Patents Examined by Flemming Saether
  • Patent number: 11608849
    Abstract: A grommet removal assembly includes a grommet and a grommet removal tool. The grommet includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, a plurality of arms extending from the body, the plurality of arms defining first engagement ramps, and a plurality of legs extending from the body. The grommet removal tool includes a shaft and a plurality of wings extending from the shaft and defining a plurality of second engagement ramps. The first engagement ramps of the wings are capable of engagement with the second engagement ramps along the plurality of arms to draw the arms inward, toward the longitudinal axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Liebelt
  • Patent number: 11603050
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fastener comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is connected to the second side thereby forming a U-shaped structure. The fastener further comprises a bottom portion wherein the first side and the second side are connected, and a top portion opposite the bottom portion. The first side comprises a first engagement spring. The first engagement spring is connected to the first side in the vicinity of the bottom portion. The engagement springs have inward facing gussets connected to the bottom portion. The second side comprises a second engagement spring. The second engagement spring is connected to the second side in the vicinity of the bottom portion. A cavity is formed between the first side and the second side as will be described below. The engagement springs include an engagement region operable to adapt to variations or movement of a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Termax Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Dickinson, Michael Walter Smith
  • Patent number: 11597043
    Abstract: A bolt tensioning assembly has a bolt with a first end portion and a second end portion at an opposite side of the bolt. The first end portion has an enlarged diameter to form a counter-pressure surface facing the second end portion. The first end portion has external threads to receive a lock nut. A hydraulic bolt tensioning device is for tensioning of the bolt. The hydraulic bolt tensioning device is arranged for enclosing a portion of the bolt such that it abuts the counter pressure surface. A lock nut is arranged on the first end portion of the bolt. The hydraulic bolt tensioning device and lock nut are dimensioned such that upon tightening of the lock nut, the lock nut will tighten against a portion of the hydraulic bolt tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Designbanken AS
    Inventor: Espen Møller
  • Patent number: 11592054
    Abstract: A bolt includes a shank having a first end, a second end, a first external thread proximate to the first end, and a second external thread proximate to the second end. The first external thread twists in a first direction, the second external thread twists in a second direction, and the first direction is different from the second direction. The first external thread includes a minor diameter, the second external thread includes a major diameter, and the minor diameter of the first external thread is greater than the major diameter of the second external thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Zoltan A. Kemeny
  • Patent number: 11592052
    Abstract: An example pivot nut assembly includes a pivot body and a nut. The nut is pivotably engaged in the pivot body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Mark O. Lepper
  • Patent number: 11592044
    Abstract: A device for compensating of tolerances between a first component and a second component is described. The device may have an elastic centering arrangement which is provided for centering the device in a nominal position on the first component, which may be formed for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Radanovic, Pavel Vrsecky
  • Patent number: 11592053
    Abstract: A blind fastener may include a bolt. The bolt includes a head, a shank coupled to the head, and a number of external threads formed on the shank. The blind fastener may also include a mount coupled to the bolt, and a fastening block coupled to the mount. The mount may include a body, at least one arm extending from the body, and at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the arm about which the fastening block pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rooftop Anchor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kynan Wynne, Joshua P. Adam, Braxton T. Schindler
  • Patent number: 11578748
    Abstract: This fastener assembly includes a body, an elongated member and a split wedge. The body defines a cavity that converges. An access opening at a small end provides access to the cavity. The member has a circumferential external profile at one end. The split wedge has two or more wedge segments with a flexible hinge connecting each of the wedge segments. Each of the wedge segments has an internal profile. The member is inserted through the access opening into the cavity of the body, the wedge segments of the split wedge are positioned circumferentially around the member and then the split wedge is wedged in the cavity to maintain the external profile of the member engaged with the internal profile of the wedge segments of the split wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: James Anthony Davidson, Paul Anthony Davidson
  • Patent number: 11572911
    Abstract: An expansion anchor is provided, which is fixable in a borehole, including an expansion sleeve for anchoring on a wall of the borehole and including an anchor bolt which is guided through the expansion sleeve and which has an expansion area for expanding the expansion sleeve, the expansion sleeve having a first annular groove on its outside, which extends up to the front end face of the expansion sleeve facing the expansion area. According to the invention, it is provided that the expansion sleeve has a second annular groove on its outside, and that an annular connection piece is situated between the first annular groove and the second annual groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Gstach, Bernhard Winkler, Patrick Scholz, Matteo Spampatti, Michael Sproewitz
