Abstract:
A fastener device for fastening two or more objects together, and more particularly a fastener device of the type that incorporates a pin having an undulating section and a corresponding mating housing having a resilient biasing member for fixing the mating housing along a desired position on the pin. The mating housing can be caused to permanently lock onto the pin or can be removable from the pin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/115,819, filed May 25, 2011, now pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/937,356, filed Oct. 11, 2010, abandoned, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/123,783, filed on Apr. 11, 2008, the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this disclosure as if set forth fully herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Fasteners are generally discussed herein for fastening two or more objects together and more particularly to fasteners of the type that incorporate a pin having a serrated section and a corresponding mating housing having a resilient biasing member for fixing the pin. 
         [0004]    II. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Fasteners are well known in the art for securing two or more objects together include screws, bolts and nuts combination, rivets and the like. While prior art fasteners continue to be used for fastening two or more objects together, there remains a need for improved fastening devices for everyday and specialty applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one broad aspect of the present invention, the fastener device described herein comprises a pin, a corresponding mating housing, and a canted coil spring member. The pin includes a pin head, a first shank section, and a second shank section between the pin head and the first shank section. In one exemplary embodiment, the first shank section is generally serrated and includes a frustoconical tip for facilitating insertion into the mating housing. The serration is formed by two or more spaced apart flanges or threads on the first shank section, which define a plurality of grooves for mating engagement with the mating housing, as further discussed below. The first flange is preferably integrated with the frustoconical section. An alternative pin may be provided that incorporates a plurality of sloped recessed sections in between two adjacent flanges. The sloped recessed sections facilitate advancement of the mating housing over the pin to engage the two during use. The mating housing may engage with any one of the plurality of grooves to thus provide for a degree of freedom or flexibility when using the fastener to couple two or more objects together of different sizes. 
         [0007]    The mating housing generally comprises a housing groove for accommodating the canted coil spring. As is readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the mating housing is generally cylindrical in shape and has a hollow cavity resembling a nut. The characteristics of canted coil spring may be manipulated by the geometry of the housing groove. Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the mating housing may incorporate grooves of different geometries to vary the radial, axial, or both radial and axial forces exerted by the canted coil spring when holding two objects together. 
         [0008]    The canted coil spring may be described as a radial canted coil spring and comprises a coil height axis and a coil width axis. The canted coil spring comprises a plurality of coils and is a garter-type-spring with two single coils, one above and one below the pin. The plurality of coils are canted along a same direction relative to a plane normal to a centerline of the spring axis. To couple the mating housing to the pin, the mating housing is pushed over the frustoconical section of the pin to deflect or compress the canted coil spring along the coils&#39; height axes, thus permitting the mating housing to travel over the frustoconical section and the flange(s) until the housing abuts against an object to be secured. At this point, the canted coil spring expands to the constraint of the pin groove and restrains the mating housing to the pin. 
         [0009]    The fastener in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be used to fasten, hold, or position two or more objects together. In one embodiment, an object to be held may be secured between two end plates by the fastener device, for example such as a gasket held between two flanges or a body tissue or bone segment held between two medically acceptable plates. Alternatively, the two end plates may be secured to one another without an object in between. For example, one end plate could be a lid and another end plate could be a rim or flange of a container for securing the lid to the container. 
         [0010]    The canted coil spring and the housing groove of the mating housing are selected such that when the canted coil spring is engaged in the pin groove, an axial force is generated by the canted coil spring on one of the flanges in a distal direction, towards the frustoconical section. Because the object to be held is constrained between the two end plates, the pin head, and the housing contact surface, the axial force exerts a corresponding compressive force on the object, referred to herein as a pre-load force. The characteristics of the canted coil spring and the groove configuration of the housing groove may be selected to provide a predetermined pre-load force on the object, albeit within a predictive and/or tailored range. 
         [0011]    A removal tool may be used to disengage the mating housing from the pin. The removal tool is preferably a hollow cylindrical device comprising a push end configured for compressing the canted coil spring to disengage the same from the pin groove, for example, to remove the object from between the two end plates. The removal tool is preferably made from a metallic material (such as stainless steel) having a wall thickness of sufficient size to project between the pin and the opening on the mating housing to compress the canted coil spring. To ensure that the canted coil spring is removable from the groove, the axis of the coil width, referred to herein as the major axis, is positioned above (or outside) the outer perimeter of the flanges, or of the frustoconical section if the canted coil spring is seated in a groove adjacent thereto. This allows the push end of the removal tool to contact a portion of the spring that deflects when exerted by a force. At this point, the mating housing may be retracted away from the pin to free the pin from its constraint with the mating housing. 
