Patent Abstract:
A two part fastener ( 10 ) for clamping together first and second members ( 20, 22 ) that have an opening ( 40 ), comprises a base ( 12 ) having legs ( 80, 90 ) resiliently biased outwardly away from each other and insertable through the opening ( 40 ). A slide ( 14 ) is manually slidable relative to the base ( 12 ) to control the position of the legs ( 80, 90 ). The slide ( 14 ) has a first position relative to the base ( 12 ) in which blocking portions ( 88, 98 ) of the legs ( 80, 90 ) are in a blocking position to block removal of the legs through the opening ( 40 ). In a second position the slide ( 14 ) blocks inward movement of the legs ( 80, 90 ) thereby blocking removal of the fastener ( 10 ). In a third position the slide ( 14 ) holds the legs ( 80, 90 ) inward, thereby enabling removal of the fastener ( 10 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a two part slide fastener for releasably securing a first member to a second member.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    In many applications it is necessary to fasten together two members, such as panels or plates, in a releasable manner. For example, a vehicle door typically includes at least two panels that must be fastened securely together, but must also be removable from each other. Many different types of releasable fasteners have been developed for this type of application.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is a two part fastener for clamping together first and second members in an overlying relationship, the first and second members having surfaces defining an opening extending through the first and second members. The fastener comprises a base insertable into the opening. The base has a plurality of legs resiliently biased outwardly away from each other and movable between a plurality of positions relative to the first and second members, the legs being insertable through the opening. The fastener comprises an actuator connected with the base and manually slidable along a linear axis relative to the base to control the position of the legs of the base relative to the first and second members. The actuator has a first position of sliding movement relative to the base in which blocking portions of the legs are in a blocking position to block removal of the legs through the opening. The actuator has a second position of sliding movement relative to the base in which the actuator blocks inward movement of the blocking portions of the legs from the blocking position, thereby blocking removal of the fastener through the opening. The actuator has a third position of sliding movement relative to the base in which the actuator holds the blocking portions of the legs inward from the blocking position, thereby enabling removal of the fastener from the first and second members through the opening.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fastener in accordance with the invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a base that forms part of the fastener of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a slide that forms part of the fastener of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1, showing the fastener in a first condition for insertion into an opening of members to be fastened together;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 1 showing parts of the fastener in the first condition;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of portions of the fastener of FIG. 1, showing the parts of the fastener in the first condition;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 6, showing the fastener in a second or locking condition;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9, showing the parts of the fastener in the second condition;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of portions of the fastener of FIG. 1, showing the parts of the fastener in the second condition;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 6, showing the fastener in a third or release condition;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken generally along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 12 showing the parts of the fastener in the third condition; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of portions of the fastener of FIG. 1, showing the parts of the fastener in the third condition.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    The present invention relates to a two part fastener for releasably securing a first member to a second member. The present invention is applicable to different fastener constructions. As representative of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a two-part fastener  10  in accordance with the invention. The fastener includes a base  12  and a slide  14 .  
         [0022]    The fastener is used for releasably securing together two or more members in an overlying relationship. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener is used for releasably securing together a first member  20  (FIG. 7) and a second member  22 . The first and second members  20  and  22  may be, for example, portions of a vehicle door, such as a support panel and a trim panel, or may be two plates or other pieces.  
         [0023]    The first member  20  (FIG. 7) has opposite inner (that is, away from the side of entry of the fastener, or to the bottom as viewed in FIG. 7) and outer major side surfaces  26  and  28 . The first member  20  has a rectangular slot  30  extending between the inner and outer major side surfaces  26  and  28 . The second member  22  has opposite inner and outer major side surfaces  32  and  34 . The outer major side surface  34  of the second member  22  is in abutting engagement with the inner major side surface  26  of the first member  20 .  
         [0024]    The second member  22  (FIG. 4) has a rectangular slot  36  extending between the inner and outer major side surfaces  32  and  34 . The slot  36  in the second member  22  may be similar or identical in configuration to the slot  30  in the first member. The slot  36  in the second member  22  overlies the slot  30  in the first member  20  and together they form an opening  40  in the two members  20  and  22 . The opening  40  has a length extending between first and second edge surfaces  42  and  44 . The fastener  10  extends into the opening  40 , in a manner described below, to clamp the first member  20  to the second member  22 .  
