VACUUM FIXED ADHESIVELY SECURED FASTENER

Abstract: A vacuum fixed adhesively secured fastener comprises a body member (24) having a vacuum cup (26) for flattening against a substrate (22) to temporarily hold the body member (24) against the substrate (22). A reservoir (32) is adapted to contain a quick setting adhesive (30) which is expelled from the reservoir into the interface (28) between the substrate (22) and the body member as a plunger (45) displaced into the reservoir during flattening of the vacuum cup. The quick setting adhesive secures the body member (24) to the substrate (22). In a modification a plunger (106) is displaced into the reservoir (104) as the fastener is pressed toward the substrate (22) through application of pressure on the plunger (106).

Description: VACUUM FIXED ADHESIVELY SECURED FASTENER Field of Invention This invention relates to adhesively secured fasteners, such as fasteners which may be adhesively 5 secured to a substrate and thereafter utilized to secure another part or parts to the substrate. Cross-Reference to Related Cases This case is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application, serial number 07/086,363 filed August 17, Q 1987 which is a division of application, serial number 800,555 filed November 21, 1985 now U.S. Patent No. 4,693,652 dated September 15, 1987 which was a continuation of U.S. application, serial number 472,084 filed March 4, 1983, now U.S. Patent 4,555,206 dated 5 November 26, 1985 which was a division of U.S. application, serial number 234,777 filed February 11, 1981, now U.S. Patent No. 4,425,065 which was a division of U.S. application, serial number 936,331 filed August 24, 1978 now abandoned, all of which are hereby 20 incorporated by reference. Background of the invention t With the advent of quick setting adhesives, such as adhesives which will cure from a liquid to a solid phase in but a few seconds, increasing attention has been 25 given to utilization of such adhesives in the automotive industry for the attachment of trim or other components to automobile bodies. In a production environment where the SUBSTITUTESHEET ff4 05 Q6 2 OT αa 10 11 body is moving on a conveyor line, and the parts to be * secured are brought to the moving body and but a few ■ j -3 moments are available for securing the parts to the body, j _ a problem has arisen as to how to hold the fasteners to the parts or the automobile body, as the case may be, £ while the quick setting adhesive goes from its liquid ■J_ phase to its solid phase, i.e., changes state sufficiently 1 Q . so that a fastener will be retained. ■ 9 Heretofore it has been common practice to secure Q parts together using adhesives by clamping them for a 2 sufficient length of time that the adhesive could cure or 22 m set. On large or irregularly shaped automotive body 3 panel, clamping the fasteners thereagainst involves a 24 cumbersome inefficient production step best avoided. 25 While fasteners may be temporally secured to the substrate 2g by piercing the substrate and having a portion of the 27 fastener extend through the resulting hole to temporarily 28 lock the fastener to the substrate while adhesive thereon 29 sets, such as shown in the above mentioned related cases, 3Q the resulting perforations of the substrate create serious T J corrosion and other problems. Accordingly, it is desirable 22 to •* oe able to avoid the necessity of clamping fasteners 23 against a body panel without resort to external devices 24 and yet not effect the clamping by virtue of piercing the 3*5 panel. J Q Another problem confronting the fastener designs 37 is the retention of the adhesive in a non-reactive state 38 within or on the fastener and providing some way that the j g. adhesive can be suddenly made reactive and be deposited at Q the point of intended use. 41 42 43 44 Summary of the Invention We have disclosed a fastener utilizing a quick setting adhesive which may be temporarily fixed against a substrate without piercing the same and without the necessity of extraneous clamps to hold the fastener against the substrate while the adhesive sets. We accomplish this by providing the fastener with a vacuum cup. The fastener is also provided with an adhesive reservoir containing the quick setting adhesive. In use, the fastener is pressed against the substrate