IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,207,752
Granted Patent B1
US 12,207,752 · App. 18/384,684 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Snap fastener with hook

Inventors: Chuck LeCompte (Frankfort, KY); Jonathan Sharp (Lawrenceburg, KY); Kathryn Sullivan (Frankfort, KY)
Assignee: YKK Corporation of America
A47H23/04A44B17/0041A47H2201/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,207,752
App. No.
18/384,684
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A snap member of a fastener includes a base; a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member including a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth, an axis of the protrusion and an axis of the cavity being collinear; and a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape.

Claims (52)

1. A snap member of a fastener, the snap member comprising:

a base;

a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member comprising a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a first end proximate to the base and a second end distal from the base, an outer diameter of the first engagement portion of the snap member at the second end being larger than the outer diameter of the first engagement portion of the snap member at the first end; and

a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape.

2. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein:

the first engagement portion of the snap member comprises one of a male engagement portion and a female engagement portion; and

the first engagement portion of the mating snap member comprises one of a female engagement portion and a male engagement portion.

3. The snap member of claim 2 , wherein:

the first engagement portion of the snap member comprises the male engagement portion of the first engagement portion of the snap member; and

the first engagement portion of the mating snap member comprises the female engagement portion of the first engagement portion of the mating snap member.

4. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein a maximum value of the outer diameter of the first engagement portion of the snap member at the second end of the first engagement portion of the snap member is configured to decrease during assembly of the first engagement portion of the snap member with the first engagement portion of the mating snap member.

5. The snap member of claim 1 , defining a gap configured to receive a portion of an object therebetween, the second engagement portion configured to be securably and removably received within an opening defined in the object.

6. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein:

the first engagement portion of the snap member extends from the base in a first direction; and

the second engagement portion extends from the base in a second direction, the second direction being angled with respect to the first direction.

7. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement portion comprises at least one of a curved portion and a straight portion.

8. The snap member of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the curved portion and the straight portion defines a hook angle measuring at least 90 degrees with respect to a vertical direction of the snap member.

9. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second engagement portion is angled towards a user when the user faces a second side of the snap member, the second side facing opposite from a direction in which the first engagement portion of the snap member extends.

10. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the snap member is a monolithic structure.

11. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein a radial cross section of the first engagement portion of the snap member defines a circular shape.

12. A curtain comprising:

at least one of an upper panel and a lower panel; and

the snap member of claim 1 , the snap member configured to engage with the at least one of an upper panel and a lower panel.

13. The curtain of claim 12 , wherein the snap member is a first snap member, the curtain further comprising a second snap member spaced apart from the first snap member and comprising:

a base;

a first engagement portion extending from the base of the second snap member and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a second mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the second snap member comprising a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the second snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion of the second snap member defining an axial depth; and

a second engagement portion extending from the base of the second snap member, the second engagement portion of the second snap member defining a hook shape.

14. The curtain of claim 13 , wherein the second snap member is spaced apart from the first snap member in a direction parallel to a top end of the curtain.

15. The curtain of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of snap members comprising the snap member.

16. The curtain of claim 12 , comprising each of the upper panel and the lower panel.

17. The curtain of claim 16 , further comprising:

a plurality of snap members comprising the snap member; and

a plurality of mating snap members comprising the mating snap member, each of the plurality of mating snap members configured to securably engage with a snap member of the plurality of snap members.

18. The curtain of claim 17 , wherein adjacent snap members of the plurality of snap members define a common horizontal spacing therebetween.

19. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion of the snap member defines rotational symmetry about an axis thereof.

20. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement portion comprises a curved portion defining the hook shape, the curved portion defining an axis, the axis defining a radius beginning from a point positioned radially inward from an outer edge of the base.

21. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a first side and a second side facing in an opposite axial direction from the first side, the first side defining a flange extending in an axial direction beyond a remaining portion of the first side by a flange height.

22. The snap member of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement portion comprises a plurality of nonconcentric curved portions.

23. A snap member of a fastener, the snap member comprising:

a base;

a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member comprising a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth, the first engagement portion of the snap member comprising a male engagement portion and the first engagement portion of the mating snap member comprising a female engagement portion; and

a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape.

24. A snap member of a fastener, the snap member comprising:

a base;

a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member comprising a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth; and

a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape;

wherein the snap member is a monolithic structure.

25. A snap member of a fastener, the snap member comprising:

a base;

a first engagement portion extending from the base and configured to engage with a first engagement portion of a mating snap member, the first engagement portion of the snap member comprising a protrusion defining an axial height, the first engagement portion of the snap member defining a cavity in the protrusion defining an axial depth; and

a second engagement portion extending from the base, the second engagement portion defining a hook shape;

wherein a radial cross section of the first engagement portion of the snap member defines a circular shape.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2023
From: LECOMPTE, CHUCK; SHARP, JONATHAN; SULLIVAN, KATHRYN
To: YKK CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 065560/0195 →
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Cited By (2)
US 12,557,931 US 12,582,203