Abstract
A fastener for attaching an identification placard having a post to a lid for a utility vault from a single side of the lid, the fastener includes a body portion for positioning within a hole in the lid, the fastener having tabs for retaining the fastener to the lid and lobes for preventing over insertion of the fastener into the hole in the lid and a bore extending through or partially through the body portion for receipt of and friction retention and/or mechanical interlocking of the post of the identification placard.
Claims
1. A fastening system for attaching an identification placard having a post to a lid for a vault from a single side of the lid comprising: a fastener having non-flexible body portions for positioning within a hole in the lid, the fastener having at least one flexible flange positioned between and not attached to the body portions that flexes independent of the body portions when the fastener is inserted into the hole, the flexible flange having a tab extending at an end of the flexible flange for retaining the fastener to a lower portion of the lid, the fastener having lobes extending radially outward from the body portions for preventing over insertion of the body portions into the hole in the lid; and a bore extending through the body portions for receipt of and friction or mechanical retention of the post of the identification placard; wherein the identification placard is attached without the use of adhesives.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible flange comprises two flexible flanges spaced from one another and positioned between the body portions.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the bore has a polygonal configuration.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the bore includes an indexing flange extending away from the bore for receipt of an indexing groove on the post.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the bore has a tapered surface of non-uniform thickness.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility vault and lid incorporating the fastening system of the present invention;
(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1;
(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener of the present invention;
(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative fastener of the present invention;
(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second alternative fastener of the present invention; and
(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third alternative fastener of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(8) Referring to FIG. 1, a typical utility vault 10 and corresponding lid 12 having an identification placard 14 is illustrated. The identification placard 14 has identifying indicia 16 on its surface, such as owner or other industry specific information. As also shown in FIG. 2, the identification placard 14 includes a post 18 which extends into a hole 20 which extends through the lid as also shown in FIG. 3. The lid 12 includes a recessed portion 22 for receipt of the placard 14 such that the placard is flush with the top surface 24 of the lid. The present invention incorporates a fastener 26 positioned within hole 20 which receives the post 18 to secure the placard 14 to the lid 12.
(9) The lid 12 can be made from concrete, polymer concrete, cast iron, galvanized steel, plastic or a fiberglass reinforced polymer matrix material consisting of an unsaturated polyester thermal setting resin matrix, glass fiber reinforcement and inorganic or mineral filler. The vault 10 can also be made from any of these materials. The lid includes through holes 28 and 30 positioned in opposing corners of the lid. Fasteners are incorporated to ridgedly attach the lid to the vault. The lid also includes an opening 32 for receipt of a hook to remove the lid from the vault as is known in the art.
(10) Referring to FIG. 4 a first embodiment fastener 34 is illustrated. The fastener 34 has a generally cylindrical body portion 36 on opposite sides of the fastener. Positioned between each body portion 36 is a flexible flange 38 having a tab 40 positioned on a lower end of the flange. The fastener has a lobe 42 extending radially outwardly from the body portion 36 on either side and is positioned at an upper portion of the fastener to prevent over insertion of the fastener within the hole 20 in the lid. The fastener has a bore or hole 44 extending therethrough or partially therethrough and is illustrated, for example, as a hexagonal hole having six sides for receipt of post 18 although any geometrical shape for the bore will suffice. An indexing feature 46 extends from one of the sides of the bore and into the bore for receipt of an indexing groove 48 extending along the length of the post 18. The indexing feature and the groove align to one another to properly index the placard 14 when installed into the lid.
(11) As shown in FIG. 3, fastener 34 is a one-side access fastener which is positioned in the hole by hand without tools by the flange 38 and tabs 40 compressing during insertion into the hole from the top surface of the lid such that when installed tabs 40 spring out and connect to the underside of the lid adjacent to the hole. Lobes 42 engage the recess 22 to prevent over insertion into the hole. The identification placard is then press fit into the fastener by a friction fit and indexed by receipt of the indexing feature 46 within groove 48 in the post. The sides of the bore 44 can be tapered to further accommodate the friction fit. Fastener 34 typically is constructed from thermoplastic material such as ABS or other flexible materials such as nylon or composites including fiberglass or graphite.