to flatten the vacuum cup and temporary affix the fastener to the substrate. Simultaneously, the adhesive reservoir is actuated to expel adhesive therefrom into the interface between the fastener body and the substrate. Upon setting of the adhesive, the fastener is securely and permanently attached to the substrate. The construction of the fastener is such that the adhesive is contained within an adhesive reservoir within the fastener so that the fastener may be handled without contaminating the workman or the apparatus prior to actual use of the fastener. Two similar yet different approaches to the design of a fastener embodying the invention is disclosed. The fastener body which is to be adhesively secured to a substrate is formed of a material to which the adhesive will adhere, while the reservoir and means for controlling egress of adhesive therefrom is formed of a material to which the adhesive either will not adhere or will not cause the adhesive to set up while stored therein or in contact therewith. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the fastener; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the fastener applied to a substrate with the vacuum cup flattened thereagainst. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a fastener incorporating the invention; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a female fastener element for use with the fastener shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view through the fastener element of Fig. 7 taken on the line 8-8; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the fastener flattened against a substrate; and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the fastener element of Figs. 7 and 8 attached to the fastener shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and retaining a part to the substrate. Brief Description of the Preferred Embodiments 04 05 06 07 Q8 σ& 1.0 The invention herein disclosed is shown in two II embodiments, the first being shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive 12 and the second in Figs. 5, 6 and 9-11. These two 13 embodiments are generally similar though they differ 14 somewhat in design and construction. The embodiment shown 15 in Figs. 1-4 inclusive will be described first and 16 comprises a vacuum fixed adhesively secured fastener 20 17 for attachment to a substrate 22. The fastener includes a 18 body member 24 having a vacuum cup 26 thereon for 19 flattening against the substrate 22 to temporarily hold 20 the body member thereto. As best shown in Fig. 4, the 21 vacuum cup 26 and the substrate 22 define therebetween an 22 interface 28 into which a quick setting adhesive 30 is 23 inserted, as hereinafter described, for permanently 24 securing the body member to the substrate. 25 The body member 24 contains a reservoir 32 for 26 holding a quick setting adhesive 30a as best shown in Fig. 27 2. In this embodiment the reservoir is defined by a 28 chamber member 38 of generally cylindrical configuration 29 closed by an end wall 40 and provided with an encircling 30 cylindrical side wall 42. The chamber is a press fit 31 within a cylindrical recess or pocket 33 in the body 32 member. The end of the chamber opposite wall 40 is open 33 as at 41 adjacent the interior of the vacuum cup. Such 34 end of the chamber is closed by a wall portion 44 which is 35 displaceable inwardly of the chamber as hereinafter 36 described. 37 The inwardly displaceable wall 44 in the 38 embodiment of Figs. 1-4 comprises a plunger member 45 39 having a circumferential land 46 which in a first position 40 of the plunger shown in Fig. 2 blocks egress of the 41 adhesive 30a from the chamber 38. The plunger is 42 43 44 45 04 05. 06 6 σr αa 09 ll provided, as best shown in Fig. 2 and 3, with one or more 12 adhesive exit passages 48 (12 such being shown in Fig. 3) . 13 . Such passages serve to permit egress of the adhesive 30a 14 within the chamber 38 upon displacement of the plunger 15 from the first position shown in Fig. 2 to a second 16 position shown in Fig. 4. When the land 46 passes through the opening 41 the passages 48 are then exposed to the 18 adhesive 30a within the chamber and the pressure created 1 on the adhesive.as the plunger is moved thereagainst 20 causes the adhesive to be expelled along the passages 48 2i into the interface 28 between the vacuum cup and the 22 substrate 22. 