Receptacle for quick-release fastener

Abstract: A one-part, front mounted receptacle 1 for a quick-release fastener has a first element 11 which provides a retention mechanism 12 for engaging and retaining a stud of the fastener. A second element 16 having a pair of flexible elongate components 17 is spaced from the first by a bight portion 14 and has a pair of transverse tabs 19 disposed adjacent the bight portion. These are adapted to engage one face 33 of a support 30, in an aperture 31 of which the receptacle is mounted. In use, the bight portion 14 engages the other face 32. A third element 20 is disposed at the opposite end of the second element 16 from the bight portion 14 and has a flexible barb portion 23 arranged to flex on insertion of the receptacle in the aperture and to engage the other face after insertion in order to retain the receptacle in the aperture.

Description: The present invention relates to a receptacle for a quick-release fastener of the type having a stud and receptacle, one of the stud and receptacle having a cam slot or cam slots cooperating with a cross bar, tab or tabs on the other to provide a locking action as the cross bar or tab(s) moves between the first and second positions along the cam slot. Such fasteners are well known, for example, see EP-A-0094150. Fasteners such as that referred to above are usually used to connect a panel or like member to a support member with the stud being held for rotation in an aperture in the panel and the receptacle being held in substantially fixed position in an aperture in the support. Many fasteners of the general type have a receptacle which requires to be fitted from the rear of the support, ie. on the side opposite the panel, but receptacles have been proposed which can be inserted from the front. Insertion from the front simplifies the assembly process and, in certain cases, where there is no access to the rear of the support, may be essential. Such front-mounted receptacles may comprise either a one-part receptacle for simplicity, or a multiple-part receptacle which may be intended to accommodate thickness variations in the support, for example. Examples of such fasteners are to be found in US-A-4 202 390, GB-A-558 744 & FR-A-2 356 035. One part front-mounted receptacles, generally tend to be too stiff to be fitted easily and allow very little accommodation of thickness variation whereas multiple-part devices, whilst overcoming these problems, are generally more expensive to manufacture as they comprise multiple parts. EP-A-0348064 overcomes these problems in large measure, in a two-part front mounted receptacle. However, for thickness variations in the support and simple construction. GB-A-700 061 discloses a front-mounted receptacle for a screw-threaded fastener, having a first element comprising a retention mechanism for engaging and retaining in use a screw; a second element spaced from the first by a bight portion, the second element comprising a pair of flexible elongate components, and a pair of transverse tabs disposed adjacent the bight portion and being adapted to engage one face of a support in an aperture of which the receptacle is mounted in use; and, a third element disposed at the opposite end of the second element from the bight portion and having a flexible barb portion. The invention is characterised over this by the features set out in the characterising part of claim 1. The third element preferably comprises a pair of depending arms, one extending from each of the elongate components of the second portion and the first limb of the barb portion extends outwardly therefrom. The junction between the two limbs of the barb portion may be curved in two planes so as to provide for a smooth engagement of the barb portion with the other face of the support, to prevent damage to the face. The bight portion is preferably attached to the second portion by a lazy-S shaped curved portion to provide a shoulder to engage one side of the aperture on installation of the receptacle. Disposing the transverse tabs adjacent to the bight portion allows the top surface of the receptacle to be sufficiently long to allow flexing during installation and thus accommodation of a modest range of support thicknesses. Spacing the bight portion from the second portion and providing a shoulder to engage one side of the aperture contributes to the ability of the receptacle to be installed and accommodate support thickness ranges. By providing the barb portion with a second limb which extends towards the bight portion, additional guiding can be provided for the stud as it is inserted into the receptacle, the side of the stud engaging the free end of the limb. Two examples of receptacles constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of the first receptacle; Figure 2 is a side view of the first receptacle; Figure 3 is an end view of the first receptacle; Figure 4 is a further side view showing the first receptacle in the installed position; Figure 5 is a plan view of the second receptacle; Figure 6 is a side view of the second receptacle; Figure 7 is an end view of the second receptacle; and Figure 8 is a further side view showing the second receptacle in the installed position. The first and second receptacles shown in, respectively, figures 1 to 4 and figures 5 to 8 are substantially similar and the same reference numerals are used below for convenience. Considering first, the receptacle of figures 1 to 4, the receptacle 1 is formed of spring steel and has a first element 11 which is substantially planar and which carries a stud retention mechanism provided, in this example, by an aperture 12 having a pair of inwardly directed and oppositely opposed tabs 13 which, in use, engage with respective cam slots in a fastener stud (not shown). Such a retention mechanism is well known in the art, see for example EP-A-0348064, and therefore will not be described further. A generally U-shaped bight portion 14 is formed integrally with the first element 11 (as best seen in Figure 2) and connects, via a lazy-S shaped portion 15, with a second element 16. The bight portion 14 and lazy-S shaped portion 15 thus space the first and second elements apart from one another. The second element 16 is generally U-shaped in plan view (see Figure 1), thus providing a pair of flexible elongate components 17 around a generally U-shaped aperture 18. The second element 16 also provides a pair of transversely extending tabs 19. At the end of the second element remote from the bight portion 14, a third element 20 is integrally formed and comprises a pair of depending arms 21, each of which extends directly from an end of a respective one of the flexible components 17 of the second element 16. At the other end, each of the arms 21 is connected to a bridging part 22 which, in turn, carries a barb portion 23 in the form of a leg 24 having a first limb 25 connected to the bridging part 22 and a second limb 26 turned inwardly and extending towards the bight portion 14. The free end 27 of the limb 26 provides, in use, a guide for the stud during its insertion through the U-shaped slot 18 and into the retainer aperture 12. As shown in the Figures, the junction between the two limbs 25, 26 of the leg 24 is curved in two planes so as to provide a rounded surface providing for smooth engagement of the barb portion during insertion of the receptacle as described below. The lazy-S shaped portion 15, provides, in use, a shoulder 28, adjacent the bight portion 14, on the side of the receptacle which is inserted first through an aperture 31 in a support 30 on which the receptacle 1 is to be attached. The bight portion 14 is inserted first through the aperture 31 with the shoulder 28 engaging against one end of the aperture and the receptacle is then rotated (in the direction of the arrow A shown in Figure 4) so that the third element 20 passes through the aperture 31, the leg 24 of the barb 23 flexing inwardly as the third element 20 is pushed through the aperture. Once the movement has proceeded far enough, the barb flexes again in the opposite direction so that the second limb 26 comes to lie, partly against the rear face 32 of the support 30. The tabs 19 engage the top surface 33 of the support 30 on each side of the aperture 31. The top surface 29 (as seen in the figures) of the bight portion 14 engages the rear surface 32 of the support 30 so that a secure fixing of the receptacle 1 in the aperture 31 is achieved. The two elongate components 17 of the first element 16 are able to flex to accommodate different thickness of support 30 as are the lazy-S shaped portion 15 and the barb 23. Once the receptacle has been securely fitted in the aperture in the support it is ready for use. The second receptacle, shown in figures 5 to 8, is substantially identical to the first, except that the barb portion 23 has a shorter second limb 26 (see figure 6).

