Abstract:
A quick connect fastener accessory includes a base plate and lid to enclose an upper end of a quick release pin or fastener, preventing disengagement of the fastener or quick release pin from its engagement and an illumination means integrated within the base plate and connected to a local available low voltage electrical system, the illumination means using low voltage LEDs with a prismatic backplate for maximizing illumination as an accent or as a visual aid.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     A quick connect fastener accessory includes a base plate and lid to enclose an upper end of a quick release pin or fastener, preventing disengagement of the fastener or quick release pin from its engagement and an illumination means integrated within the base plate and connected to a local available low voltage electrical system, the illumination means using low voltage LEDs with a prismatic backplate for maximizing illumination as an accent or as a visual aid. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     A preliminary review of prior art patents was conducted by the applicant which reveal little if any prior art patents in a similar field or having similar use. However, the prior art inventions do not disclose the same or similar elements as the present illuminated secure fastener cover, nor do they present the material components in a manner contemplated or anticipated in the prior art. 
     The primary fastener used with the present secure fastener finds its origin with U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,953 to William Dzus, who invented a spiral turn quick fastener for use in attaching panels to an anchor panel, replacing rivets. Thus, the term Dzus fastener, quarter turn fastener or locking panel pin all define the type of fastener used with the secure fastener as disclosed in the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,091 to Laperle, a multiple component device is disclosed which attaches a box or bag to a vehicle. A three wheeled motorcycle is disclosed as the subject vehicle, and the device includes a frame anchored to the bike and at least two body clips, noted as “quarter-turn clips 240, 244, similar to those adapting for use in the present invention, are illustrated. The present invention involves the same type clips. Several other prior art patent utilize these type clips, including U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,594 to Matthies, a detachable fender panel clip, U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,841 to Van Wyk, a saddlebag wall hanger using these type clips, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,853 to Perrot, disclosing a clip which has a base accepting a quick fastener clip, U.S. Pat. No. 2,555,291 to Poupitch and U.S. Pat. No. 2,504,358 to Swanson. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Panel fasteners have been known in the art for several years, as disclosed above, eventually evolving to the quarter turn or quick application panel fasteners. These fasteners are known as body panel fasteners, trim fasteners, DZUS® fasteners or other trade or generic names. These pins insert primarily through a hole in the applied panel and attach through an aligned hole in an anchor component. Most of these fasteners insert through the aligned holes and are then secure through either rotation, generally a quarter turn, or by the driving of a vertical pin which expands a lower portion to prevent removal. In both instances, these fasteners have been known to unintentionally disengage by vibration or impact, which either causes the fastener to rotate, rip through, or makes the vertical pin back out. The present device is intended to prevent disengagement as a primary purpose. A second intended purpose is to provide an illumination means within the secure fastening device when the secure fastening device is placed in an interior application. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the components of the secure fastening device. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the secure fastening device in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the secure fastening device in an open position exposing a quick fastener used with the secure fastening device. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the secure fastening device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A secure fastener device  10  used with a quick fastener pin  100  generally defining a pin head  102  and a pin shaft  105 , the fastener device  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, the secure fastener device  10  comprising a base member  20 , defining an outer surface  21  having a base recess  22  having a centrally located rear pin aperture  23 , a plurality of spaced dowel holes  50  receiving at least one dowel pin  52 , the base recess  22  further providing a lid anchor socket  24  including axially aligned pin holes  25 , a spring indent  26 , and a lid tab notch  27 , a lateral release pin outlet  29  and a plurality of illumination slots  28 , the secure fastener device  10  also defining an inner surface  30  providing an electrical panel cavity  31 , outer panel slide grooves  92  and a toggle switch portal  34 , a lid  40  defining a pivotal extension  42  fitted for pivotal insertion within the lid anchor socket  24  of the base member  20 , the pivotal extension  42  further providing an axial bore  43 , the lid further defining a lid tab  44 , a lid lock orifice  45  and an inner spring indent  46 , the axial bore  43  of the lid  40  pivotally attached within the lid anchor socket  24  through the axial pivot pin holes  25  by a lid pin  60 , the lid pin  60  traversing a spring loop  63  of a pin spring  62 , the pin spring  62  extending an upper spring arm  64  received with the inner spring indent  46  of the lid  40  and a lower spring arm  65  received within the spring indent  26  of the base recess  22 , and a lid lock pin  70  defining an inner tip  72  extending through the lateral release pin outlet  29  into the base recess  22  and further extending into the lid lock orifice  45  when the lid  40  is closed, the lid lock pin  70  further defining a pin spring and anchor  74  engaged within the lateral release pin outlet  29  and extending an outer pin pull knob  75  to withdraw the inner tip  72  from the base recess  22  and lid lock orifice  45  to release the lid  40  from the base member  20  and also to engage the inner tip  72  within the lid lock orifice  45  to secure the lid  40 . 