23 In the form shown, the chamber 38 is provided 24 with a beveled surface 50 surrounding its open end. The 25 entrance 52 to the pocket 33 in the fastener body 24 is 2_ Q also tapered to match th taper 50. The chamber 38 with 2 its plunger 45 inserted therein such that the land 46 28 locks the escape of adhesive 30a is pressed into the 2 pocket 33 in the body member to the position shown in Fig. 3 Q 2 at which the tapers 50 and 52 will cooperate to retain 2 the chamber within the body member. 32 T e fastener body 24 should be fabricated from a 33 resilient plastic to permit the expansion of the body 34 member adjacent the opening 52 to permit longitudinal 35 introduction of the chamber 38 thereinto and the 3g* consequent clamping by the body at its taper 52 against 7 the corresponding taper 50 of the chamber 38. In 8 addition, if the body member and vacuum cup are to be made 3 of the same material, the plastic material of which the 40 body member is formed should be sufficiently resilient as to provide for the vacuum cup 26 which must be capable of 42 flattening against the substrate 22 from the position 43 44 04 05 06 07 08 09 ID shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4. The body member 11 24 may be formed of a vinyl plastic having a hardness of 12 Shore A75 plus or minus 2. The plastic selected must be 13 of the type to which the adhesive will adhere when allowed 14 to come into contact therewith. Other suitable plastic 15 may also be used. 16 The plunger 45 and chamber 38 on the other hand 17 should be formed of polypropylene, or any other plastic to 8 which the adhesive will either not adhere or will not 9 cause the adhesive to begin to set up. Thus the material 0 of the reservoir and plunger will be different than the 1 material of the fastener body, and the adhesive is 2 effectively isolated from the fastener body until the 3 adhesive is expelled from the container into contact with 4 the fastener body. 5 To insure uniform distribution of the adhesive 6 as it moves from the reservoir into the interface 28, 7 distributing means are provided comprising a plurality of 8 grooves 56 formed on the underside of the vacuum cup and 9 extending from a point adjacent the opening at the end of 0 the chamber opposite the wall 40 to a point substantially 1 2/3 of the length of the vacuum cup skirt. The length and 2 number of these grooves may be varied in accordance with 3 the designer's requirement. The grooves serve to provide 4 adhesive flow passageways in the interface when the vacuum 5 cup is flattened against the substrate 22 so that the 6 adhesive is substantially uniformly delivered throughout 7 the interface. 8 The adhesive is expelled from the adhesive 9 reservoir by virtue of the end 58 of the plunger butting 0 the substrate 22 as the fastener body 24 is urged toward 1 the substrate to flatten the vacuum cup 26. In the 2 3 4 5 embodiment shown there is sufficient resilience in the chamber 38 and body member 24 and/or sufficient air space within the chamber above adhesive 30a so that the plunger may be displaced into the chamber sufficiently to expose the upper ends of the passages 48 to the adhesive. Once the passages 48 are exposed to the adhesive, the same is expelled along the passages and into the interface as aforesaid during continued flattening of the vacuum cup until the parts have reached the. position shown in Fig. 4 where the plunger is fully inserted into the chamber and the adhesive has been substantially completely expelled and is disposed within the passages 48, the grooves 56 and spread throughout the interface 28. The body member 24 may desirably be shaped to facilitate securement of a part to be fastened to the substrate. As one design, though any number may occur to the fastener designer, the body member may be provided with a head having a tapered surface 60 which expands radially from the top wall 62 to an undercut shoulder 64. The shoulder 64 spaced above the vacuum cup 26 to provide a generally cylindrical area 66. A complimentary female fastener element 68 (see Figs. 7 and 8) is intended to be snapped down over the head 60 to result in a coupling similar to that shown in Fig. 11. The female element is generally hat-shaped having a brim portion 70 intended to surround