CA2181919A1 - Fastener attaching tool - Google Patents
Fastener attaching toolInfo
- Publication number
- CA2181919A1 CA2181919A1 CA002181919A CA2181919A CA2181919A1 CA 2181919 A1 CA2181919 A1 CA 2181919A1 CA 002181919 A CA002181919 A CA 002181919A CA 2181919 A CA2181919 A CA 2181919A CA 2181919 A1 CA2181919 A1 CA 2181919A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fastener
- needles
- pair
- tool
- ejector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43D—MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR
- A43D100/00—Setting or removing eyelets, buttons, lacing-hooks, or elastic gussets in shoes
- A43D100/08—Setting buttons on footwear
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41H—APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A41H37/00—Machines, appliances or methods for setting fastener-elements on garments
- A41H37/005—Hand implements
- A41H37/008—Hand implements provided with a needle tube
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B1/00—Buttons
- A44B1/18—Buttons adapted for special ways of fastening
- A44B1/185—Buttons adapted for special ways of fastening with quick, thread-like, anchoring means avoiding the use of a separate needle and thread
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C7/00—Affixing tags
- B65C7/003—Affixing tags using paddle-shaped plastic pins
- B65C7/005—Portable tools
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
- D05B—SEWING
- D05B97/00—Hand sewing processes or apparatus for special work or not otherwise provided for
- D05B97/10—Hand sewing processes or apparatus for special work or not otherwise provided for for attaching buttons or fasteners
Abstract
A fastener attaching tool (121) particularly suited for use in attaching buttons to clothing, etc. and which is constructed for use with a fastener clip (11). The tool includes a pair of needles (129, 131) pivotally mounted to the front end (165) of the body, each needle having a longitudinally slotted bore adapted to receive one of the transverse bars (17) and a knife edge for severing a connector post (23) from its associated transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed through the needle. The body includes a transverse feed slot (143), an ejector mechanism (133) including a pair of ejector rods (189, 191), and a pair of flexible fingers (199, 201) which cooperate with a post (197) on the ejector mechanism to prevent automatic return of the ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position in the body when forward pressure on the ejector mechanism is removed.
Description
wo g~/19914 ;~ 1 8 1 9 1 9 r~".J~ r l ,~
FASTENER ATTACHING TOOL _ _ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and novel fastener attaching tool particularly suited for use in consumer,; ~ such as to recouple detached buttons to clothing, etc.
The conventional method of coupling or recoupling buttons to garments or fabrics, either by machine or by hand, is with thread. The button is held in place and a needle containing thread is inserted through each of two, three or more holes in the button and into the material several times until sufficient strands of thread 10 exist to securely hold the button to the material. The thread must then be tied or otherwise fastened so that it will not unravel. In some instances, where it is desired to elevate the button from the material, a pedestal effect is achieved by laterally wrapping the strands with additional thread. The disadvantages to thismethod of securing buttons to fabric or gamments are several. First of all, it is a 15 slow and tedious job and the button can soon become detached if only one of the threads is severed or if the ends of the thread are not secured properly.
In the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,399,432, 3,470,834, and 3,494,004, all of which are i~ ,uul ' ' herein by reference, there is described a plastic fastener which may be used instead of thread to couple or to recouple a 20 button to an article of clothing. The fastener typically comprises a flexible filament having a head at one end and a transverse bar at the opposite end. A plurality of such fasteners are typically manufactured as part of a clip in which the fasteners are i"l~n;~""G~ d in a row to a stringer or runner bar cùlll)eul~d to the transverse bars of the fasteners by COII~apulluil~g necks or connector posts. To sever an 25 individual fastener from the fastener ciip and tû attach the severed fastener to a desired article (e.g., through a button hole and into an article of clothing), afastener attaching device is typically used. Such a device typically cu""~ ,es acasing, a needle projecting from the casing, the needle and the casing having longitudina~ bores in alignment with each other, a plunger slidable back and forth 30 within said bores, a handle ~:lescu~.i, ,9 over the rear of the casing for sliding said plunger within said bores, and means Gulll,uli~ill9 an indexing wheel for feeding wo 95/19914 21~191~
fasteners into the device succ~aaively with the Lldl laVe:lae bars in alignment with said bores ahead of the plunger so that they may be projected through the needleby ,~ci,uru,,d~;"g the plunger. Typically, the rear end of the needle is shaped to deflne a knife edge so that insertion of the transverse bar into the longitudinal bore 5 of the needle using the plunger causes the knife edge of the needle to sever the connector post cu""eui;"!J the fastener to the ~llld;lld~::l of the fastener clip.
While the above-described fasteners have been found to be generally sdli~rdu~ury for attaching buttons to certain articles of clothing, they have not found universal ., I ' ' :, for the following reasons: First, when placed in direct contact 1û with a person's skin, the ~,d"_~.at: bar of the fastener has a tendency to beirrltating. This is in part because the above-described severing of the connector post often leaves a burr on the bottom of the transverse bar and is in part because of the somewhat sharp ends and large size of the transverse bar. Second, the fasteners are often too big to be used with many buttons and, therefore, require the 15 use of specially designed buttons having large holes. Third, the fasteners tend to be conspicuous in d,Op~:dl dl IC~ due to the fact that a separate fastener is used for every button hole, as opposed to being looped between two or more button holes in the same way that thread typically is.
FASTENER ATTACHING TOOL _ _ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and novel fastener attaching tool particularly suited for use in consumer,; ~ such as to recouple detached buttons to clothing, etc.
The conventional method of coupling or recoupling buttons to garments or fabrics, either by machine or by hand, is with thread. The button is held in place and a needle containing thread is inserted through each of two, three or more holes in the button and into the material several times until sufficient strands of thread 10 exist to securely hold the button to the material. The thread must then be tied or otherwise fastened so that it will not unravel. In some instances, where it is desired to elevate the button from the material, a pedestal effect is achieved by laterally wrapping the strands with additional thread. The disadvantages to thismethod of securing buttons to fabric or gamments are several. First of all, it is a 15 slow and tedious job and the button can soon become detached if only one of the threads is severed or if the ends of the thread are not secured properly.
In the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,399,432, 3,470,834, and 3,494,004, all of which are i~ ,uul ' ' herein by reference, there is described a plastic fastener which may be used instead of thread to couple or to recouple a 20 button to an article of clothing. The fastener typically comprises a flexible filament having a head at one end and a transverse bar at the opposite end. A plurality of such fasteners are typically manufactured as part of a clip in which the fasteners are i"l~n;~""G~ d in a row to a stringer or runner bar cùlll)eul~d to the transverse bars of the fasteners by COII~apulluil~g necks or connector posts. To sever an 25 individual fastener from the fastener ciip and tû attach the severed fastener to a desired article (e.g., through a button hole and into an article of clothing), afastener attaching device is typically used. Such a device typically cu""~ ,es acasing, a needle projecting from the casing, the needle and the casing having longitudina~ bores in alignment with each other, a plunger slidable back and forth 30 within said bores, a handle ~:lescu~.i, ,9 over the rear of the casing for sliding said plunger within said bores, and means Gulll,uli~ill9 an indexing wheel for feeding wo 95/19914 21~191~
fasteners into the device succ~aaively with the Lldl laVe:lae bars in alignment with said bores ahead of the plunger so that they may be projected through the needleby ,~ci,uru,,d~;"g the plunger. Typically, the rear end of the needle is shaped to deflne a knife edge so that insertion of the transverse bar into the longitudinal bore 5 of the needle using the plunger causes the knife edge of the needle to sever the connector post cu""eui;"!J the fastener to the ~llld;lld~::l of the fastener clip.
While the above-described fasteners have been found to be generally sdli~rdu~ury for attaching buttons to certain articles of clothing, they have not found universal ., I ' ' :, for the following reasons: First, when placed in direct contact 1û with a person's skin, the ~,d"_~.at: bar of the fastener has a tendency to beirrltating. This is in part because the above-described severing of the connector post often leaves a burr on the bottom of the transverse bar and is in part because of the somewhat sharp ends and large size of the transverse bar. Second, the fasteners are often too big to be used with many buttons and, therefore, require the 15 use of specially designed buttons having large holes. Third, the fasteners tend to be conspicuous in d,Op~:dl dl IC~ due to the fact that a separate fastener is used for every button hole, as opposed to being looped between two or more button holes in the same way that thread typically is.
