United States Patent 1191 [11] 3,783,477 Hamilton et a1. [45] Jan. 8, 1974

[541 SNAP FASTENER 3,195,201 7/1965 Ash ...... 24/208 A 1 [76] Inventors: Ross Lynton Hamilton, 12 3,210,820 10/1965 Humiston ...... 24/214 Bhenheim Ave., Glen Waverly; 3,551,963 1/1971 Mosher ...... 24/216 Wilfred Laurence Hallam, 4 Garden FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Rd., Burwood, both of Australia 121,473 6/1946 Australia ...... 24/213 [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1971 1,114,883 4/1956 France ...... 24/217 1,158,170 6/1958 France ...... 24/208 A [21] App]. No.: 178,568 Primary Examiner-—Bernard A. Gelak [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-Richard Wiener Oct- 7. 1 970 .énsttahaa=.= -_- , 1.12.28.11.79 [57] ABSTRACT The invention comprises a single or two piece snap 152] vs. C]...... 24/213 cs, 24/214, 24/220, fastener comprising a head and depending shank ar 24/144, 85/36, 85/82 ranged to snap engage with a second part. A washer [511 Int. Cl ...... A4411 17/00 having a bore slightly less than the diameter of the [58] Field of Search ...... 24/208 A, 213 R, , shank is mounted on the shank. The washer has the 24/213 cs, 214, 216, 217, 219, 220, 107 inner-edge portion thereof directed away from the [56] References Cited head so that the edge bites into the shank and ?rmly resists forces tending to move the washer along the UNITED STATES PATENTS shank away from the head. 662,844 11/1900 Weidmuller ...... 24/214 The fastener is ?xed onto clothing, fabric or other 2,640,243 6/1953 Jones ...... 24/219 material by clamping the material between the washer 2,933,793 4/1960 Steinberg ...... 24/216 3,107,408 10/1963 Huelster ...... 24/208 A and the head of the fastener. 3,156,962 11/1964 Henson ...... 24/217 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures

3,783,477 1 2 SNAP FASTENER scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings,‘ wherein: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male part of a snap This invention relates to snap fasteners of the type fastener according to the invention. generally, but not exclusively, used for clothing or at FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a female part of a snap taching or fastening cloth or webbing type materials. fastener according to the invention. , Prior known snap fasteners in metal or plastic com- - FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing both parts, prise riveted fastener pieces with a captive wire ring in assembled with fabric material and clamping washer, the metal fastener to provide the snap action. In the about to be interengaged. known plastic fasteners the material characteristics FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but shows the parts provide the snap action. interengaged. These known fasteners have a number of disadvan FIG. 5 isan underneath view of a modi?ed form of tages. The captive ring in the metal fastener is prone to malegpart. jamming or freezing due to the ingress of foreign mate FIG. 6 ‘is a‘perspective view of a secondform of rial, corrosion or physical conditions. The unfastening clamping washer. ‘ of the known fasteners tends to pull the riveted assem FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but shows a modi bly of the two pieces apart so that a poor riveting action ?ed form of female part. may result in a failed fastener, and failure through sepa FIG. 8 is across-section of a blind eyelet for use in ration of the two riveted fastener pieces retaining the a further modification of the invention, and material means loss of joining or fastening action. The 20 FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the interen~ known fasteners, particularly those of plastic material gagement of the eyelet of FIG. 8 in a female part. have an inherent weakness due to the small size of the Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the fas stern joining the two'pieces of each fastener, and failure tener comprises a male part 12 having a disc-shaped of this stem leads to failure of the fastener. Increasing head 13 and an integral shank 14 extending normally the size of the stem leads to a larger and more bulky 25 of the head. The shank 14 is hollow and is formed at its fastener. As previously stated, the unfastening action of outer end in a hollow bulbous part 16. An undercut the known fasteners tends to pull the assembly of the‘ portion 17 is formed between the bulbous part 16 and riveted pieces apart and thus the gripping action of the the shank 14. A longitudinally extending slot 18 is pro two pieces has to be suf?cient to retain the material at vided in the bulbous part 16 to facilitate defonnation all times, even under these pull-apart forces. 