claimed is: 1. A fastener comprising a sheet metai body defining a base and a member partially severed 60 from the base gbnd deflected therefrom providing a resiuent spring element ft@tegral at one end with said base and extending 64t of the plaiie of said base in spaced yieldable relgtion thereto, said spring element having a slot'communicating with 65 an enlarged opening adapted to readfly receive a cooperating stud for securing the parts of an asserably, and,meaiis defined-by-the marginal edges of said slot for engaging the stud -with said spring element compressed toward the @base of the fas70 tener and exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud in Applied fastening position.. @ i -2.1 A fastener comprising a sheet metal, body defining a base and a member struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element in76 tegral at one end with seld base and merging Into

4 21858,890 an NUacent lncuned portion terminating in a free end portion extending in generauy pararel and spaced relation to said base, said spring element having a slot communicating with an enlarged opening adapted to readily receive a cooperating stud for swuring the parts of an assembly, and meam defined by the marginal edges of odd slot in the free end portion of the spring element for mgagtng the atud with said spring element compressed toward the base of the fastener and exerting continuous axial spring force on said atud in appued fastening position. 3 ' A fastener comprising a sheet metal bodv defining a base and a member struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one end with said base and having a free end portion extending out of the plane of said base, in spaced yieldable relation thereto, said spring% element having a slot conimunicating with an enlarged opening adapted to readily recejve a cooperating stud having a shoulder, means defined by the marginal edges of said slot for engaging said s ' houider Including a depression about the end of the slot in the free end portion of the spring element, said depression being adapted to seat said shoulder In the applied position of th@- fastener witii said spring element compressed toward the base of the fastener and exerting continugus axial spring force on said stud. 4. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body deftning a base and a spring element inclined with respect to said base and having a slot communicating with an enlarged stud passage for readily receiving a cooperating stud in securing the parts of an amembly, means deflned by the marglnal edges of said slot for engaging the stud under spring t6nsion in the applied fastening position of the fastener, and a keturn bent portion overlying the base of the fasterier deflning means for engaging the stud in coopemtion with sOd spring element to lock the fastener in such applied fastening position. @ 5. A fastener coiiiprising a sheet metal body denning a base'@and a member struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one encl with said base and having an adjacent inclined portion terminating In a free end Portion exten-ding olit of the plane of said base in spacecl yieldable relation thereto, said spring elementhaving a slot communicating with a cooperating stud in securing the part ' s of an a-swmbly, said spring element being adapted to be graduady compressed toward the base of the fastener as ttie marginal edges of said slot are engaged with the stud along the inclined portion of the spring element to dispose said free end portion thereof in engagement %Oith the stud in applied fastening position exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud, and a return bent member pverb4ng the base of the fastener and prt)vided with meang for engaging t I he stud in cooperation with said spring element to lock the fastener in such applied fastening position. 6. A fastener coinprising a sheet metal body defiriing a base and a member struck and formed ther@from providiiig a resilient ipring element Integral at one end with said base and having an adjaemt inclined portion terminating in a free To end portion extending oiat of tbi6 plane of said bam in spaeed yieldable relation thereto, said soritig element having a slot communicating with a stud passage open at the adjacent end of said bam for readfly receiving a cooperating stud in 76 5 35 15 ) 50 an enlarged ooening Adapted to readily receive,' 45 25 ' 55 60 I w 10 20 so 40 securing the parts of an assenibly, the marginal edges of said slot along the inclined portion of the. spring element defining means for engaging the stud in the application of the fastener to provide an axial drawing action on said stud as said'spring element is compressed toward the base of the fastener, means bordering said slot in the free end portion of the sprin.- element adapted to engage th6 stud in the applied fastening position of the fastener with said spring element compressed toward the base of the fastener and exerting continuous axial sprifig force on said stud, and a return bent member overlying the base of the fastener and provided with an opening defined by tongues or the like for engaging the stud in cooperation with said spring element to lock the fastener in such applied fastening position. 