Importance

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Abstract

Plastic fastener, fastener clip, fastener dispensing tool and method of fastening objects. According to one embodiment, the plastic fastener comprises a flexible filament having a length of about 4.3 mm and a tensile strength of about 2 pounds, a first transverse bar located at one end of the flexible filament, and a second transverse bar located at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The fastener clip, which preferably does not contain a runner bar, comprises a plurality of identical fasteners of the aforementioned type, each of the fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. A connector post connects the first transverse bars of adjacent fasteners, and a connector post connects the second transverse bars of adjacent fasteners. An extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the first transverse bar of the last fastener, and another extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the second transverse bar of the last fastener, the extra transverse bars not being interconnected by a flexible filament. The tool, according to one aspect, is a hand-held tool adapted for use with the above fastener and comprises (a) a casing, the casing being provided with a needle opening; (b) a hollow, slotted needle, the hollow, slotted needle being slidably movable back and forth between a retracted position disposed entirely within the casing and an extended position extending through the needle opening, the hollow, slotted needle being adapted to receive a transverse bar of the fastener; (c) an ejector rod, the ejector rod being slidably movable back and forth through the hollow, slotted needle to eject the enlargement disposed therein; and (d) an anvil coupled to the casing and extending in front of the needle opening, the anvil being positioned so that the hollow, slotted needle, when in said extended position, does not extend therebeyond.

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First Claim