2 1 8 1 9 19 r ~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fastener attaching tool particularly suited for use in consumer .~r ns such as to recouple detached buttons to clothing etc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener attaching tool as described above which is adapted for use with a new and novel fastener clip the fastener clip preferably u u~ risi~ ~ a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners each fastener c~llluli~ a U-shaped filament and a pair of generally parallel transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof the U-shaped filament being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars and aligned with the longitudinal axes thereof each of the pair of transverse bars being cunl~ulc:cl to a C~ auullui lg runner bar by a connector post the connector posts being severably col",e..Lt:d to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fastener attaching tool as described above which lends itself to construction using moldable parts and thus may be mass-produced relatively i"eAuell_v~'y.
Additional objects features and advd, l~d~ > of the present invention will be set forth in part in the des~., iuiiùl, which follows and in part will be obvious from the 20 des~,iuliui~ or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects features and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instn-" ,e, - and co" ,ui, Id~iUI la particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In one preferred ~,,,b~di,,,c~ of the invention the fastener attaching tool comprises a body a needle block, a pair of needles a spring, and an ejector 25 ",e~ lla"i:"".
Each of the pair of needles includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to receive one of the ll dl 15'~ e bars of the fastener with the adjacent end of the filament eAtending through the slot in the bore. The needles are mounted in a parallel a"u"g~",t:"l in the needle block which in turn is removably mounted 30 in a cavity formed in the front end of the body. Each needle has a knife edge WO gS/19914 2~.~1913 I
formed on its outer side which is adapted to sever a connector post from its d~DCi~-' ' J transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed by it.
The body is also shaped to include a transverse feed slot down through which the above-described fastener clip is manually inserted. To assist in properly aligning the fastener clip within the feed slot so that the transverse bars of adesired fastener are aligned with the longitudinal bores of the needles the inner walls of the slot are shaped to include a pair of feed bars which engage ol,.3i"g il~di-llld~iu~)b fommed on the outer sides of the fastener clip.
The ejector IlleulldlliDlll which is mounted for slidable movement back and forth wlthin the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring is manually operable from the rear of the body. Actuation of the ejector Illeulldl)iblll is preferably achieved using one s thumb and the body is provided with a pair of finger openings so that the device may be held and used like a syringe. The ejeGtor ",e~l,d"iD",includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth within the longitudinal bores of the needles and are used to push the transverse bars through the bores of the needles into a desired article.
In another preferred t:" ,.,o~ i" ,~, It of the invention the shape of the body and the ejector Ill~ulldlliDlll and the construction of the spring in the above-described fastener attaching tool are modified.
In still another preferred -",.,o~.i",e"l of the invention the fastener attaching tool comprises a body having an upper part and a lower part a cap an ejeGtor Ille~ lidll;DIII a spring and a pair of needles. The needles are mounted on the front end of the body at least one of the needles being pivotally mounted so as to enable the tool to a~,GG~ 1 11 1 l~d~ '~ variations in the spacing between holes in different buttons.
Each needle includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to reGeive one of the transverse bars of a fastener to be dispersed.
The ejector mechanism is slidably movable back and forth in a longitudinal channel within the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring. The ejeGtor ",eul,d"i:,", includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth into ar,d withir, the lorl3itudina! bores of the need!es. Forward l "u:~. "~ of the e3ector wo gS/19914 2 1 8 1 9 1 9 " ,t:~,l ,a,~ia", in the body is preferably achieved using ones thumb and the body and ejector Ille~;lldllialll are shaped so that the tool may be held and used like asyringe. The ejector ~ cl~a~ia~ and the body are further shaped so that the ejector ",eul,a,~ia", will not a~u",dLi..al'~ retract after it has been pushed by the 5 thumb of the user to its run dllluaL position and the pressure by the thumb on the ejector ",eul,d,~is", is removed. The cap is attached to and covers the rear portion of the ejector " ,e~,l Idl 1;::1111.
woss/lssl4 ~181919 r~,u~ .r ,~ ~
BRIEF DESCF<~ ON OF THE DRAWINGS
The acGu"",d"ying drawings, which are hereby i~u~ ' ' in and constitute a part of this .~I.e~ ;r~ .n, illustrate the preferred e~ uud;,ll~l~ts of the invention and, together with the desu,i~Jtiu~1, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, wherein like referenGe numerals represent like parts:
Fig. 1 is a front view of one t:lllbou;",~"~ of a fastener clip for use with a fastener attaching tool constructed acGording to the kachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2, is a bottom view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 after it has been separated from the remainder of the fastener clip;
Fig. 4 is a top view of one _IllL,odi,,,t~ of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching anindividual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of 15 button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
Fig. 5 is a partially exploded top view of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 4 with the body being broken away in part;
Fig. 6 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line 6-6;
Figs. 7(a) through 7(d) are front, rear, top and right side views, respectively,20 of the needle block shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a section view of the body shown .n Fig. 5 taken along line 8-8;
Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) are top, right side, left side and rear views, JG-.,Lil_'y, of one of the needles shown in Fig. 5;
Figs. 10(a) and 1û(b) are bottom and right side views, ~ ,pe~ ,/, of the 25 ejector ~ ul~a~ia~ shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a top view, broken away in part, of a second t:llluod;~ of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching an individual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the 30 garment;
W09~119914 r~ l,~,,. .. I~t 2~81919 Fig. 12 is an enlarged section view of the front end of the fastener attaching tool of Fig. 4 shown with the pair of ejector rods in an advanced position to illustrate how one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 may be inserted through a pair of button holes and secured to a garment;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged section view similar to Fig. 12 but after the fastener attaching tool has been removed showing how one of the fasteners shown in Fig.
1 is used to attach a button to a garment;
Fig. 14 is a top view of the culllbilldliu" of the button, garment and fastener shown in Fig. 13;
1û Fig. 15 is a top view of a third ~lbodi~ l of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of this invention;
Fig. 16 is a section view of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 taken along iine 16-16;
Figs. 17 through 2û are top, side, front section and rear views, respectively, of the upper part of the body of the tool in Fig. 15;
Figs. 21A and 21 B are top and rear end views, respectively, of the lower part of the body of the tool in Fig. 15;
Fig. 22 is a r,d~",e"~d,y plan view of the nose end of the faskner attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 with the upper part of the body removed;
2û Fig. 23 is a r,dy",d"ldly side view of the nose end of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 with the upper part of the body removed;
Fig. 24 is a front end view of the upper part of the body shown in Fig. 15;
Fig. 25 is a plan view of the ejector ",eclld"is", shown in the fastener attaching tool in Fig. 15;
Figs. 26 through 29 are plan, side, back and front views"~a~eu.iicly, of one of the needles in the fastener attaching tool in Fig. 15; and Fig. 3û is a section view of the front end of the lower part of the body in the fastener attaching tool taken along lines 30-30 in Fig. 15 and the needles mounted thereon;
WO 95/19914 21 8 li9 1 9 Figs. 31 and 32 are r, dy" ,er,Ld(y views showing the lower post on the ejector block and the lower part of the body when the ejector block is in its ru,-. dlllG:>L
and i"' -"ledidL~ positions"~ eulircly, relative to the lower part of the body; and Fig. 33 is a rldylll~llidly view of a Illo~liri-,dLiul) of the dlldllyt:lll~llL for 5 mounting the needles.
~ WO 9S/19914 ~181~ i 9 r~
DETAILED DE~ ON OF l~t~tKREU EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown front and bottom views, l~a,ueuth/cly, of a fastener clip for use with a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being le,ulesell~ed generally by reference numeral 11.
Clip 11 is a unitary structure preferably molded from polyurethane or similar materials. Clip 11 comprises five identical fasteners 13, the number of fasteners being illustrative only. Each fastener 13 includes a flexible U-shaped filament 15 and a pair of transverse bars or feet 17-1 and 17-2 disposed at opposite ends thereof. To maximize the strength of the fastener, filament 15 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., the arcuate region 16 has a thickness t1 greater than the thickness tz at the ends. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 are ~,upruiul i~l~ly ui, "~ ;vl~ed so that they may be inserted into a desired garment through a pair of button holes of conventional ske and thereafter be retained by the underside of the garment.
