Patents Examined by Flemming Saether
  • Patent number: 11821453
    Abstract: A fastener including a first recess and a second recess adjacent the first recess. The first recess includes a side surface defining a shape of the first recess and a stability surface oriented at an angle of greater than 1° and less than or equal to 89° relative to a major axis of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: SHEH FUNG SCREWS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Carl Chasse, Chen Chun-Yen
  • Patent number: 11815123
    Abstract: Presently disclosed is a standoff fastener for use in a compound floor structure. The threaded fastener includes a threaded standoff portion designed to accept a nut which has a diameter larger than a head portion of the standoff fastener. The head portion is located centrally within the fastener in order to reduce a tendency of the fastener to pivot within a driver during the fastening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
  • Patent number: 11815113
    Abstract: A wing nut includes a body having a sidewall that surrounds a central opening. The central opening is threaded along a threaded portion having a threaded length extending from the back end towards the front end of the body. At least two wings are integrated with the sidewall and extend away from the sidewall in a radial direction relative to the centerline. A rib extend peripherally around the sidewall in a radially outward direction such that a wall thickness of the sidewall increases to a maximum value moving along the centerline away from the rear end, and decreases along the centerline moving towards the front end from the maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary A Schramm, Brian G. Tyler
  • Patent number: 11806846
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a fastener head having a dual zone socket area and a mating driver bit according to aspects of the present technology include a fastener configured with driving surfaces adapted to provide enhanced engagement between each other during use. The fastener includes a recessed socket area with a sidewall that has an upper inwardly tapering section and a lower vertical section that extends to the bottom of the recessed socket area. The upper inwardly tapering section of the sidewall may also include an offset relative to the lower vertical section to create asymmetrical driving and removal surfaces. The technology also includes a corresponding mating driver bit configured with mating surfaces to the fastener to provide enhanced engagement between the fastener and mating driver bit. The technology also allows either the fastener or the driving bit to be used with preexisting fasteners and driver bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bryce Fastener Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Bryce Campbell, II
  • Patent number: 11802400
    Abstract: A connector for joining concrete structures such as double tee beams to one another. The connector includes a curved bolt that is formed with a shape memory alloy. Through utilization of the bolt, a joint can be post-tensioned following assembly through application of heat to the joint. Post-tensioning can be reapplied following loosening of the joint through application of heat. When considering a super elastic shape memory alloy, the bolt can be a smart bolt that can self-correct following deformation due to excessive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Paul Ziehl, Rafal Anay
  • Patent number: 11802582
    Abstract: An anchor rod assembly is used for being fastened into synthetic resin mortar and contains an anchor rod with a shall portion, a fastening portion, and a head having a cutting edge, and contains a sleeve-like additional element which surrounds the fastening portion at least in some regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Kuhn
  • Patent number: 11802584
    Abstract: A foreign material exclusion plug is disclosed. The foreign material plug includes a cylindrical body, a slot, and a breakaway tab. The cylindrical body includes an externally-threaded cylindrical structure. The slot is formed in the cylindrical body extending into the cylindrical body from a top surface of the cylindrical body. The breakaway tab is connected to the cylindrical body and extends outwards from the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Cole, Kevin P. Shay, Austin L. Renfro
  • Patent number: 11795985
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improvements to removable fasteners and particularly relates to removable and re-usable fasteners with features that allow them to be gripped and handled positively. The present invention therefore provides a fastening system comprising a fastener and a tool, the tool being suitable for installing and removing the fastener from an aperture in a work-piece, wherein the fastener has a main body and a head at one end, and wherein the head of the fastener and the tool have grip features that allow the fastener to be releasably locked to the tool to prevent separation of the fastener and tool during installation and removal of the fastener. This allows the fastener to be handled positively without fear of the fastener becoming misaligned, or dropping off the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KWIKBOLT LIMITED
    Inventor: Jan Niklewicz
  • Patent number: 11795988
    Abstract: A mounting device for a mounting member is disclosed. The mounting device comprises a first flange configured to be fitted under a mounting surface and a second flange configured to be inserted in the first flange. The second flange has a first section that is configured to provide a second flange orifice for inserting the mounting member, a second section having a plurality of threads for receiving the first flange, a third section having a plurality of threads, and a fourth section having a plurality of threads. A compression nut having an inner surface is configured to pass over the mounting member and tightened on the fourth section of the second flange over the plurality of threads. A ring is configured to be fitted over the mounting member and between the fourth section of the second flange and the compression nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED DESIGN MFG LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Hascall McGrath
  • Patent number: 11781598
    Abstract: A drive system with full surface drive contact. The drive system tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Acument Intellectal Properties, LLC
    Inventor: David C. Goss
  • Patent number: 11781581
    Abstract: A fixing pin having top section and a stem. The stem has an expandable section and a lower element adjacent thereto and the top section comprises a ratchet mechanism. The lower element of the stem is connected to the ratchet mechanism by a flexible connector, such that operation of the ratchet mechanism moves the lower element towards the top section, thereby compressing the expandable section axially and causing it to expand radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ELLSI LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Delaney
