is an easy way to engage and disengage the equipment from the rack. However, it again requires specialist fitting on the equipment and/or the rack.

Side mounting and engaging equipment is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,542. This shows a rack mounting bracket for mounting heavy unbalanced equipment. This rack mounting system is for either side of a piece of equipment that clamps the racks. This system holds the equipment securely but requires additional brackets, has added clearance and bulk issues and may require access from the side.

A number of these solutions also have sharp edges so they can easily damage equipment that is slide in and out past them, especially when the equipment is heavy and/or the rack is high populated with little room to move.

These solutions also require a degree of balancing equipment while other fasteners are brought into location to mount the equipment. This is undesirable when the equipment is heavy or the rack is populated and can result in equipment damage and/or operator injury.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener, or to overcome the above shortcomings or address the above desiderata, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a blind fastener adapted to engage and hold a first member to a second member, comprising or including,a clip member adapted to install into a first aperture on said first member, said clip member having,a main body and a clipping tongue extending therefrom, said clipping tongue biased away from said body, so that when said clipping tongue and said main body are located in said first aperture said main body and said clipping tongue engage opposing regions of said first aperture, so that when engaged said clip member is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from said first aperture, anda mounting portion extending outwardly from said main body,a washer member with an aperture (“washer aperture”) therethrough to pass over said mounting portion, said washer member having at least one extension to pass between said main body and said clipping tongue to urge them apart and against said opposing regions,a fastener to engage over said mounting portion to secure said clip member, washer member, and said second member, to said first member,wherein in use said clip member and washer member are mounted in said first aperture on said first member, said mounting portion extends through part of said second member, or an extension thereof, to be secured, and said fastener engages over said mounting portion to secure said second member to said first member.

Preferably said main body has at least one stop surface thereon to under-engage behind and/or in front of said aperture of said first member.

Preferably said main body has two said stop surfaces, at least one to under-engage in front of said aperture and at least one to under-engage behind said aperture.

Preferably said main body has a pair of said stop surfaces to under-engage in front of said aperture, either side of said main body.

Preferably said clipping tongue also has at least one stop surface to under-engage in front and/or behind said aperture.

Preferably said washer has two such extensions to locate substantially either side of an axis of said mounting portion.

Preferably said at least one extension is tapered so the more it is urged between said main body and clipping tongue the more it wedges the two apart.

Preferably said clip member, washer member and fastener are preferably made from a glass fibre reinforced plastic such as nylon or similar plastics material.

Preferably said mounting portion have a patterned engagement to engage said fastener thereon.

Preferably said patterned engagement is threaded, and said fastener is patterned to engage thereon.

Preferably an upper presenting region of said mounting portion is flattened to reduce damage to said any patterned engagement thereon.

Preferably said washer is a friction fit onto said mounting portion.

Preferably said friction fit is via said washer aperture.

Preferably said fastener has a surface texture to enable finger tightening and also has profiling to engage with a tool (for example a Philips or Blade screwdriver).

Preferably said clipping tongue is a re-curved extension of said main body with an elastic hinge between it and said main body to enable said biasing.

Preferably said clipping tongue must be elastically deformed to allow said stopping surface(s) to engage behind said aperture.

Preferably said washer has a relief between it and said clip member to allow prising apart of said two, for example by a screwdriver.

Preferably said washer is relieved on a side facing said clip member to accommodate portions thereof in front of said first member aperture.

Preferably said washer has a second relief on its external periphery to ease its removal from said mounting portion, by for example a finger nail or tool.

Preferably said blind fastener is able to be reused.

Preferably said clip member, as least where it traverses from in front to behind said aperture conforms to an inner periphery of said aperture.

Preferably said inner periphery is square or rectilinear in cross section.

Alternatively said inner periphery is curved, circular or arcuate.

Preferably said clip member is dimensioned so as to fit said aperture regardless of whether its inner periphery is rectilinear or curved.

Preferably said fastener is formed by plastic injection moulding.

Preferably said first member is a rack structure and said second member is equipment to be secured thereto.

Preferably said second member also has an aperture (“second member aperture”) therethrough for said fastener to pass through.

