Abstract: A fastener system for composite structure providing electromagnetic energy (EME) protection incorporates a fastener having a head with an engagement surface and a shank having a threaded end. A nut is received on the threaded end of the fastener, with the nut also having an engagement surface. At least one of the head engagement surface and the nut engagement surface incorporates a reduced area portion for engagement of a first mating surface or second mating surface, respectively.

Abstract: An article, for use in coupling a first member including a first material to a second member including a second material different than the first material, includes a clip having a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion located between the first and second legs. The clip has an inner side including the first material and an outer side including the second material. The clip is aligned on one of the first and second members so the inner side of the clip contacts one of the first and second members and the outer side of the clip contacts the other of the first and second members.

Abstract: A fastener includes a body having deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends. The fastener further includes a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends and a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion. The corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the sleeve and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve. The bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the sleeve. The first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter.

Abstract: A quarter turn fastener employed to affix a component to a structural base plate includes bar code indicia to verify installation and locking of the fastener. The fastener is positionable in an insertion position relative to the base plate for insertion through a receptacle, and rotatable one quarter turn to releasably secure it, and the component to the base plate. It includes resilient arms to urge an attachment portion of the fastener against the rear surface of the base plate which are configured to obscure at least a portion of the bar code indicia in any position other than the locked position. When rotated to the locked position, the attachment portion is urged against the rear surface of the base plate the resilient arms do not obscure the bar code indicia. Anti-rotation lugs releasably engage the receptacle to releasably latch the fastener in the locked position.

Abstract: The invention provides for a retainer for stabilizing a threaded member. The retainer may include a base portion having an opening and an outer perimeter lying in a first plane, the opening having a plurality of elongated sections each extending toward the outer perimeter so as to define in the base portion one or more arms. Each of the aims may have a head section having at least one groove, the head sections being located in a second plane which is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane. The elongated sections may be symmetrically arranged about an axis. The grooves may be arranged to define at least a portion of a helix. The outer perimeter of the retainer may be circular.

Abstract: The invention provides a lock nut with a nut body which has a threaded section with an internal thread and an adjoining inner annular groove. An annular lock washer made of metal is held in the annular groove. An internal thread corresponding to the nut thread is cut into the inner circumference of the annular washer, and the internal thread of the annular washer is offset axially in relation to the nut thread by a distance which is smaller than a thread pitch of the nut thread. According to the invention, the thickness of the annular washer at the inside diameter thereof is greater than the thickness of the annular washer at the outside diameter to thereof. As a result, the elasticity of the annular lock washer and the holding force of the lock nut can be adjusted.

Abstract: A blind fastener comprising a body (22) and a stem (26), wherein the fastener is installed in a workpiece by applying a pulling force to the bodycausing a bulb to form at a radially expandable section of the body, the stem of the fastener comprising two waisted regions (38, 40) of reduced diameter, such that when the body of the fastener is crimped after assembly with the stem, the body is caused to form a barrel shape, whereby clearance between the body and stem is minimized.

Abstract: A tapping screw provides sufficient tightening force even if used with a thin screwed member and tightening target member. The tapping screw (100) includes a first ridge (11) and a second ridge (12) configured to have incomplete threads that are 180° out of phase. The tapping screw (100) includes a first tightening force improvement ridge (13) and a second tightening force improvement ridge (14) that are set so as to be smaller than the outside diameters of complete thread sections of parallel threaded portions of the first ridge (11) and the second ridge (12) but larger than the inside diameter of the prepared hole are provided in each of areas which are 90° out of phase with the first ridge (11) and the second ridge (12), respectively, such that the tightening force improvement ridges bite into the prepared hole when the screw is fully screwed in.

Abstract: An assembly comprising first and second parts made of composite material held one against the other by at least one fastener system comprising a bolt having a flat head from which there extends a threaded portion, and a nut having a flat head from which there extends a shank including tapping suitable for co-operating with the threaded portion of the bolt. The head of the bolt bears against a countersink formed in the first part. The head of the nut bears against a countersink formed in the second part. The fastener system is suitable, during axial expansion of the fastener system, for causing each head to tilt towards the countersink in which it is housed.

