Patent ID: 8459917

Claim:
A fastener for joining a first member and a second member comprising: an elastic hollow body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial hole having a first diameter, an elongate rod extending through the elastic hollow body having a washer positioned at the proximal end of the elastic hollow body, a first head located at a proximal end of the rod that abuts the washer, a second head positioned at the distal end of the elastic hollow body, and an elongate body extending distally from the distal end of the elastic hollow body, the rod being in non-threaded engagement with the elastic hollow body and the second head, at least a portion of the rod that resides between the washer and second head being axially compressible when an axial force in the direction of the elastic hollow body is applied to the elongate body, the first head having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the washer having a third diameter greater than the second diameter, the second head having a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter and smaller than the third diameter, wherein the elastic hollow body is axially compressible between the washer and the second head upon an axial force applied to the elongate body in a direction toward the elastic hollow body, the rod and elastic hollow body being axially compressible in a manner that results in a radial expansion of the elastic hollow body upon the application of the axial force.