         [0012]    According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, a fastener device may be provided that includes a mating housing formed from two or more housing parts that are separately formed and subsequently welded together, machined from a billet of metal, or molded from a polymer plastic. A pair of axial slots are formed in the mating housing for receiving a pair of keys. The pair of keys are configured to traverse along the two axial slots to delimit movement of the canted coil spring. In one exemplary embodiment, a pin may be incorporated on each key to provide visual indicia of the position of the two keys. 
         [0013]    In use, an object to be held is placed in between the two end plates and the pin is inserted through aligned bores provided within the endplates, the bores each dimensioned to receive the pin therethrough. The mating housing is then inserted over the frustoconical section of the pin and moved proximally until the housing contact surface abuts one of the end plates. The two keys are then moved into a locked position so that their sloped surfaces rest against the spring to delimit movement of the spring within the housing groove. As the spring is an axial canted coil spring, a spring force is exerted against the groove side wall and the flange adjacent the pin groove in which the spring is positioned. This in turn provides a pre-load force on the object. 
         [0014]    To release the object from the fastener device, the two keys are moved to an unlocked position to permit movement of spring within the housing groove. The mating housing can now be moved distally, which causes the spring to expand radially outward when it travels over a flange, until the mating housing separates from the pin. 
         [0015]    According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, a fastener device may be provided having a mating housing further comprising a housing groove having a spring positioned therein. In one exemplary embodiment, one of the side walls of the groove comprises a slope dimensioned and configured to turn the axis of the spring defined by the coil height or coil width to about 45 degrees of its normal position. The spring incorporated herein may be an axial canted coil spring or a radial canted coil spring. The spring turn angle in combination with the sloped recessed sections of the pin fixedly secures the mating housing to the pin without the possibility of compressing the canted coil spring to release the same from the pin groove. 
         [0016]    According to a fourth broad aspect of the present invention, a fastener device may be provided having a mating housing incorporating a housing groove for receiving a canted coil spring, and a cylindrical overhang or shroud defining a proximally facing cavity. Two cylindrical bosses are formed into the groove end wall for receiving two helical springs, one in each boss. The two helical springs are aligned such that their axes are parallel to the axis of the pin, and are configured to exert an axial force on a removal tool to bias the removal tool proximally away from the groove end wall. After the removal tool is used to compress the canted coil spring to remove the mating housing from the pin, the two helical springs return the tool to its ready position. In an alternative embodiment, a garter-type canted spring may be used instead of the two helical springs to bias the removal tool in the proximal direction. 
         [0017]    According to a fifth broad aspect of the present invention, a fastener device may be provided having a mating housing incorporating a first housing section threadedly engaged to a second housing section and forming a housing groove therebetween. More specifically, a first housing section is provided with an end wall having a cylindrical cylinder that functions as a threaded collar for threaded engagement with a sloped second housing section having external threads for threaded engagement with the internal threads on the threaded collar. The second housing section comprises a lip section and a sloped cone section for forming a sloped housing grove, which serves to rotate the angle of the canted coil spring to then impart both a radial force and an axial force. 
         [0018]    To remove the pin from the housing once inserted as described with previous aspects above, the second housing section is configured to be rotated relative to the first housing section to move the second housing section distally to thereby enlarge the housing groove. Thus, the housing groove is variable and is configured to expand to provide sufficient circumferential clearance for the canted coil spring to expand into as the housing groove is expanded distally (i.e. towards the frustoconical section). Thus, the canted coil spring is able to move over the flanges, and the pin is removed from the object and end plates. 
         [0019]    According to a sixth broad aspect of the present invention, a fastener device may be provided having a mating housing incorporating a variable housing groove for retaining a canted coil spring in either an active position or an inactive position. The mating housing comprises a first housing part, which comprises two coaxial cylinders connected to one another by an end plate. The two cylinders define an annular space therebetween for receiving two or more spaced apart compression springs. A ring comprising a sloped edge is positioned in the annular space adjacent the plurality of compression springs, which normally bias the ring distally towards an end plate. The ring further comprises a pair of bosses for receiving a pair of pins, which project in a radially outward direction relative to the housing centerline or the axis defined by the pin. The two pins are configured to slide or traverse along two axially oriented channels located on the outer cylinder of the first housing part. 
