FASTENER ASSEMBLY

摘要

PATENT APPLICATION PAPERS OF ALBERT K. YAMAMOTO, FRANK J. COSENZA AND JAMES R. POTTER A fastener assembly for securing a first panel member to a second panel member in a spaced-apart relationship. The fastener comprises a tubular shank portion having first and second end portions, a cavity being formed in the shank portion. A first spring member is secured on the outside of the shank portion and has openings near the first end of the shank portion to enable steel ball members to protrude therefrom. Inside the shank portion cavity is a stepped pin member that is spring loaded and held in place by a combination of the shank portion spring ball retention feature and step angles formed on the pin member. The ball members are in the retracted position until usage, held there by the first spring member. When the fastener is pushed into an aperture formed in the second panel member, the first spring member is compressed back toward the first shank portion of the fastener and moves away from the ball members it normally forces inward. As the fastener passes through the aperture, the ball members are still in the retracted portion since the aperture diameter is approximately the same size as the inside diameter of the first spring member that previously contained it in the shank openings. When the fastener passes through the aperture beyond the ball members, a second spring member, positioned behind the pin, pushes the pin forward and forces the ball members to expand radially thus securing itself to the second panel member completing the installation. At this point, there is a compressive load between the retracted first spring on the panel member and the radially expanded locked ball members. To remove the fastener, a tool is inserted in a recess formed in the pin member and the pin is pushed axially toward the first end of said shank portion, compressing the second spring member and allowing the ball members to retract inwardly. As the ball members retract to the proper depth, the fastener quickly exits the hole due to the compressed first spring ejection load and the first panel member is free to be removed. Simultaneously, the first spring member positions itself over the ball members to maintain them in the retracted position.