Clip 11 also comprises a pair of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, the top ends of which are joined to fomm a handle 21. The outer edges of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 are provided with i"de, ,' " la 24 which, as will be seen below, assist in properly feeding clip 11 into a fastener attaching tool.
Each fastener 13 is connected to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 by severable connector posts 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. For reasons to be discussed below, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are c~ ul~d to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively.
In order that fastener 13 may be used with garments in which feet 17-1 and 17-2 may be placed in direct contact with a person's skin, fastener clip 11 includes the following features which are designed to minimize irritation of a person's skin.
First, as noted above, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are cu~ ult:d to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2. In this manner, when posts 23-1 and 23-2 are severed, burrs 27-1 and 27-2 (see Fig. 3) are left on outer sides 25-1 and 25-2, where they are not as likely to come into contact with a person's skin as they would be if they were left on the bottom surface of feet 17-1 and 17-2. Second, WO 9!i119914 2181~1~ r~
feet 17-1 and 17-2 have a length I which is comparatively small, i.e, a,ulJrU~ 'y 2 mm as compared to 6 mm for the transverse bars of existing like fasteners, andan overall size that is cu",pa,dl,le to that of a knot of a thread usQd to secure a bu~ton to a piece of fabric. Consequently, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have relatively little 5 surface area which may come into contact with a person's skin. Third, the top surfaces 29-1 and 29-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2"t:~peu~ ly, are generally flat to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking relative to the underside of a garment to which fastener 13 has been attached (see Fig. 13). Fourth, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have rounded ends 31-1/31-2 and 33-1/33-2, 1 0 respectively.
To use fastener 13 to couple a button to a garment, an individual fastener 13 is first detached from fastener clip 11 by severing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the severed fastener 13 are then inserted first througha c~"t~ oll~i"g pair of button holes and then through the desired garment. Both 15 the severing and inserting steps may be done manually or with the aid of an U~Jli..'~, fastener attaching tool.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown one e,,,l,odi.,,c,,t of a fastener attaching tool suitable for use wXh fastener clip 11 in the above-described manner, the fastener attaching tool being ,t:~,,C:S~ generally by reference numeral 51.
Tool 51 includes a body 53, a needle block 55, a pair of needles 57-1 and 57-2, a spring 59, and an ejector ",e~,l,a";~." 61.
Body 53 is a unitary structure preferably molded from a liu,l,tw~ durable plastic. Body 53 is shaped to define a pair of transverse openings 63-1 and 63-2which are provided so that a user may operate tool 51 like a syringe by placing the index and middle fingers through openings 63-1 and 63-2 while actuating ejector .lldlli::llll 61 with the thumb. Body 53 is also provided with a transversely extending feed slot 64 down through which fastener clip 11 may be inserted in a direction p~,,ut:ln~ lar to the longitudinal axis of body 53. As can be seen best in Fig. 6, slot 64 is shaped to include a pair of feed bars 64-1 and 64-2 which, as will WO 95/19914 2 1 8 1 9 1 9 I ~l,v~
be discussed below in greater detail, are used to engage illd~l " r,s 24 on runner bars 19-1 and 19-2"t,~pe-,t;Jcly, to properly align fastener clip 11 within tool 51.
Needle block 55, which is removably mounted in a cavity 65 formed in body 53 and ~r.ces~;l,l~ from the front end thereof, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7(a) 5 through 7(d). As can be seen therein, block 55 is a generally rectangular unitary structure having a pair of generally cyl;,~JI 'Iy shaped grooves 67-1 and 67-2 adapted to receive needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively. Block 55 is retained within opening 65 by means of a pluraiity of outwardly biasing tabs 69-1 through 69-3 which snap into place in culle~luu,lJillg slots 71-1 through 71-3 (see Fig. 8) in 1û cavity 65.
Block 55 is also preferably molded from a liyl ' ~ durable plastic.
Needle 57-1, which is a mirror image of needle 57-2 reflected along its longitudinal axis, is shown in greater detaii in Figs. 9(a) through 9(d). As can be seen therein, needle 57-1 is a unitary structure shaped to include a generally cylindrical slotted bore 73-1. Bore 73-1 has a cross-sectional diameter slightlylarger than that of foot 17-1 of fastener 13. The forward end 75-1 of needle 57-1 is pointed to permit its insertion through gamments and button holes of conventional size. The rearward end 77-1 of needle 57-1 is open and is d,u,uru,u, Iy ii",~:"~iuiled to pemmit an ejector rod, which is described below, to be pushed into 2û bore 73-1 with the adjacent end of filament 15 extending through the slot of bore 73-1. Needle 57-1 is retained within groove 67-1 of block 55 by means of a dù.. . l . i'~ ~ngled fin 79-1 which engages a cc" 1 ~ ~uu"di"y slot 81-1 in groove 67-1 (see Figs. 7(b) and 7(c)).
The left side of needle 57-1 (viewing needle 57-1 from its rearward end 77-1 as opposed to its forward end 75-1) is shaped to define a knife 83-1. As will bedescribed below in greater detail, knife 83-1 is used to sever the co""~,ti"y post 23-1 connecting a desired fastener 13 to runner bar 19-1. (A C~ ,pOI, ii"g knifeedge formed on the right side of needle 57-2 is similarly used to sever the connecting post 23-2 .,~r" ,~uli"9 the same fastener to runner bar 19-2.) 3û Needles 57-1 and 57-2 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector ",t:ul,a"i~", 61, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1û(a) and 10(b), WO 95~19914 1 _111 'l /.5 ~181919 is slidably mounted within a longitudihàlly extending channel 89 formed in body 53 and ~c~s~ from the rear end thereof. As can be seen therein""e..l~d"i "" 61 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 91 having a front portion 91-1 of Culll~Jdl ' I.,ly smaller cross-section and a rear portion 91-2 of cu, ~ Jdl dli,lely larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are fixedly mounted on the forward end of front portion 91-1. As will 11eleilldrlel be described in greater detail, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are ~I~,u~u~i ' 'y dilllèllsiullêd and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 91 moves through channel 89, the front ends of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which 1û is properly disposed within slot 64 to be loaded onto needles 57-1 and 57-2 and thereafter to be ejected therefrom. A disc-shaped base 95 is fixediy mounted on the rearward end of rear portion 91-2 to facilitate manipulation of Ill~ dll;~lll 61.
Ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are preferably made of metal, and the remainder of ejector l"e-,l,ar,i,", 61 is preferably molded from liylltw~ lll durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of ",~ dllialll 61 within channel 89 is restricted by base 95 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 97-1 and 97-2 disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectivêly, of rear portion 91-2 which travel in colle~i~or,~i"g guide slots 99-1 and 99-2 (see Fig. 5) formed in body 53. Posts 97-1 and 97-2 are made to be de~ ":~sil,l~ inwardly to pemmit insertion of block 91 into 2û channel 89. Spring 59, which engages the front of channel 89 at one end and the forward end of rear portion 91-2 at the opposite end, biases ejector " ,e~,l Idl ,i:"~, 61 towards the rear of channel 89.
A fastener ~ "~i"~ tool similar in construction to tool 51 is shown in Fig.
11, the tool being le~Jlesellled generally by reference numeral 1û1. The dirrelel1;es between tool 1û1 and tool 51 are few, the principal ~"'' e:llcc~ being the shape of body 1û3, the lack of a base 95 in tool 101, and the construction of spring 105. Tool 1û1 is operated in the same way as tool 51.
In use, a desired fastener clip 11 is loaded into tool 51 by grasping handle 21 and pushing the clip down through slot 64 until the illd~lltdliulls 24 on runner 3û bars 19-1 and 19-2 cu"~,ol,-li"g to a desired fastener 13 are engaged by bars WO 95/19914 r~
~181~19 64-1 and 64-2. Vvith this done, feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 are positiol~ed in the bores 73-1 and 73-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2.
To attach a button to a piece of fabric using the fastener loaded in the above manner, the tips 75-1 and 75-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, are inserted 5 first through a pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric.