         [0020]    An outer activation ring is coaxially disposed over the first housing part and is rotatable relative to the first housing part. In one exemplary embodiment, the outer activation ring incorporates a pair of slots for receiving the two pins. The two opposing surfaces of the slots function as cam surfaces for moving the two pins from a proximal most position to a distal most position to expand the housing groove. Movement of the two pins correspondingly move the ring comprising the wedge surface, which in turn enlarges or reduces the housing groove depending on the pin position. 
         [0021]    To remove the pin from the mating housing, the activation ring is rotated to move the two pins from a proximal most position to a distal most position to retract the wedge ring within the annular groove. Doing so will allow the canted coil spring to deflect and expand when moving the canted coil spring distally and over the flange. Once the mating housing is fully separated from the pin, the pin can slide out of the aligned bores of the two end plates and the object may be removed from in between end plates. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-5  are cross-sectional views of a representative fastener provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention in various stages of engagement and disengagement between a pin and a mating housing. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention, which shows a pin with a plurality of sloped pin grooves. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7-10  are cross-sectional views of a representative fastener provided in accordance with yet other aspects of the present invention in various stages of engagement and disengagement between a pin and a mating housing. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 11-13  are cross-sectional views of yet another fastener embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention in various stages of assembly between a pin and a mating house. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 15-18  are cross-sectional views of still yet another fastener embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention in various stages of engagement and disengagement between a pin and a mating house. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 19-23  are cross-sectional views of still yet another fastener embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention in various stages of engagement and disengagement between a pin and a mating house. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 24-30  are cross-sectional views of yet another fastener embodiment provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention in various stages of engagement and disengagement between a pin and a mating house. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of fasteners for latching and locking two or more objects together at a variable distance apart. The fasteners are provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the fasteners of the present invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments and are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, especially those incorporating a combination of features shown in the different embodiments included herein. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a cross-sectional view of one example of a fastener device  10  provided according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this first embodiment, the fastener device  10  comprises a pin  12  and a corresponding mating housing  14 . The pin  12  includes a pin head  16  ( FIG. 3 ), a first shank section  18  on a distal end of the pin  12  furthest from the pin head  16 , and a second shank section  20 , which is located on the proximal end of the pin  12  between the pin head  16  and the first shank section  18 . In one exemplary embodiment, the first shank section  18  is generally serrated and includes a frustoconical tip  22  for facilitating insertion into the mating housing  14 . The serration is formed by two or more spaced apart flanges or threads  24  on the first shank section  18 , which define a plurality of grooves  26  for mating engagement with the mating housing  14 , as further discussed below. The first flange  24  is preferably integrated with the frustoconical section. The mating housing  14  may engage with any one of the plurality of grooves  26  to thus provide for a degree of freedom or flexibility when using the fastener  10  to couple two or more objects together of different sizes. Alternatively, the pin  12  may be sized and dimensioned for a specific application and therefore incorporates a single groove  26 . 
         [0032]    In one exemplary embodiment, the mating housing  14  comprises a housing groove  28  for accommodating a canted coil spring  30 . As is readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the mating housing  14  is generally cylindrical in shape and has a hollow cavity resembling a nut. In the cross-sectional view shown, the housing groove  28  comprises two side walls  29   a ,  29   b  that are generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the pin  12  and a back wall  29   c . Although the back wall  29   c  is shown comprising a slope, the back wall  29   c  may be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin  12  and one or both side walls  29   a ,  29   b  may be sloped relative to the longitudinal axis. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,961,253; 4,826,144; 4,804,290; 5,545,842; 5,411,348; 4,678,210; 5,139,276; 5,108,078; 5,082,390; and 5,239,737, the contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference, the characteristics of canted coil spring  30  may be manipulated by the geometry of the housing groove  28 . Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the mating housing  14  may incorporate grooves of different geometries to vary the radial, axial, or both radial and axial forces exerted by the canted coil spring  30  when holding two objects together. 
         [0033]    In one exemplary embodiment, the canted coil spring  30  is more explicitly described as a radial canted coil spring and comprises a coil height axis and a coil width axis, also shown and defined in  FIG. 4 . The canted coil spring  30  comprises a plurality of coils and is a garter-type-spring with two single coils shown, one above and one below the pin  12 . The plurality of coils are canted along a same direction relative to a plane normal to a centerline of the spring axis. To couple the mating housing  14  to the pin, the mating housing  14  is pushed over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  12  to deflect or compress the canted coil spring  30  along the coils&#39; height axes, thus permitting the mating housing  14  to travel over the frustoconical section  22  and the flange(s)  24  until the housing  14  abuts against an object to be secured, as further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 3 . At this point, the canted coil spring  30  expands to the constraint of the pin groove  26  and restrains the mating housing  14  to the pin  12  ( FIGS. 1B and 1C ). 
