Patent ID: 6991397

Claim:
A dowel fastener for compressive insertion within apertures in joint members of wood, metal or synthetic material to form a friction joint without permanent plastic deformation of said dowel fastener, said dowel fastener comprising: a flexible, resilient, tubular body having a central axis, an inside surface, an exterior surface, a slot having a predetermined width when said dowel fastener is uncompressed, and two ends at least one of which is tapered, said slot having opposing edges on said tubular body and extending from end to end along said dowel fastener; at least one tab at a first position along said slot, said tab having a free end, a width less than the length of said slot, and a length greater than said slot width at said first position, said tab extending from one edge of said slot across said slot toward said opposing slot edge and engaging said inside surface of said tubular body adjacent said opposing slot edge; said body providing a cylindrical, exterior gripping surface for engagement with the sides of the joint apertures and being sufficiently flexible to allow only elastic movement of the sides of said slot toward one another without plastic deformation of said body to reduce the dowel fastener diameter such that said dowel fastener is compressible from its normal, uncompressed diameter for insertion in a smaller fastening aperture while the resiliency of the tubular body and the engagement of said tab with said inside surface of said body resist compression of said dowel fastener, said dowel fastener being sufficiently resilient for secure frictional engagement of said exterior gripping surface with the sides of the fastening apertures.