30 thereof. The known fasteners are relatively in?exible to mate The female part 21 is of a con?guration similar to rial thickness changes and the riveting results in exces that of the male part 12, being formed with a disc-like sive bulk with thin materials and poor strength with head 22 and an integral shank 23. The shank 23 is pro thick materials. Disassembly of either of the two riv vided with a bore 24 which is undercut at 26 below the eted parts would normally result in part destruction re 35 outer end of the shank 23, to accommodate the bul quiring replacement. Also assembly of the known fas bous part 16 of the male part 12. tener parts requires special. tools or a machine to prop The‘ dimensions of the heads 13 and 22 and the erly form the rivet and give the correct clamping force, shanks l4 and 23 are substantially identical, both heads and this also results in longer assembly times. 13, 22 being dished or concave as shown in FIG. 3. A It is an object of the present invention to provide a 40 rim portion 27 projects axially from each head 13 and snap fastener which overcomes the above-stated disad 22, in the same direction as the shank, and provides a vantages of the prior art and confers numerous advan seat for the outer edge 33 of a clamping washer 28. tages over the known fasteners. ‘ The washers 28 are each formed with the bore 31 de It is a further object of the invention to provide a fined by an upwardly turned inner edge portion 32. The snap fastener which is easy to fasten and unfasten and 45 outer edge 33 of the washer 28 is turned out of the yet which ?rmly secures cloth, webbing or other mate plane of the washer 28 in the opposite direction to the rial together. inner edge 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The diameter According to one aspect of the invention there is pro of the bore 31 is made slightly less than the diameters vided a snap fastener comprising a ?rst part formed of of the shanks l4 and 23, such that the washer 28 has 50 synthetic plastic material and having a head portion, a an interference ?t on the shanks. shank extending normally from the head portion, said The fastener parts are assembled so that the shanks shank being hollow and having a shape to enable distor l4 and 23 pass through pre~forrned holes 34 in fabric tion thereof on snap engagement with a second part, material 36. A washer 28 is engaged over each shank and a washer mounted on said shank, said washer hav l4 and 23 with the inner edge portion 32 turned away ing an inner edge portion bent out of the plane of the from the head end of the shank. The washer 28 is washer and directed away from the head portion, said forced down on the material and clamps it between the inner edge portion being engaged with the shank to re head and the washer. The washer outer edge'33 se sist forces tending to move the washer along the shank curely clamps material to the rim portion 27 while radi_ away from the head. 60 ally inner section of the washer 281 clamps the material According to a further feature of the invention the to the dished surface of the head. The inner edge por said second part may comprise a part having a head and tion 32 of the washer 28 bites into the surface of the a hollow shank extending normally thereto, said hollow shank and thereby resists forces tending to move the shank being shaped so as to receive the shank of said washer 28 along the shank away from the head. ?rst mentioned part in snap action engagement and 65 The male and female parts 12 and 21 are interen provide a two-part fastener. , gaged by a snap action engagement. During the engage In order that the invention may be more readily un ment thebulbous part 16 is deformed as it enters the derstood, sveral embodiments thereof will now be de» undercut bore 24. 3,783,477 3 4 Deformation of the bulbous part 16 is considerably ing. For example the head of the fastener may be oval, easier with the provision of two longitudinal slots 18, as polygonal, ?uted or circular, as shown. shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. The The washer may be of any suitable material with the slots 18 are diametically opposite each other and ex required characteristics to withstand the interference tend the length of the bulbous part 16. With this con or force fit on the shank of the fastener. It is preferably struction, the fastener more readily snaps into engage of a corrosion resistant metal such as brass. The washer ment with a female part 21 and disengagement of the may also have inwardly projecting protrusions or tops to ensure a ?rm grip on the shank of the fastener. Man parts is also facilitated. ufacturing tolerances may be allowed for by forming While the constructions described above are ex the shank with a small taper along its length. tremely successful for most fabric material, some spe It will be appreciated that the fastener of the present cial fabrics must be more securely held than is possible invention in its various forms confers many advantages with the clamping action of the washer 28. For these over the prior art in that it does not use a captive ring, special materials, such as those with very low coef?ci the snap action is contained within the material thick ents of friction, the outer edge portion 38 of the washer ness rather than outside or between the material, and 28 is serrated as illustrated in FIG. 6. The serrated edge 15 this gives the bene?t of a more compact design with far 38 grips the fabric material 36 as well as clamping the less protrusion and bulk to discom?t or snag. It also material between the washer 28 