7. A fa@stener comprising a U -shaped bgdy made of $L single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by 9, retum.bend, one of the arms having an opening for the passage of a stud, the material of such arin'adjacent the opening being deflect'ed from the plane of the arm to form an edge adapted to engage the stud, the other grm being provided with a portion part.ally severed from that arm and bent at an acute angle to the plane of that arm, said portion having an opening adapted to register with the opening of the other arm, whereby a single stud niay ocoupy the openings of both arms. 8. A fastener comprising a U-shaped sheet metal body comprising respectively UpPer and lower arms connected by a return bend, the upper arm having an opening, for the passage of a stud, the material of the arm adjacent the opening being deflected from the plane of the arm to form an edge adapted to engage the stud, the lower arm being provided with a portion partially severed from that arm and bent froift the plane of that arm, said portion having an opening adapted to register with the opening of the upper arm,,the distortion of the upper arm being upwardly above the plane of such arm and the direction ofl,the partially severed lower arrii being upwardly above the plane of that arm. 9. An attaching clip having an aperture for receiving the shank of a stud, said clip comprising a pair of arms having portions extending in the same general direction, a shank-engaging portion on one arm and a slotted lip integral with the other arm and having a free end portiori severed from and norinally inclined out of the plane of said other arm and toward the flrst mentioned arm, said lip being yieldable. 10. A fastener comprising a U-shaped body made 6f a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising t*o arms connecte I d by a return bend, one of the arms having an opening for the passage of a stud, the material of the arm- adJacent the opening l@eing deflected from the plane of the arm to f6rm an edge adapted to engage the stud, the other arm, being provided with a portion extending from the free 4@nd of such arm toward the bend and attached to that arm only adj&cent said free end, whereby said portion has a flexibflity in addition to that of the arm car. rying it, said portton having an opening adapted to register with the opening of the other arm whereby a single stud may occuPY the openings. of both arms, there being a slot in @said portion extending from the extreme end of the arm in. wardly'to the bolt opening through such portion. 11. A fastener comprising a strip of resilient sheet metal doubled on itself to make two arms connected by a return bend and extending there.

from In ihe same general direction, one of said arms having an opening.through it and a pair of integral tongues on opposite sides of:the opening @litted from the arm but attached thereto at the end of the tongues opposite the ol)6ning, said tongues bo-ing. aiverted to, stand at an acute ang@e to th6 arm and having their end edges adapted to engage in a groove of a grooved stud -passing through the opening, the other arm having an intermediately located,sl,ot extending from the outer end of the arm inwardly, the portion of the last-mentioned arm bounding the slot comprisIng a U-shaped member attached to.that arm only adjacent the outer end of the arm and the return bend of the U being beyond the - axts of the stud which may occupy the opening of the other arm, whereby said slot provides spac'e for said stud. 12. A fastener co;nprising a U -shaped body made of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two ams connected by a retum bend, one of the arms having an opqning for the passage of a,stud, the material of the arm adjacent the opening being deflected from the plane of the arm io form a,stud-engaging portiqu, the other ar- beftw provided with a portion partiauy severed from that arm aita bent at an incline from the Plane of that arm toward 2,858,890 the other arm, such included portion having-an opening adapted to register with the opening of the other arm, whereby a single stud may occupy the openings of both arms, the stud-engaging portion of the upper arrn comprising & Pair of tongues on obposite iides of the opening, each anchored'to the arm in a region comparatively distant from the opening and bent upwardly -at the end adjacent the opening. 10 . 13. A fastener comprising a U -shaped body niade of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by a retum bend, one of the arms having An opening for the passage of a stud, the material of the arm 15 adjacent the Qpening being deflected from the plane of. the arm to form an edge adapted. to. en. gage the stud, the oth6r arm being provided with a portion partiauy severed from that arm and bent at an acute angle from the plane of that 20 arm toward the one arm, aaid portion having an, opening adapted to register with the opening of the one arm whereby a single stud pay OCCUPY the openings of both amg, there being a slot in said portion extending from@_the extreme end of 25 the am inwardly to the bolt opdning through such portion. GEORGE A. 77NNERMAN.