         [0025]    The base  12  (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the fastener  10  is preferably molded as one piece from a plastic material, but could alternatively be made from a different material or in a different manner. The base  12  includes a planar, rectangular main body portion  50  centered on a linear axis  51 . The main body portion  50  has an outer major side surface  52  (FIG. 2) and an inner major side surface  54 . The main body portion  50  also has two rectangular openings  56  and  58  spaced apart from each other.  
         [0026]    The main body portion has parallel first and second side portions  61  and  62 , and parallel first and second end portions  63  and  64 . At the side portions  61  and  62  are located inwardly facing tracks  65  and  66 , respectively, that project upwardly from the outer side surface of the main body portion. A detent finger  67  is formed on the track  65 , and a detent finger  68  is formed on the track  66 .  
         [0027]    The arrangement of the tracks  65  and  66 , and of the detent fingers  67  and  68 , is such that the base  12  appears the same when viewed from the first end portion  63  as when viewed from the second end portion  64 . Thus, the slide  14  can be mounted on the base  12 , as described below, from either end portion  63  or  64  of the base.  
         [0028]    The base  12  includes a retainer assembly  70  that depends from the main body portion  50  and that is movable into the opening  40  in the first and second members  20  and  22 , as described below. The retainer assembly  70  includes two guide plates  72  and  74  that depend from the main body portion  50  on opposite sides of the two openings  56  and  58 . The retainer assembly  70  also includes a central support post  76  that depends from the main body portion  50  between the two openings  56  and  58 . The support post  76  has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration terminating in a lower end portion  78  that is curved for ease of insertion into the slot opening  40 .  
         [0029]    The retainer assembly  70  further includes two engagement members  80  and  90  for engaging the inner side surface  26  of the first member  20 . The two engagement members  80  and  90  are formed as resilient retaining legs that extend from the lower end portion  78  of the central support post  76 , in a direction toward the main body portion  50  of the base  12 . The two retaining legs  80  and  90  are mirror images of each other, and are resiliently biased outward, away from each other.  
         [0030]    The first retaining leg  80  is resiliently supported on the central support post  76 . The first retaining leg  80  has a base portion  82  (FIG. 7) that has a cam surface  84  that faces outward away from the support post  76 . The first retaining leg  80  has an upper end portion  86  that extends upward from the base portion  82 . The upper end portion  86  extends past the plane of the main body portion  50  and through the opening  56  in the main body portion. The upper end portion  86  has a kidney-shaped cross-sectional configuration (FIG. 4).  
         [0031]    The first retaining leg  80  also has a blocking portion or blocking surface  88  (FIG. 7) that extends between the upper end portion  86  and the cam surface  84  of the base portion  82 . The blocking surface  88  faces outward, that is, away from the central support post  76 .  
         [0032]    The second retaining leg  90  is a mirror image of the first retaining leg  80 . The second retaining leg  90  is resiliently supported on the central support post  76 . The second retaining leg  90  has a base portion  92  (FIG. 7) that has a cam surface  94  that faces outward away from the support post  76 .  
         [0033]    The second retaining leg  90  has an upper end portion  96  that extends upward from the base portion  92 . The upper end portion  96  extends past the plane of the main body portion  50  and through the opening  58  in the main body portion. The upper end portion  96  has a kidney-shaped cross-sectional configuration.  
         [0034]    The second retaining leg  90  also has a blocking portion or blocking surface  98  that extends between the upper end portion  96  and the cam surface  94  of the base portion  92 . The blocking surface  98  faces outward, that is, away from the central support post  76 .  
         [0035]    The slide  14  (FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably molded as one piece from the same plastic material as the base  12 , but could alternatively be made from a different material or in a different manner. The slide  14  includes a planar, rectangular main body portion  100  having opposite inner and outer major side surfaces  102  and  104 . The main body portion  100  of the slide  14  has parallel first and second side portions  106  and  108 , and parallel first and second end portions  110  and  112 . Three pairs of detent openings  114 ,  116  and  118  are formed in the outer side surface  104  of the slide  100 , near the side portions  106  and  108 .  
         [0036]    Two rib-shaped finger grips  120  and  122  project from the outer side surface  104  at the end portions  110  and  112 , respectively, of the slide  14 . The finger grips  120  and  122  are manually engageable to effect sliding movement of the slide  14  along the axis  51  relative to the base  12 . The finger grips  120  and  122  do not extend the full width of the slide  14 . As a result, the side portions  106  and  108  of the slide  14  project laterally outward from the finger grips  120  and  122 .  
