Patent ID: 7766573

Claim:
A quick release fastener device for quickly installing and securing and for releasing and removing a temporarily-installed hurricane shutter panel from a window or door over which said shutter is installed, comprising: a stud having at least one end that is connectable to a building structure to hold a hurricane storm shutter in place over a window, door, or other opening of the structure; and a spring-actuated panel fastener removably connected to an end of said stud oriented away from the structure for holding said hurricane shutter in place, said fastener including a panel fastener body, a hinged locking element, and a spring for manually installing and removing said fastener on and from said stud; wherein the spring-actuated panel fastener comprises: the spring, which comprises a leaf spring; the panel fastener body that includes: a planar first face; a central recess passing through said planar first face and extending longitudinally downward into said panel fastener body, said central recess being defined by one or more inner walls and a planar bottom surface of the panel fastener body; a planar second face; an outer wall; and a central aperture for receiving the removable stud that extends entirely through the said panel fastener body with openings on both the first face and the second face of the panel fastener body; a slot-shaped aperture extending longitudinally through the planar second face and into the central recess of said panel fastener body for receiving the leaf spring; and a central protrusion having a groove that is coaxial and colinear with the central aperture, said central protrusion being connected to and extending upward from the planar bottom surface defining the central recess; and a hinged locking element having a groove that is opposite and corresponding in position and identical in size to the groove of said central protrusion, wherein said locking element is connected to the panel fastener body and securely engages the removable stud within said groove of the locking element when said fastener is not actuated.