Patented Sept. 26, IM 2p35k890 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,35,81890 SPRMG NM FASTENER Oeorge A. Tbmernmn, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Tinnerman Pro'dpets, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, s corporation of Ohio Appflcation September 3. 1941, Serial No. 409,429 is Cb&M. (CL 85-36) This invention is directed to fasteners of the type embodying a sheet metal spring locking plate or the like designed for use with a cooperating bolt Gr stud fastening member in the manner of a nut device for securing the parts" of an as- 5 More particularly, the invention deals with an improved forni of sheet metal apring nut device, adapted to fasten with a transversely grooved, barbed or otherwise shouldered bolt or stud by 20 being applied gen6rally transversely of the stud to a position in which the parts secured thereby are clamped firmly and rigidly under continuously effective spring force. In inany installations which are subject to 15 continuous vibratory motion and heavy usage, heretofore known fasteners of this character liave been found to lack the combination -of required resiliency and durability to absorb the effects of sition over any extended period of use. It is a Prim ' ary objebt of the present invention to provide such a fastener comprising a si@ipie, inexPensive sheet metal device which Is ap@lied gen- 25 erally transvergely.to fastening engagement with 1 a cooperating bolt or stud and which embodies an improved donstruction mgking for increased resilfency coupled with durability whereby the fastener is capable of wittistanding severe condi- 30 tions of shock, vibration -and the like in providIng a strong and reliable fasteniiag assembly over a lond period of servicei. Anotlier object is to provide a fastener of this character having an improved simpufted con3 struction wbich lends itself to the very econonilcal quantity production of the fasteners. Still another object is to provide such a fas-. tener which is simpie durable and considerably cheaper in dost-than other similar types Of fas- 40 teners and, in addition, has the desired increased resillency.,@ @or securing the parts of an awembly under a Wgh degree of continuously effectivo spring force in a manner to absorb the effects of relation thereto in a manner to provide for increased resiliency in such a fastener and,otl@erwise supply 9, high degree of spring tension on the cooperating bolt or screw In applied fastening position in a completed assembly. A still further object is to Provide such a sheet metal . fasteiner in which the coiiiplementery spring arm member is struck from the base of the fastenei to extend in yieldable. relatio,n thereto in a manner to exert a progrqssively inereashig axial spring force oii the bolt or StUd on, b!Bing applied to fastening engdgement therewith, and which spring arm member is provided Vith raeans for preventing movement of the fastener in a direction toward, loosening or removal from :finally applied fast4@ping _engagqmerit with the bolt or - stlid. Still another object of the invention is for the provis' of a fastener of this character havft Ion any shock, vibratory motion or the like which 45 Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing,&D ammbly could possibly cause a loosening or removal of the secured by the fastener of IM9. 6. tener and also for releasing.the same. Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of Parts of the invention will be, readily apparent to those skiued in the art as the description thereof proceeds with reference to the accoinpanyin g drawing, for purposes of illustration but not of, liniltation, in which Hke reference characters designite' like. parts throughout the same, and In which, Mg. 1 is a perspective view of 4 p referred form of the improved fastener; Mg. 2 is a sectional view shoviing the fastener as initially'applie d to a stud in position for securing the parts of an assembly; Fig. 3 is a simtlar view shovdag the fastener in finally applied fastening posi Fig. 4 Is a plan view of Plg. 3; and Mg. 5 is a sectional, view of Fig. 4 taken.,,on line 5-5, looking In the direction of the arrows-, Plig. 6 is a pm@rspectiv e view of a fastener . comPrlsing a further embgdtment of the Invention: and, shock and vibration as necessary to withstand 20 an upturned end portion to whiell a tool iiiay be loosening. or removal from applied fastening poapplieci for easily and 'quickly applying the fasfastening device from applied fastening position. A further, m e specific, object of the liivention . O@ Is to provide a fastener of the kind described which is relatively cheaper in cost in that less 50 material is required in forming the @same from - a comparatively small sheet metal body providing a base and a complementary spring arm member provided from the material of said bam - to extend out of, the plane thereof in yieldable 55 Referring now, more particularly, to the driiw@. ing, Fig. 1 ihows on an!Dniarged scile the generki construidtion of the Improved fasteuer which,may be produced 0-t very low cost from a relatively, small, thexpensive blarik of any'swtible sheet pietal, preferalily o ng metal or Id Ued ,I@ri co ro metal having. spi-ing-like choracteriatics. 7b@ fastener MaY, of course, bi@ formed from bwiks of various outlines, but from the standpoint of