         [0037]    The slide  14  has a raised portion  130 . The raised portion  130  projects from the outer side surface  104  of the main body portion  100  of the slide  14 . The raised portion  130  includes a top wall  132  that is spaced upward from and extends parallel to the main body portion  100 . The raised portion  130  also includes a support wall  134  that extends between the top wall  132  and the main body portion  100  of the slide  14 . The support wall. 134  supports the top wall  132  on the main body portion  100 .  
         [0038]    The main body portion  100  is discontinuous at the location of the raised portion  130 . Thus, the slide  14  is configured as if a section of the main body portion  100  were lifted upward to form the top wall  132  of the raised portion, then the support wall  134  was placed between them to support the top wall on the main body portion.  
         [0039]    The raised portion  130  has a roughly V-shaped configuration that decreases in width as measured in a direction from the first end portion  106  to the second end portion  108  of the slid  14 . The raised portion  130  extends to and between the finger grips  120  and  122 .  
         [0040]    At the first end portion  110  of the slide  14 , the main body portion  100  of the slide is cut away to provide an access opening  136  that is the width of the raised portion  130 . The access opening  136  enables access to a chamber  140  that is defined below the top wall  132  of the raised portion  130  and above the main body portion  100 , within the support wall  134  of the raised portion. Thus, the first end portion  110  of the slide  14  is effectively open to the chamber  140 . The finger grip  122  at the second end portion  112  of the slide closes the chamber  140  and forms an end wall of the chamber.  
         [0041]    A first direction of movement  142  of the slide  14  is defined as movement of the slide along the axis  51  by which the first end portion  110  of the slide precedes the second end portion  112  of the slide-that is, with the open end of the chamber  140  leading and the closed end trailing. The inside surfaces of the support wall  134  of the raised portion  130  of the slide  14  are engageable with the upper end portions  86  and  96  of the first and second retaining legs  80  and  90 . Specifically, the support wall includes first and second tracks  150  and  160 . The tracks  150  and  160  extend from the access opening  136  to the finger grip  122 . The tracks  150  and  160  are mirror images of each other about the axis  51 .  
         [0042]    Because of the V-shaped configuration of the raised portion  130  of the slide  14 , the tracks  150  and  160  converge as they extend away from the access opening  136 . The chamber  140 , located between the tracks  150  and  160 , tapers (decreases in width) from the first end portion  110  of the slide  14  to the second end portion  112  of the slide.  
         [0043]    The first track  150  has four discrete, interconnected surfaces. The first surface  152  extends inward toward the axis  51  as it extends in a direction from the open first end portion  110  of the slide  14  to the closed second end portion  112 . The second surface  154  extends from the first surface  152 , in a direction parallel to the axis  51 .  
         [0044]    The third surface  156  extends from the second surface inward toward the axis  51  as it extends in a direction from the open first end portion  110  of the slide  14  to the closed second end portion  112 . The fourth surface  158  extends from the third surface  156 , in a direction parallel to the axis  51 . The fourth surface  158  terminates in an end surface  159  of the support wall  134 .  
         [0045]    The second track  160  is a mirror image of the first track  150 . The second side wall has four discrete, interconnected surfaces. The first surface  162  extends inward toward the axis  51  as it extends in a direction from the open first end portion  110  of the slide  14  to the closed second end portion  112 . The first surface  162  is located opposite the first surface  152  of the first track  150 . The second surface  164  extends from the first surface  162 , in a direction parallel to the axis  51 . The second surface  164  is located opposite the second surface  154  of the first track  150 .  
         [0046]    The third surface  166  extends inward toward the axis  51  as it extends in a direction from the open first end portion  112  of the slide  14  to the closed second end portion  112 . The third surface  166  is located opposite the third surface  156  of the first track  150 .  
         [0047]    The fourth surface  168  extends from the third surface  166 , in a direction parallel to the axis  51 . The fourth surface  168  terminates in the end surface  159  of the support wall  134 . The fourth surface  168  is located opposite the fourth surface  158  of the first track  150 .  
         [0048]    The pairs of opposite surfaces on the first and second tracks  150  and  160  define portions of the chamber  140 . A first portion  172  of the chamber  140  is defined between the first surfaces  152  and  162 . A second portion  174  of the chamber  140  is defined between the second surfaces  154  and  164 . A third portion  176  of the chamber  140  is defined between the third surfaces  156  and  166 . A fourth portion  178  of the chamber  140  is defined between the fourth surfaces  158  and  168 .  