Ejector ~ clldl,i~", 61 is then advanced through channel 89 towards the front ofbody 53 by pushing ejector ",e-:l,d"is", 61 forward, preferably with the user's thumb. The initial advd",,~",t:"L of ejector Ill~lldlli~lll 61 causes ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 move into bores 73-1 and 73-2. As the aclvd"l,~",~ of ejector ,,,e.,l,d,,i~,l, 61 continues, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 push feet 17-1 and 17-2 past knife edges 83-1 and 83-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, causing connector posts 23-1and 23-2 to be severed thereby. Finally, as the advd,,c~,,,c:,,l of ejector ",a~;l,d"is"l 61 It:lllli~ldle:~, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 to be ejected from the front ends of needles 57-1 and 57-2. Ejector Illt:~:lldllislll 61 is then allowed to retract and needles 57-1 and 57-2 are withdrawn.
Fig. 12 shows a fastener 13 being inserted through a pair of button holes B, and B2 and into a piece of fabric F using tool 51.
Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, there are shown section and top views, ,a.,l;icly, of a button B which has been coupled to a piece of fabric F using fastener 13. As seen best in Fig. 13, the advantages resulting from gating fastener 13 to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 on the outer sides of feet 17-1 and 17-2 are substantial as burrs 27-1 and 27-2 are not left on the bottoms of feet 17-1 and 17-2 where they are most likely to irritate a person's skin. The consequences of making the top surfaces of feet 17-1 and 17-2 flat, as opposed to curved, to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking in the directions indicated by arrows C and D can also be seen in Fig. 13. As seen best in Fig. 14, another benefit to fdstener 13 is that, by having filament 15 extend between button holes B, and B2 in a looped fashion, it creates the dlJ,uedldilce that thread, as opposed to a plastic fastener, is being used to secure the button to the fabric.
WO 95/19914 ~ 9 1 9 PCTNS9~/00873 After a fastener 13 has been dispensed from tool 51 and ejector " ,e~ l Idl 1;.~.11 61 returned to its home position, fastener clip 11 is pushed down in tool 51 so that the feet of the next fastener to be dispensed are aligned with the needles.
Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16 there are shown plan and section views of a third e",bodi",~"L of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to this invention the fastener attaching tool being identified by reference numeral 121.Fastener attaching tool 121 includes a body 123 having an upper part 125 and a lower part 127 a pair of needles 129 and 131 an ejector ",e~l,a~ ", 133 a spring 135 and an end cap 137.
Upper part 125 of body 123 see also Fig. 17 is shaped to include a longitudinal slot 139. Lower part 127 of body 123 see also Fig. 21 is shaped to include a longitudinal slot 141 and a transversely extending feed slot 143 down through which a fastener clip 11 may be inserted. Lower part 127 is further shaped to include a pair of finger rests 145 and 147.
Upper part 125 and lower part 127 are both preferably molded from a liyl~t~ lli durable plastic. Upper part 125 is mounted on lower part 127 and is secured in place thereon by three hooked shaped fiexible tabs 149 151 and 153 on upper part 125 see also Figs. 18-20 which grip onto notches 155 157 and 159 respectively formed in lower part 127 see Fig. 21A.
Upper part 125 and lower part 127 are shaped so as to C~,uiJ~r~L; ~cly define a longitudinal channel 161 extending inward from the rear end 163 body 123.
Needles 129 and 131 are mounted on the front end 165 of body 123. In order to enable fastener attaching tool 121 to acco"""o~d~ variations in the spacing between holes in different buttons i.e. to enable the needles to be inserted into holes which may be spaced apart different distances needles 129 and 131 arepivotaliy mounted in body 123. Needle 129 which is shown in detail in Figs. 26 through 29 includes a tab 167 at its rear end which includes a mounting hole 168.
Needle 129 is pivotally mounted on body 123 by a mounting pin 171 which is pressfit into a hole 174 in lower part 127 and which extends up through mounting hole169. Needle 131 is a mirror image of needle 129 and is mounted in a similar manner on a mounting pin 173 which is press fit into lower part 127. The shape WO 95/1991~ 2181~19 r~
and size of the two longitudinal extending openings 175 and 177 in the front endof lower part 127 limit the size of the arc (a) through which each needle 129, 131 can pivot (from side to side) to preferably about 3 $ about 1. Needles 129 and131 include a knife edge 179 similar in shape and function to knife edge 83-1 ofneedle 57-1. Needles 129 and 131 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector ",ecl,d"is", 133 is slidably mounted within channel 161 formed in body 123 and is ~ le from the rear end of body 123. As can be seen therein" "e-,l ,a~is", 133 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 183 having a front portion 185 of COlll~Jdld~i\/ely smaller cross-section and a rear portion 187 of c~"",a,dli~ely larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 189 and 191 are press fit into holes formed on front portion 185. As wili l~ illdnt:l bedescribed in greater detail, ejector rods 189 and 191 are d,u~.ru,u, i ' ~y di" I~,~aiulled and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 183 moves through channel 161,the front ends of ejector rods 189 and 191 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which has been loaded into the bores or needles 129 and 131 to be ejected therefrom. A base 193 is integrally formed on the rearward end or rear portion 187 to facilitate manipulation of Ill~lldlli:~lll 133.
Ejector rods 189 and 191 are preferably made of metdl, and the It:lll "~e of ejector Ille~,lldlli~lll 133 is preferably molded from light weight durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of Ill~..lldllialll 133 within channel 161 is restricted by base 193 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 195 and 197 disposed on thetop and bottom surfaces, respectively, of rear portion 187 which travel in slots 139 and 141 formed in body 123.
Spring 135, which engages the front of channel 161 at one end and forward endofrearportion181attheoppositeend~biaseseiector~ clldllialll131towards the rear of channel 161.
End cap 137 is attached to ejector " ,ecl~d"i~", 133 using posts 195 and 197.
In using tool 121, a clip 11 is pushed down into slot 143 so that a fastener 30 13 to be dispensed has its feet in the bores in the needles. Ejector ",ecl,d"ia", 133 is then pushed manually to its rul~dldlllu~L position in channel 161 by the user WO 95/19914 P~
~181919 (pushing cap 137) causing the fastener to be pushed out through the front tips of the needles. Forward pressure on ejector ",e.;l,d,~isl" 133 by the user is then removed and tool 121 withdrawn.
In order to prevent ejector ",eul,d~ ", 133 from autu"l " 'Iy returning to 5 its II:a,~d"~l"usl position from its ru,~ illlu~L position, and possibly carrying with t a fastener already dispensed when forward pressure by the user on ejector I"e..l,d"i~", 133 is remûved, a pair of flexible fingers 199 and 2û1 are fonmed on the sidewall of slots 139 and 141. Flexible fingers 199 and 2û1 cooperate with post 197 on block 183 of ejector ",ecl~d"i~"~ 133 to hold ejector ",e~l,d~ ", 133 in its rui~ ~illlu:~L position (see Fig. 31) even though rearwardly biased by spring 135. Ejector Ill~ ,lld~ lll 133 is moved back to its rearward position by the user appiying rearward pressure to it, i.e. physically pushing it past fingers 199 and 201.
Instead of both needles being pivotaily mounted, one needle may be pivotally mounted and the other needle mounted so that it cannot pivot. An exampie of a pair of such needles and the mounting dlldll~ llt is shown in Fig.
33. As can be seen, needle 2û1 is pivotally mounted on cylindrical pin 205 whileneedle 207 has a slotted opening 208 which fits onto a c~ "uùl,.li,l~ shaped opening in pin 209 so that needle 207 cannot pivot about pin 209. Pin 205 and projection 2û9 are integrally formed on needle block 211.
Aiso, instead of the needles having mounting holes and being mounted on pins in the body, the needles themselves could have pins and be mounted in holesfommed in the body.
The e~ boùi~ ts of the present invention recited herein are intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and ", " " ~s to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and ", " " 15 are intended to be within the scopeof the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fastener attaching tool particularly suited for use in consumer .~r ns such as to recouple detached buttons to clothing etc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener attaching tool as described above which is adapted for use with a new and novel fastener clip the fastener clip preferably u u~ risi~ ~ a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners each fastener c~llluli~ a U-shaped filament and a pair of generally parallel transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof the U-shaped filament being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars and aligned with the longitudinal axes thereof each of the pair of transverse bars being cunl~ulc:cl to a C~ auullui lg runner bar by a connector post the connector posts being severably col",e..Lt:d to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fastener attaching tool as described above which lends itself to construction using moldable parts and thus may be mass-produced relatively i"eAuell_v~'y.
