Elastic-gripping Action Patents (Class 411/947)
  • Patent number: 6247884
    Abstract: A new plug is formed with a diametrical slot in the interior threaded end and an axial through hole. A spring unit is positioned in the through hole and slot. The spring unit is formed with a diametral slot that extends from the interior end of the plug well down into the post portion of the spring unit and therefore into the through hole. The spring unit is assembled to the plug prior to heat treatment of the spring unit. Fixturing of the spring unit determines the spring rate of the unit and, in combination with the fit of the spring unit in the slot and through hole, the amount of live contact of the unit with the threads of the hole into which the plug is to be threaded. The holding torque of the plug is thereby determined. The new plug eliminates the present need for external capture devices or stainless steel wires through holes in the plug exterior in aircraft applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Moeller Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Kurt K. Bynum
  • Patent number: 6162234
    Abstract: An orthopedic fastener device is based on a strong central shaft that is threaded in a one end region and that, in one embodiment, presents a ramp surface in the other end region. The ramp end is inserted down-hole a bore in bone while an expandable first collet having bendable circumferential flukes is snug to the shaft, presenting a diameter less than the bore. Partial axial withdrawal of the shaft from the bore forces the first collet into and against the shaft's ramp region, causing the collet's flukes to splay and strongly compressively engage the bone, thereby permanently anchoring the fastener's first end. Soft tissue, normally a ligament, is slipped over the shaft region extending beyond the bone, and is optionally grasped by a toothed washer. Another, second, split collet--initially expanded in its internal diameter that has and presents threads--slides along the shaft so as to compress the ligament in position against the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventors: Yosef Freedland, Scot Ganaja
  • Patent number: 5947668
    Abstract: A self retaining fastener which comprises a threaded bolt with an hexagonal head and threaded shaft with a longitudinal groove formed therein. An arcuate spring member is secured in the groove and protrudes slightly outward from the threaded shaft of the bolt to provide frictional force against the inner surface of a bore. A further embodiment of the invention provides a threaded shaft cut into segments by one or more diametrical slots. The segmented portion of the shaft is biased outward to a diameter slightly greater than that of the unsegmented portion, providing resilient frictional force when inserted into an appropriately sized bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Friedrich Thommes
  • Patent number: 5779413
    Abstract: A fastening system comprising a bolt having a threaded shaft portion with a major thread diameter and a member having an aperture formed therein, said aperture being threaded over a portion thereof, a locking element having a preformed thread configuration being positioned within said aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Frank J. Cosenza
  • Patent number: 5752793
    Abstract: A locknut which is durable and adapted to be used repeatedly is disclosed. The locknut has a body with a collar integrally extending from one end thereof for receiving a check washer. The check washer defines a polygonal hole therein. A periphery defining the polygonal hole is composed of a plurality of long edges and short beveled edges each arranged between two adjacent long edges. A length of each long edge is slightly smaller than an internal diameter of the body. By this arrangement, the extrusive portion of the long edges resulted from the thread of a bolt can be dispersed toward the short beveled edges to avoid a fracture of the check washer, thereby to maintain an effective elastic comeback of the check washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Doumo Industrial Company
    Inventor: Shui-Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 5736912
    Abstract: A frequency adjustment mechanism for a dielectric resonator in which a change of a unloaded Q is small by adjustment of a resonating frequency, a tuning rod may be stably fixed in place after the adjustment without using any adhesives or the like and it is possible to readily perform the re-adjustment. A hole 14 is provided at an axially central portion of the dielectric resonator 11 and the tuning rod 15 is threadingly inserted into the hole 14. A female screw thread 14a is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the hole 14, and a male screw thread 15a is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tuning rod 15. Resin layers 16 and 17 are formed on surfaces of the female screw thread 14a and the male screw thread 15a, respectively. The tuning rod 15 is made of dielectric material having a low loss and a high dielectric constant. The resin layers 16 and 17 are made of resin material having an elasticity and a low loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Mikami, Hirotsugu Abe, Yukio Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5538380
    Abstract: A nozzle guide vane assembly has ceramic components therein having a conventional thread thereon including a preestablished pitch and having a preestablished rate of thermal expansion. The nozzle guide vane assembly has a metallic components therein having a preestablished rate of thermal expansion being greater that the rate of thermal expansion of the ceramic components is positioned in a gas turbine engine. The metallic component, a nut, has a thread therein including a plurality of crests being spaced on a pitch equal to that of the ceramic component and has a pair of contacting surfaces extending from the plurality of crests. A notch spirally extends intermediate adjacent ones of the plurality of crests and has a preestablished depth which is at least twice the size of the conventional pitch. Furthermore, the pair of contacting surfaces are in contact with only a portion of the threaded surface of the ceramic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul F. Norton, James E. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5482417
