Abstract: Devices, systems and/or methods for fixating soft tissue to bone are provided. In one embodiment, a repair device for fixating soft tissue to bone with a bone anchor includes a soft tissue anchor and one or more flexible members. The soft tissue anchor includes a base with multiple legs extending from the base. The one or more flexible members are coupled to the base and configured to extend from the base to the bone anchor with a fixed length. With this arrangement, the fixed length of the one or more flexible members is configured to maintain a fixed distance between the soft tissue anchor and the bone anchor such that, as the bone anchor is seated into bone, the one or more flexible members pulls the soft tissue anchor down against the soft tissue to fixate the soft tissue to the bone.

Abstract: To improve the visual probability of the quality of a fixed state of a fixing object fixed to a fixation item, the fixing object includes the supporting part having a hole and a groove formed in proximity to the hole. The groove is provided with a one-way open part, opened in a surface of the supporting part in which one exit of the hole is located and not opened in a surface of the supporting part in which the other exit of the hole is located, and the distance from the center of gravity of the hole to the portion of the groove that is farthest from the center of gravity of the hole is greater than the distance from the center of gravity to a side-surface portion in the hole that is closest to the groove without touching the groove.

Abstract: An earth bolt is capable of achieving electrical connection and watertight sealing and of holding fragment of a coating so that the fragments of coating may not be scattered. The earth bolt can be electrically connected to a member coated with an insulating film. The earth bolt has a head and a threaded body. The head is provided on its bearing surface with an annular ridge protruding from the bearing surface of the head so as to coaxially surround the threaded body and capable of scraping off the insulating film.

Abstract: A component assembly comprises a sheet metal and a fastener element. A flange has a larger diameter and a shaft of smaller diameter extends away from the flange and merges at its end remote from the flange into a cylindrical rivet section. The fastener element is used with sheet metals with thicknesses in the range of 3 mm and larger. With thin sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a smooth pierced cylindrical opening with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the shaft. The cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a rivet bead contacting the sheet metal underside. Medium thickness sheet metal parts have a stepped hole with the hole region of larger diameter receiving the rivet bead. For thick sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a conical pierced hole and the cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a conical rivet bead wedged in the conically diverging hole.

Abstract: A section (10; 110) is provided for the manufacture of hollow body elements, in particular for the manufacture of pierce and rivet nuts having a square or rectangular outline in plan view and a ring-like piercing section (36; 236) at a side confronting a component consisting of a sheet metal material or the like. The section (10; 210) is at least substantially rectangular in cross-section with two bars (14, 16; 214, 216) at the side (12; 212) later confronting the component. The bars are spaced apart and extend parallel to the longitudinal sides (18, 20; 218, 220) of the section, are likewise at least substantially rectangular in cross-section and form, in the finished element (11, 211), a feature providing security against rotation. The bars respectively each have an inclined flank (68, 70; 268, 270) at the inner side which forms an undercut (69, 71; 269, 271).

Abstract: A nut member has first and second end faces and corners, and is formed with a plurality of protrusions, each of which is disposed at a respective corner and each of which has a lateral inner face that extends from the second end face, and a plurality of recesses, each of which is indented inwardly from a respective corner and each of which is defined by a recess-defining wall. The recess-defining wall has a lateral outer face that extends from the first end face. Each protrusion is received in and meshes with a respective recess, and the lateral outer face is in face-to-face contact with the lateral inner face when two of the nut bodies are stacked and are tensioned on a screw bolt.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly includes a nut and a cage wrapped therearound. The nut has a number of stand-offs or protrusions provided on a lower surface thereof such that the stand-offs are the only part of the nut which are in contact with the cage. The stand-offs reduce the amount of bearing surface interface between the cage and the nut thus reducing the possibility that the two parts will stick to each other after a coating is applied to the mating surface which the cage is welded to. The nut is engaged by a male threaded fastener which is torqued into place and the stand-offs push into the material of the cage causing the cage material to flow out of the way such that the stand-offs embed into the material of the cage without deforming the stand-offs to a flattened condition.

Abstract: Device for the fixing of a part to a panel equipped with a drilling, such device comprising a saddle with two facing arms drilled with coaxial holes one, of which has a shank forming a nut. The arms being able to be placed on either side of the panel with their holes facing the aforementioned drilling. One arm is equipped with a lug in which one of the holes is made. The lug may include a protruding ridge able to be lodged in the aforementioned drilling to allow for the saddle to be snapped onto and thus fixed to the panel.

