GB2319802A

GB2319802A - Quick release fastener assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2319802A
Application number: GB9624998A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Charles Fortune
Original assignee: BREED MANUFACTURING Ltd
Current assignee: BREED MANUFACTURING Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-30
Filing date: 1996-11-30
Publication date: 1998-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-30
Also published as: GB9624998D0; GB2319802B

Abstract

A quick release fastener assembly comprising:- (i) a rod element 2, that is either connected to an item to be fastened, or is adapted to be connected to an item to be fastened, at a first end, the second end of the rod incorporating a circumfirential groove 4 in part or all of its circumference: (ii) a clip element 1 suitable for attachment to or incorporation in the interior surface of a vehicle, the body of said clip incorporating a channel adapted to accommodate the grooved end of the rod: (iii) a resilient means 25 provided on the inside of the channel being adapted to co-operate with the rod element such that in use when the rod element is inserted into the channel the resilient means positively engages with the groove in the rod element.

Description

FASTENER Field of Invention This invention relates to fasteners suitable for attaching a rod to a surface and in particular to fasteners for attaching dog or cargo guards to the inside of motor vehicles.

Background to the invention Dog or cargo guards for separating the load area from the passenger compartment in a vehicle are often provided in estate cars, vans, and particularly in cross country vehicles such as Land Rovers" and "Range Rovers". These are typically provided to separate animals and other cargo from the passengers and to protect both the vehicle and the passengers during an emergency stop or during accidents involving coilision. During a collision or emergency stop, cargo or other items held in the back of the vehicle can be thrown forwards into the passenger compartment. The cargo may hit passengers and may also cause damage to the vehicle itself.

In order to prevent this, cargo or dog guards can be used.

It is often necessary to remove these cargo guards for example to improve access to the load area or to increase visibility. When the cargo guard is in place it needs to be firmly fixed to the interior of the vehicle so that it can withstand impact from items which may be thrown forwards during a collision. However, it should also be possible to remove the cargo guard quickly and easily when needed. Passengers in the front of the vehicle should be able to gain fast access to the load area by removing the cargo guard. For example, in an accident or other emergency situation passengers in the front of the vehicle may become trapped unless they can exit the vehicle via the load area.

Known methods of attaching cargo guards for the interior of a vehicle have not been able to meet both these requirements. Access to the cargo guard fixings inside the vehicle may be limited and it can also be difficult to see and operate the fixings which are typically situated in a confined or inaccessible space. This makes it difficult to quickly and easily remove the cargo guard.

Another problem with conventional fixing attachments for cargo guards (such as brackets) is that the locations inside the vehicle to which the fixing can be easily attached are limited. This reduces the number of orientations and positions in which the guard can be fixed.

A further problem concerns the restraint of loads inside the vehicle. Cargo or other items stored inside the load area of a vehicle need to be restrained to prevent them from moving as a result of the motion of the vehicle. This is done in order to prevent damage to the items and also to the passengers and vehicle itself in the event of a collision or emergency stop. On the other hand, the cargo should also be easily placed into the vehicle or removed in order to reduce loading and unioading times. Known methods of restraining cargo inside vehicles include the use of straps to tie the cargo down to the floor or sides of the vehicle.

However, such methods are disadvantageous because there are a limited number of fixing points.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a fastener which overcomes or at least mitigates one or more of the problems noted above.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a quick release fastener assembly of the type in question comprising a rod element, that is either connected to an item to be fastened, or is adapted to be connected to an item to be fastened, at a first end, the second end of the rod incorporating a circumfirential groove in part or all of its circumference; a clip element suitable for attachment to or incorporation in the interior surface of a vehicle, the body of said clip incorporating a channel adapted to accommodate the grooved end of the rod;a resilient means provided on the inside of the channel being adapted to co operate with the rod element such that in use when the rod element is inserted into the channel the resilient means positively engages with the groove in the rod element. This has the advantage that when the rod is engaged in the clip it is held firmly. Any item connected to the rod can be fixed in place using the fastener by simply pushing the rod into the clip until it clicks in to place in a snap-action fashion. Also, to undo the fastener, the rod is simply pulled out of the clip. This means that the fastener is quick and simple to operate.

In a preferred embodiment the channel traverses the body of the clip element such that in use the rod element can be accepted into either end of the channel. The fastener is thus very versatile because a whole variety of fixing orientations of the rod and clip are possible.

Preferably the end of the rod element incorporates a head and wherein the groove in the rod element is a neck portion. This has the advantage that the end of the rod can be pushed into the clip in any orientation, further simplifying the use of the fastener.

Advantageously the resilient means comprises at least one lug protruding from one or more walls of the channel. In this way the clip unit can be easily and simply manufactured in a one-piece construction whilst keeping down the amount of material required for manufacture.

In a further preferred embodiment the clip element further comprises one or more protrusions on the channel sides that are adapted to positively retain the rod element against the resilient means. This helps to hold the rod in place inside the clip in an even stronger manner.

Description of the Drawings The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fastener that has a rod to be fastened into a clip.

Figure 2 shows fragmentary view of a fastener with a rod fastened into the clip.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary view of the clip.

Figures 4 to 6 show a cross section through the clip with the rod at various stages of insertion into the clip.

Figure 7 shows the use of several fasteners to hold a cargo or dog guard in place inside a vehicle.

Description of Preferred Embodiments The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a fastener which comprises a clip 1 and a rod 2. The rod can be pushed into the clip in the direction of the dotted line as shown, where it "clicks" into place in a snap-action fashion. To remove the rod from the clip it may simply be pulled out again in the direction of the dotted line in Figure 1. This has the advantage that the fastener may be quickly and easily fastened or released.

The rod can be pushed into either end 8 or 9 of the clip. This gives the user a greater choice in the orientation of the fastening and increases the versatility of the design.

The clip 1 can be attached to a surface, for example the interior of a vehicle or alternatively, it may form an integral part of that surface. Screw holes 3 are provided in the base of the clip so that the clip can be screwed into place, although this is not essential; any conventional fixing method can be used.

The rod 2 is attached to or forms an integral part of the object that it is desired to fasten. For example, the rod 2 may be fixed to a dog/cargo guard that is to be fixed inside a vehicle between the passenger compartment and the load area of the vehicle. In order to facilitate this any conventional attachment method may be used. For example the rod can be fixed to the frame of a dog/cargo guard using a sleeve joint. Another possibility is that the rod 2 may form an integral part of the object to be fastened.

The rod 2 is grooved, in this example with the groove extending around the circumference of the rod to form a neck portion 4 towards one end of the rod. It is not essential that the groove should take the form of a neck around the whole of the rod. A groove around only part of the circumference of the rod could be used. Also, the shape of the groove need not be regular. Any kind of depression, dimple or indentation in the rod could be used and the term groove is intended to include any of these or other possibilities.

The end of the rod 6 may be chamfered as shown and also the walls or edges of the groove 7 may be chamfered as shown in Figure 2 although this is not essential.

A channel 20 passes through the clip 1 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The channel has two side walls 21 and 22 as shown in Figure 3 and a top 23 and a bottom 24. In this example the channel 20 passes all the way through the clip 1 although this is not essential; the channel may extend only part way into the clip. The channel 20 is sized and shaped so that the rod 2 fits into the channel as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this example the rod can also fit into the other end of the channel.

A lug 25 protrudes from one inner wall of the channel 20 as shown in Figures 3 - 6.

The lug 25 is made from resilient material such as plastics material or rubber and is positioned on the channel wall so that it engages with the groove 4 in the rod 2 as shown in Figure 6.

The lug 25 provides a resilient means which engages with the groove 4 in the rod 2.

Other forms of resilient means may also be provided. For example, a pair of lugs could be provided on each wall 21, 22 of the channel or a lug which protrudes both above and below the rod could be used. Alternatively the resilient means could take the form of a ring of resilient material protruding around the inner surface of the channel and designed to encircle the rod. A spring-operated resilient means could also be used.

In the example shown in Figures 2 - 6 the lug is positioned on the channel wall 21 so that it extends into, under and around the lower part of the neck portion 4 of the rod. The upper surface of the lug is curved and shaped as shown so that it co-operates with and engages the neck portion 4 of the rod.

Protrusions 30, 31, 32 and 33 are also provided inside the channel 20. Protrusions 30 and 31 extend down into the channel from the top of the channel 23. These act as retainers to hold the rod 2 down onto the resilient lug 25 as shown in Figure 2. It is not essential, however, to provide protrusions 30 and 31. The top 23 of the channel could itself be used to retain the rod onto the lug 25.

Protrusions 32 and 33 extend up into the channel from the base 24 of the channel. As the rod is inserted into the channel as shown in Figures 4 - 6 protrusion 32 guides the rod into the channel in the correct alignment for engagement with the lug 25. Protrusion 32 also acts to retain the rod in the desired position. Protrusion 33 acts in the same manner as 32 in the situation when the rod is pushed into the other end of the channel.

The rod can be fastened into the clip by inserting the rod into either end of the channel.

For example, as shown in Figures 4 - 6 the rod is pushed into one end of the channel, being guided by the protrusions 32 and 30 or 31 and 33. The head of the rod eventually comes into contact with the lug 25 as shown in Figure 5. The rod 2 is pushed still further so that the bottom of the resilient lug 25 is pushed downwards. The head of the rod is chamfered so that the lug 25 can more easily be pushed down by the rod. Once the head of the rod passes over the lug 25 this lug springs back up into the neck portion 4 of the rod in a snap-action fashion. The lug positively engages with the neck portion 4 as shown in Figure 6 so that the rod cannot move substantially along the axis of the channel. Because of the side walls of the channel 21 and 22 the rod is also prevented from moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the channel.

In order to unfasten the rod from the clip, the rod is simply pulled out of the channel.

As the head of the rod 2 moves over the lug 25 the lug is pushed down and the rod can be withdrawn.

The clip 1 and the rod 2 can be made from metal or plastics material and can be manufactured using any suitable known technique. In a preferred example the clip 1 is plastics moulded and the rod 2 is made from metal.

Figure 7 shows the use of the fastener to fix a cargo or dog guard into a vehicle. The rods 2 are bent through 900 as shown so that the clips 1 can be fitted to the side of the vehicle and the cargo/dog guard is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel. In this way the cargo/dog guard divides the region between the passenger compartment and the load area of the vehicle.

If it is desired to fix the cargo guard in place the clips 1 are first attached to the sides of the vehicle or other positions as required. Because of the versatility of the clips a variety of fixing locations can be chosen. The rods 2 are attached to the cargo guard and then the cargo guard can be fitted by inserting the rods into the clips. The guard can be easily and quickly removed by withdrawing the guard from the clips from the load area of the vehicle.

Alternatively, the guard can be removed by a passenger situated in the passenger compartment, again by withdrawing the guard from the clips. This is especially important in the case of an accident or other emergency situation when it is necessary to gain access to the load deck of a vehicle. Fasteners can also be used to restrain loads within the load area of the vehicle. For example, the clip part of the fastener may be embedded into the floor part of the load area. An object which has a rod part of the fastener fixed to it can then be fastened to the floor by inserting the rod into the embedded clip. By providing a plurality of clips distributed around the load deck and by providing a plurality of restraints then even irregularly-shaped loads can be secured in place quickly and easily.

These types of fasteners may also be used for attaching loads to roof-racks.

Claims

1. A quick release fastener assembly of the type in question comprising: (i) a rod element, that is either connected to an item to be fastened, or is adapted to be connected to an item to be fastened, at a first end, the second end of the rod incorporating a circumfirential groove in part or all of its circumference: (ii) a clip element suitable for attachment to or incorporation in the interior surface of a vehicle, the body of said clip incorporating a channel adapted to accommodate the grooved end of the rod: (iii) a resilient means provided on the inside of the channel being adapted to co-operate with the rod element such that in use when the rod element is inserted into the channel the resilient means positively engages with the groove in the rod element.

2. A quick-release fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel traverses the body of the clip element such that in use the rod element can be accepted into either end of the channel.

3. A quick-release fastener as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the end of the rod element incorporates a head and wherein the groove in the rod element is a neck portion.

4. A quick-release fastener as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resilient means comprises at least one lug protruding from one or more walls of the channel.

5. A quick-release fastener as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clip element further comprises one or more protrusions on the channel sides that are adapted to positively retain the rod element against the resilient means.

6. A quick release fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying drawings.