Spring fastener and respective vehicles

Abstract

This invention pertains fasteners which are characterized by adaptability of use with substrates, such as steel panels for example, of various thicknesses. This is achieved predominately by providing the fastener with legs having an origin section in the vicinity of the head of the fastener. Expansion promoters and/or anti-sliding elements improve considerably the separation resistance of objects connected with the fasteners of the present invention. Assemblies and vehicles comprising the spring fasteners of this invention, connecting two objects, one of the objects comprising a slot in which the fastener is inserted, and the other a hole, are also included within the scope of the instant invention. Provision of an elastic body in the vicinity of the bottom section of the fasteners provides water and gas proof properties, and further assist in the elimination of squeaking noises.

1 . A spring fastener comprising: 
 a double layered head portion having an upper side, and a lower side, the upper side having an engageable hole on which a threaded expanding member can engage and pass through, the threaded expanding member having a pitch; and    a body portion extending from the lower side of the head portion, the body portion comprising two legs opposite to each other, each leg comprising an open neck, a respective substantially flat origin section originating from the head, and leaning at a lower point toward a respective substantially flat front portion away from the head, and wherein the respective origin sections of the legs are separated from each other by a first distance which is larger in the vicinity of the head than a second distance separating the respective front portions of said legs, the legs also comprising a contact region, on which contact region the threaded expanding member exerts force causing said legs to expand when said threaded expanding member is inserted into the fastener through the engageable hole.    
   
   
       2 . A fastener as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the origin sections are substantially perpendicular to the head as they initiate from said head and then lean toward each other as they progress to reach the respective front portions.  
   
   
       3 . A fastener as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second distance is substantially zero.  
   
   
       4 . A fastener as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the second distance is substantially zero.  
   
   
       5 . A fastener as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each origin section also has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface has anti-sliding elements.  
   
   
       6 . A fastener as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each origin section also has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface has anti-sliding elements.  
   
   
       7 . A fastener as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       8 . A fastener as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       9 . A fastener as defined in  claim 4 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       10 . A fastener as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       11 . A fastener as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       12 . A fastener as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       13 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A fastener as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic body disposed at least under the lower side of the head of the fastener.  
   
   
       20 . A fastener as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an elastic body disposed at least under the lower side of the head of the fastener.  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A fastener as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the engageable hole is selected from impression single-thread hole and extrusion multi-thread hole.  
   
   
       24 . A vehicle comprising a spring fastener connecting two objects, one of the objects comprising a slot in which the fastener is inserted, and the other a hole, the spring fastener comprising: 
 a double layered head portion having an upper side, and a lower side, the upper side having an engageable hole on which a threaded expanding member can engage and pass through, the threaded expanding member having a pitch; and    a body portion extending from the lower side of the head portion, the body portion comprising two legs opposite to each other, each leg comprising an open neck, a respective substantially flat origin section originating from the head, and leaning at a lower point toward a respective substantially flat front portion away from the head, and wherein the respective origin sections of the legs are separated from each other by a first distance which is larger in the vicinity of the head than a second distance separating the respective front portions of said legs, the legs also comprising a contact region, on which contact region the threaded expanding member exerts force causing said legs to expand when said threaded expanding member is inserted into the fastener through the engageable hole.    
   
   
       25 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the origin sections of the legs of the fastener are substantially perpendicular to the head as they initiate from said head and then lean toward each other as they progress to reach the respective front portions.  
   
   
       26 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the second distance is substantially zero.  
   
   
       27 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the second distance is substantially zero.  
   
   
       28 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 24 , wherein each origin section also has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface has anti-sliding elements.  
   
   
       29 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 25 , wherein each origin section also has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface has anti-sliding elements.  
   
   
       30 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 24 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       31 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 25 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       32 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 27 , wherein each one of the two origin sections comprises a respective expansion promoter.  
   
   
       33 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       34 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       35 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the expansion promoters have a curved front segment, and they are disposed at a distance from each other, commensurate to the pitch of the expanding member.  
   
   
       36 - 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the fastener further comprises an elastic body disposed at least under the lower side of the head of the fastener.  
   
   
       43 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the fastener further comprises an elastic body disposed at least under the lower side of the head of the fastener.  
   
   
       44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A vehicle as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the engageable hole is selected from impression single-thread hole and extrusion multi-thread hole.  
   
   
       46 . (canceled)