         [0049]    The slide  14  includes a stop  180  on the inner major side surface  102  of the main body portion  110 . The stop  180  is a diamond-shaped projection centered on the axis  51  and projecting into the chamber  140 , specifically, into the second and third portions  174  and  176  of the chamber. The stop  180  has two side surfaces  182  facing toward the open first end portion  110  end of the slide  14 , and two side surfaces  184  facing toward the closed second end portion  12  of the slide. The slide  14  has two points  186  at its widest portion, located inward of the second surfaces  154  and  156  of the tracks  150  and  160 , respectively.  
         [0050]    The fastener  10  is assembled by sliding the slide  14  onto the base  12 . The first end portion  110  of the slide  14  is moved axially into the space between the tracks  65  and  66  of the base  12 . The edge portions  106  and  108  of the slide  14  fit under the tracks  66  and  65 , respectively. The first finger grip  120  extends laterally between the tracks  65  and  66 . The main body portion  100  of the slide  14  overlies the main body portion  50  of the base  12 . The slide  14  is supported on the base  12  for linear sliding movement relative to the base along the axis  51 .  
         [0051]    As the slide  14  moves along the base  12 , the end portions  86  and  96  of the retaining legs  80  and  90  of the base engage the first sections  152  and  162  of the tracks  150  and  160 , and are cammed inward toward the axis  51 . The slide  14  is moved axially in the first direction  142  until the pair of detent fingers  67  and  68  on the base  12  engage in the pair of first detent openings  118  in the base. In this position, the retaining legs  80  and  90  are self-biased outwardly against the second sections  154  and  164  of the slide tracks  150  and  160 .  
         [0052]    When the slide  14  is thus assembled on the base  12 , and prior to insertion of the fastener  10  into the opening  40 , the parts of the fastener are in an assembled or as-molded condition shown in FIG. 7 and in solid lines in FIG. 8. The first retaining leg  80  is biased outwardly and engages the second section  154  of the first track  150 . The second retaining leg  90  is biased outwardly and engages the second section  164  of the second track  160 .  
         [0053]    When the fastener  10  is thereafter inserted into the opening  40  in the first and second members  20  and  22 , the parts of the fastener assume a first condition, or insertion condition. In the first condition, the parts of the fastener  10  are in substantially the same position as in the assembled condition shown in FIGS.  7  and in solid lines in FIG. 8, with the exception that the retaining legs  80  and  90  move inwardly, away from the tracks  150  and  160 , into the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8.  
         [0054]    Specifically, as the retainer assembly  70  of the fastener  10  is inserted into the opening  40  (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8), the cam surfaces  84  and  94  on the retaining legs  80  and  90 , respectively, engage the edge surfaces  42  and  44  of the opening  40 , and cam the retaining legs inward from their as-molded condition, toward the axis  51 . The fastener  10  moves into the opening  40  until the inner side surface  54  of the main body portion  50  of the base  12  engages the outer side surface  28  of the first member  20 , as shown in FIG. 7, to limit movement of the fastener in a direction into the opening.  
         [0055]    During this movement, the retainer assembly  70  moves far enough into the opening  40  that the blocking surfaces  88  and  98  move past the edge surfaces  42  and  44 . The retaining legs  80  and  90  spring back outward, away from the axis  51 . The retaining legs  80  and  90  move outward until the end portions  86  and  96  of the retaining legs engage the edge surfaces  42  and  44  of the opening  40 . The edge surfaces  42  and  44  of the opening  40  resist further lateral movement of the retaining legs  80  and  90 . The blocking surface  88  on the first retaining leg  80  and the blocking surface  98  on the second retaining leg  90  engage the inner major side surface  32  of the second member  22 . This engagement blocks or resists removal of the base  12  from the opening  40 .  
         [0056]    The blocking portions  88  and  98  of the legs  80  and  90  are thus in a blocking position to block removal of the legs through the opening  40 . The retaining legs  80  and  90  can, however, be bent inward to enable removal of the fastener  10  from the opening  40 , if sufficient axial force is placed on the fastener. Therefore, the fastener  10  is not locked, and the members  20  and  22  are not securely clamped together.  