Abstract: A fastening device is disclosed, which has a slotted shaft, a hooking mechanism coupled to the shaft and adapted to couple the shaft to a supporting structure. The hooking mechanism deploys to an operational position from the end of the slotted shaft and is adapted to couple the slotted shaft to a supporting structure. A tightening mechanism is adapted to couple to the shaft. The tightening mechanism binds the fastening device securely in place.

Abstract: Presented is a metallic cannulated rivet adapted for implantation in a bone mass through use of arthroscopic or open surgery for attachment of soft tissue thereto. The rivet in a first configuration is implanted, following which, a portion of the implanted rivet projecting from the bone site and penetrating the soft tissue is reformed in situ to clamp the soft tissue to the bone site. In a second aspect, the invention comprises the method and instrumentalities for effecting implantation of the rivet and reformation thereof in situ to mechanically clamp the soft tissue to the bone site. The method includes forming a small portal or incision to expose and prepare the bone site, torn or severed soft tissue is mobilized to intimately contact the bone site, the soft tissue is retained in proper position and a K-wire is advanced through the portal to penetrate the soft tissue and the bone mass to a predetermined depth and mark the point of implantation of the cannulated rivet.

Abstract: A tee-nut comprises a flange head, a plurality of prongs extending from the flange head, and a hollow barrel extending from the flange head. The hollow barrel has an internally threaded portion provided at one end of the barrel connecting to the flange head, and an enlarged flarable portion extending from the internally threaded portion and provided at a free end of the barrel. The present invention further discloses a method of forming a tee-nut with an enlarged barrel end, by first swaging out and expanding the free end of the barrel and thereafter threading the unexpanded portion of the barrel.

Abstract: A self-drilling anchor installable in a wall by means of a screwdriver, the anchor being adapted to receive a threaded fastener serving to hold a fixture against the wall. The anchor includes an externally-threaded shank section having a head engageable by the screwdriver and a longitudinal bore threadably to receive the fastener. Integral with the shank section and extending axially therefrom is a drill section having at least one cutting member and guide means therefor, whereby as the anchor is turned in to the wall by a screwdriver, the cutting member then bores a round hole therein whose bank is engaged by the guide means to ensure circularity of the hole. And as the anchor continues to turn, the shank section enters and taps the hole until its head engages the outer surface of the wall to complete the anchor installation.

Abstract: A U-nut that is adapted for use with a stand-off fastener to prevent excessive loads on a panel comprises two legs and a joining portion therebetween and an aligned threaded barrel and aperture in the legs. A resilient spring finger follows the contours of the legs and joining portion and does not intersect with a zone between the aperture and barrel. The spring finger will frictionally engage a panel received between the legs of the U-nut.

Abstract: A metal threaded fastener is disclosed for use in outdoor or other environments where fastener rust or corrosion are to be discouraged. The fastener includes a metal head adapted for engagement with a torque wrench or the like. The head is covered by a polypropylene jacket. Raised metal protuberances below from a bottom clamping surface of the head. In one embodiment, these protuberances extend at least partly through the polypropylene jacket, but the thin covering layer of polypropylene is displaced from the protuberances during bolt installation. These protuberances provide metal-to-metal contact with a workpiece, and consequently encourage maintenance of a correct axial clamping pressure without over-torquing the mating nut.

Abstract: A self-locking fastener having a bearing surface comprising a plurality of sets of serrations arranged to penetrate a workpiece such that, while a resistance to the loosening of the fastener from the workpiece is created, the marring of the workpiece surface is minimized. Use of the fastener is particularly advantageous if the workpiece consists of soft materials such as cast-aluminum or non-heat treated carbon steels. Each set of serration, when viewed as a profile, includes a downwardly inclined surface, a relatively deeper serration and a relatively shallower intermediate serration. The intermediate serration controls the depth of the penetration into a workpiece.

Abstract: A rotary fastener for use in attaching sheet metal or attaching articles to sheet metal. The fastener has a serrated helical ramp forged in the undersurface of the head during the heading operation. The serrations have generally radially oriented surfaces which engage workpiece material to increase strip torque, removal torque or both. The ramp advances helically in an axial direction and the ramp is spiral in cross-section.