         [0034]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the fastener  10  in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be used to fasten, hold, or position two or more objects together. In the embodiment shown, an object  32  to be held may be secured between two end plates  34  by the fastener device  10 , for example such as a gasket held between two flanges or a body tissue or bone segment held between two medically acceptable plates. Alternatively, the two end plates  34  may be secured to one another without an object in between. For example, one end plate could be a lid and another end plate could be a rim or flange of a container for securing the lid to the container. 
         [0035]    In one exemplary embodiment, the canted coil spring  30  and the housing groove  28  of the mating housing  14  are selected such that when the canted coil spring  30  is engaged in the pin groove  16 , an axial force is generated by the canted coil spring  30  on one of the flanges  24  in a distal direction, towards the frustoconical section  22 . Because the object  32  to be held is constrained between the two end plates  34 , the pin head  16 , and the housing contact surface  36 , the axial force exerts a corresponding compressive force on the object  32 , referred to herein as a pre-load force. As disclosed in the patents referenced above, the canted coil spring  30  characteristics and the groove configuration of the housing groove  28  may be selected to provide a predetermined pre-load force on the object  32 , albeit within a predictive and/or tailored range. 
         [0036]    Although shown and described herein throughout as distinct articles, specific embodiments of the fastener device may include a mating housing including a housing contact surface  36  that is attached to or integrally formed with one of the end plates  34 . This feature is contemplated in connection with the present embodiment as well as all aspects and embodiments of the fastener device described below. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in one exemplary embodiment, a removal tool  38  may be used to disengage the mating housing  14  from the pin  12 . The removal tool  38  is preferably a hollow cylindrical device comprising a push end  40  configured for compressing the canted coil spring  30  to disengage the same from the pin groove  26  ( FIG. 3 ), for example, to remove the object  32  from between the two end plates  34 . The removal tool  38  is preferably made from a metallic material (such as stainless steel) having a wall thickness of sufficient size to project between the pin  12  and the opening on the mating housing  14  to compress the canted coil spring  30 . To ensure that the canted coil spring  30  is removable from the groove  26 , the axis of the coil width, referred to herein from time to time as the major axis, is positioned above (or outside) the outer perimeter of the flanges  24 , or of the frustoconical section  22  if the canted coil spring  30  is seated in a groove adjacent thereto. This allows the push end  40  of the removal tool  38  to contact a portion of the spring  30  that deflects when exerted by a force. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 4  with the removal tool  38  inserted to fully disengage the spring  30  from the groove  26 . At this point, the mating housing  14  may be retracted away from the pin  12  to free the pin  12  from its constraint with the mating housing  14 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of one example of an alternative fastener device  42  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The fastener device  42  comprises a mating housing  14  comprising a housing groove  28  for accommodating a canted coil spring  30  and a pin  44 . However, rather than incorporating a uniform nominal pin diameter, the alternative pin  44  incorporates a plurality of sloped recessed sections  46  in between two adjacent flanges. The sloped recessed sections  46  facilitate advancement of the mating housing  14  over the pin to engage the two during use. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 7-10  are cross-sectional side views of one example of yet another fastener device  48  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the fastener device  48  comprises a pin  12  and a mating housing  50  comprising a spring  52  (formed of a plurality of spring coils) disposed therein. The spring  52  is preferably an axial canted spring in that the spring coils are axially compressible relative to the axis of the spring ring. The mating housing  50  comprises a housing groove  28 , which in the embodiment shown has a square configuration. The mating housing  50  may be made from two or more housing parts that are separately formed and subsequently welded together, machined from a billet of metal, or molded from a polymer plastic. A pair of axial slots  54  are formed in the mating housing  50  for receiving a pair of keys  56 . The pair of keys  56  are configured to traverse along the two axial slots  54  to delimit movement of the spring  52 , as further discussed below. In one exemplary embodiment, a pin  58  may be incorporated on each key to provide visual indicia of the position of the two keys  56 . For example, when the two keys  56  are moved in the proximal direction towards the pin head ( FIG. 9 ), the position provides a visual feedback indicating that the spring  52  is now locked in position. 
