FASTENER

Abstract: A fastener formed by an elongated member with an apertured tip (16), such as a filamentary string (15) that is attached to a bidirectional locking head (11) with longitudinally opposed openings (C1, C2). The elongated member is inserted into either of the opposed openings (C1, C2) of the head (11), where it is engaged and locked in place by an internal, at least partially circumferentially ring (11r). Once the apertured tip (16) is inserted into the locking head (11), it remains in its locking position even if the filamentary string (15) becomes separated from it as a result, for example, of pilferage.

Description: FASTENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the fastening of objects, either together or one to another, and more particularly, to the secure, simplified fastening of objects. Devices which are used to fasten objects typically make use of a strap connected to a locking head. The free end of the strap is threaded through or around the objects to be fastened and then inserted into the head. In order to achieve secure fastening and prevent unauthorized tampering, the locking head generally is in the form of an enclosure that houses a locking tang and prevents unauthorized access to it. Such a housing is typically mechanically complex, and the strap must be inserted in a particular way. This detracts from the efficiency of the fastener. It is necessary to provide instructions for use of the fastener, and the user needs to be certain that the strap is properly inserted into the locking head. Furthermore, the inserted end of the strap often tends to have a relatively massive configuration in order to achieve the desired locking effect. This makes the usual protected locking head fastener undesirable in use, for example, with control tags for items of mer¬ chandise. The massivity of the strap might damage the merchandise or leave an unsightly hole. Another difficulty encountered with protected head fasteners is that the locking tang is a relatively weak member that can become separated from its position of connection to the head. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to achieve the secure fastening of objects without the need for special instructions in the use of the fastener. A related object is to facilitate the proper insertion of the free end of a strap into its locking head. Another related object is to achieve a locking head fastener that is able to accommodate the free end of its strap in a number of different ways. Another related object is to achieve a locking head fastener in which the strap can be used bidirectionally. A further object of the invention is to achieve a fastener in which the strap that is inserted into a locking head does not require massive proportions to achieve the desired locking effect. It is still another object of the invention to achieve a fastener with a durable locking mechanism that is easy to use and not likely to be damaged. Still another object of the invention is to avoid the need for movable fingers, either in the socket of the fastener or on the head that is inserted into the socket. A further object of the invention is to provide a security fastener which cannot be reused in the event of pilferage. A related object is to produce a block¬ age of the socket to prevent reuse of the fastener in the event of pilferage. SU MARY OF THE INVENTION In accomplishing the foregoing and related ob¬ jects, the invention provides a fastener in which an apertured elongated member with a weakened region is attached by a strip or strap to an apertured housing that serves as a locking head and is provided with an apertured tip that is lockably inserted into the head. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the housing is open at opposed ends, and the locking mechanism is formed by an internal circumferential ring that can be partially open. The locking ring is able to receive, in either direction of insertion, the apertured free end of the elongated member. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, fixed locking vanes are positioned oppositely on the apertured tip of the elongated member. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the aperture in the tip is in the form of a double wedge, each with diverging sides that meet at a central posi- tion so that the maximum opening of the aperture is at an intermediate location along the length of the tip. The fixed locking vanes or ramps on the tip desirably terminate at the position of maximum opening of the aperture and include surfaces that diverge from the tip end to surfaces that are able to engage the internal locking ring of the housing. This engagement causes the ramps to be compressed towards one another and per¬ mit the tip to enter into the housing beyond the locking ring, after which the ramps expand and lock the tip securely into position within the housing. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the ramp effect facilitates the proper inser¬ tion of the free end of the elongated member into the apertured housing. In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the apertured tip, when locked in the housing, produces an irremovable blockage of the entry into the housing, so that if the filamentary strip or strap is pulled from the tip, the fastener cannot be reused. This provides security and prevents reuse of the fastener in the event of pilferage or in case of an unauthorized attempt to remove the tip from its locked position in order to reattach the fastener in an unauthorized fashion. OMPI BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering several illustrative em¬ bodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of an extended fastener in accordance with the invention, before stretching of its connecting filament; FIGURE IB is a perspective view of the fastener of FIGURE 1A after stretching of its filament showing the tip end in position for being inserted into the head; FIGURE 2A is an enlarged