Abstract:
A fastening member is either retentively engaging or contacting a one piece member, and includes a biasing slot therein. A screw extends through the biasing slot and engages at least one biasing member on one side of the slot. The screw extends into the other piece, and rotation of the screw draw the first piece and the second piece together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a self-adjusting fastener and method for using same.  
           [0002]    In many situations it is desirable to be able to draw two pieces toward one another for final attachment. A typical example of this is in the fastening of a top cover to the cabinet of an appliance. The attachment of the top cover to the appliance requires drawing the top cover towards the remainder of the appliance cabinet in such a way that there is no vibration during the operation of the appliance.  
           [0003]    While the attachment of a top cover to an appliance cabinet is one example of the use of the present invention, there can be many other applications where it is desirable to attach two parts together tightly.  
           [0004]    Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved self-adjusting fastener and method for using same.  
           [0005]    A further object is the provision of an improved self-adjusting fastener which requires a minimum of moving parts, and which can draw two pieces together merely by the turn of a screw.  
           [0006]    A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved self-adjusting fastener which is capable of drawing a top cabinet tightly down against the remaining cabinet of an appliance.  
           [0007]    A further object of the present invention is the provision of a self-adjusting fastener and method for using same which is simple to use, economical in manufacture and durable in use.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The foregoing objects may be achieved by a combination of a first part and a second part positioned closely adjacent one another. A fastening member is movably attached to the first part for movement in a first direction away from the second member. A securing member is mounted for movement with respect to the fastening member. A bias member is on the fastening member and engages the securing member. It is adapted to cause the fastening member to move in the first direction in response to movement of the securing member with respect to the fastening member. The fastening member includes a portion thereof engaging the second member and pulling the second member toward the first member in response to movement of the fastening member in its first direction.  
           [0009]    According to one feature of the invention the fastening member is a piece separate from the second piece.  
           [0010]    According to another feature of the invention the fastening member is an integral part of the second piece.  
           [0011]    According to another feature of the present invention the securing member is mounted for rotation with respect to the fastening member and the bias member causes movement of the second member towards the first member in response to the rotation of the securing member.  
           [0012]    According to another feature of the invention the fastening member includes a slot therein and the bias member is adjacent the slot. The securing member extends within the slot and engages the bias member.  
           [0013]    According to another feature of the invention the fastening member includes a guide slot therein. A guide member is connected to the first piece and extends within the guide slot to guide the fastening member for movement in its first direction during rotation of the securing member.  
           [0014]    The present invention may also be used to force two members apart as well as to draw two members together. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appliance having a top cover secured to the cabinet with the self-adjusting fastener of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken along line  22  of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the self-adjusting fastener. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring to the drawings the numeral  10  generally designates a washing machine. Washing machine  10  includes a top cover  12 , cabinet side walls  14  and a cabinet front wall  16 . Front wall  16  is shown with its covering apron  17  cut away so as to expose fastening means of the present invention.  
         [0021]    The top cover  12  includes a side wall  18  (FIG. 2) and an inwardly extending flange  20  which rests upon the top of the cabinet walls  14 ,  16 .  
         [0022]    Fastening member or strap  22  is formed in the shape of a first leg  24  and a second leg  26 . The fastening member or strap  22  is in the form of a plate and includes one face abutting against the cabinet front wall  16  and another opposite face facing outwardly away from the cabinet front wall  16 .  
         [0023]    A guide slot  28  is provided in the bottom of first leg  24 . A bias slot  30  is provided in the upper end of the first leg  24 .  
         [0024]    A guide tab  32  is operatively attached to the front wall  16  and protrudes within the guide slot  28 . The bias slot  30  includes a first bias ridge  34  along one edge of bias slot  30  and protruding in one direction from its front face. A second bias ridge  36  is on the opposite edge of bias slot  30  and is protruding in the opposite direction from the back face of fastening member  22 . The protrusion of the bias ridges  34 ,  36  can best be seen in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    A screw or tightening member  38  extends within bias slot  30  and includes a screw head  40  and a threaded screw shank  42 . Screw shank  42  extends within a screw receiving hole  44  in the front wall  16 . It is possible to have threads on the interior of screw receiving hole  44  as shown in FIG. 3, or it is also possible to provide a member (not shown) on the inside of the front wall  16  and threadably engaging the inner end of shank  42 . It is also possible to use a self tapping screw in the place of screw  38 , in which case hole  44  is modified to accommodate a self tapping screw.  
         [0026]    As can be seen in FIG. 2 the second leg  26  of fastening member  22  engages the upper surface of flange  20  of the top cover  12 . As screw  38  is tightened within slot  30 , the interaction between the first bias ridge  34  and the screw head  40  causes the fastening member  22  to be drawn downwardly in the direction of the arrow indicated by the numeral  58 . The second biasing member  36  does not participate in this interaction, but the use of the fastening member  22  on the left-hand side of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 1 permits the interaction between the screw head  40  and the second biasing ridge  36 . On the left side of appliance  10  the fastening member  22  is reversed with the second leg  26  engaging a flange (not shown) on the left-hand side of the cabinet similar to flange  20 . Thus the fastening member  22  can be used on the right-hand side of the cabinet, in which case first ridge  34  is utilized, or it can be reversed and used on the left-hand side of the cabinet in FIG. 1 with the second ridge  36  being employed. Structure of the fastening member  22  is the same in either case.  
         [0027]    While the use of a screw  38  is shown, other movable or rotatable members could be utilized without detracting from the invention. Similarly, the particular configuration of the bias ridges  33 ,  36  can be varied without detracting from the invention. All that is required is that the fastening member  22  be movable in a downward direction in response to movement or rotation of the screw  38  within the slot  30 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 5 a modified form of the invention is shown. FIG. 5 shows a modified top cover  46  which includes a fastening member  48  formed integrally therewith. The fastening member  48  extends downwardly and includes a biased slot  50  having bias ridges  52 ,  54  on its edges. A guide slot  56  is provided in the bottom of fastening member  48 . The bias ridges  52 ,  54  are the same as set forth in FIGS.  1 - 3 , and the method of operation of the device is the same.  
         [0029]    Rotation of the screw  38  causes the fastening member  48  to be drawn downwardly in the direction of arrow  60 . Because the fastening member is attached to the top cover  46  it draws the top cover downwardly into tight engagement with the top edge of the cabinet front wall  16 .  
         [0030]    The present invention may also be used to force two items apart as well as draw them together. In that application the bias ridges  52 ,  54  are placed on the left side of slot  50 , rather than on the right as shown in the drawings. Rotation of screw  38  in a clockwise direction then causes the parts to be forced apart, rather than drawn together. The same effect can be obtained with the original bias ridges  52 , 54  shown in the drawings by using a reversed threaded screw  30  which, when rotated in a counterclockwise direction causes the parts to be forced apart.  
         [0031]    In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.