Patent Publication Number: US-8122574-B2

Title: Device and method for fastening

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to the mechanical field, and more specifically to a new and useful fastener in the field of mechanical fasteners. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fasteners have applications in any scenario when two or more originally separate objects are to be joined, whether permanently or temporarily. Among temporary fasteners, there are one-time use fasteners and re-useable fasteners. Temporary fasteners typically have a method and mechanism to engage and disengage the fastener. These methods and mechanisms function for their purpose but typically have undesirable characteristics as well, for example, in hook and loop fasteners, the disengagement of the hooks from the loop creates a significantly loud sound (which is undesirable in certain locations, such as a library) and the hooks themselves may snag onto clothing, fabrics, or other materials. In another example, in click and latch type fasteners typically seen on lidded boxes, the engagement and disengagement mechanism defines a very rigid application geometry because the fastener requires the mating surfaces to come together at pre-defined angles with a degree of rigidity. In general, click and latch type fasteners include components that need to be accessed by the user to actuate the fastener, and thus must be mounted with at least a portion of the click and latch mechanism in plain view. In addition, such click and latch type fasteners may lose their fastening ability as the mating surfaces deform from age and use. 
     Thus, there is a need in the field of fasteners to create a new and useful fastener that overcomes at least some of these disadvantages of the hook and loop fasteners and click and latch fasteners. This invention provides such a new and useful fastener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view (from the bottom) of a first preferred embodiment of the invention in the unfastened mode. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective views (from the top) of the first preferred embodiment in the fastened mode with the rotating actuator in a preferred first actuator position and with the rotating actuator in a preferred second actuator position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  4   c  are cross-sectional views of the first preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3  in the fastened, insertion, and actuated states, respectively. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view (from the bottom) of a second preferred embodiment of the invention in the unfastened mode. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the second preferred embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are perspective views (from the top) of the second preferred embodiment in the fastened mode with the rotating actuator in a preferred first actuator position and with the rotating actuator in a preferred second actuator position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b , and  8   c  are cross-sectional views of a second preferred embodiment  FIG. 7  in the fastened, insertion, and actuated states, respectively. 
         FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b , and  9   c  are schematic representations of the three stages involved in the attachment process. 
         FIGS. 9   d ,  9   e , and  9   f  are schematic representations of the three stages involved in the detachment process. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 , the fastener of the preferred embodiments includes a first component  10  that includes an aperture  12  and a second component  20  that includes a base  22 , a sprung latch  40 , a rotating actuator  30 , and a hinge  50  to couple the rotating actuator  30  with the base  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the first component  10  preferably contains a flat surface that is raised into a cone geometry in which the tip of the cone is removed, creating the aperture  12  and allowing an empty volume underneath the first component  10 . The perimeter of the aperture  12  is preferably flattened and parallel to the flat surface to allow an interface location unto which the second component  20  fastens. However, any alternative geometry suitable to provide an interface location for the second component  20  to the first component  10  may be used. The first component  10  may alternatively include a plurality of apertures  12  to allow for a plurality of fastening locations (as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The plurality of apertures  12  may be of individual and separated apertures of the shape described above and as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but may alternatively be of overlapping apertures (for example, in the case of two overlapping apertures  12 , the overlapping apertures  12  may create a shape similar to the outline of a “figure 8” geometry). Overlapping apertures may allow for a simpler manufacturing process. However, any other suitable arrangement of apertures  12  may be used. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the base  22  of the second component  20  includes a perpendicular post  24  with a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the aperture  12  and a niche  26 . The sprung latch  40  includes a spring  42  and a lever  44  with a flange  46 . The rotating actuator  30  rotates about an axis  32 . The post  24  of the base  22  is inserted into the aperture  12  to engage the fastener and is extracted from the aperture  12  to disengage the fastener. The lever  44  fits into the niche  26  of the post in a first lever  44  position to form a post  24  and lever  44  assembly such that the flange  46  extends beyond the perimeter of the post in a first flange  46  position. When inserting the post  24  into the aperture  12 , the lever  44  is displaced from the first lever  44  position into a second lever  44  position such that the flange  46  is at a position interior of the first flange  46  position, providing clearance and allowing the post  24  and lever  44  assembly to be inserted into the aperture  12 . The spring  42  of the sprung latch  40  then returns the lever  44  to the first lever  44  position, subsequently returning the flange  46  to the first flange  46  position, engaging the surface underneath the aperture  12 , and locking the second component to the first component. The rotating actuator  30  rotates about an axis  32  located on the base  22  from a first actuator  30  position to a rotated actuator  30  position. The rotation causes the lever  22  to rotate from the first lever  22  position to a rotated lever  22  position such that the flange  26  is positioned interior to the first flange  26  position, providing clearance and allowing the post  24  and lever  44  assembly to be inserted or extracted from the aperture  12 . The first actuator  30  position is preferably planar to the base  22 , but may alternatively be perpendicular or any other angle relative to the base  22 . For example, in a bag with a flap, the relative orientation of the bag and the flap may change as the bag becomes filled. A first actuator  30  position may be of an angle that allows the first and second components  10  and  20  to remain fastened when the bag is full. The angle of the first actuator  30  position may be adapted to the typical range of orientations between the bag and the flap to further increase the reliability of the fastener. However, any other suitable angle for the first actuator  30  position may be used. 