     A second embodiment of the secure fastener device  10  provides the same elements as the first embodiment, but additionally including an electrical panel  80  within the electrical panel cavity  31  of the base member  20 , the electrical panel  80  secured within the electrical panel cavity  31  by a panel securing partition  90  having outer margins  92  fitted within the panel slide grooves  32 , the electrical panel  80  defining low voltage connector tabs  82  attaching to wiring from a local low voltage electrical system of a vehicle or other low voltage power supply, the electrical connector tabs  82  further extending low voltage electrical wiring  83  attaching at least one low voltage light  84 , preferably an LED light, the electrical panel further providing a low voltage toggle switch  86  attached to a toggle tab  87  which extends through the toggle switch portal  34  of the base member  20 , the toggle switch  86  turning the at least one low voltage light  84  on or off, the light emitted by the at least one low voltage light  84  passing through the plurality of illumination slots  28  to illuminate the area outside the base member  20 . 
     The lid  40  within the secure fastener device  10  in relationship to the base member  20  includes an open position, shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and a closed position,  FIG. 2 . The lid is spring-loaded due to the inclusion of the pin spring  62  on the lid pin  60 . When the lid lock pin  70  is retracted by pulling on the outer pin pull knob  75  to disengage the inner tip  72  from the lid lock orifice  45 , the lid  40  springs open. The lid  40 , once open, exposes the pin head  102  of the quick fastener pin  100  which projects the pin shaft  105  through the rear pin aperture  23  past the inner surface  30 , the quick fastener pin  100  further performing its intended function to attach body panels together or to attach an object to a body panel. With the lid  40  open, the quick fastener pin  100  is exposed and can be applied or removed. Once the quick fastener pin  100  is installed as intended for use, the pin head  102  is further anchored to prevent movement or rotation through application of the dowel pin  52  within a selected dowel hole  50  blocking rotation of the pin head  102 , shown in  FIG. 3 , and further secured by the closure and locking of the lid  40  within the base recess  22  of the base member  20  and the engagement of the inner tip  72  of the lid lock pin  70  within the lid lock orifice  45 . In the closed position,  FIG. 2 , the lid  40  is fitted within the base recess  22  around its perimeter, with the lid tab  44  fitted within the lid tab notch  27 , the lid  40  closed above the pin head  102  and prohibiting withdrawal or backing out of the quick fastener pin  100  from the secure fastener device  10 . 
     A contemplated primary use of the illuminated embodiment of the secure fastener device  10  is the connection of a luggage bag or carrying container attached to a body panel or frame member of a vehicle, especially a two- or three-wheeled motorcycle or four wheeler. This application is shown in the prior art the multiple uses of quick fastener pins. As used in this specification and the subsequent claims, a quick fastener pin  100  is synonymous with quarter turn fasteners, quick connect pins, body panel fasteners, panel fasteners, DZUS® fasteners, and even pop rivets. 
     The present illuminated quick fastener device  10  was developed and is used to attach saddle bag luggage to a motorcycle. It has been demonstrated that no prior art quick connect fasteners incorporate an illumination device. It is also demonstrated that quick release fasteners as shown in the prior art have unintentionally disengaged and come loose from their anchor. The present secure fastener device  10  accomplishes several improved functions over any known prior art. First, the secure fastener device  10 , when installed with a quick fastener pin  100 , prevents the quick fastener pin  100  from being turned or moved after installation and closure of the lid  40  locked onto the base member  20 . Second, the dowel pin  52  engaged within a appropriate dowel hole  50  stops rotation of the pin head  102  within the base recess  22 . Third, where the secure fastener device  10  is used with the quick fastener pin  100  on the interior of the above example saddle bag luggage, the illuminated embodiment provides a source of illumination within the saddle bag luggage when the secure fastener device  10  is attached to the low voltage electrical system of the motorcycle by auxiliary low voltage wiring connecting the low voltage connector tabs  82  of the electrical panel  80 . 
     Alternative suggested uses include using the secure fastening device with quick fastener pins in exposed application to excessive vibration, darkened compartment panel attachment uses, or high impact proximity panel attachments. Other uses will be evident to those who use quick connect fasteners. While the secure fastener device has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.