Fasteners and Fastener Systems

Abstract

The present fastener assembly securely couples a first body to a second body, where the fastener assembly includes a fastener and a retainer. The fastener has an arcuate seat engagement surface and a retaining portion. The retainer has an elastomeric spacer separating and spanning between a first retainer part from a second retainer part, with the first retainer part including a latch engagement portion and the second retainer part including a fastener engagement portion. The elastomeric spacer is configured to elastically deform under compression of the first retainer part and the second retainer part. In use, the present fastener assembly is configured to be inserted into a passage delineated between a first body and a second body which are overlapping at least in part, to selectively lock the first body and the second body in the coupled configuration, with the retainer securing the fastener in an inserted configuration.

1 . A fastening system for securely coupling a first body to a second body, the fastening system comprising:
 a fastener having an arcuate seat engagement surface and a retaining portion;   a retainer having an elastomeric spacer separating and spanning between a first retainer part from a second retainer part, the second retainer part having a fastener engagement portion, the elastomeric spacer is configured to elastically deform under compression of the first retainer part and the second retainer part; and   a passage delineated by the first body and the second body when coupled, the passage having an arcuate seat and is configured to receive therewithin the fastener in an inserted configuration with the arcuate seat engagement surface of the fastener in contact with the arcuate seat, the passage configured to further receive therewithin the retainer with the fastener engagement portion of the retainer in engagement with the retaining portion of the fastener to prevent retraction of the fastener from the inserted configuration, in the inserted configuration the first body and the second body are prevented from decoupling.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the retainer further comprises a latching portion configured to engage with the first body to selectively hold the retainer within the passage. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein a latch mechanism is provided between the retainer and the first body to selectively hold the retainer within the passage. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein a detent latch mechanism is provided between the retainer and the first body, the detent latch mechanism comprising a protrusion configured to be selectively positioned beneath a ledge to hold the retainer within the passage, the elastomeric spacer configured to compress to selectively engage and disengage the protrusion from beneath the ledge. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the first body comprises a connecting insert, the connecting insert including the arcuate seat, wherein the insert connects the first body to a third body with the fastener preventing separation of the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the first body comprises a connector, the second body comprises a wear part, a third body includes an edge have a connecting notch formed thereinto, the connecting notch configured to receive therewithin the connector, the connector including the arcuate seat, wherein the first body is fastened to the third body through the connector, with the fastener preventing separation of the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 6  wherein the connecting notch formed on the edge of the third body terminates with an enlarged root configured to receive therewithin and prevent retraction therefrom the connector. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the retainer further comprises a latching portion configured to engage with the passage to selectively hold the retainer within the passage with the elastomeric spacer at least partially compressed. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the retaining portion of the fastener is a retainer engagement surface and the fastener engagement portion of the retainer is a fastener engagement surface, when the retainer is within the passage fastener engagement surface of the retainer is engaged with the retainer engagement surface of the fastener to prevent retraction of the fastener from the inserted configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the retaining portion of the fastener is a retainer engagement opening and the fastener engagement portion of the retainer is a fastener engagement protrusion, when the retainer is within the passage fastener engagement protrusion of the retainer is engaged within the retainer engagement opening of the fastener to prevent retraction of the fastener from the inserted configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A fastener assembly for positioning within a passage and securely coupling a first body to a second body comprising:
 a fastener having an arcuate seat engagement surface and a retaining portion; and   a retainer having an elastomeric spacer separating and spanning between a first retainer part from a second retainer part, the first retainer part having a latch engagement portion, the second retainer part having a fastener engagement portion, the elastomeric spacer is configured to elastically deform under compression of the first retainer part and the second retainer part, the retainer is configured to selectively secure the fastener in an inserted configuration;   wherein, in the inserted configuration, the fastener engagement portion of the second retainer part is configured to engage the retaining portion of the fastener;   and wherein, the retainer forms part of a latch mechanism with the elastomeric spacer configured to be selectively compressed to selectively engage and disengage the latch engagement portion from the latch mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The fastener assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first retainer part includes a protrusion configured to engage with the latch mechanism to prevent unintentional disengagement. 
     
     
         13 . The fastener assembly of  claim 11  wherein the fastener and the retainer are configured to be inserted within a passage delineated by the first body and the second body when coupled, the passage having an arcuate seat and is configured to receive therewithin the fastener in the inserted configuration with the arcuate seat engagement surface of the fastener in contact with the arcuate seat, the passage configured to further receive therewithin the retainer with the fastener engagement portion of the retainer in engagement with the retaining portion of the fastener to prevent retraction of the fastener from the inserted configuration, in the inserted configuration the first body and the second body are prevented from decoupling. 
     
     
         14 . The fastening system of  claim 13  wherein a latch mechanism is provided between the retainer and the first body, the latch mechanism comprising a protrusion configured to be selectively positioned beneath a ledge to hold the retainer within the passage, the elastomeric spacer configured to compress to selectively engage and disengage the protrusion from beneath the ledge. 
     
     
         15 . The fastening system of  claim 13  wherein the first body comprises a connecting insert, the connecting insert including the arcuate seat, wherein the insert connects the first body to a third body with the fastener preventing separation of the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         16 . The fastening system of  claim 13  wherein the first body comprises a connector, the second body comprises a wear part, a third body includes an edge have a connecting notch formed thereinto, the connecting notch configured to receive therewithin the connector, the connector including the arcuate seat, wherein the first body is fastened to the third body through the connector, with the fastener preventing separation of the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         17 . The fastening system of  claim 16  wherein the connecting notch formed on the edge of the third body terminates with an enlarged root configured to receive therewithin and prevent retraction therefrom the connector. 
     
     
         18 . The fastening system of  claim 1  wherein the retaining portion of the fastener is a retainer engagement opening and the fastener engagement portion of the retainer is a fastener engagement protrusion, when the retainer is within the passage fastener engagement protrusion of the retainer is engaged within the retainer engagement opening of the fastener to prevent retraction of the fastener from the inserted configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The fastener assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first retainer part includes a prying tool engagement portion that is configured to permit purchase to the retainer during an insertion procedure and an extraction procedure. 
     
     
         20 . The fastener assembly of  claim 19  wherein the prying tool engagement portion of the first retainer part comprises an opening.