     In the preferred embodiments, the preferred method of engaging the fastener is by pushing the post  24  lever  44  assembly into the aperture, which displaces the lever  44  and gives clearance for insertion, or by rotating the rotating actuator  30  to rotate the lever  44  to give clearance for insertion. The method of disengaging the fastener is by rotating the actuator  30  to the rotated actuator  30  position to rotate the lever  44  to give clearance for extraction. The fastener preferably remains fastened until the actuator  30  is rotated, thus preventing separation of the second component  20  from the first component  10  when separation force is applied in any direction other than one in which the actuator  30  is rotated. Because the geometry of the post  24 , the lever  44 , and the aperture  12  preferably function to align the post  24  and the aperture  12  upon insertion, the methods for engagement allows for flexibility in application. The fastener may be used for two mating materials that come together from a variety of angles that, when fastened, become relatively parallel. The method of disengaging the fastener also allows for a large range of applications. The second component  20  may be mounted onto any surface that allows for the rotation of the rotating actuator  30  from the first actuator  30  position to the rotated actuator  30  position. This may include pliable cloth surfaces to be fastened to relatively stationary surfaces wherein the pliable cloth may be lifted from the stationary surface with a single peeling motion to disengage the fastener, non-pliable surfaces that give access to the rotating actuator  30  to allow the user to actuate the rotating actuator  30  directly, relatively non-pliable surfaces with a geometry that allows for creasing of the surface at a location relatively coaxial to the axis  32  wherein the user lifts the surface and subsequently creases the surface to rotate the rotating actuator  30 , or any other surface suitable for actuation of the rotating actuator  30 . Because neither the method of engaging nor the method of disengaging the fastener of the preferred embodiments requires the user to directly access any portion of the fastener, the fastener of the preferred embodiments may be hidden from view (for example, under the cover flap of a bag), allowing a substantial amount of flexibility in aesthetics, form, and geometry of the object to be fastened. 
