Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This inyention relates to the fastening of objects,
either together or one to another, and more particularly,
to the secure, si~plified fastening o~ objects.
Devices which are used to fasten objects typically make
use of a strap connected to a locking head. The free end of
the strap is threaded through or around the objects ko be
fastened and then inserted into the head.
In order to achieve secure fastening and prevent un-
authorized tampering, the locking head generally is in the
form of an enclosure that houses a locking tang and prevents
unauthorized access to it. Sucha housing is typically
mechanically complex, and the strap must be inserted in
a particular way. This detracts from the efficiency of
the fastener. It is necessary to provide instructions for
use of the fastener, and the user needs to be certain that
the strap is properly inserted into the locking head.
Furthermore, the inserted end of the strap often tends
~ to have a relatively massive configuration in order to achieve
; the desired locking effect. This makes the usual protected
2~ locking head fastener undesirable in use, for example, with
control tags for items of merchandise. The massivity of
the strap might damage the merchandise or leave an unsightly
hole .
~ nother difficulty encountered with protected head
fasteners is that the locking tang is a relatively weak
member that can become separated from its position of connection
to the head.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to achieve
the secure fastening of objects without the need for special
instructions in the use of the fastener. A related object is
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to facilitate the prope~ insextion o~ the free end of a
strap into its loc~ing he~d, Another related object is
to achLeve a locking head fastener that is able to accommodate
the free end of its strap in a number of different ways.
Another related object is to achieve a locking head fastener
in which the strap can be used bidirectionally.
A further object of the invention is to achieve a
fastener in which the strap that is inserted into a locking
head does not require such massive proportions to achieve
the desired locking effect.
It is still another object of the invention to achieve
a fastener with a durable locking mechanism that is not
likely to be damaged in use.
Summary of the _vention
In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects,the
invention provides a fastener in which an elongated member,
such as a filamentary strip or a strap, is attached to an
apertured housing that serves as a locking head. The apertured
housing contains at least one longitudinally extending,
laterally deflectable locking mechanism.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the
housing is open at opposed ends, and the locking mechanism
is formed by two locking vanes, one for each direction o~
in5ertion of the free end of the elongated member. In
~ccordance with a related aspect of th invention, the locking
vanes are asymmetric and oppositely positioned.
For one particular embodiment, each locking vane adjoins
one of the openings in the housing and is longitudinally
attached. For another embodiment the locking vanes are
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included in a rectangular housing and are positioned on
opposite side walls. For still another embodiment of
the invention the locking vanes are included in a cylindrical
housing and are parallel with each other.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention,
a ramp effect is provided for facilitating the proper insertion
of the free end of the elongated member into the apertured
housing. The ramp is provided by a separate structure
that extends longitudinally along an interior wall of the
locking head, or is included as a portion of each locking
vane.
The invention is directed to a fastener of one-piece
construction comprising a member having a free end with a
locking shoulder and housing attached to the member and
having a channel therein for receiving the free end of
the member along an axis of insertion therefore, the
channel containing a deflectable vane which extends
longitudinally of the channel and substantially parallel
to the axis of insertion of the free end of the member
~0 therein, the vane being deflectable by insertion of the
ree end into the channel to permit the said insertion and
thereafter the vane tending to return to its original
position to engage the locking shoulder and hold the
ree end in the channel~
In the fastener described above, the member having
the ree end may be a filament, the other end of which is
attached to the housing. Thefastener may be of integral
plastics moulded construction.
Furthermore,thefastener may include a second vane ;
which extends longitudinally of the channel and is
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routed along a line which extends longitudinally of the
channel and substantially parallel to the axis of insertion
of the free end of the member therein, the second vane
being deflectable by the said insertion laterally of the
said axis to permit the said insertion and thereafter the
second vane tending to return to its original position to
hold the free end in the channel. The first and second
vanes of such a fastener may be parallel to each other.