         [0057]    To move the fastener  10  from the first condition to a second or locking condition (FIGS. 9-11), the slide  14  is moved (slid) relative to the base  12  in the first direction  142 . When force is placed on the finger grips  120  and  122  of the slide  14 , the slide slides relative to the base  12 , in a direction along the axis  51 , but the base does not move in the opening  40  because of the engagement of the retaining legs  80  and  90  in the opening. The slide  14  is moved axially in the first direction  142  until the pair of detent fingers  67  and  68  on the base  12  engage in the pair of second detent openings  116  in the slide  14 .  
         [0058]    As the slide  14  moves relative to the base  12 , the first and second tracks  150  and  160  of the slide move relative to the retaining legs  80  and  90  of the base, in the first direction  142  as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 11, from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8 toward the position shown in FIG. 11. When the slide  14  reaches the position shown in FIG. 11, the corner surface  186  on the stop  180  of the slide  14  engages the inside of the first retaining leg  80 . In this position of the parts, the stop  180  blocks inward movement of the first retaining leg  80 , while the edge surface  42  of the,opening  40  blocks outward movement of the end portion  86  of the first retaining leg. Thus, the first retaining leg  80  is clamped between the stop  180  and the edge  42  of the opening  140 , and can not move either inward or outward relative to the axis  51 .  
         [0059]    Simultaneously, the stop  180  engages the inside of the second retaining leg  90 . In this position of the parts, the corner  186  of the stop  180  blocks inward movement of the second retaining leg  90 , while the edge surface  44  of the opening  40  blocks outward movement of the end portion  96  of the second retaining leg  90 . Thus, the second retaining leg  90  is clamped between the stop  180  and the edge  44  of the opening  40 , and can not move either inward or outward relative to the axis  51 .  
         [0060]    When the fastener  10  is in the second or locked condition shown in FIGS. 9-11, the blocking portions  88  and  98  of the retaining legs  80  and  90 , respectively, are in a blocking position (FIG. 10). The legs  80  and  90  are blocked from inward movement by the stop  180 , and are blocked from outward movement by the edges  42  and  44  of the opening  40 . As a result, the retaining legs  80  and  90  are locked in the position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this position, the retaining legs  80  and  90  can not be moved to a position to allow removal of the base  12  from the opening  40 . The legs  80  and  90  are blocked from upward movement by the engagement of the blocking surfaces  88  and  98  of the legs against the edges of the opening  40 . Therefore, the retaining legs  80  and  90  block removal of the fastener  10  from the opening  40 , and the first and second members  20  and  22  are clamped together.  
         [0061]    To move the fastener  10  from the first condition to a third or release condition (FIGS. 12-14), the slide  14  is moved farther along the base  12  in the first direction  142 . As the slide  14  moves relative to the base  12 , the first and second tracks  130  and  150  on the slide move in a direction along the axis  51  relative to the retaining legs  80  and  90  of the base  12 , from the position shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 14.  
         [0062]    As this movement of the slide  14  occurs, the stop  180  moves away from the first retaining leg  80 , and the first track  150  slides along the first retaining leg. The third section  156  and then the fourth section  158  of the first track  150  engage the end portion  86  of the first retaining leg  80 . The first retaining leg  80  is cammed inwardly by the third section  156 , away from the edges of the opening  40 , into engagement with the fourth section  158 . The slide  14  moves to a position in which the first retaining leg  80  is located radially inward of the fourth section  158  of the first track. The blocking surface  88  on the retaining leg  80  is moved inwardly of the edge  42  of the opening  40 . The slide  14  stops when the pair of detent fingers  67  and  68  on the base  12  engage in the pair of third detent openings  114  in the slide  14 .  
         [0063]    Simultaneously, the stop  180  on the slide  14  moves away from the second retaining leg  90 , and the second track  160  slides along the second retaining leg. The third section  166  and then the fourth section  168  of the second track  160  engage the end portion  96  of the second retaining leg  90 . The slide  14  moves to a position in which the second retaining leg  90  is located radially inward of the fourth section  168  of the second track  160 . The second retaining leg  90  is cammed inwardly by the third section  166 , away from the edges of the opening  40 , into engagement with the fourth section  168 . The blocking surface  98  on the retaining leg  90  is moved inwardly of the edge  44  of the opening  40 .  
         [0064]    Thus, when the slide  14  is moved relative to the base  12  so as to place the fastener  10  in the third or release condition shown in FIGS. 12-14, the retaining legs  80  and  90  do not block removal of the fastener  10  from the opening  40 . The first and second members  20  and  22  are no longer clamped together, and the fastener  10  can be removed from the opening  40 .  
         [0065]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8