     The preferred embodiments are preferably applied to fastening a cover flap to a bag and replacing the widely used hook and loop fasteners. In this application, as shown in  FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b , and  9   c , the user preferably fastens the cover flap to the bag by pushing the cover flap against the bag and inserting the post  24  and lever  44  assembly into the aperture  12 . To disengage the fastener, the user preferably lifts the cover flap away from the bag in a peeling motion, as shown in  FIGS. 9   d ,  9   e , and  9   f . Alternatively, the fastener may be coupled to a handle or a strap and the user may lift the handle or the strap with a similar peeling motion to disengage the fastener. By attaching the fastener to a handle or a strap, the position of the fastener may be adjusted to adapt to the unique usage scenarios particular to individual users. The peeling motion is a very intuitive motion for lifting a cover flap to expose the opening to the bag. This intuitive motion and ease for fastener engagement and disengagement without an undesirable sound and without the risk of the fastener snagging onto clothing makes this invention an improvement over the commonly used hook and loop fasteners. In an application wherein the fastening of a flap to a bag may benefit from more than one point of attachment, the first component  10  may include a plurality of apertures  12  and the second component  20  may include plurality of posts  24  and levers  44 , wherein each post  24  is coupled with a lever  44 . The number of apertures  12 , posts  24 , and levers  44  are preferably equal and each of the post  24  and lever  44  pairs are preferably positioned to mate with one of the apertures  12 . The levers  44  are preferably all coupled to one spring  42  that is actuated by one rotating actuator  30 . Alternatively, each lever  44  may be coupled to one spring  42  that are each actuated by one rotating actuator  30 . However, any other suitable combination of levers  44 , springs  42 , and rotating actuators  30  maybe used. More than one point of attachment may alternatively be achieved by having a plurality of first components  10  and a plurality of second components  20 . Alternatively, the fastener may be applied to straps that benefit from quick releases. For example, a backpack with a strap that is split into two halves, each with one end attached to the backpack. The free ends are fastened to each other using the fastener such that, when the user desires to disengage the two free ends, the user can lift one free end from the other in a peeling motion and disengage the fastener. This allows for a much faster strap release than conventional buckles and strap holders. In addition, because the user&#39;s hand is already holding onto one of the free ends of the strap, the release of the strap is less likely to lead to a sudden drop of the backpack. In another example, a strap may have one end attached to a bag, clip, accessory, or any other suitable type of object and a free end mounted with a second component  20 . The free end of the strap may then be used to fasten to any object where a first component  10  is mounted, for example, a piece of rolling luggage with a first component  10  mounted to the surface. The first component  10  may include a plurality of apertures  12  where a variety of objects with a strap with a second component  20  mounted to the free end may be fastened. Individual objects may be disengaged from the rolling luggage with the peeling motion described above for a quick release. However, any other suitable application may be used. 
     The first component  10  is preferably made from a molded plastic, but may alternatively be of a metal that may be cast or machined. Any other material or method suitable to create the geometry of an aperture  12  with mating surfaces for the second component  20  may be used. The base  22 , rotating actuator  30 , and sprung latch  40  are preferably made of the same material and preferably made from a molded plastic. In this variation, the hinge  50  may be a natural (or “living”) hinge that is molded along with the base  22  and the rotating actuator  30 , a separate axle that couples the base  22  and the rotating actuator  30 , or any other suitable hinge. Alternatively, the base  22 , rotating actuator  30 , and sprung latch may be made of different materials. For example, the base  22 , the rotating actuator  30 , and the latch  44  of the sprung latch  40  may be made from a plastic material while the spring  42  is made from a metal material. The base  22 , rotating actuator  30 , and sprung latch  40  may alternatively be made of a metal material such as copper, brass, or steel to increase the durability and strength of the fastener. However, any other material suitable to create the second component  20  may be used. 
     The first component  10  and second component  20  may include first attachment elements  52  and second attachment elements  54  respectively that function to allow the first and second components  10  and  20  to be mounted to the desired application surfaces. As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the first and second attachment elements  52  and  54  are preferably a plurality of holes along the perimeter of the first and second components  10  and  20  that allow a thread to be passed through to sew the first and second components  10  and  20  to a relatively soft surface such as cloth, leather, or any other suitably pliable material for sewing. Alternatively, the first and second attachment elements  52  and  54  may be grommet or rivet geometry with backing pieces wherein the backing pieces are used behind each application surface to engage the first and second components  10  and  20  through the surface. The first and second attachment elements  52  and  54  may also be tabs for welding or gluing the first and second components  10  and  20  to the application surface. However, the first and second attachment elements  52  and  54  may be any other feature suitable to mount the first and second components  10  and  20  to the application surface. The first and second attachment elements  52  and  54  are preferably similar or identical types and methods of attachment, but may alternatively be any combination of the different types described above. 
     The preferred embodiments may also include a secondary spring to bias the rotating actuator  30  to the first actuator  30  position to further prevent the unintentional disengagement of the fastener. 
     The following descriptions of the preferred embodiments include all of the features and functions as described above. 