Additional objects features and advd, l~d~ > of the present invention will be set forth in part in the des~., iuiiùl, which follows and in part will be obvious from the 20 des~,iuliui~ or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects features and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instn-" ,e, - and co" ,ui, Id~iUI la particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In one preferred ~,,,b~di,,,c~ of the invention the fastener attaching tool comprises a body a needle block, a pair of needles a spring, and an ejector 25 ",e~ lla"i:"".
Each of the pair of needles includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to receive one of the ll dl 15'~ e bars of the fastener with the adjacent end of the filament eAtending through the slot in the bore. The needles are mounted in a parallel a"u"g~",t:"l in the needle block which in turn is removably mounted 30 in a cavity formed in the front end of the body. Each needle has a knife edge WO gS/19914 2~.~1913 I
formed on its outer side which is adapted to sever a connector post from its d~DCi~-' ' J transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed by it.
The body is also shaped to include a transverse feed slot down through which the above-described fastener clip is manually inserted. To assist in properly aligning the fastener clip within the feed slot so that the transverse bars of adesired fastener are aligned with the longitudinal bores of the needles the inner walls of the slot are shaped to include a pair of feed bars which engage ol,.3i"g il~di-llld~iu~)b fommed on the outer sides of the fastener clip.
The ejector IlleulldlliDlll which is mounted for slidable movement back and forth wlthin the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring is manually operable from the rear of the body. Actuation of the ejector Illeulldl)iblll is preferably achieved using one s thumb and the body is provided with a pair of finger openings so that the device may be held and used like a syringe. The ejeGtor ",e~l,d"iD",includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth within the longitudinal bores of the needles and are used to push the transverse bars through the bores of the needles into a desired article.
In another preferred t:" ,.,o~ i" ,~, It of the invention the shape of the body and the ejector Ill~ulldlliDlll and the construction of the spring in the above-described fastener attaching tool are modified.
In still another preferred -",.,o~.i",e"l of the invention the fastener attaching tool comprises a body having an upper part and a lower part a cap an ejeGtor Ille~ lidll;DIII a spring and a pair of needles. The needles are mounted on the front end of the body at least one of the needles being pivotally mounted so as to enable the tool to a~,GG~ 1 11 1 l~d~ '~ variations in the spacing between holes in different buttons.
Each needle includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to reGeive one of the transverse bars of a fastener to be dispersed.
The ejector mechanism is slidably movable back and forth in a longitudinal channel within the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring. The ejeGtor ",eul,d"i:,", includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth into ar,d withir, the lorl3itudina! bores of the need!es. Forward l "u:~. "~ of the e3ector wo gS/19914 2 1 8 1 9 1 9 " ,t:~,l ,a,~ia", in the body is preferably achieved using ones thumb and the body and ejector Ille~;lldllialll are shaped so that the tool may be held and used like asyringe. The ejector ~ cl~a~ia~ and the body are further shaped so that the ejector ",eul,a,~ia", will not a~u",dLi..al'~ retract after it has been pushed by the 5 thumb of the user to its run dllluaL position and the pressure by the thumb on the ejector ",eul,d,~is", is removed. The cap is attached to and covers the rear portion of the ejector " ,e~,l Idl 1;::1111.
woss/lssl4 ~181919 r~,u~ .r ,~ ~
BRIEF DESCF<~ ON OF THE DRAWINGS
The acGu"",d"ying drawings, which are hereby i~u~ ' ' in and constitute a part of this .~I.e~ ;r~ .n, illustrate the preferred e~ uud;,ll~l~ts of the invention and, together with the desu,i~Jtiu~1, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, wherein like referenGe numerals represent like parts:
Fig. 1 is a front view of one t:lllbou;",~"~ of a fastener clip for use with a fastener attaching tool constructed acGording to the kachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2, is a bottom view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 after it has been separated from the remainder of the fastener clip;
Fig. 4 is a top view of one _IllL,odi,,,t~ of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching anindividual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of 15 button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
Fig. 5 is a partially exploded top view of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 4 with the body being broken away in part;
Fig. 6 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line 6-6;
Figs. 7(a) through 7(d) are front, rear, top and right side views, respectively,20 of the needle block shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a section view of the body shown .n Fig. 5 taken along line 8-8;
Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) are top, right side, left side and rear views, JG-.,Lil_'y, of one of the needles shown in Fig. 5;
Figs. 10(a) and 1û(b) are bottom and right side views, ~ ,pe~ ,/, of the 25 ejector ~ ul~a~ia~ shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a top view, broken away in part, of a second t:llluod;~ of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching an individual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the 30 garment;
W09~119914 r~ l,~,,. .. I~t 2~81919 Fig. 12 is an enlarged section view of the front end of the fastener attaching tool of Fig. 4 shown with the pair of ejector rods in an advanced position to illustrate how one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 may be inserted through a pair of button holes and secured to a garment;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged section view similar to Fig. 12 but after the fastener attaching tool has been removed showing how one of the fasteners shown in Fig.
1 is used to attach a button to a garment;
Fig. 14 is a top view of the culllbilldliu" of the button, garment and fastener shown in Fig. 13;
1û Fig. 15 is a top view of a third ~lbodi~ l of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of this invention;
Fig. 16 is a section view of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 taken along iine 16-16;
Figs. 17 through 2û are top, side, front section and rear views, respectively, of the upper part of the body of the tool in Fig. 15;
Figs. 21A and 21 B are top and rear end views, respectively, of the lower part of the body of the tool in Fig. 15;
Fig. 22 is a r,d~",e"~d,y plan view of the nose end of the faskner attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 with the upper part of the body removed;
2û Fig. 23 is a r,dy",d"ldly side view of the nose end of the fastener attaching tool shown in Fig. 15 with the upper part of the body removed;
Fig. 24 is a front end view of the upper part of the body shown in Fig. 15;
Fig. 25 is a plan view of the ejector ",eclld"is", shown in the fastener attaching tool in Fig. 15;
Figs. 26 through 29 are plan, side, back and front views"~a~eu.iicly, of one of the needles in the fastener attaching tool in Fig. 15; and Fig. 3û is a section view of the front end of the lower part of the body in the fastener attaching tool taken along lines 30-30 in Fig. 15 and the needles mounted thereon;
WO 95/19914 21 8 li9 1 9 Figs. 31 and 32 are r, dy" ,er,Ld(y views showing the lower post on the ejector block and the lower part of the body when the ejector block is in its ru,-. dlllG:>L
and i"' -"ledidL~ positions"~ eulircly, relative to the lower part of the body; and Fig. 33 is a rldylll~llidly view of a Illo~liri-,dLiul) of the dlldllyt:lll~llL for 5 mounting the needles.
~ WO 9S/19914 ~181~ i 9 r~
DETAILED DE~ ON OF l~t~tKREU EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown front and bottom views, l~a,ueuth/cly, of a fastener clip for use with a fastener attaching tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being le,ulesell~ed generally by reference numeral 11.
Clip 11 is a unitary structure preferably molded from polyurethane or similar materials. Clip 11 comprises five identical fasteners 13, the number of fasteners being illustrative only. Each fastener 13 includes a flexible U-shaped filament 15 and a pair of transverse bars or feet 17-1 and 17-2 disposed at opposite ends thereof. To maximize the strength of the fastener, filament 15 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., the arcuate region 16 has a thickness t1 greater than the thickness tz at the ends. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 are ~,upruiul i~l~ly ui, "~ ;vl~ed so that they may be inserted into a desired garment through a pair of button holes of conventional ske and thereafter be retained by the underside of the garment.
Clip 11 also comprises a pair of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, the top ends of which are joined to fomm a handle 21. The outer edges of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 are provided with i"de, ,' " la 24 which, as will be seen below, assist in properly feeding clip 11 into a fastener attaching tool.
Each fastener 13 is connected to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 by severable connector posts 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. For reasons to be discussed below, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are c~ ul~d to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively.
In order that fastener 13 may be used with garments in which feet 17-1 and 17-2 may be placed in direct contact with a person's skin, fastener clip 11 includes the following features which are designed to minimize irritation of a person's skin.