Abstract: A fastener comprising a fastener body and a fastener head is disclosed. The fastener body has a threaded portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The fastener head is arranged at one end of the fastener body, and comprises a tool engaging portion. The tool engaging portion comprises a plurality of alternating lobes and flutes forming a multilobular surface pattern, each lobe having a driven surface arranged to engage with a driving surface of a tool, and a trailing surface arranged opposite to the driven surface. The driven surface and the trailing surface extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis defined by the fastener body. The trailing surface of at least one lobe is provided with a modified zone in which a diameter of the lobe is increased, said modified zone providing a wedging effect between the tool engaging portion and a tool. In the fastener of the invention wobble between the fastener and a tool is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A rivet bolt in combination with an attachment wherein the rivet bolt includes: a flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, and, a shaft having a threaded portion. An upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt includes an upper edge and an interior base surface having a drive head socket. The attachment receives the rivet bolt and comprises: a top surface, a bottom surface, a cylindrical bore therethrough, and an inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface to the cylindrical bore. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt is deformed and rotatably and slidingly engages the inverted frusto-conical surface extending from the top surface of the attachment to the cylindrical bore therethrough. The upper cylindrical portion of the rivet bolt resides partially within the cylindrical bore. A process for making a rivet bolt in combination with an attachment is disclosed.

Abstract: An anti-tamper system including: a fixing device and an anti-tamper detection device; the fixing device comprising a body and a head whereby the head having a larger cross section then the body for enabling a tool to engage and drive the body into a first material layer thereby makes a firm connection with the anti-tamper detection device between the head and the first material layer; the fixing device further comprising a lock wherein the head is locked to the body by the lock where there is no external magnetic field and wherein the head becomes disengaged from the body when the lock is unlocked by an external magnetic field; and whereby the anti-tamper detection device detects and records a change the connection when the head becomes disengaged.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a self-piercing rivet (10), particularly a semi-hollow self-piercing rivet, with a head (12) and a shank (14) as well as a pre-perforated flat element (30) that is arranged on the shank (14) and at least part of which extends radially relative to the head (12) beyond a head radius. A production method and a joining method for said self-piercing rivet with pre-perforated flat element are also described.

Abstract: A system for applying rotational torque to a fastener on a fastening member (such as a threaded rod) to maintain the tight fastening. One specific embodiment of the system uses a recoil spring to apply such torque directly to the fastener; the system enables continued tightening of the fastener long after the initial fastening occurs.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant fastening provision includes a fastener cover having a first flange and second flange joined at one end. The first flange has an elongate opening slidably receiving a shaft of a fastener, and the second flange has an opening disposed closer to a second end of the cover than the first end. The cover is moveable to a first position such that the fastener head is operably accessible through the second opening and the fastener shaft is disposed at an end of the elongate opening proximate to the second end of the cover. The cover is also moveable to a second position such that the cover is in an interference position relative to the fastener head and the shaft is disposed at an end of the elongate opening proximate to the first end of the cover.

Abstract: A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.

Abstract: A foldable display apparatus is provided. The foldable display apparatus includes a flexible display panel, first body configured to support a left portion of a flexible display panel, and second body configured to support a right portion of the flexible display panel, first and second frames configured to surround portions of outlines of the first and second bodies, a hinge member configured to hinge-connect the first and second frames with each other in a foldable manner, and first and second supports having sides hinge-connected to the first and second frames, and configured to form an accommodation space in which a folded portion of the flexible display panel is folded to form a curvature at a first position at which the first and second bodies are folded, and to support the folded portion of the flexible display panel at a second position at which the first and second bodies are unfolded.

Abstract: A connection element consists of a longitudinally oriented support structure that is at least partially hollow and a sensor unit that is arranged in the inside of the support structure, is connected to a signal transmission device, and is non-positively connected to the support structure. The required force for the non-positive connection is produced by internal stresses after a plastic deformation of the support structure during a joining process of the support structure and the sensor unit. A method for manufacturing a connection element consisting of a support structure that is at least partially hollow and a sensor unit includes positioning the sensor unit in a region of the support structure and, using radially movable tool segments, exerting a force on the support structure in the radial direction and at the same time reducing the periphery of the support structure in the region in which the sensor unit is positioned.

Abstract: In various embodiments a frame system for a surgical system may include a plurality of rod structures cross connected through one or more structural members. In some embodiments, the rod structures may each include at least one rod with an interface joint molded over the at least one rod. One or more of the interface joints may include a receiving hole for receiving a structural member to couple at least two of the plurality of rod structures together. One or more surgical components (such as a surgical console) may be received into the frame system. Other components may also be received into the frame system (e.g., an aesthetic skin). The rod structures may also include cross face structural members that are secured to portions of the rod structures through being molded to the rod structures through the interface joints.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a direct tension indicator (DTI) plate. The DTI plate may include a hub having an opening, and an annular array of circumferentially-spaced legs extending radially outwardly from the hub. Each leg may include a knee portion extending from the hub, a foot portion, and an ankle portion joining the knee and foot portions, and the foot portions may be oriented at least partially in a common, circumferential direction. In addition, the ankle portion may be narrower than the knee portion.