2 2,358,690 most ecorlomical quantity production, is best provided from a relatively smar, generally rectangular blank which may be obtained at low cost from ordinary sheet metal strip stock with a minimum loss or waste' of material. The fasteners other5 wise are characterized by a simplified construction embodying a high degree. of resiUen6y and which construction is admirably suited for quantity production at very low cost in that only a single thickness of metal stock is reciuired and' 10 merely the simplest stamping and forming operations are involved such that the devices may be manufactured on standard punch presses at tremendously high rates of product,ton. Generally speaking, the fasteners are so conla structed as to have what may be termed E@@ @liding, . wedge-type of fastening action with a cooperating bolt or stud in securing any two or more parts A, B, in an assembly under a continuously effective spring clampirig force. The bolt or si;ud 20 I nlay be of any suitable character comprising a barbed, groi)ved or otherwise.shouldered shank which may be driven into and through the parts to be secuted or otherwise passed through aligned .Openings therein with a leading end portion of 25 said shank projecting from the rearward side of the assembled parts. In the present example, the stud Is shown in a preferred form comprising an enlarged head 2 and a ring-barbed shank deflning a plurauty of 30 spared shoulders 3 which afford certain advantages when one or more of the parts secured Is of relatively soft porous composition such as fibrous Umlating material used in refrigerators, automobile bodies, etc., or sheathing board or the 35 Uke to which are secured shingles or siding slabs In various buuding constructions. In this respect, bolts or studs' having suih a ring-barbed shank serve the dual purpose, flrst, of providing sufflclent holdihg ability in the fibrous insulating ina40 terial, sheathing boaid, or the like, A. for tem porarily installing shingles or other parts B in properassembledrelationthei@eonprior.toftWly securing, said parts, whereas an ordinary, nafl having only a smooth or roughened shank would 45 not be held with sufacient gripping force for this purpose by the rel.atively soft and porous composition of such materials; and second, such a barbed shank deflnes a -pronounced shoulder or - rib construction with which the, cooperating 50 spring nut fasteners 11 applied thereto from the . rearward side 6f the instauation are CRP&blb of positive locking action.in fastening the parts A, B, In permanently wcured position, as presently to be described. . .55 Mi@ ring-barbed stud otherwise is such as to define a series of sbarp abutments or shoulders 3. spaced by grooves @receiving the adj&cent surrounding material of part A on being driven therein to interlock with -the shank and engage 60 Particularly said shoulders 3 thereof and thereby resist withdrawal of the)stud after being apphed .to install the parts to be' swured in tempor&17 fastening position. Even though the relatively soft and porouz compodtiori of part A lackssuf- 65 :ft cient body to retain ordinary nails, -th I e use of the'ring-barbed studs provides for SuMcient holdIng power to retain the part B thereon effectively in temporarily lmtalled relation; and thus, in a building c=traction-I for example, a speedy and !ro eooiiomical met4iod of, procedure involves the temporva7 inst&Uatim of aWgIes on the exterior . side of an area of sheathing to'co'mpleUon. if de&tred, before the &PPW&tim of the coopemtlng side of the sheaugm for perinenently' securing the shingles,thereto. In providing the general type of fastener shown in Mg. 1, the s6lected form of blank or sheet metal body IO, is designed to deftm a suitable ban II from which is stampeid or struck and formed a cooperating stud retaining,!Dlejient 12 in the form . of substantial spring %Lr- or the lik e which is Integral at one, end with said base I and extends in inclined spaced relation thereto in