First, as noted above, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are cu~ ult:d to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2. In this manner, when posts 23-1 and 23-2 are severed, burrs 27-1 and 27-2 (see Fig. 3) are left on outer sides 25-1 and 25-2, where they are not as likely to come into contact with a person's skin as they would be if they were left on the bottom surface of feet 17-1 and 17-2. Second, WO 9!i119914 2181~1~ r~
feet 17-1 and 17-2 have a length I which is comparatively small, i.e, a,ulJrU~ 'y 2 mm as compared to 6 mm for the transverse bars of existing like fasteners, andan overall size that is cu",pa,dl,le to that of a knot of a thread usQd to secure a bu~ton to a piece of fabric. Consequently, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have relatively little 5 surface area which may come into contact with a person's skin. Third, the top surfaces 29-1 and 29-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2"t:~peu~ ly, are generally flat to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking relative to the underside of a garment to which fastener 13 has been attached (see Fig. 13). Fourth, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have rounded ends 31-1/31-2 and 33-1/33-2, 1 0 respectively.
To use fastener 13 to couple a button to a garment, an individual fastener 13 is first detached from fastener clip 11 by severing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the severed fastener 13 are then inserted first througha c~"t~ oll~i"g pair of button holes and then through the desired garment. Both 15 the severing and inserting steps may be done manually or with the aid of an U~Jli..'~, fastener attaching tool.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown one e,,,l,odi.,,c,,t of a fastener attaching tool suitable for use wXh fastener clip 11 in the above-described manner, the fastener attaching tool being ,t:~,,C:S~ generally by reference numeral 51.
Tool 51 includes a body 53, a needle block 55, a pair of needles 57-1 and 57-2, a spring 59, and an ejector ",e~,l,a";~." 61.
Body 53 is a unitary structure preferably molded from a liu,l,tw~ durable plastic. Body 53 is shaped to define a pair of transverse openings 63-1 and 63-2which are provided so that a user may operate tool 51 like a syringe by placing the index and middle fingers through openings 63-1 and 63-2 while actuating ejector .lldlli::llll 61 with the thumb. Body 53 is also provided with a transversely extending feed slot 64 down through which fastener clip 11 may be inserted in a direction p~,,ut:ln~ lar to the longitudinal axis of body 53. As can be seen best in Fig. 6, slot 64 is shaped to include a pair of feed bars 64-1 and 64-2 which, as will WO 95/19914 2 1 8 1 9 1 9 I ~l,v~
be discussed below in greater detail, are used to engage illd~l " r,s 24 on runner bars 19-1 and 19-2"t,~pe-,t;Jcly, to properly align fastener clip 11 within tool 51.
Needle block 55, which is removably mounted in a cavity 65 formed in body 53 and ~r.ces~;l,l~ from the front end thereof, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7(a) 5 through 7(d). As can be seen therein, block 55 is a generally rectangular unitary structure having a pair of generally cyl;,~JI 'Iy shaped grooves 67-1 and 67-2 adapted to receive needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively. Block 55 is retained within opening 65 by means of a pluraiity of outwardly biasing tabs 69-1 through 69-3 which snap into place in culle~luu,lJillg slots 71-1 through 71-3 (see Fig. 8) in 1û cavity 65.
Block 55 is also preferably molded from a liyl ' ~ durable plastic.
Needle 57-1, which is a mirror image of needle 57-2 reflected along its longitudinal axis, is shown in greater detaii in Figs. 9(a) through 9(d). As can be seen therein, needle 57-1 is a unitary structure shaped to include a generally cylindrical slotted bore 73-1. Bore 73-1 has a cross-sectional diameter slightlylarger than that of foot 17-1 of fastener 13. The forward end 75-1 of needle 57-1 is pointed to permit its insertion through gamments and button holes of conventional size. The rearward end 77-1 of needle 57-1 is open and is d,u,uru,u, Iy ii",~:"~iuiled to pemmit an ejector rod, which is described below, to be pushed into 2û bore 73-1 with the adjacent end of filament 15 extending through the slot of bore 73-1. Needle 57-1 is retained within groove 67-1 of block 55 by means of a dù.. . l . i'~ ~ngled fin 79-1 which engages a cc" 1 ~ ~uu"di"y slot 81-1 in groove 67-1 (see Figs. 7(b) and 7(c)).
The left side of needle 57-1 (viewing needle 57-1 from its rearward end 77-1 as opposed to its forward end 75-1) is shaped to define a knife 83-1. As will bedescribed below in greater detail, knife 83-1 is used to sever the co""~,ti"y post 23-1 connecting a desired fastener 13 to runner bar 19-1. (A C~ ,pOI, ii"g knifeedge formed on the right side of needle 57-2 is similarly used to sever the connecting post 23-2 .,~r" ,~uli"9 the same fastener to runner bar 19-2.) 3û Needles 57-1 and 57-2 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector ",t:ul,a"i~", 61, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1û(a) and 10(b), WO 95~19914 1 _111 'l /.5 ~181919 is slidably mounted within a longitudihàlly extending channel 89 formed in body 53 and ~c~s~ from the rear end thereof. As can be seen therein""e..l~d"i "" 61 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 91 having a front portion 91-1 of Culll~Jdl ' I.,ly smaller cross-section and a rear portion 91-2 of cu, ~ Jdl dli,lely larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are fixedly mounted on the forward end of front portion 91-1. As will 11eleilldrlel be described in greater detail, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are ~I~,u~u~i ' 'y dilllèllsiullêd and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 91 moves through channel 89, the front ends of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which 1û is properly disposed within slot 64 to be loaded onto needles 57-1 and 57-2 and thereafter to be ejected therefrom. A disc-shaped base 95 is fixediy mounted on the rearward end of rear portion 91-2 to facilitate manipulation of Ill~ dll;~lll 61.
Ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are preferably made of metal, and the remainder of ejector l"e-,l,ar,i,", 61 is preferably molded from liylltw~ lll durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of ",~ dllialll 61 within channel 89 is restricted by base 95 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 97-1 and 97-2 disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectivêly, of rear portion 91-2 which travel in colle~i~or,~i"g guide slots 99-1 and 99-2 (see Fig. 5) formed in body 53. Posts 97-1 and 97-2 are made to be de~ ":~sil,l~ inwardly to pemmit insertion of block 91 into 2û channel 89. Spring 59, which engages the front of channel 89 at one end and the forward end of rear portion 91-2 at the opposite end, biases ejector " ,e~,l Idl ,i:"~, 61 towards the rear of channel 89.
A fastener ~ "~i"~ tool similar in construction to tool 51 is shown in Fig.
11, the tool being le~Jlesellled generally by reference numeral 1û1. The dirrelel1;es between tool 1û1 and tool 51 are few, the principal ~"'' e:llcc~ being the shape of body 1û3, the lack of a base 95 in tool 101, and the construction of spring 105. Tool 1û1 is operated in the same way as tool 51.
In use, a desired fastener clip 11 is loaded into tool 51 by grasping handle 21 and pushing the clip down through slot 64 until the illd~lltdliulls 24 on runner 3û bars 19-1 and 19-2 cu"~,ol,-li"g to a desired fastener 13 are engaged by bars WO 95/19914 r~
~181~19 64-1 and 64-2. Vvith this done, feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 are positiol~ed in the bores 73-1 and 73-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2.
To attach a button to a piece of fabric using the fastener loaded in the above manner, the tips 75-1 and 75-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, are inserted 5 first through a pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric.
Ejector ~ clldl,i~", 61 is then advanced through channel 89 towards the front ofbody 53 by pushing ejector ",e-:l,d"is", 61 forward, preferably with the user's thumb. The initial advd",,~",t:"L of ejector Ill~lldlli~lll 61 causes ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 move into bores 73-1 and 73-2. As the aclvd"l,~",~ of ejector ,,,e.,l,d,,i~,l, 61 continues, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 push feet 17-1 and 17-2 past knife edges 83-1 and 83-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, causing connector posts 23-1and 23-2 to be severed thereby. Finally, as the advd,,c~,,,c:,,l of ejector ",a~;l,d"is"l 61 It:lllli~ldle:~, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 to be ejected from the front ends of needles 57-1 and 57-2. Ejector Illt:~:lldllislll 61 is then allowed to retract and needles 57-1 and 57-2 are withdrawn.