(12) Referring to FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment fastener 50 is illustrated. Fastener 50 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 52 having a plurality of tabs 54 spaced around the body and barbs 56 positioned around a lower surface. The top includes an annular ring 58 and the fastener includes a split section 60 allowing the fastener to compress when being inserted into the hole 22 in the lid from the top surface of the lid. When positioned in the hole and the tabs 54 may clear the bottom of the hole 22, the fastener springs open and the tabs engage the bottom of the hole 22 or may embed into the surface of the hole 22 or may lock into annular grooves 55 in the surface of the hole 22 or other recessed or raised features in the surface of the hole 22. These various methods of engaging hole 22 allows for use in thru-holes or blind nonthru-holes. Ring 58 rests on the recess 22 to prevent over insertion. Tabs 54 lock the fastener in place within the hole in the lid. The fastener includes a cylindrical bore 62 for receipt of post 18. An indexing feature 64 is positioned within bore 62 for receipt of channel 48 in the post ensuring proper indexing or clocking of the placard 14 during installation. The bore 62 is sized to provide a friction fit for the post 18 when the placard is installed without the need for tools and the barbs 56 engage the post.
(13) Referring to FIG. 6, another alternative embodiment fastener 64 is illustrated. Fastener 64 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 66 having a plurality of flanges or prongs 68 extending downwardly therefrom and spaced apart. FIG. 6 illustrates three prongs 68, however, another number could be utilized. Each prong 68 includes an angled end portion 70 which would extend below the bottom end of the hole 20 in the lid. In use, the post 18 of the placard would push the angled portion outwardly such that the bottom end of the angled portion would engage the post and an upper end of the angled portion would engage the bottom surface of the lid around hole 20. Tabs 72 are spaced around the top of the body portion 66 to prevent over insertion of the fastener 64 into the hole. Body portion 66 includes a split section 74 and the body portion 68 adjacent either side of the split section 74 is curved inwardly 76 so that when the fastener 64 is positioned within a similarly geometrically shaped hole prevents rotation of the fastener and the placard once installed. Curved portion 76 can also act as an indexing function for the placard or the placard can utilize a separate indexing feature commonly known in the art.
(14) Referring to FIG. 7, another alternative embodiment fastening system 78 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the post 80 has a lobed configuration wherein a plurality of lobes 82 are formed into the post. Three lobes are illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 6 although it is to be understood that any number of lobes could be incorporated into the post. In this embodiment, the hole 20 in the lid 12 would have a corresponding geometrical shape for receipt of the lobes and the lobes would be manufactured so that installation could only occur in one orientation to provide for the indexing requirement. In this embodiment, the corresponding hole 20 would be sized to provide a friction/interference and/or compressive fit for post 68 causing the softer material to flow into annular 84 grooves or similar features for a positive mechanical interlocking of the components.
(15) The fastening system of the present invention provides the advantage of installation of the identification placard from only one side of the lid into through or blind holes without tools. The fastening system provides for an indexing feature to ensure proper installation of the placard and the prevention of the placard from moving once installed.
(16) Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a fastening system for an identification placard into a lid for utility vaults, it is to be understood that other applications of the inventive concepts are also possible. The invention provides for the attachment of components quickly together by requiring access to only one side of the components being fastened together and without the use of tools. Other applications could include electronic components such as screws or other fasteners pressed into a circuit board or a circuit board being attached to a housing, wooden component such as dowels and blind holes, plastic components such as plastic pins inserted into holes for containers. Although the fasteners of the present invention have been illustrated with respect to cylindrical bores or hexagonal bores, it is to be understood that the fastener can be easily configured to work with other geometrical shapes such as triangles, squares, ovals, or other post and hole configurations. Although the present invention has been disclosed and illustrated with respect to various embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