a manner to provide for a high degree of resiliency relative to and In cooperation with said base I 1. Said spring arm element 12 otherwise is go,formed to indude an intermediate portion 13 whidh is inchned gradually fr6m said base and terminates in a free end portion 14 extending in predetermined gener&Uy parallel and spaced relation to said base I I The spring arm is provided with a longitudinal slot.15 of substantially uniform width extending from adjacent the area in.which said spring arm Is integral with the bMe I I of the fastener to the substELntial center area of the free end portion 14. The width of said slot is only slightly greater than the root dishieter'of the shank at the bottoms of the grooves adjacent the shoulders 3 such that when the spring arm of the fastener' is connected to the stud In engagement with any of said shoulders, Eis shown in Plg. 5, there is pro. vided a positive locked relation from which the spring fastener cannot be removed by movement 43daRy of the stud. Said slot 15 terminates in an enlarged circular stud receiving opening 16 lying substantiary entirely in the base I I of the fastener adjacent the area in which the spring arm 12 Is integral therewith. Sald opening I$ is of a size for.receiving readily the4D,verall diameter of the stud shank as defined by the shoulders 3, and PrefemblY with -only slight clearance in - order that 'the sttid may be received readily in said opening and the adjoining edges of the slot I I easfly and QuicklY guided into engagement with the adjooent shoulder 3 of the engaged ring-barb. bf the stud. At the end of the slot 15 in the free end -,portion 14 of the spring %Lrm, the. surroundirig rn eirml edge preferably Is provided with 9 depression forming a rigid, generally wmular seat 17 for the shoulder of the engaged ring-barb and which seat is bordered by a retainmg rim deftnIng looking elements or projectiong 18 adjacmt the slot 15 which prevent any movement of the fgstener in a direction toward removal from applied fastening engagement with the stud. The spring arm 12 otherwise la Provided in a more or I.ess Predetermined spaced relation -to, the ban I I acoording to service requirements and the amount of resibency necessai7 for clarnping the Parts of the assembly most effectively under continuous spring force. Preferably one end of the base II is bent upwardly to-',provide a fisnge I l wlitch may be grasped by the fingeris or engaged bY a suitable tool for eaaily and quickly appWiW the flstener, or for removing t . he -same In a min. imum of time and effort. . I . From the foregoing, It wiU be understood that the fastener constmeted subrtantiany as de. scribed and shown In Flg. 1 Is applied as illustrated in Ing. 2, bY ftrat Positioning the stud receiving OPeniM 16 therein over the projeetwg Pointed end of the stud extending through the p&rU. A, B, to be secured. The :a&t ba I of se I the fastener is preowd flush againat the adjacent re&rWiLrd face of part A tC) take up any clearance spring futf@ II to the studs) from the lnterior 75 in the amen2Wy and otherwin dispm the &Wa-

2,358,690 cent edges of the slot I 5 on either side of the spring arm -12 to positively lock the fastener stud shank under the shoulder defined by the against any possible loosening or removal from ring-barb 3 to be engaged by said edges borderapplied fastening position. As illustrated by -the Ing the slot. The fastener Is then pushed or slid ; broken line showing in Fig. 7, taid return bent porlongitudirlaily In the direction indicated by the r) tion 25 deflnes a locking m@mi:@br which Is anguarrow in Fig. 21 to the -position shown in'Vig. 3, larly dispored with respect to the base of the and during this action the engaged. shoulder .2 fastener in Initial positiori with the opening thereof the stud rides on the longitudinal edges bor- in defln@d by the yieldable stud-engaging elements dering the slot 15 ovei the intermediate inelined 26 so provided as to align with'and receive the portion 13 of the spring arm. . This, causes the 10 stud when said leg member IS flexed downwardly spririg arm, to be comlitessed..toward the ba@se I I in the direction of the arrow to the position of the of the fastener as necessary for the engaged full line showing of Flg. 7. The said stud enshoulder 3 to snap over the retaining rim porgaging'elements 26 preferably are provided in the tion@s I 8 onto the free end portion 14 of the spring manner of opposed cooi)@rating tongues which arm to be finauy positioned on the seit I I de- 15 are sufficiently yieldable to flex as necessary to fined by the depression around the adjacent end permit the extremities theieof to pass easily over