Fig. 12 shows a fastener 13 being inserted through a pair of button holes B, and B2 and into a piece of fabric F using tool 51.
Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, there are shown section and top views, ,a.,l;icly, of a button B which has been coupled to a piece of fabric F using fastener 13. As seen best in Fig. 13, the advantages resulting from gating fastener 13 to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 on the outer sides of feet 17-1 and 17-2 are substantial as burrs 27-1 and 27-2 are not left on the bottoms of feet 17-1 and 17-2 where they are most likely to irritate a person's skin. The consequences of making the top surfaces of feet 17-1 and 17-2 flat, as opposed to curved, to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking in the directions indicated by arrows C and D can also be seen in Fig. 13. As seen best in Fig. 14, another benefit to fdstener 13 is that, by having filament 15 extend between button holes B, and B2 in a looped fashion, it creates the dlJ,uedldilce that thread, as opposed to a plastic fastener, is being used to secure the button to the fabric.
WO 95/19914 ~ 9 1 9 PCTNS9~/00873 After a fastener 13 has been dispensed from tool 51 and ejector " ,e~ l Idl 1;.~.11 61 returned to its home position, fastener clip 11 is pushed down in tool 51 so that the feet of the next fastener to be dispensed are aligned with the needles.
Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16 there are shown plan and section views of a third e",bodi",~"L of a fastener attaching tool constructed according to this invention the fastener attaching tool being identified by reference numeral 121.Fastener attaching tool 121 includes a body 123 having an upper part 125 and a lower part 127 a pair of needles 129 and 131 an ejector ",e~l,a~ ", 133 a spring 135 and an end cap 137.
Upper part 125 of body 123 see also Fig. 17 is shaped to include a longitudinal slot 139. Lower part 127 of body 123 see also Fig. 21 is shaped to include a longitudinal slot 141 and a transversely extending feed slot 143 down through which a fastener clip 11 may be inserted. Lower part 127 is further shaped to include a pair of finger rests 145 and 147.
Upper part 125 and lower part 127 are both preferably molded from a liyl~t~ lli durable plastic. Upper part 125 is mounted on lower part 127 and is secured in place thereon by three hooked shaped fiexible tabs 149 151 and 153 on upper part 125 see also Figs. 18-20 which grip onto notches 155 157 and 159 respectively formed in lower part 127 see Fig. 21A.
Upper part 125 and lower part 127 are shaped so as to C~,uiJ~r~L; ~cly define a longitudinal channel 161 extending inward from the rear end 163 body 123.
Needles 129 and 131 are mounted on the front end 165 of body 123. In order to enable fastener attaching tool 121 to acco"""o~d~ variations in the spacing between holes in different buttons i.e. to enable the needles to be inserted into holes which may be spaced apart different distances needles 129 and 131 arepivotaliy mounted in body 123. Needle 129 which is shown in detail in Figs. 26 through 29 includes a tab 167 at its rear end which includes a mounting hole 168.
Needle 129 is pivotally mounted on body 123 by a mounting pin 171 which is pressfit into a hole 174 in lower part 127 and which extends up through mounting hole169. Needle 131 is a mirror image of needle 129 and is mounted in a similar manner on a mounting pin 173 which is press fit into lower part 127. The shape WO 95/1991~ 2181~19 r~
and size of the two longitudinal extending openings 175 and 177 in the front endof lower part 127 limit the size of the arc (a) through which each needle 129, 131 can pivot (from side to side) to preferably about 3 $ about 1. Needles 129 and131 include a knife edge 179 similar in shape and function to knife edge 83-1 ofneedle 57-1. Needles 129 and 131 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector ",ecl,d"is", 133 is slidably mounted within channel 161 formed in body 123 and is ~ le from the rear end of body 123. As can be seen therein" "e-,l ,a~is", 133 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 183 having a front portion 185 of COlll~Jdld~i\/ely smaller cross-section and a rear portion 187 of c~"",a,dli~ely larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 189 and 191 are press fit into holes formed on front portion 185. As wili l~ illdnt:l bedescribed in greater detail, ejector rods 189 and 191 are d,u~.ru,u, i ' ~y di" I~,~aiulled and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 183 moves through channel 161,the front ends of ejector rods 189 and 191 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which has been loaded into the bores or needles 129 and 131 to be ejected therefrom. A base 193 is integrally formed on the rearward end or rear portion 187 to facilitate manipulation of Ill~lldlli:~lll 133.
Ejector rods 189 and 191 are preferably made of metdl, and the It:lll "~e of ejector Ille~,lldlli~lll 133 is preferably molded from light weight durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of Ill~..lldllialll 133 within channel 161 is restricted by base 193 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 195 and 197 disposed on thetop and bottom surfaces, respectively, of rear portion 187 which travel in slots 139 and 141 formed in body 123.
Spring 135, which engages the front of channel 161 at one end and forward endofrearportion181attheoppositeend~biaseseiector~ clldllialll131towards the rear of channel 161.
End cap 137 is attached to ejector " ,ecl~d"i~", 133 using posts 195 and 197.
In using tool 121, a clip 11 is pushed down into slot 143 so that a fastener 30 13 to be dispensed has its feet in the bores in the needles. Ejector ",ecl,d"ia", 133 is then pushed manually to its rul~dldlllu~L position in channel 161 by the user WO 95/19914 P~
~181919 (pushing cap 137) causing the fastener to be pushed out through the front tips of the needles. Forward pressure on ejector ",e.;l,d,~isl" 133 by the user is then removed and tool 121 withdrawn.
In order to prevent ejector ",eul,d~ ", 133 from autu"l " 'Iy returning to 5 its II:a,~d"~l"usl position from its ru,~ illlu~L position, and possibly carrying with t a fastener already dispensed when forward pressure by the user on ejector I"e..l,d"i~", 133 is remûved, a pair of flexible fingers 199 and 2û1 are fonmed on the sidewall of slots 139 and 141. Flexible fingers 199 and 2û1 cooperate with post 197 on block 183 of ejector ",ecl~d"i~"~ 133 to hold ejector ",e~l,d~ ", 133 in its rui~ ~illlu:~L position (see Fig. 31) even though rearwardly biased by spring 135. Ejector Ill~ ,lld~ lll 133 is moved back to its rearward position by the user appiying rearward pressure to it, i.e. physically pushing it past fingers 199 and 201.
Instead of both needles being pivotaily mounted, one needle may be pivotally mounted and the other needle mounted so that it cannot pivot. An exampie of a pair of such needles and the mounting dlldll~ llt is shown in Fig.
33. As can be seen, needle 2û1 is pivotally mounted on cylindrical pin 205 whileneedle 207 has a slotted opening 208 which fits onto a c~ "uùl,.li,l~ shaped opening in pin 209 so that needle 207 cannot pivot about pin 209. Pin 205 and projection 2û9 are integrally formed on needle block 211.
Aiso, instead of the needles having mounting holes and being mounted on pins in the body, the needles themselves could have pins and be mounted in holesfommed in the body.
The e~ boùi~ ts of the present invention recited herein are intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and ", " " ~s to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and ", " " 15 are intended to be within the scopeof the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims (12)
1. A fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, said fastener attaching tool comprising:
a) a body having a longitudinal channel;
b) a pair of needles projecting forward from the front end of the body, at least one of said needles being pivotally mounted on said body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article and a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars ofthe fastener to slide therethrough, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores into the desired article.
a) a body having a longitudinal channel;
b) a pair of needles projecting forward from the front end of the body, at least one of said needles being pivotally mounted on said body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article and a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars ofthe fastener to slide therethrough, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores into the desired article.
2. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein both of said pair of needles are pivotally mounted on said body.
3. A fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar disposed at one endthereof, the transverse bar being severably connected on its side to a runner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising:
a) a body;
b) a needle projecting from the front of the body, said needle having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide thereacross, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge appropriately positioned to the side of said longitudinally extending bore to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and c) an ejector mechanism manually movable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener into and through saidlongitudinally extending bore into the desired article, and d) a spring for pushing said ejector mechanism rearwardly, e) said body and said ejector mechanism being shaped to prevent automatic rearward movement of said ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position when forward pressure on said ejector mechanism is removed.
a) a body;
b) a needle projecting from the front of the body, said needle having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide thereacross, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge appropriately positioned to the side of said longitudinally extending bore to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and c) an ejector mechanism manually movable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener into and through saidlongitudinally extending bore into the desired article, and d) a spring for pushing said ejector mechanism rearwardly, e) said body and said ejector mechanism being shaped to prevent automatic rearward movement of said ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position when forward pressure on said ejector mechanism is removed.