         [0041]    In practice, the two keys  56  may be part of a cylinder, plate, or cam mechanism for cooperating with the outside of the mating housing  50  to move in between a locked and an unlocked position. For example, means may be incorporated that can be rotated clockwise to advance the keys  56  to a locked position and rotated counter-clockwise to unlock the keys. Alternatively, means may be incorporated that can be pushed to move the keys to a locked position and pulled to unlock the keys. Preferably, the means engages the mating housing  50  to secure the keys  56  in the locked position until it is desired to unlock the keys. The two keys  56  each comprise a sloped surface  57  for facilitating movement of the keys over the spring  52  in the locked position ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  shows the two keys  56  retracted distally away from the spring  52  and available space  54  above the spring within the housing groove  28  to accommodate the spring as it expands when moving across the flange  24 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  shows the fastener device  48  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention securing an object  32  to be held in between two end plates  34 . With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , this may be accomplished by first placing the object  32  in between the two end plates  34  and inserting the pin  12  through aligned bores  35  provided within the endplates  34 , the bores  35  each dimensioned to receive the pin  12  therethrough. The mating housing  50  is then inserted over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  12  and moved proximally until the housing contact surface  36  abuts one of the end plates  34 . The two keys  56  are then moved into a locked position so that their sloped surfaces  57  rest against the spring  52  to delimit movement of the spring within the housing groove  28 . As the spring  52  is an axial canted coil spring, a spring force is exerted against the groove side wall and the flange  24  adjacent the pin groove  26  in which the spring is positioned. This in turn provides a pre-load force on the object  32  to be held. 
         [0044]    To release the object  32  from the fastener device  48 , the two keys  56  are moved to an unlocked position (i.e., moved distally) to permit movement of spring  52  within the housing groove  28 . The mating housing  50  can now be moved distally, which causes the spring to expand radially outward when it travels over a flange, until the mating housing  50  separates from the pin  12 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 11-14  provide an example of a fastener device  60  provided in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention. Fastener device  60  comprises a pin  62  and a mating housing  64 , the mating housing  64  further comprising a housing groove  66  having a spring  68  positioned therein. In one exemplary embodiment, one of the side walls of the groove comprises a slope dimensioned and configured to turn the axis of the spring defined by the coil height or coil width to about 45 degrees of its normal position. The spring  68  incorporated herein may be an axial canted coil spring or a radial canted coil spring. As further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 13 , the spring turn angle in combination with the sloped recessed sections  46  of the pin  62  fixedly secures the mating housing  64  to the pin  62  without the possibility of compressing the canted coil spring  68  to release the same from the pin groove. 
         [0046]    As shown, the pin  62  incorporates a plurality of sloped recessed sections  46  in between adjoining flanges  24 . When cooperating with the housing groove  66 , the sloped recessed sections  46  of the pin  62  and the housing groove  66 , and more particularly the sloped housing groove, ensure both an axial force component for pre-loading and a locking position so that the spring cannot be compressed to disengage from the pin groove  26 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 12  shows the spring  68  being compressed as it travels over the flange  24 . Although not shown, the spring  68  returns to its more relaxed or decompressed state when it travels past the flange and into a pin groove  24  and again is compressed when it travels over the second flange  24  and so forth. 
         [0048]      FIG. 13  shows the fastener device  60  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention securing an object  32  to be held in between two end plates  34 . With reference to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , this may be accomplished by first placing the object to be held  32  in between the two end plates  34  and inserting the pin  62  through aligned bores  35  formed within each end plate  34 , the bores  35  each dimensioned to allow passage of the pin  62  therethrough. The mating housing  64  is then inserted over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  62  and moved proximally until the housing contact surface  36  abuts one of the end plates  34 . At this point, the fastener device  60  is sized so that the canted coil spring  68  expands within one of the grooves  26  and against one of the flanges  24 . Because the canted coil spring  68  is in contact with two sloped surfaces, one on the mating housing  64  and one on the pin  62 , an axial force is exerted on the pin to create a pre-load on the object  32 . 
