Abstract: A temporary fastener a plunger having a distal portion including a plurality of plunger fingers, where depressing the plunger causes axial translation of a collet body to place the temporary fastener in an activated state where a plurality of flexible fingers in the collet body radially converge and where releasing the plunger places the temporary fastener in a clamped state in which the plurality of flexible fingers in the collet body are outwardly displaced. The temporary fastener further includes a web element positioned at a proximal end of a rod and including a plurality of opening permitting the plurality of plunger fingers to axially translate there through during depression and release of the plunger. The temporary fastener further includes a spring positioned within a case and exerting a restorative force on the collet body and the plunger in response to depression of the plunger.

Abstract: Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.

Abstract: A single side temporary fastener (SSTF) capable of maintaining a clamping force in a material stack subject to material creep or adjunct extrusion during clamp up processes is disclosed. The SSTF comprise a rotationally constrained but freely translatable collet body that is disposed within an auxiliary structure such as a fastener housing. A fastener comprises the aforementioned collet body, which at least partially translates within the aforementioned auxiliary structure, and further comprises a threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body, which by way of an antirotation means associated therewith and with the auxiliary structure, is rotationally constrained but is free to axially translate. Constant clamping pressures are made possible in such embodiments by the inclusion of at least one biasing element between compression force transmitting elements and/or assemblies of the fasteners.

Abstract: Expandable collet bodies with sectional finger-based anti-rotation features are disclosed. The collet body comprises not only a plurality of gripping finger as a first part of a two-part anti-rotation means (ARM), but also a first part of a two part translation arresting means (TAM), which may or may not be sectional in nature. The TAM prevents over translation of a collet body within the work piece(s), and cooperates with a second part of the TAM associated with a work piece or an auxiliary structure. In this manner, a collet body inserted into a work piece or auxiliary structure will not accidentally be pushed beyond the blind side of the work piece(s) during insertion or initial clamp-up.

Abstract: A fastener is provided that includes a housing body including a bore extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the housing body, a housing body anti-rotation part, and a reduced diameter opening at a distal end of the housing body, a collet body partially translating within the housing body bore, having a collet body anti-rotation part positioned at least partially within the housing body, and a plurality of clamping fingers axially extending from a wall portion of the collet body, and a removable bushing positioned at least partially in the housing body bore. Rotation of the collet body is substantially prevented by an interaction between the housing body anti-rotation part and the collet body anti-rotation part during fastener clamping and unclamping and the removable bushing and the reduced diameter opening in the bore prevent escapement of the collet body anti-rotation part from the housing body.

Abstract: Hole alignment tools, methods of making such tools, and methods for aligning holes in a plurality of work pieces are disclosed. The hole alignment tools may exert, when fully engaged with similarly sized, stacked holes, a substantially uniform force against the work piece surfaces that define the holes. The hole alignment tool includes a doweling body having a plurality of radially expandable legs, a housing, and a spreader element. The doweling body legs include a decreasing sectional thickness extending from the distal ends thereof towards the proximal end of the doweling body. Depending upon its state, the radial profile of a doweling body's legs may be converging or parallel for tool insertion and removal, or diverging for alignment purposes.

Abstract: A fastener system shifting shear stresses away from a collet body and provides clamping action to targeted structures. The fastener system includes feet in the collet body that mate with openings in a sleeve at least partially surrounding the collet body. The sleeve or the collet body includes interior threads that engage with a stud that is configured to extend through the collet body and bend the feet such that they project outward from the sleeve openings in an engaged configuration.

Abstract: A dental retraction and impression system providing self-retracting and impression taking of a prepared tooth in one step. Paired setting materials simultaneously retract gingiva, widen a sulcus around the tooth, and take an impression of the tooth and margins. A low viscosity setting gingival retracting impression material having an astringent and a high viscosity setting impression material set together. The high viscosity setting impression material is heavy body and has a higher viscosity than the low viscosity setting gingival retracting material so as to force the low viscosity setting gingival retracting impression material into the gingival space or sulcus.

Abstract: Fasteners and related systems according to the invention include a collet body having a first part of a two part anti-rotation arrangement and a cylinder body having a second part of the two part anti-rotation arrangement wherein the collet body and the cylinder body are mateably axially translatable with respect to each other, and have the same or similar outer diameter in some embodiments or not in others. A threaded member rotationally engages the collet body and compressively contacts the cylinder body during operation of the fastener to creating a clamping effect. Rotational interference between the first and second parts of the anti-rotation arrangement preferably occurs at sectional face portions of at least the collet body. Resistance to induced rotation of the cylinder body relative to a work piece rotation of the threaded member is preferably provided by a tool engaging a tool interface present on the cylinder body.