Claims: A one-part, front mounted receptacle (1) for a quick-release fastener, the receptacle having a first element (11) comprising a retention mechanism (12,13) for engaging and retaining in use a stud of the fastener connected therewith; a second element (16) spaced from the first by a bight portion (14), the second element comprising a pair of flexible elongate components (17), and a pair of transverse tabs (19) disposed adjacent the bight portion and being adapted to engage one face (33) of a support (30) in an aperture (31) of which the receptacle is mounted in use; and, a third element (20) disposed at the opposite end of the second element from the bight portion and having a flexible barb portion (23); characterised in that the bight portion (14) is displaced from the plane of the second element towards the first element so that it can engage the other face (32) of the support (30) when mounted on the support and so that the first element (11) can be disposed remote from and the second element (16) adjacent to the support (30) when the receptacle is mounted on the support; the barb portion (23) has a first limb which extends from the third element (20), away from the first element (11) and the bight portion (14) and towards the plane in which the second element (16) lies, and has a second limb which extends towards the bight portion so that the flexible barb portion (23) can flex on insertion of the receptacle in the aperture and engage the other face (32) of the support thereafter, in order to retain the receptacle in the aperture. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the third element (20) comprises a pair of depending arms (21), one extending from each of the elongate components (17) of the second element (16) and the first limb of the barb portion (23) extends outwardly therefrom. A receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the junction between the two limbs (25,26) of the barb portion (23) is curved in two planes so as to provide for a smooth engagement of the barb portion with the other face (32) of the support, to prevent damage to the face. A receptacle according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bight portion (14) is attached to the second portion (16) by a lazy-S shaped curved portion (15) to provide a shoulder (28) to engage one side of the aperture (31) on installation of the receptacle. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the second limb (26) of the barb portion (23) is adapted to provide a free end (27) forming a guide surface for the stud.

Inventors: BOND DERRIN JOHN, WRIGHT ANDREW CHARLES WALDEN, BOND, DERRIN JOHN, WRIGHT, ANDREW CHARLES WALDEN
Applicants: MCKECHNIE SPECIALIST PRODUCTS, MCKECHNIE SPECIALIST PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F16B5
IPC codes: F16B37