The housing may have longitudinally extending side walls
and the first and second vanes may be oppositely mounted
on the side walls. In addition, the channel may extend
through the housing between two openings and the vane, or
each vane, and be laterally deflectable by the free end of
the member regardless of which of the said two openings
the free end is inserted into. A guiding instrumentality
may be associated with the vane, or each vane, for guiding
the free end into the housing. The guiding instrumentality,
or each guiding instrumentality, may comprise a ramp. Such
a ramp, or each ramp, may be mounted on an interior wall
of the housing opposite the vane or vanes. Lastly, the
fastener may include a protective band guarding the housing
to resist compression thereof.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there
i9 provided a ~astener in the form of an elongate member
having a free end and a housing connected to the member,
the housing having a channel for receiving the free end,
characterized in that the channel contains at least one
locking vane rooted in the wall portion of the channel
and extending substantially parallel with the direction
of insertion of the elongate member, that the locking vane
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projects into the channel, that the locking vane is
elastically deflectable at insertion of the elongate
member into the housing, and that the locking vane may
assume its original position when the elongate member
is in the locked position in the housing.
Brief Description of the Dra n~s
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent
after considering several illustrative embodiments taken
in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fastener in
accordance with the invention being used for attaching a
tag to an item;
Figure lA is a side and sectional view showing the
relationship between the free end of the fastener and its
associated locking head;
Figure lB is an end view of the locking head in Figure lA
showing the free end of the fastener in the process of being
inserted;
Figure lC is a sectional view of the locking head of
Figure lA with the free end of the fastener inserted into
locking position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative
fastener in accordance with the invention being used to
bundle a group of items; '
Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of the locking head
oE the fastener of Figure 2;
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Figure 3A is a partially broken away perspective view
showing the relationship between the free end and locking
head of an alternati~e e~bodiment of the fastener of
Figure l;
Figure 3B is an end view of the locking head of
Figure 3A showing the ~ree end of the fastener in the process
of being inserted.
Figure 3C is a side and sectional view showing the free
end of the fastener of Figure 3A completely inserted into
position in its lockinghead;
Figures4A and 4B are end views of an alternative locking
head for the fastener of Figure 3A; and
Figures 5A and 5B are side and end views of a further
alternative locking head for the fastener of Figure 3A.
Detailed Description
Turning to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a fastener 10
pursuant to the invention being used to fasten a tag 50
to an item 60, such as an item of merchandise. It will be
understood that the fastener 10 can be used in a wide
variety of other ways, for example, in the bundling of objects.
The fastener 10 includes an apertured housing 11 in
the form of a cylindrical locking head with longitudinally opposed
circular openings Cl and C2. ,An elongated member in the
form of a filamentary string or tie 15 is centrally attached
to the housing 11 and has a free end of tongue 16 that is
inserted into one of the circular openings Cl and C2, and
irremovably locked in the housing 11.
In the use of the fastener 10 with the tag 50, the ton~ue
16 of the tie 15 is successively inserted through an opening 51
of the tag 50, through the object 60, and into either of the
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locking head circular openingS Cl or C2. It is the bidirectional
locking capability o~ the head 11 that gives increased
versatility to the fastener 10 o~ Figure 1. Thus, unlike
conventional fasteners with protected locking heads, the
fastener 10 may be used without regard to the direction
of insertion of the tongue 16 into the head 11.
As is demonstrated in detail below, the tongue 16 of
the tie 15 has a region of relatively reduced cross section
and the locking head 11 contains at least one flexible
member which is deflected by, and ~hereafter engages the
tongue over its region of reduced cross section.
The particular tag 50 of Figure 1 has a preformed hole 51
and is of the type sold and marketed under the trade name
"MERITAG", but it will be understood that the fastener 10
may be used with any type control ticket, including those
without apertures that require the tongue to be driv~ through
the ticket stock.
Details of the locking head 11 and its relationship
to the tongue 16 of the tie 15 are set forth in Figure lA.