Abstract: A single dose package having a material chamber frangibly separable from a handle and concentric partial or semi-cylinders holding an applicator. An outer partial cylinder placed over an inner semi-cylinder encloses and holds an applicator. Moving the handle relative to the material chamber separates the handle from the material chamber to access a material contained within the material chamber. Different sizes and shapes of plugs sealing the material chamber selectively adjust the volume of the material chamber.

Abstract: A single side temporary fastener (SSTF) capable of maintaining a clamping force in a material stack subject to material creep or adjunct extrusion during clamp up processes is disclosed. The SSTF comprise a rotationally constrained but freely translatable collet body that is disposed within an auxiliary structure such as a fastener housing. A fastener comprises the aforementioned collet body, which at least partially translates within the aforementioned auxiliary structure, and further comprises a threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body, which by way of an anti-rotation means associated therewith and with the auxiliary structure, is rotationally constrained but is free to axially translate. Constant clamping pressures are made possible in such embodiments by the inclusion of at least one biasing element between compression force transmitting elements and/or assemblies of the fasteners.

Abstract: A fastener system is provided that includes a spindle bolt having a threaded section and a tooling interface at a head, a bolt body at least partially mated with the spindle bolt, including an anti-rotation slot and an outer surface, a nut including an interior threaded portion and an anti-rotation extension, and an expandable ring mated with the nut and including a lower clamping surface. In a clamping configuration of the fastener system, the lower clamping surface extends beyond the outer surface of the bolt body, the interior threaded portion of the nut is threadingly engaged with the threaded section of the spindle bolt, and the anti-rotation extension mates with the anti-rotation slot. In an installation configuration of the fastener system, a diameter of the lower clamping surface is less than a diameter of the lower clamping surface in the clamping configuration.

Abstract: Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.

Abstract: A cartridge having a plunger cylinder with an external diameter smaller than a piston cylinder internal diameter. The cartridge has a plunger cylinder adapted to fit within a breach opening of a syringe. The piston cylinder having a larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the plunger cylinder, the cartridge is capable of holding a larger volume of material in the piston cylinder than could be held in the plunger cylinder fitted within the syringe breach opening. A piston placed in the piston cylinder has a concave surface.

Abstract: Fasteners and related systems according to the invention include a collet body having a first part of a two part anti-rotation arrangement and a cylinder body having a second part of the two part anti-rotation arrangement wherein the collet body and the cylinder body are mateably axially translatable with respect to each other, and have the same or similar outer diameter in some embodiments or not in others. A threaded member rotationally engages the collet body and compressively contacts the cylinder body during operation of the fastener to creating a clamping effect. Rotational interference between the first and second parts of the anti-rotation arrangement preferably occurs at sectional face portions of at least the collet body. Resistance to induced rotation of the cylinder body relative to a work piece rotation of the threaded member is preferably provided by a tool engaging a tool interface present on the cylinder body.

Abstract: A temporary fastener a plunger having a distal portion including a plurality of plunger fingers, where depressing the plunger causes axial translation of a collet body to place the temporary fastener in an activated state where a plurality of flexible fingers in the collet body radially converge and where releasing the plunger places the temporary fastener in a clamped state in which the plurality of flexible fingers in the collet body are outwardly displaced. The temporary fastener further includes a web element positioned at a proximal end of a rod and including a plurality of opening permitting the plurality of plunger fingers to axially translate there through during depression and release of the plunger. The temporary fastener further includes a spring positioned within a case and exerting a restorative force on the collet body and the plunger in response to depression of the plunger.

Abstract: Expandable collet bodies with sectional finger-based anti-rotation features are disclosed. The collet body comprises not only a plurality of gripping finger as a first part of a two-part anti-rotation means (ARM), but also a first part of a two part translation arresting means (TAM), which may or may not be sectional in nature. The TAM prevents over translation of a collet body within the work piece(s), and cooperates with a second part of the TAM associated with a work piece or an auxiliary structure. In this manner, a collet body inserted into a work piece or auxiliary structure will not accidentally be pushed beyond the blind side of the work piece(s) during insertion or initial clamp-up.