  • Patent number: 11781584
    Abstract: A sheet metal nut includes a base having a flat planar surface. The sheet metal nut also has a sleeve that extends below the base and includes an inner surface. The sheet metal nut further includes at least two front flanges and at least one rear flange. The at least two front flanges are positioned on an edge of the base and extend to a position directly above the flat planar surface of the base. The at least one rear flange extends away from a rear surface of the base. The sheet metal nut is configured to securely fasten to a bottom side of a component through a single aperture when the bottom side of the component is restricted or inaccessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton Pitt
  • Patent number: 11781579
    Abstract: A blind bolt extends through a hole which extends through a first and second member. An anchor is disposed on the distal end of a blind bolt shaft, and the anchor has expanded and contracted configurations. An anchor is disposed on the distal end on a shaft and is positioned beyond the distal end of the hole engaging a surface of the second member thereby holding the shaft in the hole. A shear sleeve is disposed on the blind bolt proximate to the distal end of the shaft and has a length sufficient to extend across the second member, across the interface between the first and second members and partially across the first member. A nut is threaded on the threads of the shaft, and a collapsible cylinder is disposed on the blind bolt shaft between the sheer sleeve and nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Allfasteners USA, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Strange, Bruce A. Carmichael
  • Patent number: 11773894
    Abstract: A self-clinching fastener for attachment to a plastically deformable metal panel includes a body portion with a central axis, the body portion has an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. A punch portion is coaxial with the central axis and extends from the body portion such that the annular-shaped surface encircles the punch portion, the punch portion includes an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis. A plurality of spaced apart lugs encircle the punch portion and axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface, one of the lugs has a contact face configured to engage the metal substrate, the contact face declining, relative to an imaginary horizontal plane on which the annular-shaped surface lies, in a radially outwards direction of the self-clinching fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: RB&W MANUFACTURING LLC
    Inventor: Marc Andrew O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11767873
    Abstract: A fastening structure for fastening a to-be-fastened component to a wooden component by using a screw, wherein the wooden component is made of wood having a specific gravity of 0.08 g/cm3 to 0.85 g/cm3 inclusive, the screw has a nominal diameter of 0.8 mm to 3.5 mm inclusive, and the distance between a neutral position in a longitudinal direction of an effective screw part, which is the portion where the wooden component and a male screw part formed in a shaft part of the screw mesh together, and the surface of the wooden component that comes into contact with the to-be-fastened component is 1 mm to 15 mm inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Fujishiro, Ichiro Osuga
  • Patent number: 11767869
    Abstract: An expansible fixing plug, having a sleeve-like portion, an expander body, and an expansion part which has expansion elements which, in a non-expanded state, are integrally joined to the sleeve-like portion and to the expander body. In addition, the expansion part has connecting elements which integrally join the sleeve-like portion and the expander body in the non-expanded state and also in the expanded state. The connecting elements are interlockingly connected to the expander body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: fischerwerke Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrick Pfau
  • Patent number: 11767871
    Abstract: A lockbolt collar having a shank including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a through-bore extending from the first end to the second end, an inner wall extending from the first end to the second end, and a tab extending radially and outwardly from the inner wall, the tab including a top surface having an arcuate shape, the arcuate shape of the tab being sized and shaped to mate with at least one lock groove of a threaded portion of a pin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventor: Stanley E. Wojciechowski
  • Patent number: 11761467
    Abstract: For screw release, an apparatus includes a boss, a screw secured to the boss, and a force release component connected to one of the boss and the screw. The force release component releases a portion of the screw from the boss in response to a specified force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LENOVO (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Bouziane Yebka, Tin-Lup Wong, Philip Jakes
  • Patent number: 11754103
    Abstract: A tolerance compensation arrangement for fastening first and second components with compensation of tolerances between the components. The arrangement comprises a base element having a first element with a first inner thread, a second element with a second inner thread, a supporting element arranged in between, and an adjustment unit with a threaded sleeve with an outer thread and a dragging unit at least partially arranged in the sleeve. The outer thread forms a first thread pairing of a first thread direction with the first inner thread. A fastening screw, can be screwed into the second inner thread via a second thread pairing of a second thread direction opposite to the first thread direction. The fastening screw can be connected to the adjustment unit via the dragging unit so that, during the rotation of the fastening screw, the adjustment unit co-rotates and is moved into abutment with the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Figge, Wolfgang Hesse, Thorsten Stallmann
  • Patent number: 11746819
    Abstract: A multifunction drill bit includes an outer shank including an outer lock head, an outer shank body, and an axial hole wherein spiral grooves are on the outer shank body; from a joining portion of the outer shank body and the outer lock head to the outer lock head, a threaded section, a deformable section, and a guide section are provided; each of the threaded and deformable sections include first external threads; the deformable section has outer curved grooves; a deformable concave surface is on an inner surface of the deformable section; and first internal threads are on the guide section; and an inner shank in the axial hole and including a top socket, an inner lock head, and an inner shank body. Second external threads are on an inner surface of the guide section corresponding to the first internal threads. A tip of the drill bit is replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Yu-Ju Lin