Spring-biased wedge fastener

摘要

A fastener having head and stem housing portions and a cooperating wedge piece. A threaded control member and spring reciprocally direct longitudinal and lateral movement of the wedge piece. The wedge piece laterally expands and contracts relative to the stem portion at interlocking, tapered slot and raised flange/rib/rail slide surfaces to vary the relative lateral or transverse separation between gripping surfaces at the wedge piece and stem portion to engage and release the fastener and attached appliance from an aperture in a support surface.

主权项

1. A fastener assembly comprising:
a) a housing having a head portion and a stem portion that projects from said head portion, wherein said head portion exhibits a width greater than a width of said stem portion, wherein said stem portion includes a gripping surface adapted to grip a wall of a bore, and wherein said housing includes a tapered surface that extends at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said housing; b) a wedge piece having a gripping surface adapted to grip a wall of a bore and a tapered surface that extends at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said housing and wherein the tapered surfaces of said housing and wedge piece are aligned such that longitudinal axial movement of one tapered surface over the other tapered surface induces a lateral expansion and contraction of the spacing between the gripping surfaces of said housing and wedge piece; and c) a control member operative to direct axial movement of said wedge piece relative to said housing and the lateral expansion and contraction of the spacing between the gripping surfaces of said housing and wedge piece.