    Abstract: The present invention entails a self-locking mechanism (10) for locking a rotatable member such as a screw, bolt, lock rod, etc. In the case of a lock rod (50) that secures a tool holder (126) within a tool block (122), the self-locking mechanism (10) of the present invention includes at least one cam surface (52) connected between the lock rod (50) and a rotating carrier (14) having at least one wedge surface (26). The rotating carrier (14), wedge surface (26), and cam surface (52) are shaped and disposed such that they can be rotated by a driver (16) in unison as the lock rod (50) is rotated between locked and unlocked positions. However, the rotating carrier (14), wedge surface (26) and cam surface (52) are disposed and shaped such that the cam surface (52) and wedge surface (26) will ,under the influence of the lock rod, move to a wedged self-locking position after the lock rod (50) has assumed a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5454676
    Abstract: A safety screw for skates, including a male part, provided with a first head and with a first internally threaded stem, and a female part, provided with a second head and with a second stem that has a complementarily threaded first seat for the first stem. In this screw, the male part has an axial external reeding which is adjacent to the first head and has a slightly larger diameter than the first stem. The reeding interacts with a second seat that has a slightly smaller diameter. The second seat is formed at the free end of the female part, and is contiguous to the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Roces S.r.l.
    Inventor: Gino Conte
  • Patent number: 5176483
    Abstract: A threaded connection structure for rotatably connecting and disconnecting adjoining members including a female member having annular internal pitched threads and a male member for threading into the female member having outer threads complemental to the threads of the female member with raised areas along the axial faces of the threads of one of said members to cause areas of concentration of unit pressure between the threads so that unwanted rotation and unwanted unthreading is prevented. A flange is provided on one member to engage a shoulder on the other member for continued axial surface pressure of the raised areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Inq. Walter Hengst GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dieter Baumann, Christian Boehnke
  • Patent number: 5169270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressible screw-type locking mechanism including an oversized locking screw and a tool for compressing and rotatively driving the oversized locking screw through a threaded bore. Formed about the top of the locking screw is a head portion and extending downwardly from the head portion is a threaded shaft. At least one longitudinal slot extends through the head and at least partially through the shaft to form a locking screw with plural resilient segments. The locking screw assumes a normal expanded state with its threaded pitch diameter being oversized with respect to its companion bore. The locking screw is compressed by engaging the head thereof with the tool. In one embodiment, the compression of the locking screw is achieved through a torquing action. In a second embodiment, the compression is achieved by the axial movement of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5133631
    Abstract: This invention provides a temperature responsive self-locking fastener which includes a threaded shank and a threaded mating element both having approximately equal coefficients of thermal expansion and a temperature responsive locking member having a coefficient of thermal expansion different than that of the threaded shank and the mating element. The locking member expands relative to the threaded shank and the mating element at the operating temperature to prevent disengagement of the locking fastener. At the installation temperature, the locking fastener can be easily installed or removed even after one or more cycles between the operating and the installation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Verlin R. Beach
  • Patent number: 5078562
    Abstract: A self-locking fastening arrangement includes a member having a substantially planar surface intersected by a blind threaded bore adapted to receive a complimentary threaded bolt or shank. The tapped bore terminates a predetermined distance from the planar surface in a closed end. A resilient substantially cylindrical insert is disposed within the bore adjacent the closed end and is configured to establish a space between the insert and the closed end of the tapped bore. The insert is compressed upon insertion of a threaded shank into the bore a predetermined distance so as to effect self-locking axial loading between the interengaging male and female threads. An annular lip is formed adjacent at least one end of the insert for engaging the tapped bore to prevent inadvertent release of the insert from the bore. In one embodiment, the fastening member takes the form of a self-locking acorn or cap nut having a blind taped bore which receives the resilient insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Abbott-Interfast Corporation
    Inventor: Lon DeHaitre
  • Patent number: 5004389
    Abstract: A self-locking, externally threaded locking nut the outer periphery of the nut adjacent the threaded portion thereof having an annular groove in which is positioned an elastic ring. Portions of the outer periphery of the elastic ring are deflected outwardly by the nut to form protuberances for effecting increased frictional resistance to turning between the locking nut and a threaded cylindrical body to produce a locking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Industrial Nut Corp.
