Spring fastener

Abstract

A spring fastener is provided. The spring fastener includes a spring and a flexible member having a shoulder, a first leg and a second leg. The first leg and the second leg are inserted through the spring along a longitudinal axis of the spring. The spring is retained to the flexible member by the shoulder and at least a portion of the first leg or the second leg. The first leg and the second leg have a retention feature to retain the spring fastener when the first leg and the second leg are inserted through an aperture in a component or a surface. A method of utilizing a spring fastener is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spring fastener, comprising:
 a spring; 
 a shouldered member having at least two legs, a first leg and a second leg and being formed by bending a flat piecethat, wherein the flat piece has:  
 a geometric center with a the first leg and a the second leg extending in opposed directions from the geometric center, wherein the flat piece has the first leg and the second leg each being offset by an angle from a symmetrical longitudinal axis of the geometric center; and  
 an aperture dimensioned to control flexure of the shouldered member; 
 at least one of the first leg or the second leg having a retention feature; and 
 the first leg and the second leg arranged along relative to a central, longitudinal axis of the spring with the spring retained by the shouldered member, wherein the flat piece is formed by stamping a flat sheet of metal to create the flat piece with the first leg and the second leg each offset by an angle from a symmetrical longitudinal axis of the geometric center of the flat piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature includes a barb. 
     
     
       3. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the flat piece is cut and bent from a flat sheet of material. 
     
     
       4. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is proximate to a shoulder. 
     
     
       5. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the shouldered member and the spring are configured to secure a heat sink to a circuit board without use of an anchor bar. 
     
     
       6. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is at a nonzero angle with respect to the second leg. 
     
     
       7. The spring fastener of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg is a beveled prong with a barb. 
     
     
       8. A spring fastener, comprising:
 a spring; 
 a shouldered flexible member comprising a folded piece having a head and at least two first and second legs formed by bending a flat piece that has a geometric center with a first leg and a second leg extending in opposed directions from the geometric center, extending from the head, wherein the flat piece head has an aperture dimensioned to control flexure of the shouldered flexible member; 
 at least one of the first leg or the second leg having a retention feature; and 
 the first leg and the second leg arranged along disposed within a perimeter of the spring and extending from the head at a nonzero angle relative to a central, longitudinal axis of the spring with the spring retained by the shouldered flexible member along the first and second legs, wherein:
 a shoulder of the shouldered flexible member secures a first end of the spring; and 
 an opposed second end of the spring is secured to the shouldered member by the retention feature or by the first leg and the second leg. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the first leg or the second leg having a retention feature comprises:
 the first leg having a first barb; and 
 the second leg having a second barb. 
 
     
     
       10. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is dimensioned to engage a tool to the spring fastener. 
     
     
       11. A spring fastener, comprising:
 a spring; 
 a shouldered flexible member having a head and at least two first and second legs formed by bending a flat piece that has a geometric center with a first leg and a second leg extending in opposed directions from the geometric center, extending from the head,wherein the flat piece head has an aperture dimensioned to control flexure of the shouldered flexible member, and wherein the flexible member is formed by folding a piece about an axis lying on a vertical plane passing through a center of the aperture; 
 at least one of the first leg or the second leg having a retention feature; and 
 the first leg and the second leg arranged along a central, longitudinal axis of the spring disposed within a perimeter of the spring with the spring retained by the shouldered flexible member, wherein:
 a base of the first leg at least partially overlaps a base of the second leg in the shouldered member proximate the head of the flexible member when the flexible member is observed from a side view comprising a viewing direction that is perpendicular to the vertical plane; and 
 a tip of the first leg is spaced apart from a tip of the second leg in the shouldered member distal the head of the flexible member when the flexible member is observed from the side view. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein respective distal ends of the first and second legs partially coincide.  
     
     
       13. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second legs overlap along their entire length.  
     
     
       14. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the retention feature includes a barb configured to secure the spring fastener to a circuit board.  
     
     
       15. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein each tip of the first leg and the second leg has a barb. 
     
     
       16. The spring fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the folded piece comprises a flat piece cut from sheet metal.