         [0049]    Unlike the fastener device  10  of  FIGS. 1-4 , the spring  68  cannot be compressed to disengage from the groove  26  using a similar removal device. As shown, the axes defined by the longer widths of the two individual coils are positioned below (or inside) the outer perimeter of the flange  24 . Hence, a removal tool (such as the one shown in  FIG. 4 ) cannot be used to lift the spring  68  above the flange  24  to disengage the spring same from the groove  26 . Thus, unless a removal force that is sufficient to destroy the spring  68  is applied to the mating housing  64  to disengage the housing from the pin  62 , the fastener  60  is of a permanent type that cannot be disengaged once the mating housing  64  is engaged to the pin  62 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  shows an example of another alternative fastener device  70  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention which comprises a mating housing  72  comprising a groove  74  and a pin  62 . In one exemplary embodiment, the groove  74  incorporates two side walls, both of which are normal to the axis of the pin  62 , and a sloped back wall, which slopes relative to the axis of the pin  62 . Like the fastener device  60  of  FIG. 13 , the sloped back wall and the sloped recessed section of the pin  62  orients the axis defined by the longer width of the spring below the flange  24 . Thus, the canted coil spring  68  becomes permanently secured to the groove  26  and cannot be lifted to disengage the mating housing  72  from the pin  62 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 15-18  are cross-sectional side views of an example of an alternative fastener device  76  provided in accordance with yet another embodiment of present invention. As shown in  FIG. 15 , fastener device  76  comprises a mating housing  78  engageable with a pin  80 . In the embodiment shown, the mating housing  78  incorporates a housing groove  82  for receiving a spring  84 , which is preferably an axial canted coil spring, and a cylindrical overhang or shroud  86  defining a proximally facing cavity  88 . In the embodiment shown, two cylindrical bosses  90  are formed into the groove end wall  92  for receiving two helical springs  94 , one in each boss. In the example shown, the two helical springs  94  are aligned such that their axes are parallel to the axis of the pin  80 , and are configured to exert an axial force on a removal tool  96  to bias the removal tool proximally away from the groove end wall  92 . As further discussed below, after the removal tool is used to compress the canted coil spring  84  to remove the mating housing  78  from the pin, the two helical springs  94  return the tool to its ready position, shown in  FIG. 15 . In an alternative embodiment, a garter-type canted spring may be used instead of the two helical springs  94  to bias the removal tool in the proximal direction. 
         [0052]    In one exemplary embodiment, the removal tool  96  comprises a generally cylindrical end plate  100  and a cylindrical cylinder  102  having a diameter or opening sufficiently large to receive the pin  80 . A pair of retaining arms  98  extend distally from the end plate  100  and slightly inwardly from the outer perimeter of the end plate to create an overhang section  86 , which is configured to be biased by the two helical springs  94 . The two retaining arms  98  pass through a pair of slots formed in the mating housing  78  and are retained to the housing by detents or other known means in the prior art for preventing the removal tool  96  from being displaced from the mating housing  78 . 
         [0053]    A blunt nose section  104  is incorporated at the distal tip of the pin  80 , distal of the frustoconical section  22 . The pin further comprises a plurality of grooves  106  comprising both a constant diameter section and a sloped section and a plurality of flanges  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the sloped section of the groove  106  and the sloped section of the back wall of the housing groove  82  cooperate to rotate the axial canted spring  84  so that the axis defined by the longest width dimension, or the axis defined by the short height dimension, is rotated relative to the axis defined by the pin  80 . Consequently, the axial canted spring  84  is induced by the combination housing groove  82  and pin groove  106  to provide both a radial force component and an axial force component, which in turn produce a pre-load force on an object  32  to be held between end plates  34  ( FIG. 17 ). 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 17 , the fastener device  76  is provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention securing an object  32  to be held in between two end plates  34 . With reference to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , this may be accomplished by first placing the object  32  in between the two end plates  34  and inserting the pin  80  through aligned bores  35  formed within each end plate  34 , the bores  35  each dimensioned to allow passage of the pin  80  therethrough. The mating housing  78  is then inserted over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  80  and moved proximally until the housing contact surface  36  abuts one of the end plates  34 . At this point, the fastener device  76  is sized so that the canted coil spring  84  expands within one of the grooves  106  and against one of the flanges  24 . Because the canted coil spring  80  is in contact with two sloped surfaces, one on the mating housing  78  and one on the pin  80 , an axial force is exerted on the pin  80  to create a pre-load on the object  32 . 
         [0055]    To remove the object  32  from between the end plates  34 , a distally directed force is applied to move the removal tool  96  distally, i.e., to the left in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The force must be sufficient to overcome the force provided by the two helical springs  94  and the canted coil spring  84  to lift the canted coil spring  84  from the pin groove  106 . The mating housing  78  can now be retracted away from the pin  80  until it completely separates from the pin. At this time, the pin can be removed from the aligned bores  35  of the two end plates  34  and the object  32 , and thus the object  32  may be removed from between the end plates  34 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 19-23  illustrate an example of a fastener device  108  provided in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. The fastener device  108  comprises a mating housing  110  adapted to matingly engage a pin  112  for fastening two or more objects together. In a specific aspect of the present invention, the mating housing  110  incorporates a first housing section  114  threadedly engaged to a second housing section  116  and forming a housing groove  118  therebetween. More specifically, a first housing section  114  is provided with an end wall  120  having a cylindrical cylinder  122  that functions as a threaded collar for threaded engagement with a sloped second housing section  116  having external threads for threaded engagement with the internal threads on the threaded collar  122 . The second housing section  116  comprises a lip section  124  and a sloped cone section  126  for forming a sloped housing grove  118 , which serves to rotate the angle of the canted coil spring  113  to then impart both a radial force and an axial force, as further discussed below. 
