Abstract: A screw for soft material having an assymetrical thread form which includes an upper flank comprised of a plurality of continuous helical surfaces. The upper flank surfaces are configured such that a helical protrusion is formed on the upper flank which causes increased friction between the screw and the workpiece only after seating of the screw head has occurred.

Abstract: A fastener for attaching fixtures to channeled structural members has an extended bolt engaging section which increases the load carrying capacity of the fastener. The fastener, with the extended section, can be used in channeled structural members of limited depth as well as the standard channeled structural members without sacrificing the load carrying capacity. The extended section has an alignment feature which will align the flanges of the channeled structural member with the grooved flange engaging means of the fastener permitting the use of the fastener in channeled structural members having widths greater than standard members.

Abstract: A tension indicating device which includes at least one indicating arm and reference means carried by a stamped generally frustoconical spring washer. A relieved area in the bearing surface of the washer prevents work surface irregularities from producing erroneous tension indications. The arm and reference means may mechanically engage one another and the arm may be made separately and attached to the washer. Indications made by the arm are designed to be visually discernable from a distance.

Abstract: An interlocking lock screw and screwdriver which prevents the specially designed screwdriver blade with guide dimples from slipping out of a specially designed screw head with a screwdriver guide channel and guide dimple entry apertures. The screwdriver may be used in any position including sideways and directly overhead. A rotational locking system is provided which allows a user to drive a staple or brad through the screw head locking it in place or a decorative locking cap may be used. A decorative non-locking cap is also provided which is easy to install yet easily stays in place.

Abstract: In a two-piece plastic fastener, initially molded as a unit, one piece is a grommet having a head with a flat front surface and forwardly projecting legs defining a sidewardly and forwardly opening slot; the other piece is a pin receivable through the head and forwardly slidable in the slot to an operative position holding the front ends of the legs flexingly diverged. As molded, a front end portion of the pin is connected with the head by a frangible flashing. A forwardly opening radially extending groove in the front of the head, opening from one side of the slot, defines a substantially flat forwardly facing groove surface that is rearwardly offset from and parallel to the front surface of the head and is flush with the front end surface of the pin. Cooperating ridges on the grommet legs and the pin confine the latter to lengthwise motion between the legs.

Abstract: An expanding means for removable fastening in a cylindrical hole, consisting of an elastic cylinder, which is caused by axial contraction to radially expand and with the outer surface to engage with the cylindrical hole, which cylinder is formed with a plurality of bars, which extend substantially in the axial direction of the cylinder from grooves running in the direction of the bars in the outer surface of the cylinder and radially outwardly outside the outer surface to frictionally grip the inside of the cylindrical hole so that the elastic cylinder is prevented from rotating during contraction.

Abstract: This invention provides improved fatigue life for a fastener having a sleeve associated with a basket and extending through an opening in a workpiece. The sleeve has curved lobes that penetrate the workpiece to prevent rotation, the lobes having inclined leading edges, and inclined abutment surfaces at the inner ends of their roots that compress the displaced material of the workpiece around the entrance to the opening.

Abstract: A torque transmitting mating component for a mating assembly which, during assembly, provides at least one degree of freedom of movement selected from radial, axial and angular movement comprises an outer member, an inner member and torque transmitting elements located between the outer and inner members. The outer member has a chamber extending inwardly from one end thereof which has a polygon-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The inner member is located within the chamber of said outer member and has external side faces which are arranged to provide a polygon-shaped cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the chamber. The inner member is substantially smaller than the opening and the outer member so as to provide a clearance gap between the side walls and the external side faces.

Abstract: Link means for connecting two components comprises a pair of axially spaced bushes each adapted for connection to a respective one of said components and an endless band extending between the bushes. Band has side portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the link means and end portions each disposed around a respective bush. Each end portion is positively secured to the associated bush by wrapping reinforcement material around the end portion and associated bush, preferably in a figure of eight pattern, such that band is capable of transmitting both tension and compression loads between the bushes.

Abstract: A trim cover clip comprising a hollow tube made of a plastic substance, containing in the wall of the hollow tube at least one slit having the shape of three sides of a rectangle and thereby enclosing therein an engaging piece possessing a free end, and having the inner wall of the engaging piece corrugated to form teeth capable of engaging with the thread on the bolt being passed through the inner hole of the hollow tube is improved by having the engaging piece formed aslant inwardly enough for the free end thereof to thrust deeply into the inner wall of the hollow tube.

Abstract: The security device consists of a bolt portion and/or a bolt fastener portion which utilize nuts which do not threadedly engage any other part, but give the impression that they do so and that they are the fastening means. These nuts turn freely as if stripped if an unauthorized person attempts to remove them.

Abstract: A tool driver and fastener that prevents the driver from lifting up off the fastener. The fastener has at least one undercut slot that matches with a blade on the driver to prevent uplift. The driving tool and fastener mate with one another and have respective cross-sectional configurations that can interlock temporarily for allowing a screw or a bolt with a slot or head with a plurality of sides to be driven into or removed from a work place without movement of the driver up off of the fastener. The driver may be a screw driver or wrench with a blade in a plane transversed to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the driver. The fastener may include a main slot in one plane containing the center line of the fastener and a second slot transverse to the first slot and perpendicular to the first slot.