    Inventors: J. William Spinger, Eugene Schlett
  • Patent number: 5000637
    Abstract: A fastening device uses a ribbed rivet to secure two materials together. The ribs on the rivet should have a height no greater than 0.005 inches on most plastics and be of a close proximity. This rivet can be pushed directly into, or pulled directly out of, a ribbed receiving bore without fear of stripping the threaded ribs. The rivet can be manufactured in a two-piece injection plastic mold in which the rivet is fully formed in the lower half of the mold. Because of the height and proximity of the ribs, the rivet can be removed from the mold without stripping the threaded ribs. Furthermore, the rivet can be formed in the same injection molding operation used to manufacture the receiving bore into which it is to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Adams Mfg.
    Inventor: William E. Adams
  • Patent number: 4907924
    Abstract: A backward starting locknut comprises a polygonal-shaped metal nut having a threaded axial bore extending from a front end face normal thereto toward a recess formed in an opposite or backside of the nut body. A locking insert of resilient plastic material having a threaded bore aligned with that of the nut is seated in the recess and includes an annular, thick wall portion secured within the recess and an annular, thin wall portion integrally joined to the thick wall portion and extends outwardly from the recess and is provided with a threaded bore. The metal nut includes an annular wall section defining the recess and the wall section is deflected radially inwardly to compress the thick wall portion of the plastic insert and thereby constrict an inner portion of the threaded bore in order to establish a prevailing torque when a threaded rod is fully engaged in the bore of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventor: Keith Hellon
  • Patent number: 4828444
    Abstract: This invention relates to a one-piece molded nut made of plastic which is used to secure one member to another in cooperation with a stud. The nut includes a cylindrical portion having an inner space and an engagement piece extending across the open end of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Oshida
  • Patent number: 4798507
    Abstract: A nut is provided particularly for use with a sheet metal screw, which nut has a screw-receiving sleeve, with two or more roll-tapped threads having a flattened crest at the apex of the thread angles. An alternate embodiment contemplates providing a double thread on the sleeve inner surface of at least two full revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: California Industrial Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Olah
  • Patent number: 4780037
    Abstract: A fastening assembly comprises a first internally open member such as a collar, and a second internally open member such as a bifurcated plug which is slidable realative to the collar to an assembled position in which the plug is located at least partially within the collar, at least one protrusion provided between the collar and the plug causing the plug to be deformed when in said assembled position, so as to create at least one inwardly directed jaw or fang for use in fastening engagement with a workpiece such as an externally threaded stud located at least partially within the plug, the advantage being that the amount of driving force which is transmitted in the driving direction to the stud through means of the fastening assembly can be minimized, so that the fastening assembly can have a knock-on/screw-off capability even if the stud is resiliently mounted on compressible foamed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: ITW Limited
    Inventor: Sidney H. Payne
  • Patent number: 4749320
    Abstract: The metallic body of the nut is formed with a groove into which is inserted an elongate flexible compressible insert which may be rectangular, hexagonal or circular in cross-section and which may be made of, for example, nylon or a fibrous material. After use, the insert is removed from the groove, is indexed about its longitudinal axis to present an unmutilated face or portion and is then put back into the groove with said unmutilated face or portion facing radially inwardly.The groove may be continuous or it may be interrupted by an end stop in order to prevent movement of the insert along the groove during screwing-on of the nut; in such a case, the insert length is less than the circumferential length of the groove.An extraction hole, extending either radially or axially of the nut through the nut body into the groove, facilitates removal of the insert from the groove for indexing or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Inventor: Andreas Gutt
  • Patent number: 4659272
    Abstract: A blind fastener for installation in aircrafts or the like and method for forming same comprised of a threaded nut threaded on a threaded screw or stem member having a stem head with a deformable sleeve mounted on the stem member between the stem head and the threaded nut. A torque lock is created between the threaded nut and the stem member to provide torque of the nut against the threads of the stem member without damaging the threads of the nut and the stem member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Monogram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Pratt