         [0057]    To rotate the second housing section  116  relative to the first housing section  114 , a pair of turning notches  128  is incorporated on the second housing piece  116 . A two-prong turning tool (not shown) may be used to engage the two turning notches  128  to then rotate the second housing section  116  relative to the first housing section  114 . Alternatively, two projections, a projection and a notch, a lever or other similar means may be used to rotate the second housing  116  without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5B  shows the mating housing  110  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention advanced partially over the pin  112 . As the canted coil spring  113  moves over the frustoconical section  22  and the flange  24 , it is simultaneously rotated and compressed to fit within the constraint of the space or gap defined by the housing groove  118  and the particular section of the pin  112 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 21  shows the fastener  108  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention securing an object  32  to be held in between two end plates  34 . With reference to  FIG. 20  in addition to  FIG. 21 , this may be accomplished by first placing the object  32  in between the two end plates  34  and inserting the pin  112  through aligned bores  35  formed within each end plate  34 , the bores  35  each dimensioned to allow passage of the pin  112  therethrough. The mating housing  110  is then inserted over the blunt section  104  and then over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  112 , which deflects the canted coil spring  113  along the minor axis (i.e. the axis having the smaller width dimension). When the canted coil spring  113  moves over a groove  26  (e.g. the distal-most groove  26  or any subsequent groove  26  located proximally thereof depending on the length of the pin  112  and the number of grooves  26  incorporated) the spring  113  expands to the constraint provided by the housing groove  118  and the pin groove  26 . At this point and because the canted coil spring  113  is in contact with two sloped surfaces, one on the mating housing  110  and one on the pin  112 , an axial force is exerted on the pin to create a pre-load on the object  32 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 22  is a cross-section side view of the fastener device  108  shown in  FIG. 19  in an engaged position, similar to  FIG. 21 , but without the two end plates  34  and object  32  held therebetween for clarity. In this instance, a removal tool (not shown) could not be used to collapse or compress the canted coil spring  113  to lift the spring above the flange  24  from the direction of the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  112 . As previously discussed, this is because the axis defined by the largest coil diameter (i.e. the major axis) is positioned below (or inside) the outermost circumferential edge of the flange  24 . Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the second housing section  116  is configured to be rotated relative to the first housing section  114  to move the second housing section  116  distally to thereby enlarge the housing groove  118 . Thus, the housing groove  118  is variable and is configured to expand to provide sufficient circumferential clearance for the canted coil spring  113  to expand into as the housing groove  118  is expanded distally (i.e. towards the frustoconical section  22 ). Thus, the canted coil spring  113  is able to move over the flanges  24  ( FIG. 23 ), and the pin  112  is removed from the object  32  and end plates  34 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 24-30  illustrate an example of yet another fastener device  130  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fastener device  130  comprises a mating housing  132  engageable with a pin  134  for fastening or holding two or more objects together. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the mating housing  132  incorporates a variable housing groove  136  for retaining a spring  135 , which is preferable an axial canted coil spring, in either an active position ( FIG. 24 ) or an inactive position ( FIG. 30 ). The mating housing  132  comprises a first housing part  138 , which comprises two coaxial cylinders  140 ,  142  connected to one another by an end plate  144 . The two cylinders  140 ,  142  define an annular space  146  therebetween for receiving two or more spaced apart compression springs (not shown). The two or more compression springs may be spaced from one another by arcuate spacers (not shown) or alternatively a garter-type axial canted coil spring may be used. 
         [0062]    A ring  148  comprising a sloped edge is positioned in the annular space  146  adjacent the plurality of compression springs, which normally bias the ring  148  distally towards an end plate  150 . In one exemplary embodiment, the end plate  150  can be attached to the first housing part  138  by welding, mechanical fastening, interference locking, or adhesive bonding to retain the canted coil spring  135  within the housing. The ring  148  further comprises a pair of bosses for receiving a pair of pins  154 , which project in a radially outward direction relative to the housing centerline or the axis defined by the pin  154 . The two pins  154  are configured to slide or traverse along two axially oriented channels (not shown) located on the outer cylinder  140  of the first housing part  138 . 
