US 12,203,500 B2
Captive fastener and method of assembling the same
Jingyao Peng, Shenzhen (CN); Thomas V. Aukzemas, Lincoln University, PA (US); Xuexian Qin, Shenzhen (CN); Richard E. Schlack, Newark, DE (US); Bing Hua Chiang, Taiwan (CN); Chuanjun Li, Xiantao (CN); and Xiaoying Liao, Dongguan (CN)
Assigned to Southco, Inc., Concordville, PA (US)
Appl. No. 17/917,809
Filed by Southco, Inc., Concordville, PA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 9, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/026656
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/207652, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/007,618, filed on Apr. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0138689 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. F16B 41/00 (2006.01); F16B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 41/002 (2013.01) [F16B 5/0208 (2013.01); F16B 41/00 (2013.01)] 71 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis, the captive fastener comprising:
a fastener having a head portion at a proximal end of the fastener and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis to a distal end portion of the fastener;
a knob formed separately from the fastener and assembled to the fastener, the knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener and distally from the head portion of the fastener to a distal end portion of the knob, the knob further comprising a proximal component and a distal component, the proximal component of the knob being heat bonded to the distal component of the knob, thereby resisting separation of the proximal component of the knob from the distal component of the knob and withdrawal of the head portion of the fastener from the knob;
a ferrule associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener, the ferrule having a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel; and
a spring positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis;
the proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis;
the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction; and
the engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener being configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.