     1. First Preferred Embodiment 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the rotating actuator  30  of the first preferred embodiment includes a spring holder  228  that supports the sprung latch  40  and includes a notch  232  and a rail  234  that prevents rotation of the spring latch  40  relative to the rotating actuator  30 , the sprung latch  40  of the first preferred embodiment includes a finger  236  and a track  238 , the hinge  50  is an axle  50  that couples the rotating actuator  30  to the base  22  and forms the axis  32 , and the lever  44  of the sprung latch  44  further includes a hole  248  that allows the lever  44  to couple to the axle  50  while allowing translation of the lever  44  in a direction perpendicular to the axis  32  (shown in  FIG. 4   b ). 
     The spring  42  of the first preferred embodiment is preferably a molded leaf spring that is coupled to the lever  44  into a unitary piece. The spring  42  of the first preferred embodiment is preferably plastic, but may alternatively be metal or any other suitable material. Upon displacement of the lever  44  from the first lever  44  position to the second lever  44  position (as shown in  FIG. 4   b ), the spring is compressed and once the force displacing the lever  44  is removed, the spring  42  will return the original spring  42  state and return the lever  44  to the first lever  44  position. The spring  42  may alternatively be twisted, sheared, or extended. However, any other suitable spring type and spring actuation method may be used. The spring  42  is preferably secured and supported by the spring holder  228  and is coupled to the lever  44 , which is coupled to the axle  50 . The finger  236  of the sprung latch  40  is assembled into the notch  232  to prevent the sprung latch  40  from moving away from the rotating actuator  30  and the rail  234  is assembled into the track  238  to constrain motion of the lever  44  to the direction perpendicular to the axis  32 . As the lever  44  is displaced, the track  238  slides along the rail  234  as the spring  42  compresses and expands. However, any other suitable arrangement of the spring  42  within the fastener may be used. The hole  248  allows the lever  44  to displace while remaining coupled to the axle  50  throughout the range of motion from the first lever  44  position to the second lever  44  position. The hole  248  may alternatively be an oblong hole that is closed but allows the same type and range of displacement of the lever  44 . The hole  248  may also be any other suitable geometry or hole type. 
     The geometry of the flange  46  of the first preferred embodiment is in the form of a hook with a relatively angled top geometry that, when pushed against the perimeter of the aperture  12  upon insertion, causes displacement of the lever  44  to the second lever  44  position (as shown in  FIG. 4   b ) and a relatively flat bottom geometry that interfaces with the flat perimeter of the aperture  12  upon engagement of the fastener (as shown in  FIG. 4   a ) and, when in the engaged position, prevents displacement of the lever  44  to the second lever  44  position when the second component  20  is pulled away from the first component  10  without rotation of the rotating actuator  30 . 
     In the first preferred embodiment, the rest position of the second component  20  of the fastener is when the lever  44  is in the first lever  44  position. When the rotating actuator is rotated from the first actuator  30  position to the second actuator  30  position (as shown in  FIG. 4   c ), the sprung lever  40  is also rotated along the same axis  32  and the lever  44  is rotated from the first lever  44  position to the rotated lever  44  position, allowing the post  24  and lever  44  assembly to be disengaged and extracted from the aperture  12 . 
     2. Second Preferred Embodiment 
     As shown in  FIG. 5-8 , the base  22  of the second preferred embodiment further includes a spring holder  128  that secures and holds the spring  42 , the rotating actuator  30  of the second preferred embodiment includes cam geometry  134 , the sprung latch  40  of the second preferred embodiment includes a plurality of levers  44 , preferably two levers  44  that are located 180 degrees from each other, and the levers  44  of the second preferred embodiment further includes follower geometry  136  and an angular flange  138 . Similar to the hinge  50  of the first preferred embodiment, the hinge  50  is an axle  50  that couples the rotating actuator  30  to the base  22  and forms the axis  32 . The lever  44  also includes a hole  148  that allows the lever  44  to be coupled to the axle  50  and to be constrained to movement along the axle  50 . 