Preferably said second member sits between said washer and said fastener.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a blind fastener adapted to engage and hold a first member to a second member, comprising or including,a clip member adapted to install into an aperture on said first member, said clip member having,a main body and a clipping tongue extending therefrom, said clipping tongue biased away from said body, so that when said clipping tongue and said main body are located in said aperture said main body and said clipping tongue engage opposing regions of said aperture, so that when engaged said clip member is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from said aperture, anda mounting portion extending outwardly from said main body,a fastener to engage over said mounting portion to secure said clip member, and any second member present, to said first member,wherein in use said clip member is mounted in said aperture on said first member, said mounting portion extends through part of said second member, or an extension thereof, to be secured, and said fastener engages over said mounting portion to secure said second member to said first member.

Preferably there is a washer member with an aperture (“washer aperture”) therethrough to pass over said mounting portion, said washer member having at least one extension to pass between said main body and said clipping tongue to urge them apart and against said opposing regions.

Preferably said washer member is installed on said mounting portion prior to mounting said second member and said fastener.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a method of securing a first member to a second member, where said first member has at least one aperture, comprising or including the steps of,Locating a clip member into said aperture, said clip member having,a main body and a clipping tongue extending therefrom, said clipping tongue biased away from said body, so that when said clipping tongue and said main body are located in said aperture said main body and said clipping tongue engage opposing regions of said aperture, so that when engaged said clip member is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from said aperture, anda mounting portion extending outwardly from said main body,Locating said second member onto said mounting portion,Locating a fastener to engage over said mounting portion to secure said clip member and said second member, to said first member,Where in the result is an assembly of second member held to said first member by said clip member and said fastener.

Preferably said method includes the step of locating a washer member with an aperture therethrough to pass over said mounting portion, said washer member having at least one extension to pass between said main body and said clipping tongue to urge them apart and against said opposing regions, prior to mounting said second member and said fastener.

In yet another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a rack structure with at least one piece of equipment secured thereto, said equipment secured by a blind fastener, comprising or including,a clip member adapted to install into an aperture on said rack structure, said clip member having,a main body and a clipping tongue extending therefrom, said clipping tongue biased away from said body, so that when said clipping tongue and said main body are located in said aperture said main body and said clipping tongue engage opposing regions of said aperture, so that when engaged said clip member is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from said aperture, anda mounting portion extending outwardly from said main body,a washer member with an aperture therethrough to pass over said mounting portion, said washer member having at least one extension to pass between said main body and said clipping tongue to urge them apart and against said opposing regions,a fastener to engage over said mounting portion to secure said clip member, washer member, and said at least one piece of equipment, to said rack structure,wherein in use said clip member and washer member are mounted in said first aperture on said rack structure, said mounting portion extends through part of said at least one piece of equipment, or an extension thereof, to be secured, and said fastener engages over said mounting portion to secure said at least one piece of equipment to said rack structure.

In yet a further aspect still the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a kit of parts to hold a piece of equipment to a rack structure, comprising or including,Said equipment, andAt least one blind fastener adapted to engage and hold said equipment to a rack, comprising or including,a clip member adapted to install into an aperture on said rack, said clip member having,a main body and a clipping tongue extending therefrom, said clipping tongue biased away from said body, so that when said clipping tongue and said main body are located in said aperture said main body and said clipping tongue engage opposing regions of said aperture, so that when engaged said clip member is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from said aperture, anda mounting portion extending outwardly from said main body,a fastener to engage over said mounting portion to secure said clip member, and said equipment, to said rack,wherein in use said clip member is mounted in said aperture on said rack, said mounting portion extends through part of said equipment, or an extension thereof, to be secured, and said fastener engages over said mounting portion to secure said equipment to said rack.

Preferably there is a washer member with an aperture (“washer aperture”) therethrough to pass over said mounting portion, said washer member having at least one extension to pass between said main body and said clipping tongue to urge them apart and against said opposing regions.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a blind fastener as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a method of securing as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a rack structure with at least one piece of equipment secured thereto as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a kit of parts as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present, but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner.

It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 4.7).

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 14.

With reference toFIGS. 1 through 4there is shown a clip member3which is part of the assembly of line fastener1. The clip member has a main body6and depending from the main body is a clipping tongue7. The clipping tongue exists as a recurved extension21from the main body6and forms an elastic hinge22at or near the point of recurving. Depending outwardly from the main body6is a mounting portion9which is patterned17for engagement with a complimentary patterned fastener13(shown inFIGS. 8a, band9a, b). However in other less preferred embodiments it may be a clip or other type fit that may be used.

