Pivotally Hinged Sections Patents (Class 411/540)
  • Patent number: 8794892
    Abstract: A torque nut assembly includes a multiple-piece nut body and a cap. The nut body can be positioned to define a threaded axial passage, and can expand radially to open the threaded axial passage. The cap is shaped and sized to substantially engage the nut body when the threaded axial passage is so-defined. The cap is locked to the nut body when the cap is engaged thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher J. Doyle, Felipe A. Garcia, Robert C. Woodall
  • Patent number: 8696286
    Abstract: A pivoting hub nut, or hub clamp, for manually securing an object to a rotatable shaft provides a first hub defining a first radial slot and a second hub pivotally attached to the first hub defining a second radial slot. A first handle extends from the first hub, and a second handle extends from the second hub. A latch is disposed on the clamp for selectively locking the clamp in a closed position. An axial bore is defined along the centerline, or hub axis of rotation, of the clamp. The clamp includes a threaded region facing the axial bore for engaging corresponding threads on the shaft. Upon installation of the clamp onto the shaft, the clamp can be rotated relative to the shaft in a closed position for adjusting the longitudinal, or axial, placement of the clamp on the shaft, and the clamp can be tightened against a wheel rim or other object for securing the object on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Martin
  • Patent number: 8403612
    Abstract: A fastener assembly for attaching a fastener to an opening of a sheet material is disclosed. The sheet material is typically located adjacent to a base structure and the fastener assembly affords radial movement of the fastener relative to the opening of the sheet material. The radial movement allows the fastener to be aligned with a desired location on the base structure, e.g. a threaded aperture—after being attached to the sheet material. In this manner, the fastener assembly provides for the placement of the fastener in difficult to reach and/or see locations until it can be attached to the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Quality Safety Systems
    Inventors: Sean Anthony Wright, William Brian Deming, Steven Edward Owen, Jamaine Channte Arrington, Vasudeva Sankarshana Murthy
  • Patent number: 7677850
    Abstract: A clip comprises a pin, and a hollow bush adapted to receive the pin therein. The bush includes a flange and a bush body having an opening which is formed by partially cutting off a peripheral wall thereof and adapted to receive therein a pin shank in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the bush body. The bush body and the bush flange are adapted to be expanded in a radially outward direction of the bush body about a position opposed to the opening, in a hinged manner. The pin has a shank that includes a protruding portion which has a narrow region formed near a distal end of the pin shank, causing no expansion in an outer diameter of the bush body in the radially outward direction when the pin is in a non-fastened position, and a wide region adjacent to the bush flange, causing an expansion in the outer diameter of the bush body when the pin is in a fastened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Takahiro Sano
  • Patent number: 7661915
    Abstract: An interlocking suspension support hanger for mounting strut members off of a vertical threaded rod includes a pair of support hanger having a rectangular support body with a pivoting pin hole and a fastening pin hole on the support body and a recess opening leading to a center thread configured to fit around the vertical threaded rod. Further, a process for utilizing the support hanger to suspend a strut rack assembly from the vertically threaded rod without passing the assembly over the ends of the rod or removing the existing strut rack is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Charles E. Whipple
  • Patent number: 7338247
    Abstract: A releasable fastener for releasably engaging a bolt body has a generally cylindrical sleeve member having an inner surface closely spaced from an outer surface of the bolt body. A latch member having a contact surface is mounted on the sleeve member for movement between a first position wherein the contact surface is in engagement with the bolt body and a second position wherein the contact surface is not in engagement with the bolt body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Steven J. Ateca
  • Patent number: 7155903
    Abstract: A collar member including a main body part having a bolt hole for inserting a bolt and a flange part projecting horizontally to outside from the upper end of the main body part, a fitting member being a member for fitting with a vibration and heat insulating board main body part, having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the collar member by specified dimension, and disposed at the outside of the collar member, and a spring member disposed in a specified dimension between the collar member and fitting member for coupling the collar member and fitting member at least on three positions. As a result, mounting on the vibration source is stable, the heat insulation effect and vibration control effect are high, and the cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Nichias Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Ishiwa
  • Patent number: 6962470
    Abstract: A rod clip for connecting a rod to a lever comprises a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion. The first portion has a top surface having a recess for receiving a rod, such that folding the second portion over the first portion forms a channel for retaining the rod. There are rod retaining tabs disposed above the channel for retaining the rod in the channel until the second portion can be snapped over the first portion. There is a lock for locking the first portion to the second portion after the second portion is folded over the first portion. There is a lever retaining device disposed on one of the two portions. The hinge is formed by apertures on sides of one of the portions and corresponding protrusions on the other. The protrusions extend into the apertures to allow pivoting of the first and second portions with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 6953314