and the head of a fas brings the material to be fastened closer, providing a tener part. far better sealing action. Another feature of the present Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawing the fastener com invention is the constant retention over the full range of material thicknesses. The fastener of the invention prises a male part 12 similar to that described above 20 may be disassembled and reused as necessary. Only and having a washer 28 engaged on the shank l4 simple tools are required to assemble the washers on clamping material 36 to the head 13. the shanks. The fastener is interengaged in a female part 41 We claim: which is secured, as by screw 42, to a support 43 so that 1. A snap fastener comprising a ?rst part molded in the material 36 is removably attached to the support one piece of synthetic plastic material and comprising 43. The female part 41 is provided with an undercut a head portion, a shank extending normally from the bore 44 to receive the bulbous part 16. The thickness head portion, and a hollow bulbous portion extending of the female part 41 is greater than the length of the axially from the free end of the shank, said shank hav bulbous part 16. ing a substantially cylindrical outer surface terminating The material 36 may be fabric, canvas, rubber or syn at an annular end surface de?ning a shoulder between thetic plastic sheet or the like. The female part 41 may the shank and the bulbous portion, with the diameter be of metal or a plastic molding attached to, for exam of the cylindrical shank being greater than the maxi~ mum diametrical dimension of the bulbous portion, the ple, a vehicle to provide means for removably attaching bulbous portion being sized for snap engagement a canopy, tarpaulin or the like thereto. 35 within an undercut bore of a second part, and a washer In a further embodiment of the invention illustrated mounted on the cylindrical shank, said washer having in FIGS. 8 and 9, a female part, substantially identical an inner edge portion bent out of the plane of the to that described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, washer and directed away from the head portion, said is mounted on relatively rigid material 45 by means of inner edge portion being frictionally engaged with the a blind eyelet 46. The eyelet 46, shown in FIG. 8, is 40 cylindrical shank to resist forces tending to move the elongated or cup-shaped with the upper end thereof washer along the shank away from the head. outwardly turned to form a ?ange 47. 2. A snap fastener as de?ned in claim 1, wherein said The eyelet 46 inserted through a pre-formed hole 48 second part comprises a head portion, a shank extend in the material 45 and is engaged in the undercut bore ing normally from the head, said shank having the un 24 of the pa8t 21. A clamping or crimping force is ap 45 dercut bore therein to receive the bulbous portion of plied to the eyelet 46 and the female part 21 to cause the shank of the ?rst part in snap engagement, and a the eyelet 46 to deform and assume the internal shape washer on the shank of the second part, said washer being formed with an outwardly turned inner edge por of the undercut bore 24. The ?ange 47 of the eyelet 46 tion to engage with the shank. securely engages with one side of the material 45 while 3. A snap fastener as de?ned in claim 2, wherein each the end of the shank 23 engages with the other side of 50 washer has an inwardly turned outer edge portion, and the material. the heads of each part are each provided with a rim With this arrangement, the female part 21 stands out projecting therefrom in the direction of the shank, and from one side of the material 45 to form an upstanding material is clamped between the heads and the washers button or the like. The material may be leather, arti? with the inwardly turned outer edge portion of each cial leather, relatively rigid synthetic plastic or the like, 55 washer clamping material on said rims. such as used for the manufacture of boots and shoes, 4. A snap" fastener as de?ned in claim 2, wherein the coats and other items of wearing apparel. The female head portion of each part is dished in the direction of part 21 may then be used as a button, e.g., a boot but the shank. ton in place of lace hooks in ladies boots. The lace 49 5. A snap fastener as de?ned in claim 1, wherein said engages around the shank 23 of the part 21 and the bulbous portion has at least one longitudinal slot or head 22 prevents the lace 49 from being accidentally channel in the wall thereof, the slot or channel facilitat ing resilient deformation of the bulbous portion for displaced from the button. ' snap engagement with the second part. The fasteners of the present invention may be injec 6. A snap fastener as de?ned in claim 1, wherein the tion molded from synthetic plastic material such as ace 65 second part comprises a member secured to a support, tal, polypropylene, polysulfone or the like. They may and an undercut bore means to receive the bulbous be made in any desired color and of any suitable shape portion of said ?rst part. to provide an attractive appearance on articles of cloth * * * * *