The upper presenting surface18of the mounting portion9in the preferred embodiment is flattened. There are several reasons for this. The first reason is to prevent damage to the patterned17engagement. A further reason is to allow a stable location for temporarily seating equipment or second member4(not shown) on the mounting portion9.

On the main body also is shown a number of stop surfaces14. The purpose of these is to locate behind15the aperture5when engaged in the first into rack24. This can best be seen inFIGS. 10 through 12. In particular stop surface14alocates on the surface behind15the aperture5. The stop surface14blocated at front16of the aperture5in the first member2or rack24. A person skilled in the art will understand in conjunction particularly withFIGS. 10 through 12, this creates an initial engagement of the clip member3with the surfaces in front16and behind15of the aperture5to substantially prevent withdrawal of the clip member3from the aperture5without further bending or hinging of the clipping tongue7. Present also are at least one and preferably two engagement surfaces28that when engaged in the aperture5bear on opposing regions8of the aperture5. This can best be seen inFIG. 12. The result is that when the clip member3is located in the aperture5, the clip member3is substantially held in the aperture5, clip member3also and is stable and will not fall out. It is to be appreciated that the elastic hinge22can account for a number of different sizes and tolerances for apertures5and in the preferable installation is bent upwards so as to bias downward or outward with reference toFIG. 4to therefore have the engagement surfaces28located and urged or bias against each of its respective opposing region8.

In the preferred embodiment of the clip member3, there is also present a scallop27opening toward the upwardly presenting as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. This scallop provides a location for the second member4or equipment25. This provides the initial effect of preventing the second member4or equipment25from moving outward due to its sitting or its engagement within the scallop and thus provides some temporary security initially and also provides long term security once the fastener13is tightened thereon.

Present also are side surfaces29as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. These have the purpose of bearing against the inner surfaces of the aperture5to which the clip member3is engaged. The person skilled in the art will understand that these surfaces together with the engagement surfaces28are dimensioned so as to fit the mean internal dimensions of the aperture5. These surfaces add stability to the blind fastener1in its initial installation and also once tightened up using the fastener13. The distance between stop surface14aand stop surface14bis dimensioned also to be substantially the same with minimal clearance as the through thickness of the first member2or rack24in which the aperture5is engaged. This dimensioning will provide minimal movement of the clip member3prior to tightening up with the fastener13.

Seen inFIGS. 1 and 4also it can be seen the generally tapering outwardly shape from the elastic hinge22end of the clip member3toward the main body6. The elastic hinge22is the end which is inserted first into the aperture5and the generally tapering or expanding shape provides ease of insertion whilst also automatically loading up the clipping tongue7and guiding it into place on its respective opposing region8. In the main for such insertion curved surfaces rather than sharp surfaces are present, except where there is a requirement to reduce any movement, so as to aid ease of insertion.

A washer member10is shown inFIGS. 5athrough 7band acts as a planar bearing surface as well as a wedging component to lock the clip member3into the aperture5. The washer member10presents a substantially planar face30which can bear on the back side of the second member4or equipment25. Present through the middle region of the washing member10is a washer aperture11. This is dimensioned so as to provide a slight or actual interference fit with the cross section dimensions of the mounting portion9. It may for example have feathered fingers or similar and engage with the patterning17. This is done so as to temporarily lock the washer member10in place when located on the mounting portion9of the clip member3. Extending from the back side surface of the washing member10is at least one extension12. The washer and its extensions12seeks to oppose the forces on the clip member that try to extract it from the aperture5. In the preferred embodiment there are two such extensions12as shown inFIGS. 7aandb. These are profiled so as to fit in the gap31of the clipping tongue7and main body6as shown inFIGS. 4 and 11. Particularly, these extensions are tapered so as to act as wedging members when the clipping tongue7is elastically deformed when located in the aperture5. The purpose of the extensions12will be understood whenFIG. 12is viewed. These act as a wedge or cam and bear on the lower portions of the main body6and the upper portions of the clipping tongue7to urge the two apart and therefore locate the engaging surfaces against their surfaces of the aperture5. Furthermore the extensions lock and prevent substantial movement of the clipping tongue7relative to the main body6so at least when the blind fastener1is assembled with the fastener13in place, the blind fastener1cannot be extracted from the aperture5without substantial deformation beyond the normal scope of its use. This extends beyond the normal scope of its use and design load characteristics.

