Patent ID: 8356964

Claim:
A retaining pin with self biasing keeping means comprising: a pin having a first fixed outside diameter and a second fixed inside diameter and first and second opposed ends; a solid, continuous head portion disposed on the first end of said pin for restraining movement of said pin past said head portion; means for retaining said pin in a matched opening having first and second opposed ends and an inner diameter larger than the first fixed outside diameter of said pin, said means for retaining said pin including a plurality of resilient detent fingers radially disposed along the second opposed end of said pin; and said plurality of resilient detent fingers extending less than half of a length of said pin; wherein each of said detent fingers includes a respective generally planar, linear first proximal portion extending from said pin radially outwardly beyond said first outside diameter and a respective generally planar, linear second distal portion extending radially inwardly from said first proximal portion, and wherein when said pin is inserted entirely through the matched opening, said detent fingers being adapted to compress radially inwardly and then to expand radially outwardly and return to an original position for preventing movement of said pin past said resilient detent fingers and retaining said pin in said matched opening; and wherein each one of said plurality of detent fingers having a narrow slit on each side thereof and a deformed portion disposed intermediate said first proximal and second distal portions and having a second outside diameter, and wherein said second outside diameter is larger than said first outside diameter.