the adhesively secured fastener and abut the part 72 to be held against the substrate 22.' The brim 70 is a continuous annulus having a crown portion 74 terminating in an internal lip 76. The lip has a catch surface 78 and a camming wedge surface 80. The crown 74 is desirably slit such as at the four kerfs 82, 84, 86 and 88 which extend from adjacent the brim 70 across the wall thickness tt4 σs Q6 07 αa 09* 10 of the crown 74. The female element 68 may be formed of II any suitable plastic such as a polycarbonate or the like. 12 The female element 68 is snapped over the 13 fastener body 24 by pressing the female element down over 14 the head. The camming wedge surface 80 will engage the 15 sloping surface of the body member and cause the crown 74 16 to spread at the kerfs 82, 84, 86 and 88 until the lip 76 7 snaps beneath the shoulder 64 locking the female element 8 on the head of the fastener body. The brim 70 will bear 9 against the part 72 securing it to the substrate. In the 0 embodiment illustrate in Fig. 11 which is representative 1 of an application for the invention herein disclosed, an 2 insulating matt or the like may represent the part 72 3 secured to the substrate. 4 In the second embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6, 9- 5 11, the fastener body 24' is provided with a vacuum cup 6 26*. The body 24' has an internal through aperture 100 7 opening from the top 102 into the vacuum cup interior at 8 the opposite end. Within the opening 100 is disposed an 9 adhesive reservoir having a displaceable wall. The 0 adhesive reservoir in the illustrated embodiment comprises 1 a cup-shaped chamber 104 closed at one end and open at the 2 opposite end within which is slideably received a plunger 3 106 comprising the displaceable wall of the reservoir 4 above mentioned. The chamber 104 ' is provided adjacent its 5 closed end with side opening apertures 108. The chamber 6 is longitudinally shiftable in the body member 24 ' between 7 a first position shown in Fig. 6 and a second position 8 shown in Fig. 10. In the Fig. 6 position the side opening 9 ports 108 are blocked by the encircling wall of the body 0 member 24' while in the position shown in Fig. 10 the 1 ports are unblocked so that adhesive in the chamber 104 2 3 4 5 (14 05 10 06 or αa 09* LQ may be expelled into the vacuum cup and specifically the LI interface between the vacuum cup and the substrate 22 as 12 shown at 30'. 13 In use, the adhesive 30a* is trapped within the 14 chamber 104 so as not to contaminate the workman or the 15 parts. When it is desired to apply the fastener to a 16 substrate, tiie vacuum cup 26' is placed against the 17 substrate and the plunger 106 is depressed urging it into 18 the chamber 104. This pressurizes the adhesive within the 19 chamber and causes the chamber itself to be displaced 20 toward the substrate. During such displacement, the 21 vacuum cup is flattened against the substrate and at the 22 same time the adhesive 30a 1 is expelled through the ports 23 108 and into the interface between the vacuum cup and the 24 substrate. While not shown in this second embodiment, 25 grooves similar to the grooves 56 shown in the first -~~~ embodiment may be provided in the underside of the vacuum 27 cup's skirt to facilitate distribution of the adhesive 28 throughout the interface. It is will be noted 29 particularly in Fig. 10 that the body member 24* has an 30 enlarged counterbore portion 110 which surrounds the open 3 inner end of the through aperture 100 thereby facilitating 22 expulsion of the adhesive from the reservoir. 33 The body member 24' may be provided with a head 34 60' generally similar to that of the first embodiment for 25 cooperation with a female fastener such as element 68 36 shown in Figs. 7 and 8. 37 By way of example, but not by way of limitation, 38 if the adhesive to be used is an anaerobic, 3M Scotch-Grip 3 ^ #2353 manufactured by Minnesota Mining Manufacturer may 0 be used. If the adhesive is a cyanoacrylate, Loctite 414, 41 manufactured by Loctite Corporation, Newington, 42 43 44 Connecticut may be used. If an epoxy resin is desired, Goodrich E 2102B, E2101A or E2101B manufactured by B.V. Goodrich Chemical Co., Cleveland, Ohio. A suitable urethane adhesive may be purchased from UPACO, Adhesive, Inc. 3 E. Spitbrook Road, Nashua, New Hampshire.