     The spring  42  of the second preferred embodiment is preferably a molded torsion spring that is coupled to the levers  44  into a unitary piece. The spring  42  of the second preferred embodiment is preferably plastic, but may alternatively be metal or any other suitable material. Upon rotation or displacement of the levers  44  from the first lever  44  position and towards the middle plane between the two levers  44  (shown in  FIG. 8   b ), torsion is applied to the spring  42 . Once the force rotating or displacing the levers  44  is removed, the spring  42  will return to the original spring  42  state and return the levers  44  to the first lever  44  position. The spring  42  may alternatively be compressed, sheared, or extended. However, any other suitable spring type and spring actuation method may be used. The spring  42  is preferably secured and supported by the spring holder  128  and is coupled to the levers  44 , which are coupled to the axle  50 . The spring holder  128  and the axle  50  prevent the spring  42  from displacement relative to the rotating actuator  30  while allowing the compression of the spring  42 . However, any other suitable arrangement of the spring within the fastener may be used. 
     The geometry of the flange  46  of the second preferred embodiment is in the form of a hook with a relatively angled top geometry that, when pushed against the perimeter of the aperture  12  upon insertion, causes displacement of the lever  44  to the second lever  44  position (as shown in  FIG. 8   b ) and a relatively flat bottom geometry that interfaces with the flat perimeter of the aperture  12  upon engagement of the fastener (as shown in  FIG. 8   a ) and, when in the fastened mode, prevents displacement of the lever  44  to the second lever  44  position when the second component  20  is pulled away from the first component  10  without rotation of the rotating actuator  30 . 
     At rest, the cam geometry  134  and the follower geometry  136  allow the lever  44  to remain in the first lever  44  position. The rotation of the cam geometry  136  is preferably actuated by the user rotating the rotating actuator  30  from the first actuator  30  position to the second actuator  30  position. When rotated, the cam geometry  134  is in contact with the follower geometry  136  and functions to actuate the follower geometry  136  and rotate the lever  44  from the first lever  44  position to the rotated lever  44  position (as shown in  FIG. 8   c ). In the second preferred embodiment, the cam and follower geometry  134  and  136  cause the lever  44  to rotate from the first lever  44  position to the second lever  44  position along an axis perpendicular to the axis  32  of the rotating actuator  30 , but the lever  44  may alternatively rotate along an axis parallel to the axis  32  or any other suitable axis. When the user releases the rotating actuator  30 , the spring  42  then functions to return the lever  44  to the first lever  44  position. The spring  42  preferably also provides enough force to return the cam geometry  134  to the rest position and subsequently returning the rotating actuator from the second actuator  30  position to the first actuator  30  position. In the second preferred embodiment, there are preferably two contact points between the cam geometry  134  and the follower geometry  136  for each lever  44 . The contact points are preferably on opposite sides of the lever  44  to distribute the force to rotate the lever  44  from the first lever  44  position to the rotated lever  44  position between two follower geometries  136  to increase durability of the fastener. However, any other suitable arrangement of the cam geometry  134  and follower geometry  136  may be used. The cam geometry  134  and the follower geometry  136  are preferably located along the axis  32  but may alternatively be located in any other suitable location. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the second preferred embodiment, the second lever  44  position (shown in  FIG. 8   b ) is preferably the same as the rotated lever  44  position (shown in  FIG. 8   c ), but may alternatively be two different positions. The geometry of the lever  44 , follower geometry  136 , and angular flange  138  cause the lever  44  to remain at the same location along the axle  50  but able to rotate from the first lever  44  position to the rotated lever  44  position during insertion and when the rotating actuator  30  is rotated from the first actuator  30  position to the rotated actuator  30  position. The angular flange  138  allows for rotation of the lever  44  to a second lever  44  position that allows enough clearance for insertion and extraction of the post  24  and lever  44  assembly from the aperture  12  but prevents further rotation that may place unnecessary strain onto the spring  42 . For example, when a large amount of force is applied to separate the first and second components  10  and  20  from the fastened mode of the fastener without rotation of the rotating actuator  30 , the lever  44  of the second component  20  may be forced into a position further interior than the second lever  44  position and potentially cause plastic deformation to the spring  42 . The angular flange  138  prevents this over rotation of the lever  44 . The hole  148  preferably contains a geometry that allows the lever  44  to rotate from the first lever  44  position to the second lever  44  position while still coupled to the axle  50 . 
     As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.