of the slot I S. It will be understood that In such the end of the stud and snap into positive locked application of the fastening device -whereby the abutting relation with the shoulder on the stud erigaged shoulder 3 rides on ihe Inclined interengaged thereby. mediat-, Portion 93 of the spring arm, said spring 20 The spring fastener in any form of the invenarm exerts a progressively increasing camniing @ tion preferably is constructed of 'relattvely thin or wedging action on said shoulder to dra@w the sheet metal, the thickness of which is selected V'Cstud axially and tighten the assembly of secured cording to service requirements @and the predeparts A, B. In the f.inal fastening position of the termined size of the parts secured. The fasteners fastener as shown in Flgs. 3, 4, and 5, the sprin6- 2-5 are most effective when provided of spring metal arm 12 Is maintained in a constantly tensioned suitably. spring tempered and otherwise treated to condition from the initial, norxnal position there- give the desired toughness and hardness, particuof sh(>wn in Fig. 2, and thereby exerts a continu- larly in the c@se of devices which are Put to heavy ous axial pull on the stud as the base 0 1 of the duty in installations where extreme vibratory mofgstene@r resil.iently engages the adjaceiit part A so tion takes Place. A -cheap but effective fastener and clarnps the same to Part B under continumay be provided from cold rolled metal, such as ously effective spring force in the completed fas- cold rolled steel, which is untempered but of a tening installation. In this relation, the engaged shoulder 8 of the stud is firmly and rigidly Positioned.on the seat 17 beyond the adjacent rim portions 10 which define lockin projections 9 adapted to engage the s.tud andprevent any re. verse movement of the fastener in a direction to@ ward removal from applied fastenft position. Reriioval of the fastener inay be effected readily bY a suitable force on the fastener as through flange ig, to cause the spring arm 02 to be depressed, sufdoiently for the engaged shoulder 3 to ride over the,locking projectigns IS and otherwise sude on the inclined ixxtermediate portion 08 tO a Position in which the stud is,ahgned with the stud receiving opening I 6, whereupbn the fastener may he removed'easily and quickly in more or less the reversal of the foregoing described procedure for applying the fastener to fastening position. Flgs. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the fastener is provided with a spring arm struck and formed from the base in a construction similar to that iuustrat-,d and describedwith reference to Mgs. 1-5 inclusive exc,-,Pt for the stud r6ceiving opening @C provided in the base A I of the fastener. In this instance, said stud receiving ooening 20 is enlarged and extended to the adjacent edge of the base to defte an opening on said edge which facilitates the soplication of the fastener to the stud by being initially appliqd In a direction transversely thereto simultaneously with engagemdnt of'the longitudinal edges adjitcent the slot IS @vith the engaged shoulder & of the stud. The fastener of this character otherwise may be provided in a construction substanti.ally equivalent to that of Mgs. 1-5 inelusive for operation and use in a similar manner. In a stih further embodiment of the Invention, a return bent portion 25, provided in extension of the flange I S' in oveklying relation to the base I 1, is provided with a stud opening defined by yield@. able stud engaging elements 26 adapted to snap over the poirxted end -of tl@e stud and engage a shoulder thereon other than that engaged by the spring nietal nature and preferably harder than that of the cooperating bolt or stud employed 35 therewith in providing an effective and reliable fastening means adapted for a long period of satisfactory service and use. VIMle the invention has been de.$cribed in detail with specific examples, such exainples are in40 tended as Jllustrations only, since it will be RPparent to those skilaed in the art thatother- modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts thereof maY be devised without departing from the spirit and scope 4.5 of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered, in all respects as illustrative and not restrictivt, the scope:of the invention being indicated b-v the appended claims rather than by the -foregoing description, with all ro chbnges falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein. Reference is made to my divisional application Serial No. 485,184, fued AprU 30, 1943, for claims r, relatin I 9 Particularly to the embodiment of Figs. I to 5 inclusive. 'I@&at is