         [0063]    An outer activation ring  156  is coaxially disposed over the first housing part  138  and is rotatable relative to the first housing part. A top view of the outer activation ring  156  is shown in  FIG. 25 , shown without the end plate  144  of the first housing part  138 . In one exemplary embodiment, the outer activation ring  156  incorporates a pair of slots  158  for receiving the two pins  154 . The two opposing surfaces of the slots  158  function as cam surfaces for moving the two pins  154  from a proximal most position ( FIG. 24 ) to a distal most position ( FIG. 30 ) to expand the housing groove  136 . Movement of the two pins  154  correspondingly move the ring  148  comprising the wedge surface, which in turn enlarges or reduces the housing groove  136  depending on the pin position. 
         [0064]    The slot  158  shown in  FIG. 25  comprises a first slot section at an angle with a second slot section. This slot configuration allows the two pins  154  to be moved automatically from the distal most position where the housing groove  136  is enlarged to the proximal most position ( FIG. 26 ) where the housing groove  136  is reduced. Movement of the pins  154  are facilitated by the compression springs pushing the pins in the proximal direction, which if occurs will cause the outer activation ring  156  to rotate clockwise when viewed from a distal position on the in towards a proximal position. 
         [0065]      FIG. 26  shows the outer activation ring  156  with an alternative slot  160 . The alternative slot  160  incorporates two end slot sections that are generally parallel to the end edge  162  of the ring  156  and sloped section relative to the end edge. In the two extreme pin positions, i.e., distal most and proximal most positions, the two end slot sections of the alternative slot  160  are flat and therefore exert an equal but opposite force as the force generated by the two compression springs on the two pins  154 . Hence, the pins  154  do not automatically return from a distal most position to a proximal most position without first manually rotating the activation ring  156 . 
         [0066]    Referring again to  FIG. 24  in combination with  FIG. 27 , the pin  134  is shown with a blunt nose section  104 , a frustoconical section  22 , and a plurality of sloped recessed sections  164  that define pin grooves  106 . As previously discussed, when the mating housing  132  is engaged over the pin  134 , the spring  135  deflects as it travels over the frustoconical section  22  and the sloped recessed sections  164  and expands when moved into the pin groove sections  106 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 28  shows the fastener device  130  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention securing an object  32  to be held in between two end plates  34 . This may be accomplished by first placing the object  32  in between the two end plates  34  and inserting the pin  134  through aligned bores  35  formed within each end plate  34 , the bores  35  each dimensioned to allow passage of the pin  134  therethrough. The mating housing  132  is then inserted over the blunt section  104  and then over the frustoconical section  22  of the pin  134 , which deflects the canted coil spring  135  along the axis having the smaller width dimension (i.e. the minor axis). When the canted coil spring  135  moves over a pin groove  106 , which could be a distal most groove or any subsequent groove located proximally thereof depending on the length of the pin and the number of pin grooves incorporated, the canted coil spring  135  expands to the constraint provided by the housing grove  136  and the pin groove  106 . At this point and because the canted coil spring  135  is in contact with two sloped surfaces, one on the mating housing  132  and one on the pin  134 , an axial force is exerted on the pin  134  to create a pre-load on the object  32  held in between end plates  34 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional side view of the fastener device  130  shown in  FIG. 24  in an engaged position, similar to  FIG. 28 , but without the two end plates  34  and object  32  to be held therebetween for clarity. To retract the mating housing  132  from the position on the pin  134  shown in  FIG. 29  to a position shown in  FIG. 30 , as previously discussed, the activation ring  156  is rotated to move the two pins  154  from a proximal most position to a distal most position to retract the wedge ring  148  within the annular groove  146  ( FIGS. 25 ,  25  and  30 ). Doing so will allow the canted coil spring  134  to deflect and expand when moving the canted coil spring  134  distally and over the flange  24 . Once the mating housing  132  is fully separated from the pin  134 , the pin can slide out of the aligned bores  35  of the two end plates  34  and the object  32  may be removed from in between end plates  34 . 
         [0069]    Although limited preferred embodiments and methods for making and using fasteners provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention have been specifically described and illustrated, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various material changes may be used, incorporating different mechanical engagement means to attach the various components to one another, making use of two or more different materials, making the pins longer or shorter, adding colors for aesthetic appeal, etc. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the fasteners constructed according to principles of this invention may be embodied in other than as specifically described herein. As further examples, different removal tools for lifting a canted spring and different devices for varying a mating housing groove, and aspects discussed specifically for one fastener embodiment may be used for other embodiments provided the components do not conflict or are compatible may all be practiced without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The invention is also defined in the following claims.