~0 The tongue 16 has a tip 16a, a locking region 16r of reduced
cross section and a stop 16s. There is a weakened
region between the stop 16s and the locking region 16r to
permit severance of the tie when excess force is appl~ied.
The head 11 contains a first locking vane 12-1 which is
dispo5ed to produce a locking effect when the tongue 16
i9 inserted into the associated opening 01. A second
locking vane 12-2 is disposed to produce a locking effect
when the tongue 16 is inserted into the opposite opening 02.
The locking ~7anes 12-1 and 12-2 extend longitudinally
within the housing 11 and are diagonally and diametrically
opposed. Each has a ramp 12r- beginning at the respective
openings 01 and 02, to assist in guiding the tip 16a of the
tongue 16 as it is inserted into the locking head 11 rom
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either l~ngitudinal ~irection, Within the locking head 11,
the vanes 12~ d 12-2 haye locking shoulders 12s. Each
engages the ~nte~ior edge 16e o~ the tip 16a, depending
upon the direction of insertion of the tongue 16.
Regardless of the direction of insertion of the tongue 16,
the :tip 16a is guided by the nearest ramp 12r and causes the
vanes 12-1 and 12-2 to deflect laterally from their equilibrium
positions, as indicated by Figure lB. When, as shown in
Figure lC, the tongue ]6 is inserted to the point that the
interior edge 16e of the tip 16a clears the nearest shoulder
12s, the associated vane 12-1 returns, by virtue of its resiliency,
to its equilibrium position.
The longitudinal positioning of the vanes 12-1 and 12-2
gives them additional strength about their pivot positions.
When the tongue 16 is in its locked position as shown in
Figure lC, the region 16r extends along the vane 12-1
and the extent of insertion is controlled by the ball stop 16s.
In a tested embodiment of the invention the fastener 10
was fabricated of a nylon resin, but other materials may
be used as well. It is to be noted that not only does the
stop 16s limit the extent to which the tongue 16 can be
inserted into the locking head 11, it also prevents tampering
after locking engagement has taken place. In addition,
the device is simple to manufacture and the size of the tongue
is such that only small holes are made when it is pushed through
an item to be tagged.
Another embodiment of the invention is the fastener 20
of Figure 2 which is particularly suitable for the bundling of
items 70. The fastener 20 is constituted by a rectangular
locking head 21 with opposed rectangular openings Rl~and R2.
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An elongated mem~er in the form o~ a band or strap 25 is
centrally attached to the locking head 21 and has a ~ree
end or tongue 26 that ls inserted ~hrough the openin~ Rl
and R2 where it is irremo~ably locked in position.
As in the case of fastener 10 of Figure 1, the head 21
of the fastener 20 has a bidirectional locking capability.
This is achieved, as indicated by the cross-sectional view of
Figure 2A by the inclusion within the locking head 21 of
locking vanes 22-1 and 22-2 on opposite lateral side walls.
Each of the vanes 21-1 and 22-2 extend the approximate height
of the locking head 21 and have ramp surfaces 22r. The
strap 25 has successive regions 25r of reduced cross
section between successive pairs of spurs 25s. In Figure 2,
the spurs on the band 25 beyond the opening R2 have been
omitted for simplicity.
When the strap 25 is inserted into the lockin~ head 21
through the opening R2 the spurs 25s engage the ramp portions
- of the locking vanes 22-1 and 22-2 and cause them to be
deflected. The locking vane 22-1 associated with the particular
direction of insertion shown in Figure 2A, successively
engages the spurs 25s in locking position because of their
perpendicular back edges. Alternatively, when the strap 25
should be inserted into the locking head 21 in the opposite
direction through the opposed opening Rl, the other vane 22-2
will lockingly engage the spurs of the strap.