Claims: 04 05 12 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 CLAIMS 13 14 15 1. A vacuum fixed adhesively secured fastener for lδ attachment to a substrate comprising, in ~- ~ combination: 18 a body member having a vacuum cup thereon for 19 flattening against a substrate to temporarily 20 hold the body member thereto and defining an 2-* * interface therebetween; 22 a reservoir on the body member for containing 23 a quick setting adhesive; 24 plunger means on the body member cooperating 25 with the reservoir for displacement thereinto as 2 - the vacuum cup is flattened; and 7 the volume of the reservoir being reduced as 28 the plunger means is displaced thereinto to 29 expel adhesive in the reservoir into the 30 interface between the body member and a 3i substrate against which the vacuum cup is 32 flattened. 33 34 35 2. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized 3δ by valve means for controlling egress of 37 adhesive from the reservoir into said interface. 38 39 3. The invention defined by claim 2 characterized 0 in that said valve means is responsive to 4 ***- displacement of said plunger means to allow 42 43 44 04 05 06 13 07 0,8. 09 egress of adhesive from the reservoir into the 10 11. said interface. 12 The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said 13 reservoir is formed of a material non-reactive 14 with the adhesive to be contained. 15 16 The invention defined by claim 1 wherein 17 distributing means are provided for receiving 18 adhesive expelled from the reservoir and 19 distributing it throughout said interface. 0 1 The invention defined by claim 5 wherein valve 2 means is provided between the reservoir and said 3 distributing means and responsive to 4 displacement of the plunger means to allow 5 escape of adhesive from the reservoir into the 6 distributing means. 7 8 The invention defined by claim 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 9 wherein said plunger means is arranged with an 0 end portion disposed to abut a substrate against 1 which the vacuum cup is to be flattened, and 2 said plunger means is displaced relative to the 3 body member to expel adhesive from the reservoir 4 as the vacuum cup is flattened. 5 6 The invention defined by claim 7 wherein the end 7 of the plunger means disposed to abut the 8 substrate as the vacuum cup is flattened is 9 disposed within the vacuum cup. 0 1 The invention defined by claim 7 wherein said 2 3 4 5 plunger means is arranged with an end portion exposed for depression in flattening the vacuum cup against a substrate. 10. The invention defined by claim 9 wherein said exposed end portion of the plunger means is disposed for depression at the opposite side of the body member from the vacuum cup. 11. A vacuum fixed adhesively secured fastener for attachment to a substrate comprising, in combination: a body member having a vacuum cup thereon for flattening against a substrate to temporarily hold the body member thereto and defining an interface therebetween; said body member having therein an adhesive reservoir for containing a quick setting adhesive; said reservoir having a wall portion for inward displacement as the vacuum cup is flattened against a substrate to pressurize adhesive in the reservoir; and valve means for controlling egress of adhesive from the reservoir and responsive to displacement of said wall portion for allowing escape of adhesive into the interface between the vacuum cup and a substrate against which the vacuum cup is flattened. 12. The invention defined by claim 11 wherein means are provided for receiving adhesive expelled from said reservoir and directing the adhesive 04 05 15 06 07 08 09 in determined paths through the interface 10 between the vacuum cup and a substrate against 11 which the vacuum cup is flattened. 12 13 13. The invention defined by claim 11 or 12 wherein 14 said wall portion for inward displacement 15 comprises a plunger having an end portion 16 disposed for abutment against a substrate 17 against which the vacuum cup is flattened. 18 19 14. The invention defined by claim 11 or 12 wherein 20 said wall portion for inward displacement 21 comprising a plunger having an end portion 22 exposed beyond the body member opposite said 23 vacuum cup to be displaced toward the reservoir 24 as the vacuum cup is flattened against a 25 substrate. 26 27 15. The invention defined by claim 11 wherein said 28 adhesive reservoir comprises a chamber member 29 shiftably mounted in the body member and having 30 an adhesive egress post adjacent the vacuum cup, 31 said chamber member being shiftable between a 32 first position in which said port is blocked and 33 a second position in which it is open, and said 34 chamber member being shiftable from the first to 35 the second position during inward displacement 6 of said wall portion. 7 8 16. The invention defined by claim 11 wherein said 9 adhesive reservoir comprises a chamber open at 0 one end facing the vacuum cup, said wall portion 1 comprises a plunger shiftably disposed in said 2 3 4 5 Q4 05 16 06 07 08 09 10 open end and projecting through the vacuum cup and having a circumferential land disposed to 11 12 block the opening when the plunger is disposed in a first position, said plunger having an exit 13 passage for discharging adhesive from the 14 chamber when the plunger has been shifted to a 15 second position, and said plunger having an end 16 for abutting a substrate against which the 17 vacuum cup is to be flattened and displacing the 18 plunger from the first to the second position 19 during such flattening. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Inventors: MEYER ENGLEBERT A, SWEENEY THEODORE J, MEYER, ENGLEBERT, A., SWEENEY, THEODORE, J.
Applicants: MEYER ENGLEBERT A, SWEENEY THEODORE J, MEYER, ENGLEBERT, A., SWEENEY, THEODORE, J.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16B13
IPC codes: F16B5, F16B11, F16B13, F16B21, F16B39, F16B47