The back side surface of the washing member10also has relief23so as to provide as close a fit against the front presenting surfaces of the clip member3. This can be seen in the cross section inFIG. 12. Seen also inFIGS. 6aandband 7aandbis a second relief32(top and bottom) that allows for a tool or a user's fingernail to prise the washing member10away from the clip member3when installed thereon. This may be required when the two members have been engaged under force or a long period of time or under other circumstances such as the two stick or are wedged to each other. This may also be due to some partial deformation of the two, whether permanent or temporary. There may also be an interference fit between the relief23and those surfaces which engages with on the clip member3to further hold the washing member10to the clip member3. Therefore the second relief32may also be required.

A further second relief32is also shown on the lower surfaces of the washer member10inFIGS. 7aand7b.

A preferred form of the fastener13is shown inFIGS. 8athrough 9b. In the form shown, the fastener13has an internal pattern17that in this case is threaded to match the threading size of the mount portion9. The fastener13has surface texturing19, such as knurling present to increase the friction or contact between a user's fingers and the fastener13so as to allow finger tightening to as higher a degree as possible or as desired. Other surface texturing19different to that shown can be used and will be understood to be equivalent. Shown also is a tool profiling inFIGS. 9aand 8b. The purpose of this to receive a tool such as a Phillips head screwdriver or a blade screwdriver to tighten or release the fastener13as is needed. The fastener13has a bearing surface33present as shown inFIGS. 8aand 9bwhich bears up or butts up against the outer presenting surface of the second member4or equipment25as would be understood when viewed withFIG. 12.

Seen inFIG. 9bthere is also internal profiling in addition to the patterning17which allows further bearing and or stopping against the mounting portion9.

With reference toFIGS. 10 through 12the assembly of the blind fastener and its use will now be described. The first member2or rack24can be seen in through section inFIGS. 10 and 11. The aperture5through the first member2or rack24is shown inFIG. 14aand the square or rectangular profile is shown inFIG. 14c. An alternative profile shown inFIG. 14bis circular. It will be understood the same principals of the invention can be applied to a clip member3whose stop surfaces14, engagement surfaces28and side surfaces29are contoured and profiled so as to fit such a circular arcuate or curved aperture5. The first member2has a surface behind15and a surface in front16. It will be seen inFIG. 10, the stop surfaces14bengage on the surface in front16and the stop surfaces14aengage on the surfaces behind15as shown inFIG. 11. Also shown here is the dimensioning between the stop surfaces14aand14bso as to be substantially the same as the through thickness from in front16to behind15of the aperture5in the first member2(or rack24). The method of installation is such that the elastic hinge22end of the clip member3is located first into the aperture5and thereafter the clip member3is pushed through deforming the lower portion of the clipping tongue7until the stop surfaces14aand14bengage on their respective sides of the aperture5and first member2and likewise the side surfaces29and engaging surfaces28engage on their respective opposed regions. The opposed regions for a square or rectangular aperture5are shown inFIG. 14cas opposing regions8afor the engagement surfaces28and8bfor the side surfaces29. In a similar way, a curved or a circular aperture5shown inFIG. 14bwill have a similar such surfaces.

With reference toFIG. 12, there is shown the first member2(or rack24) engaged as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11on the clip member3and thereafter the washer member10is slid into position over the mounting portion9thereafter the second member4(or equipment25) is slid over the mounting portion9so that the mounting portion engages in the second member aperture26(whether fully opened or closed aperture) but under action of gravity or by the user, the second member4or equipment25sits down to engage the scallop27. Thereafter the fastener13is engaged on the mounting portion9and thereafter sandwiches the second member4, washer10and clip member3to assemble and hold the equipment25to the rack24.

Shown in the equipment rack and specifically shown is the first member2, which may also be the normally vertically presenting legs of the rack24and shown located in place is a piece of equipment25and specifically the second member4. Seen also are a plurality of apertures5for mounting of equipment at various heights in the rack. The present invention may be supplied as a kit of parts including the equipment25(or second member4) and the blind fastener consisting at least of the clip member6and fastener13. Additionally there may also be supplied the washing member10.

Alternatively it may be the rack24(or first member2) that is supplied in the kit of parts with at least one blind fastener consisting of a clip member3and fastener13and preferably also the washing member10.

The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.