초록 ▼

A bistable member including a bistable, invertable dish- or dome-shaped base portion and an engaging projection extending therefrom. A male member is engaged with the bistable member by pressing the male member against a central apex of the bistable member that is surrounded by the engaging projecti

A bistable member including a bistable, invertable dish- or dome-shaped base portion and an engaging projection extending therefrom. A male member is engaged with the bistable member by pressing the male member against a central apex of the bistable member that is surrounded by the engaging projection, thereby inverting the bistable member from a first stable form to a second stable form. In the second stable form, the engaging protrusion and a portion of the bistable member wrap around a knob of the male member, thereby securing the male member to the bistable member. A subsequently applied triggering energy re-inverts the bistable member, thereby releasing the male member. This assembly is usable as a snap fastener by setting an equilibrium point of the bistable member such that a relatively large triggering energy is required to re-invert the bistable member. The assembly is also usable as a spring latch to propel projectiles (or an ejecting snap fastener to force open doors) by setting an equilibrium point of the bistable member such that a relatively small triggering energy is required to re-invert the female member, thereby applying a relatively large ejecting force to the projectile/door.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A bistable member comprising:a continuously-curved base portion formed from a resilient material and having a circular outer edge and a central apex, the base member having opposing first and second surfaces; andan engaging protrusion fixedly connected to and protruding from the fir

[ I claim:] [1.] A bistable member comprising:a continuously-curved base portion formed from a resilient material and having a circular outer edge and a central apex, the base member having opposing first and second surfaces; andan engaging protrusion fixedly connected to and protruding from the first surface between the apex and the outer edge, the engaging protrusion defining an opening;wherein the base portion is invertable from a first stable form to a second stable form, andwherein the opening defined by the engaging protrusion when the base portion is in the first stable form has a first diameter when the base portion is in the first stable form, and a second diameter when the base portion is in the second stable form, the first diameter being different from the second diameter.