Patents Assigned to Northwest Design Products
  • Patent number: 5156507
    Abstract: Disclosed is an expansible fastening device (10) for placement in a hole preformed in a base member for use in attaching a component part to the base using a conventional nut (24) and bolt (26). The fastening device includes a fastener body (12) having two body sections (28a, and 28b). The body sections when positioned together form a central cavity (30) within the fastener body which encloses and retains the nut and a wedge (14). Each longitudinal section includes a fin (16) which extends longitudinally and projects radially outward from the central region of each body section. Further, each body section includes primary and secondary teeth (18 and 20) which extend circumferentially about the outer surface of the sections. In operation the bolt is engaged with the nut and rotated, pushing the wedge from the fastening device. As the wedge is driven away from the nut, the teeth and fins are driven into the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Northwest Design Products
    Inventor: John M. Underbrink
  • Patent number: 4692054
    Abstract: Disclosed is a connector system for structural frameworks which comprises a strut element (14) having one end connected to the end of a beam member (16). The strut element (14) has an axial bore (26) with the head portion of a bolt (36) retained therein. The shank (40) of the bolt extends outwardly from the strut element for threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded aperture of a dodecahedral node (12). A drive nut (42) is fixed to the shank of the bolt and used for rotating the bolt so that the shank is screwed into the node (12). A set screw (46) passes through the strut element (14) to impinge upon the head of the bolt thereby preventing rotation of the strut element with respect to the bolt. A hollow metal rod (54) extends through the end of the beam member (16) and aligned apertures (52) in the end of strut element (14). The ends of the rod are riveted to secure the strut element to the beam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Northwest Design Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Kirby