4. The fastener. attaching tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mechanism is manually operable from the rear of said body.
5. A tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, the fastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars, said tool comprising:
a) a body;
b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, at least one of said needles being pivotally mounted each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide thereacross, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge appropriately positioned on the outer side of said needle to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and c) a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article.
a) a body;
b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, at least one of said needles being pivotally mounted each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide thereacross, said longitudinally extending bore being slotted to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge appropriately positioned on the outer side of said needle to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and c) a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article.
6. The tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ejector rods are manually accessible and actuable from the rear of said body.
7. The tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body has a slot extending downwardly from its top behind said needles through which the fastener clip may be inserted for positioning the transverse bars of a desired fastener directly behind said longitudinally extending bores of said needles.
8. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein said slot and the pair of runner bars are provided with cooperative registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles.
9. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cooperative registration elements include indentations on the outer sides of therunner bars and bars formed on the corresponding inside walls of said slot.
10. A fastener attaching tool comprising:
a. an elongated body having a front end a rear end and a longitudinal slot extending inward from said rear end, b. a pair of needles pivotally mounted on the front end of the elongated body, c. an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said longitudinal slot for movement between a forwardmost position and a rearwardmost position for pushing a fastener to be dispensed through both of said needles, and d. a spring for pushing said ejector mechanism rearwardly, e. means for preventing automatic rearward movement of said ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position to its rearwardmost position.
a. an elongated body having a front end a rear end and a longitudinal slot extending inward from said rear end, b. a pair of needles pivotally mounted on the front end of the elongated body, c. an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said longitudinal slot for movement between a forwardmost position and a rearwardmost position for pushing a fastener to be dispensed through both of said needles, and d. a spring for pushing said ejector mechanism rearwardly, e. means for preventing automatic rearward movement of said ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position to its rearwardmost position.
11. The fastener attaching tool of claim 10 and further including a cap attached to said ejector mechanism.
12. The fastener attaching tool of claim 11 and wherein the body comprises an upper part and a lower part, the lower part being attached to the upper part.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/185,679 US5518162A (en) | 1992-12-11 | 1994-01-24 | Fastener attaching tool |
| US08/185,679 | 1994-01-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2181919A1 true CA2181919A1 (en) | 1995-07-27 |
Family
ID=22682006
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002181919A Abandoned CA2181919A1 (en) | 1994-01-24 | 1995-01-20 | Fastener attaching tool |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5518162A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0741657A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2916269B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU682437B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2181919A1 (en) |
| SG (1) | SG55067A1 (en) |
| TW (1) | TW257665B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995019914A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (32)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5579976A (en) * | 1995-04-04 | 1996-12-03 | Kunreuther; Steven | Double needle button attacher |
| JP3477004B2 (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 2003-12-10 | 株式会社トスカ | Locking piece mounting device |
| GB2317621B (en) * | 1996-09-19 | 1998-08-19 | Dennis Huang | Handy button attaching apparatus |
| US5788138A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1998-08-04 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Button attaching device |
| US5785230A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1998-07-28 | Avery Dennnison Corporation | Button attaching device |
| US5954242A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1999-09-21 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Button attaching device |
| US6418597B1 (en) | 1998-07-15 | 2002-07-16 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Plastic fastener, fastener clip, fastener dispensing tool and method of fastening objects |
| US6173836B1 (en) | 1998-07-15 | 2001-01-16 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener clip |
| US6129206A (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2000-10-10 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener clip |
| US6308386B1 (en) | 1998-07-15 | 2001-10-30 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener clip and method of making the same |
| US6837413B1 (en) | 1999-03-02 | 2005-01-04 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Plastic fastener, fastener clip, fastener dispensing tool and method of fastening objects |
| US6702162B1 (en) * | 2002-09-11 | 2004-03-09 | Gilbert F. Hassid | Button attaching device |
| US7087064B1 (en) * | 2002-10-15 | 2006-08-08 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Apparatuses and methods for heart valve repair |
| US7981152B1 (en) | 2004-12-10 | 2011-07-19 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Vascular delivery system for accessing and delivering devices into coronary sinus and other vascular sites |
| US6945978B1 (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2005-09-20 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Heart valve catheter |
| US9149602B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2015-10-06 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Dual needle delivery system |
| US7331972B1 (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2008-02-19 | Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. | Heart valve chord cutter |
| US7404824B1 (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2008-07-29 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Valve aptation assist device |
| US7335213B1 (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2008-02-26 | Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. | Apparatus and methods for heart valve repair |
| US7485143B2 (en) * | 2002-11-15 | 2009-02-03 | Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. | Apparatuses and methods for heart valve repair |
| US8187324B2 (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2012-05-29 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Telescoping apparatus for delivering and adjusting a medical device in a vessel |
| US7998112B2 (en) | 2003-09-30 | 2011-08-16 | Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. | Deflectable catheter assembly and method of making same |
| SE532777C2 (en) * | 2008-08-26 | 2010-04-06 | Button Lock Sweden Ab | Button Wire |
| WO2010101653A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2010-09-10 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Button attachment kit |
| US9649114B2 (en) * | 2012-07-24 | 2017-05-16 | Ams Research Corporation | Systems, tools, and methods for connecting to tissue |
| CN104219885B (en) | 2013-05-31 | 2017-05-10 | 国际商业机器公司 | Temperature trigger ejection system for lock pin welded component and repair method |
| USD923445S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastening apparatus |
| USD923446S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Cap for a nose of a fastening apparatus |
| USD923444S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastening apparatus |
| WO2020210297A1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2020-10-15 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Apparatus and methods for fastening an element to a support structure |
| USD936467S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-23 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener set |
| USD935875S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-16 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3470834A (en) * | 1968-03-08 | 1969-10-07 | Dennison Mfg Co | Fastener attaching device |
| US3895753A (en) * | 1971-06-30 | 1975-07-22 | Dennison Mfg Co | Fastener attachment system needle constructions |
| US3875648A (en) * | 1973-04-04 | 1975-04-08 | Dennison Mfg Co | Fastener attachment apparatus and method |
| US4111347A (en) * | 1976-09-07 | 1978-09-05 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Fastener attachment apparatus |
| US4533076A (en) * | 1981-11-25 | 1985-08-06 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Dispensing of attachments |
| US4611740A (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-09-16 | Kunreuther Steven J | Universal needle assembly for fastener attachers |
| US5020713A (en) * | 1989-05-04 | 1991-06-04 | Kunreuther Steven J | Assembly of attachments and device for attaching same |
| US5033664A (en) * | 1989-09-15 | 1991-07-23 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Dispensing of attachment members |
| US4998661A (en) * | 1989-09-15 | 1991-03-12 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Needle assembly for fastener dispensing apparatus |
| US5205458A (en) * | 1992-03-27 | 1993-04-27 | Steven Kunreuther | Button attacher with variable needle spacing |
-
1994
- 1994-01-24 US US08/185,679 patent/US5518162A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-01-20 WO PCT/US1995/000873 patent/WO1995019914A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-01-20 JP JP7519704A patent/JP2916269B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-01-20 EP EP95907485A patent/EP0741657A4/en not_active Ceased
- 1995-01-20 SG SG1996004543A patent/SG55067A1/en unknown
- 1995-01-20 CA CA002181919A patent/CA2181919A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-01-20 AU AU15701/95A patent/AU682437B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1995-03-08 TW TW084102211A patent/TW257665B/zh active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU1570195A (en) | 1995-08-08 |
| EP0741657A1 (en) | 1996-11-13 |
| JP2916269B2 (en) | 1999-07-05 |
| US5518162A (en) | 1996-05-21 |
| WO1995019914A1 (en) | 1995-07-27 |
| AU682437B2 (en) | 1997-10-02 |
| JPH09505113A (en) | 1997-05-20 |
| TW257665B (en) | 1995-09-21 |
| SG55067A1 (en) | 1998-12-21 |
| EP0741657A4 (en) | 1997-05-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |