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Title: Staple-type fastener
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. In a two element fastener for sheet materials of the type that includes a staple having a cross-member and a pair of parallel, bendable prongs spaced apart at a predetermined distance and fixedly attached to and extending perpendicularly from the cross-member and a receiving member for the free ends of the prongs, the improvement wherein the receiving member comprises: an oblong thin member of predetermined thickness having oppositely disposed substantially flat continuous sides extending parallel to one another and spaced apart by the predetermined thickness, the length of the member being greater than the distance of the spacing of the prongs by an amount equal to a fraction of the spacing of the prongs, the member being formed of material soft enough to be punctured completely through the thickness thereof by the staple without bending the prongs, the side of the member opposite the staple being adapted to receive the free ends of the prongs after the bending of the prongs, the member being strong enough to permit disassembly of the receiving member from the staple subsequent to bending over the prongs after penetration through the receiving member by manually exerting a separating force between the cross-member of the staple and the receiving member sufficient to at least partially straighten and withdraw the prongs from the receiving member without tearing the material thereof. 2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the receiving member comprises a tab extending from an edge of the receiving member to facilitate grasping said member for manually disassembling the fastener. 3. The fastener of claim 2 wherein the staple further comprises a tab extending from the cross-member in substantial registry with the tab on the receiving member to further facilitate manual disassembly of the fastener. 4. The fastener of claim 2 wherein the tab on the receiving member is located beyond one end of a line segment extending along the surface of the layer of soft material, the ends of the line segment being spaced apart by a distance substantially corresponding to the spacing of the staple prongs. 5. The fastener of claim 4 wherein the staple further comprises a tab extending from the cross-member in substantial registry with the tab on the receiving member to further facilitate manual disassembly of the fastener. 6. In a two element fastener for sheet materials of the type that includes a staple having an elongated cross-member and a pair of parallel bendable prongs spaced apart from one another at a predetermined interval along the length of the cross-member and fixedly attached to and extending perpendicularly from the cross-member and a receiving member for the free ends of the prongs, the improvement wherein the receiving member comprises: an elongated thin plate having end portions located at the extremities of the length thereof and oppositely disposed face portions, each of the end portions of the plate being disposed beyond and yet substantially adjacent the different ends of a line extending along the length of the plate and having its ends spaced apart at a distance substantially corresponding to the predetermined interval between the parallel prongs, the plate being formed of material being sufficiently soft to enable the face of the plate directed toward the prongs to be penetrated before bending the prongs to engage the prongs to the plate, the material of the plate being strong enough to permit disassembly of the receiving member from the prongs by manually exerting a separating force between the crossmember of the staple and the receiving member sufficient to withdraw and at least partially straighten the prongs from the receiving member without tearing the material thereof. 7. A two-element fastener in accordance with claim 6 in which the elongated cross-member has a width substantially greater than the thickness of the staple. 8. A two-element fastener in accordance with claim 6 in which the receiving member has a width substantially greater than the thickness of the staple. 9. A two-element fastener in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising a tab extending from an edge of the receiving member to facilitate grasping the receiving member for manually disassembling the fastener. 10. A two-element fastener in accordance with claim 9 wherein the tab comprises one of the end portions of said elongated thin plate. 11. A two-element fastener in accordance with claim 10 wherein the staple further comprises a tab extending from the cross-member in substantial registry with the tab on the receiving member to further facilitate manual disassembly of the fastener. 12. A two-element fastener for sheet materials according to claim 6, wherein the receiving member comprises: an anvil portion integral with the surface of the thin plate opposite the face thereof for deflecting the ends of the prongs back into the thin plate after penetration therethrough under the further influence of the fastening forces. 13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the anvil portion of the receiving member comprises a pair of curved pockets, corresponding edges of which are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the prongs, for contacting the ends of the prongs at an oblique angle to facilitate bending the prongs when the staple is urged into the receiving member by the fastening forces. 14. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the anvil portion of the receiving member comprises a layer of material which cannot be penetrated by the prongs, bonded to said surface of the material of the thin plate which can be penetrated by the prongs. 15. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the cross-member has a substantially greater width than the width of the prongs. 16. The fastener of claim 15 in which the width of the cross-member is at least three times the width of the prongs. 17. The fastener of claim 12 in which the prongs are attached adjacent to the ends of the cross-member. 18. The fastener of claim 12 and further comprising a tab affixed to one end of the staple cross-member to facilitate disassembly of the fastener. 19. The fastener of claim 12 and further comprising a tab affixed to one end of the receiving member to facilitate disassembly of the fastener. 20. A two-element fastener according to claim 6, wherein the cross-member comprises: an elongated body portion extending between the prongs and a flat tab portion extending laterally from both sides of the body portion and forming one surface of the cross-member to facilitate manual grasping for disassembly of the fastener. 21. The fastener of claim 20 wherein the flat tab portion comprises a flat circular disk. 22. A two-element fastener according to claim 6, wherein the receiving member comprises: a pair of tabs integrally attached to one adjacent to either end of the thin plate and extending toward the opposite end of the thin plate parallel to one surface thereof, the material of the receiving member being soft enough for penetration through the thin plate and one tab by each prong before deflection of said prong to overlie the tab, the tabs being manually bendable to a position approximately perpendicular to the one surface of the body portion for substantially straightening the bent-over prongs and facilitating disassembly of the fastener. 23. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the tabs are colinear. 24. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the tabs are parallel and offset laterally from each other. 25. A two-element fastener according to claim 6, wherein the receiving member comprises: a pair of tabs integrally attached one to each end of the thin plate and extending outwardly therefrom colinear with said one dimension, the material of the thin plate and tabs being soft enough to permit penetration of the staple prongs completely therethrough before deflection outwardly into underlying engagement with the tabs, and the tabs being manually bendable to a position perpendicular to the thin plate for substantially straightening the bent-over prongs and for facilitating disassembly of the fastener. 26. A two-element fastener according to claim 6, wherein the receiving member comprises: a pair of tabs integrally attached one adjacent to either end of the thin plate at locations spaced by a distance equal to the spacing of the staple prongs, each tab extending toward the opposite end of the thin plate parallel to one surface thereof, the material of the receiving member being soft enough for penetration through the thin plate and into the corresponding tab by each prong before deflection of said prong to follow the direction of the tab so as to remain embedded therein, the tabs being manually bendable to a position approximately perpendicular to the one surface of the body portion for subsequently straightening the bent-over prongs and facilitating disassembly of the fastener. Other info: Inventors: Van Eck, William F. (East Haven, CT, US) Application Number: 521851 Filing Date: 1974-11-07 Publication_date: 1978-12-12 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 411/475 411/920 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Holko, Thomas J. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Kenyon & Kenyon, Reilly, Carr & Chapin |
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