A further embodiment of the fastener of Figure 1 is
illustrated in Figure 3A by the locking head 31 and associated
tongue 36. The locking hPad 31 employs a ramp 31r on the
interior wall of the locking head 31, opposite which two
locking vanes 32-1 and 32-2 are centrally positioned and
extend only over a part o~ the locking head length. The
associated tongue 36 has an end ~ormed by a cone 36a,
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~ollowed by a xegion 36r O~ xeduced diametex corresponding
to that of F~gure lA, followed by a cylindrical stop 36s.
Beyond the stop 36s is a ball 36b. As in the case o~ fastener
10 of Figuxe 1 the embodiment of Figure 3A permits bidirectional
locking. When the cone 36a of the tongue is inserted into
either opening Cl or C2 of the head 31, as shown in
Figure 3B, the ramp 31r tends to guide the cone 36a
into position between the two vanes 32-1 and 32-2, which
are forced apart. When the tongue 36 is fully inserted
as shown in Figure 3C, the region 36r is between the vane
32-1 and 32-2, which have returned to their equilibrium
positions, with the locking edge 36e of the cone in contact
with the locking shoulders 32b of the vanes. When the tongue
is inserted in the opposite direction, the locking edge
36e of the cone is in contact with the locking shoulder
32a. The cylinder 36s serves the same role as the stop
16s of Figure 1. The ball 36b is included to facilitate
the grasp of the free end 36 of the device by the user.
Still another embodiment of the invention is shown by
Figures 4A and 4B. For this embodiment a ramp 41r is
employed corresponding to the ramp 31r of Figure 3A,
opposite which there is a single locking vane 42. When
the end 46a of the tongue is inserted into either opening
of the housing 41 it is guided to one side or the other
of the vane 42 and causes it to deflect upon further insertion,
allowing the end 46a to pass beyond the locking edge of
the vane, which thereafter returns to its equilibrium
position and the tongue is locked in place.
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Locking he~ds ~n accoxdance with the invention are
intended to achie~e ta~per-proof locking of their associated
tongues. If the head becomes subjected to substantial
compressive force, either inadvertently or by design, the
tongue may become disengaged from the head.
Thus, if the locking head 31 of Figures 3A and 3C
has a sufficiently thin wall, compressive force
applied to it above the ramp 31r may produce a deformation
that causes a separation of the vanes 32-1 and 32-2 and
permits the unauthorized withdrawal of the tongue 36a
from the head 31.
For a locking head of the type shown in Figure 3A,
disengagement of the tongue from the head is prevented, as
illustrated in Figure 5A, by the use of a protective band 57
shown in side view for an alternative head 51. The cylindrical
wall of the head 51 is a thin shell to conserve material
and to facilitate manufacture of the mold by which the head
is formed. However, the central portion of the head 51
is girded and given transverse rigidity by the enlarged
band 57. This limits the extent to which the head 51 can
become laterally distended by compressive force
applied to the head towards the direction of the stem 55.
As shown in Figure 5B, the band 57 has a relatively thick
wall which gives it suitable rigidity and reinforces the
head 51 over its entire periphery. In addition, the band
57 includes a projection 57p opposite the ramp 51r and
in general alignment with the stem 55. Since it is compressive
force applied in the direction of the stem 55 that tends
to cause lateral deflection of the head 51, and consequent
separation of the vanes 52-1 and 52-2, the position of the
projection 57p is maximally positioned to discourage unauthorized
; compression of the head 51 by manual manipulation.
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Although the projection 57p in ~igures 5A and 5B is
in the for~ of a x~dge, it will be appreciated that other
forms may be used as well. For example, the projection 57p
may be made pointed to further discourage unauthorized
compression of the head 51. Moreover, a protective band
of the kind shown in Figures 5A and 5B may be used with
other embodiments of the in~ention as well.
While various aspects of the invention have been set
forth by the drawings and specification, it is to be understood
that the foregoing detailed description is for illustration
only and that various changes, as well as the substitution
of equivalent constituents shown and de~ribed may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as set forth in the appended claims.
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