plan view of the tip portion of the fastener of FIGURES 1A and IB; FIGURE 2B is a cross sectional view of the tip of FIGURE 2A; FIGURE 2C is a top view of the tip portion of FIGURE 2A; FIGURE 3A is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the fastener shown in FIGURES 1A and IB; FIGURE 3B is an end view of the housing of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 4A is an enlarged plan view of the tip portion of an alternative fastener in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 4B is a partial cross sectional view illus¬ trating the insertion of the alternative fastener of FIGURE 4A into the housing of FIGURE 3A and the addi¬ tional safeguard against accidental removal provided by the alternative fastener; FIGURE 5A is an enlarged plan view of the tip portion of a further alternative embodiment of the in¬ vention; and FIGURE 5B is a partial sectional view illustrating the effect of an attempted withdrawal of the alterna- tive fastener of FIGURE 5A once inserted into the housing of FIGURE 3A. OMPI DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a fastener in accordance with the invention before elonga¬ tion of its central filamentary portion 15. The fas¬ tener 10 additionally includes an apertured housing 11 in the form of a cylindrical locking head with longi¬ tudinally opposed circular openings C. and C-. The elongated member 15 is centrally attached to the housing 11 and has a free end or apertured tongue 16 that is inserted into one of the circular openings C. and C 2 , to become irremovably locked in the housing 11. The fastener 10 is customarily produced by mold¬ ing of a stretch reorie table plastic material, such as polypropylene, nylon and the like. After molding has been completed the fastener is in the form shown in FIGURE 1A with a thickened filamentary portion 15, and a connecting portion 17. After the fastener 10 is removed from its mold, the filamentary portion 15 is elongated by stretching, for example by gripping the locking head or housing 11 in a jaw (not shown) and simultaneously gripping the end of the filament 15 by a protuberance 17 p-1 and drawing the jaws apart. The result of the stretching operation produces the modified fastener 10' of FIGURE IB in which the central filamentary portion 15 of FIGURE 1A has become extended into an elongated and comparatively thinner filament 15* that extends between the housing or head 11 and the tip 16 by way of the connection portions 17. In addition, the connecting portion includes a neck 17n of reduced cross section which provides a breakage point in case of an unauthorized tampering with the device 10' In particular FIGURE IB shows the elongated fila¬ ment 15' positioned in the form of a loop L with the tip 16 in position for being inserted into the locking head 11. The locking ring llr can be provided with openings ll-o in order to permit some compression and facilitate entry of the tip 16 into the housing 11. Details of the apertured tip 16 which bring about the desired locking engagement in the housing 11 are illustrated in FIGURE 2A. The tip 16 of FIGURE 2A includes an end 16e in the form of an aperture cylinder 16c. The aperture is a double wedge opening 16w with a first opening having diverging upper and lower surfaces 16w-l and 16w-2 that diverge from a radius of curvature 16c-l. The balance of the opening 16w is formed by oppositely diverging wedge surfaces 16w-3 and l6w-4 that diverge from an end radius of curvature l6c-2. The extremities of the wedge meet at the midsection of the cylindrical tip. Straddling the first portion of the wedge are oppositely positioned ramps 16r-l and l6r-2. As indicated in FIGURES 2B and 2C the ramps 16r-l and 16r-2 have planar outer surfaces and converge at the extreme tip 16t of the free member. They diverge outwardly to surfaces 16p-l and 16p-2 with a curvature conforming to the underlying tip 16c. The locking head 11 which receives the tip 16 is shown in section in FIGURE 3A. Upon insertion of the tip 16 into either open end C, or C 2 of the head 11 the ramps I6r-1 and 16r-2 engage the inner surface of an internal ring llr. Further movement of the tip into the housing 11 compresses the ramps into the double wedge opening 16n. Complete movement of the tip into the housing results in clearance of the ring llr by the trailing vertical extremities 16r-l and 16r-2 of the ramps which thereupon spring back into their equili- brium position, locking the tip 16 against the opposite sides lls-1 or lls-2 of the locking ring llr. It is to be noted further that in addition to the protuberance 17p-l there is a further protuberance 17p-2 at the end of the connector 17. This latter pro- tuberance is designed to facilitate the insertion of the tip 16 into the locking head 11 by providing a conven¬ ient gripping point for the user. To that end the gripping protuberance 17p-2 is in the form of a partial sphere which is joined to a cylindrical embossment 16r. The further protuberance 17p-l which is at the terminus of the reduced diameter neck 17n provides a convenient rupture point in the event of unauthorized tampering with the device, resulting in a fracture of the neck 17n at the protuberance 17p-l. Such tampering could re¬ sult, for example, if a purchaser attempted to remove the locked fastener from an item of merchandise by pulling on the extended filament 15* because the tip 16 becomes locked in the housing 11 upon insertion to the point that the end of the cylindrical embossment 16r contacts one of the sides lls-1 or 11s-2 of the locking ring llr. When the embossment is thus positioned, the vertical ends 16v-l and 16v-2 of the ramps 16r-l and 16r-2 engage the other side surface lls-2 or lls-1 of the locking ring llr. Consequently, in this situation, if an attempt is made to pull the tip 16 from the hous¬ ing 11, any failure of the fastener will take place at the reduced diameter neck 17n and the apertured tip that has become separated from the filament 15' remains