Patent Publication Number: US-2009232588-A1

Title: Fastening Mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a fastening mechanism for connecting posts or other items together the fastening mechanism is particularly suited for use were it is desirable that the mechanism can be tightened and inserted from either side. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many type of fasteners exist, simple screws may be used to fasten two objects together screws do not however provide force from both sides. Nuts and bolts do provide support from both sides but require access to both sides of the objects to be fastened. While there are fasteners that provide force from both sides that can be inserted from one side, the mechanism used means that the fasteners are not easily removed for reuse. Additionally the fasteners cannot be tightened from either side. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastening mechanism, which provides force from both sides, can be removed for reuse and can be tightened from either side, or which will at least provide the public or industry with a useful choice. 
     Accordingly in a first embodiment the present invention consists in a fastening mechanism for connecting posts or other objects together consisting of: 
     a housing; 
     a first and second cam oppositely mounted in said housing, said first and second cams having opposed threads; and 
     a threaded stud having clockwise and counter clockwise portions, said threaded stud connecting said first and second cams allowing said cams to be drawn together in use. 
     Preferably each said cam has at least one flange in use said at least one flange of said first cam and said at least one flange of said second cam being substantially parallel. 
     Preferably said at least one flange is two flanges. 
     Preferably said housing in use prevents said first and second cam rotating relative to each other. 
     Preferably rotation prevention means in said housing for said first and second cams are offset to allow in use said first and second cams to be drawn closely together. 
     Preferably said housing is made of mild steel and powder coated. 
     Preferably cams are made of mild steel and chrome plated. 
     Preferably said cams are made of mild steel and blackened. 
     Preferably said housing comprises first and second shells. 
     Preferably said first and second shells are held together by clips. 
     Preferably said housing includes rotation prevention means and said housing and said rotation prevention means comprises one pair of offset slots for each said cam, said housing including ends to prevent each said cam from being accidentally withdrawn from said housing 
     Preferably said first and second shells are made of nylon. 
     Accordingly in a second embodiment the present invention consists in a method of fastening posts or other objects together using the fastening mechanism described above wherein each said cam has a pair of flanges, in use said pair of flanges of said first cam and said pair of flanges of said second cam being substantially parallel, said method comprising the steps of: 
     passing a first said cam and part of said housing through a hole in a first and second post, said hole being sized and shaped to allow said cam flanges and said housing to pass through; 
     turning said fastening device in said hole so that said cam flanges are not aligned with said hole; and 
     turning said threaded stud to bring said cams together, said cam flanges pulling said posts together. 
     This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       A fastening mechanism in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric disassembled view of the fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a back view of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A to 6D  show the use of the fastening mechanism of the present invention to connect two posts together; 
         FIG. 7  shows an front view of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention in use connecting two posts together; 
         FIG. 8  shows an isometric disassembled view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the assembled fastening mechanism of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  shows an isometric disassembled view of an alternative body of the fastening mechanism of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in the preferred embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 1  the present invention consists of a housing  101 . The housing  101  is in the preferred embodiment circular and has two pairs of offset channels  102 ,  103 . The pairs of offset channels preferably overlap. Within the housing a threaded stud  105  having clockwise  121  and anti clockwise  122  threads is located. 
     Cams  110 ,  111  being substantially circular and having a pair of flanges  115 ,  116  located at either end of the housing  101 . In use the flanges  115 ,  116  of each cam  110 ,  111  move in the offset channels as the cams are pulled towards each other. In one embodiment of the invention the four flanges  115 ,  116  are offset at approximately 90 degrees as are the channels but they may be spaced any way so long as the pairs of flanges are not aligned. While the invention has been described with two flanges any number of flanges would be suitable. So for example one or three flanges and therefore one or three channels in the housing would be used. 
     The cams are threaded  131 ,  132  and in use are threaded on to opposite ends  141 ,  142  of the threaded stud  105 . As the threaded stud  105  is turned in one direction both cams  110 ,  111  move together or apart simultaneously. The movement either together or apart occurs because substantially one half of the threaded stud  105  has a counterclockwise  122  thread and the other half of the thread stud has a clockwise  121  thread. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5  the flanges  115 ,  116  are offset because of their location in the channels  102 ,  103 . Because the flanges  115 ,  116  are offset the cams  110 ,  111  when tightened can be bought very close together. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  to use the fastening mechanism  1  of the present invention the two objects to be fastened together must have a hole  601  that is shaped to allow the body of the fastening mechanism and a pair of cams to pass from one side to the other. Preferably said holes are sufficiently large to allow the cams  110 ,  111  and the body  101  to pass through when the holes  601  in the two objects are nearly aligned. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6D  use of the present invention will be described. The present invention is particularly suited for connecting posts used in office partitions together. The two objects  602 ,  603  are brought together, part of the fastening mechanism  1  body  101  and a pair of flanges  115  are passed through one object  603 . The second object  602  is then moved further towards the first object and part of the fastening mechanism body  101  and a pair of flanges  115  are passed through second object  602 . 
     The fastening mechanism  1  is then turned so that none of the flanges  115 ,  116  are aligned with the insertion hole  601 . In the preferred embodiment the fastening mechanism is turned approximately 45 degrees. The threaded stud  105  is then turned bringing the cams  110 , 111  and therefore the objects  602 ,  603  together. 
     In the preferred embodiment the threaded stud  105  is turned using an allen key but slots to allow the use of a slotted or philips type screwdriver could be substituted. 
     The present invention is particularly suited to situation where access is from the side of one object only. But because the threaded stud  105  may be turned from either end the most convenient access may be used. 
     To remove the fastener the threaded stud  105  is turned the opposite way to release the cams  110 ,  111  allowing the fastening mechanism body  101  and two flanges  115  or  116  to be removed. 
     A further advantage is that fastening mechanism can be manufactured using a die-casting process. The housing  101  is preferably made of mild steel and powder coated to increase the aesthetic value. The cams  110 ,  111  are also preferable made mild steel and powder coated to increase the aesthetic value. The threaded stud  105  is preferably made of mild steel and finished using a chrome plate or blackening. The preferred materials will reduce increase the durability of the fastening mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8   9  and  10  and alternative embodiment of the present invention will be described. The housing  101  in this alternative embodiment is made of nylon and comprises two parts or shells  801 ,  802 . To assemble the mechanism one cam is screwed on to each end of the threaded stud  105 . The two parts of the housing are then clipped around the stud  105  and cams  110 ,  111 . Because housing  101  in this embodiment has end stop  803 ,  804  the channels  102 ,  103  do not go all the way to the end of the housing  101 . This has the advantage that the cams  110 ,  111  cannot accidentally be wound off the threaded stud  105  and of reducing the manufacturing costs. To keep the two parts  801 ,  802  of the housing  101  together clips  805  and clip receivers  806  are included in the housing  101 . 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, since many modifications or variations thereof are possible in the light of the above teaching. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein were chosen and described in order best to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, when interpreted in accordance with the full breadth to which they are legally and equitably suited.