    Abstract: A faucet clamp for retaining a faucet to a sink has first and second jaws that are pivoted together by a hinge. The jaws have internal clamping surfaces which include a thread-engaging surface, for example a compliant liner. The thread-engaging surface engages the threads of a faucet pipe extending from the faucet base and clamps the faucet to the sink. The jaws of the faucet clamp pivot to an open position for installation or removal over the faucet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Timothy Magagna
  • Patent number: 6821070
    Abstract: A split nut having movable pieces that can be disengaged to expose an interior space of the thread so that the nut can be mounted on, and secured to, a threaded rod, without threading the split nut over an end of the threaded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: William J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040208729
    Abstract: A washer formed by two identical C-shaped sections having parallel upper and lower surfaces, two ends, an inside and an outside arcuate edge, the ends having a plurality of tabs and recesses that inter-digitate to form continuous surfaces. The outside arcuate edges have a slot adjacent to one end and a flap projecting from the opposite end. The flaps are inserted into the slots of adjacent sections to retain adjoining ends in fixed relation to each other. Additional grooves on the outside arcuate edge facilitate assembly using needle-nosed pliers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: J. Larry Underwood, Ricky W. Tumlin
  • Patent number: 6514027
    Abstract: An attachment clip (200) for a vehicle door latch assembly includes a first clip portion (102) with a first alignment member (118), a second clip portion (104) with a first alignment channel (122), and a resilient hinge (206) extending between the clip portions so as to allow the clip portions to close around an attachment member (40). The resilient hinge includes an alignment boss (228) integrally molded on the hinge and being disposed for engagement with one of the clip portions for forcing engagement upon closing of the clip portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
    Inventors: Arnold Yiu, Adrian Mihail
  • Patent number: 6443497
    Abstract: A device for tightening a spout, attached to a previously installed angled pipe having an outside radius of curvature, in a position relative to a stop member having an opening through which at least a length of the pipe extends, comprising, at least one sleeve, comprises: at least a first leg and a second leg which meet at a juncture which defines an angle substantially corresponding to the angled pipe, wherein the first and second legs have a combined total length, wherein the first leg has a leg length and is substantially rigid along at least a portion of the leg length, has an inside radius of curvature that is approximately equal to or greater than the radius of curvature of the angled pipe, and wherein the sleeve has a slit, along the entire total length of the first and second legs, to allow the sleeve to be pressed onto and at least partially about the angled pipe; and a method for using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: David B. Gravison
  • Patent number: 6217270
    Abstract: A clamping washer and washer assembly that are used to mount bracing rods or cables to the web of metal building frame columns includes a load distributing washer and a clamping washer that are fastened together on the rod or cable. The washers define matching curved, toothed bearing surfaces or seats. When the washers are clamped together, the teeth on the bearing surfaces mesh with each other to lock the clamping washer in place on the load distributing washer. The load distributing washer defines an elongated opening through which the rod or cable projects, which opening allows positioning of the rod or cable at a variety of angles with respect to the load distributing washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Triangle Fastener Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph E. Stager
  • Patent number: 5836367
    Abstract: The pipe spacer washer according to the invention includes a radially split annular element defined by three mutually hinged sector elements; and a snap-on fastening device defined by a tooth and a seat for insertion of the tooth, located at opposite substantially facing circumferential ends of the annular element, and for integrally connecting the circumferential ends to define an inner ring housing the pipe and connected in one piece to an outer supporting ring by a number of radial ribs. The washer is made entirely of a single material of a Shore A hardness of more than 80, in particular xantoprene.RTM.; the retaining tooth is in the form of an asymmetrical arrow, and has an inner axially through cavity elongated circumferentially; and the seat for receiving the retaining tooth is closed partially on both sides by two lateral braces offset circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: ITW-Fastex Italia S.p.A
    Inventor: Rocco Calabrese
  • Patent number: 5779418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quick-setting nut, which uses two half connecting blocks linking together to form an integral nut by pivoting on a rivet at one side thereof and locking together with a half lap lock as a projection embedding in a recess between the interfaces thereof at other side of which. In practising, the unfolded present invention can be closed at a desired position on the long bolt, and with the aid of a slotted hole at one side of the pin joint portion sliding on the rivet, the inside threads of the nut can engage with or disengage from the long bolt for bolting up or removing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Lin Ying-Che
  • Patent number: 5443526
    Abstract: A prosthetic connector assembly (10) for adjustably connecting a socket (22) with a prosthetic limb includes an end plate (12) having a top side (16), a bottom side (18), and a central opening (14) therein. A socket (22) extends upwardly from the top side (16) of the end plate (12) and an attachment member (66) is supported on the bottom side (18) thereof. An oblong washer (26) is disposed within the socket (22) and is supported by the top side (16) of the end plate (12). A bolt (84) extends through the attachment member (66), washer (26), and central opening (14) in the end plate (12) to retain the washer (26) and attachment member (66) against the end plate (12) while permitting relative adjustment of the attachment member (66) with respect to the end plate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Jeffery S. Hoerner