in blocking position in the housing 11. This prevents any attempted reuse of the fastener and constitutes a security measure against unauthorized tampering and pilferage. An alternative tip 56 is illustrated in FIGURE 5A. By contrast with the tip 16 of FIGURE 2A the tip 56 of FIGURE 5A includes a double wedge opening 56w which is asymmetric. In the case of FIGURE 2A the aperture 16w is formed by two wedge openings which are symmetrically disposed with respect to the ends 16 v-1 and 16 v-2 of the ramps 16 r-l and 16 r-2. In the case of the tip 56 in FIGURE 4A the two wedge openings which form the aperture 56w are unequal and intersect before the inclined ends 56 v-1 and 56 v-2 of the ramps 56 r-l and 56 r-2. At the intersection position along an axis I the walls 57 w-1 and 57 w-2 are of reduced thickness in order to promote flexure of the end 56e in accordance with FIGURE 4B. As indicated in FIGURE 4B, once the tip 56 is inserted into the housing 11 the ramp walls 56 v-1 and 56 v-2 engage the inclined side surface 11' s-1 of the locking ring 11*r. If an attempt is made to remove the tip 56 by pushing on the end 56e is pushed inwardly and flexes about the axis I. This forces the side surfaces of the end against the corresponding inner walls of the housing 11. The result is to thwart at¬ tempts to make an unauthorized removal of the tip 56 from the housing 11. In addition the nose portion of the end 56e is formed as a plug 56p with a concave end 56c so that unauthorized forces that are slightly displaced from the central axis of the housing 11 will also bring about the desired flexure of the depressed plug 56p against the internal side walls of the housing. A further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 5A in which the axis I* of minimal wall thickness is displaced in¬ wardly towards the ring 56'r with respect to the walls 56' v-1 and 56' v-2 of the tip 56'e. This has the ef¬ fect, as illustrated in FIGURE 5B, of bringing about the rupture separation of the end 56'e from the re¬ mainder of the tip 56 when excessive pulling force is applied in the direction indicated by the arrow P'. In order to prevent further useage of the tip 56 * once rupture has taken place as shown in FIGURE 5B, the ring 56' is reduced in diameter compared with FIGURE 4A so that severed portions 56's cannot remain in the housing 11 once rupture has taken place as shown in FIGURE 5B. Since the tip 56' includes the weakened regions 57' w-1 and 57' w-2, it is not necessary to include neck 17n of reduced cross section shown in FIGURE IB. While various aspects of the invention have been set forth by the drawings and specification, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed descrip¬ tion is for illustration only and that various changes, as well as the substitution of equivalent constituents shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. OMPI

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A fastener comprising an elongated member having an apertured free end with a weakened region; an apertured housing connected to the other end of said elongated member for receiving the free end there¬ of; and means in said housing for receiving and compress¬ ing said free end about the aperture therein in order to lock said elongated member in said housing. 2. A fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is open at opposed ends thereof to permit the bidirectional entry of said elongated member therein. 3. A fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises a circumferential ring in said housing, which can form a plurality of discrete seg¬ ments, each with a tapered wall, and further including a means associated with said elongated member for guid¬ ing it into said housing, which can comprise a ramp on said free end terminating in a curved surface with ramps on opposite sides thereof. 4. A fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein said aperture in said tip is an elongated slot, which can have an interior profile defined by back-to-back wedges. 5. A fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein said tip has its minimum wall thickness at the intersection of said wedges. 6. A fastener as defined in claim 4 wherein said slot has its maximum width at midlength, and said slot can be asymmetric. 7. A fastener comprising an elongated member having an apertured free end with a weakened region; - an apertured housing connected to the other end of said elongated member for receiving the free end thereof; means in said housing for receiving and compress¬ ing said free end about the aperture therein in order to lock said elongated member in said housing; and means on said free end positioned out of align¬ ment with said weakened region for engaging the receiv¬ ing and expressing means. 8. A fastener as defined in claim 7 wherein said weakened region is closer to the end of said member than the engaging means, thereby to hinder the un¬ authorized removal of said member from said housing after being engaged therein. 9. A fastener as defined in claim 7 wherein the engaging means is closer to the end of said member than said weakened region. 10. A fastener comprising an elongated member having a free end with an aperture therein, said aper¬ ture extending along the axis of elongation of said member and being surrounded by a wall of said free end which has a weakened region with respect to said aperture; an apertured housing connected to the other end of said elongated member and receiving the free end therein; and means in said housing for receiving and compress¬ ing said end at said weakened region in order to lock said elongated member in said housing; whereby the inclusion of said weakened region in the wall surrounding the aperture of said tip facili¬ tates the compression of said tip in said housing.

Inventors: PARADIS JOSEPH R, PARADIS, JOSEPH, R.
Applicants: DENNISON MFG CO, DENNISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B65D33
IPC codes: B65D33, G09F3