Abstract: A non-slip screw of the type having a threaded shank and a slotted head, including a locking surface defined in the screw head by a central transverse slot which extends across the top of the head for engagement with a screwdriver blade tip. The locking surface includes a pair of radially outwardly extending inclined walls extending downwardly from each end of the transverse slot. An especial screwdriver having its exterior blade tip configured complementally with the pairs of radially outwardly extending inclined walls is engageable with the locking surface, so as to rotate the screw head in either direction. The screw head is characterized by its positive grip with the screwdriver blade tip, notwithstanding actual screwdriving or unscrewing and removal of the screw.

Abstract: A self-tapping screw fastener for driving into a workpiece. The self-tapping screw fastener includes a generally cylindrical shank having an entering end and a trailing end, driving means integrally joined with the trailing end and an external helical thread, integral with the shank and adapted for forming a complimentary thread in the workpiece. The helical thread has a double angle profile which is defined by a base portion having a relatively large included angle and a crest portion having a relatively small included angle.

Abstract: A quick action tensioning nut of the type used to fasten a vehicle wheel on the mounting shaft or axle of a wheel balancing machine. The quick action tensioning nut has at least one pre-tensioned, somewhat semi-circular and radially movable thread segment which is mounted rotatably in the body of the nut. The thread segment is rotatable around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the mounting shaft, and the axis of rotation for the thread segment penetrates the fixed end of the thread segment. The nut also has a thread segment locking mechanism that locks the thread segment in a tightened state on the shaft. In order to release the thread segment from the tightened state, the end of the thread segment opposite the fixed end has a recess into which a thrust member can penetrate to rotate the thread segment away from locking engagement with the mounting shaft. The thread segment is constantly urged to rotate radially inwardly toward the mounting shaft by means of a spring.

Abstract: A two piece fastener includes a pin member having a head and a shank portion having a plurality of grooves thereon, as well as a tubular membered swaged into locking engagement with a predetermined number of the grooves by means of a tool having a swaging anvil. A number of the grooves are combination locking and breakneck grooves defined by first and second radially outwardly diverging sidewalls, the juncture of the sidewalls at each of the grooves including a concave radius portion interconnecting the radially inner ends of the first and second sidewalls, a number of the grooves being located approximate the outer end of the tubular member for receiving the material of the tubular member as it is swaged. The first and second sidewalls are angulated so as to provide a relative force between the sidewalls in the selected ones of the grooves.

Abstract: A tack system having at least two tack elements, each tack element including a body having upper and lower opposing faces, and a plurality of pins extending through the body and positioned in a predetermined pattern. Each pin includes a spike portion protruding from the lower face and a shank portion having a bore defining a hole for receiving a spike portion of another tack element. A first tack element may be mounted on a bulletin board or the like to attach a sheet of material thereto, and a second tack element attached to the first tack element in stacked relation to hold a sheet of material therebetween by inserting the spike portions of the second tack element into the bores of the first tack element. In order to secure the tack elements in stacked relation, the spike portions include serrations to grip the bores of associated tack elements.

Abstract: A fastener for the protection of vehicle wheels, including a skirt member which fits around the wheel lug nut and a retainer member which is threaded onto the exposed end of the lug and overlies a part of the skirt member. The retainer member is recessed into the skirt member and includes a socket part which strips upon tightening to prevent removal of the retainer member from the lug.

Abstract: A decoupling device is used for the purpose of establishing a selective connection between two rods, especially two gearshift rods disposed between the transmission and gearshift lever of a motor vehicle. This device permits forward and backward movement of the decoupled gearshift rod after the transmission has been shifted into a gear and reduces the noise and vibrations transmitted from the transmission to the gearshift linkage and the body. The decoupling device, which is particularly adapted for installation into the tubular casing surrounding the gearshift linkage, includes a spring-biased, pivotally mounted latch, which establishes the selective connection between the ends of the gearshift rods. The latch is attached to the end of the one gearshift rod and cooperates with a drive pin or a second latch disposed on the end of the other gearshift rod. Either a form-locking connection or a force-locking connection between the gearshift rod can be employed.

Abstract: A fastening nut, which by virtue of precisely located laser cuts and the application of predetermined torque to a grip member, is enabled to break into several parts, one of which can be used as a jam nut. The nut is provided with an internally threaded sleeve, a grip member and interconnecting means, the latter of which may be provided with one or more shear areas by virtue of a series of laser cuts. At a predetermined torque on the grip member, the sleeve is sheared from the interconnecting means and grip member and, as a second embodiment, the interconnecting means may be provided with internal fastening threads so that further torquing of the grip member drives such interconnecting means into the sleeve and thereafter a second shear separation is effected to remove the grip member from the jam nut.