  • Patent number: 11572908
    Abstract: A captive fastener including a bushing having a body portion and an internal bore extending through the body portion A snap ring is mounted within the internal bore. A fastener having an elongated shaft is mounted within the bore and is adapted to reciprocate within the bore between retracted and extended positions. The elongated shaft has a shank diameter and threads formed on one end of the fastener. The snap ring engages the bolt when the shaft is extended and retracted. The fastener has a shank diameter which is 0.020 inches to 0.060 inches shorter than the bore diameter so that the fastener can be moved laterally within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: HARCOURT INDUSTRIAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Beardmore, Kyle Beardmore
  • Patent number: 11572914
    Abstract: A screw includes a threaded shank and a head with a first surface. Communicating sockets formed in the first surface include a Pozi-type socket and a drive socket. The drive socket includes rounded portions, arched portions alternating with the rounded portions, and a conical portion connected to the rounded portions and the arched portions to define a first reference line and a second reference line parallel to a central axis of the head. The rounded portions are inclined outwardly from the first reference line, and the arched portions are inclined outwardly from the second reference line. Thus, a first room enclosed by the rounded portions and the arched portions increases gradually towards the first surface. By a combination of the above sockets, the head cooperates with different driving tools for delivering driving force efficiently and is more convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Essence Method Refine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ling-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 11566649
    Abstract: A spacer assembly for spaceably coupling a first and second component with a threaded connection bolt, each one of the first and second component provided with one or more fitting apertures. The spacer assembly includes a support member, a base member, and a spacer member having resilient friction elements configured to provide an interference fit engagement with a predetermined friction force with a threaded connection bolt, during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Riccardo Gagliardi, Fulvio Pacifico Yon
  • Patent number: 11566653
    Abstract: A footman loop clip includes a body and a bend formed in the body such that an end of the body is inboard of the bend, the body having an aperture. A pin passes through the aperture and has a pin head on one end, and a pull feature on the other end. A spring biases the pull feature toward the body. The pull feature is biased toward the body and when the pull feature is pulled a gap is formed and increased between the pin head and the end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Networks Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Ross
  • Patent number: 11566652
    Abstract: A fastening clip assembly is configured to secure to a component, and may include four retaining legs that are configured to directly contact portions of the component to provide four points of contact with the component, and a central pedestal including a central beam and two angled retaining beams extending from the central beam. The two angled retaining beams are configured to exert a triangular retaining force into the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Steltz
  • Patent number: 11566647
    Abstract: An acousto-optic device may include an acousto-optic component carried by a chassis, and a fastener assembly for removably securing a cover to the chassis. The fastener assembly may include a base sleeve having an enlarged head, and a tubular body and extending through a cover passageway. The fastener assembly may include a retainer sleeve having a threaded interior secured to the threaded exterior of the base sleeve to define an anchor member, the anchor member having a threaded interior. The fastener assembly may further include a fastener, a shaft having a threaded exterior opposite the enlarged head and to be threaded through the threaded interior of the anchor member to capture the fastener to the cover and movable through the chassis passageway for removably securing the cover to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Corey, Carrigan L. Braun
  • Patent number: 11549539
    Abstract: A reduced ring groove rivet at least includes a pin having a head and a body connected to the head; a plurality of sets of ring grooves are equidistantly arranged on the body, and each of the sets of ring grooves includes a first ring groove and a second ring groove adjacent to the first ring groove, wherein the first ring groove has a first groove bottom and a first groove peak adjacent to the first groove bottom, and the second ring groove has a second groove bottom and a second groove peak adjacent to the second groove bottom; a diameter of the second groove bottom is smaller than a diameter of the first groove bottom, or a diameter of the second groove peak is smaller than that of the first groove peak, so that any of the plurality of sets of ring grooves can be breaking part during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Rodex Fasteners Corp., Goebel Innovative Entrepreneurial Company
    Inventors: Wen-Pin Chen, Domingo Jr. Magora Saquing
  • Patent number: 11549546
    Abstract: A nut for joining fluid conduits in a joint assembly includes a nut body having an inner body surface forming a through-bore, for supporting a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. Internal threads upon the inner body surface advance in a helical path around a nut center axis between a thread origin, and a thread terminus that is located between first and second axial end faces of the nut body. At least one of the thread terminus and the thread origin is located within an increased thickness region formed by a varied radial thickness of the nut. The nut has a reduced risk of cracking in service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Riedel, Jr., Peter Allan Manos
  • Patent number: 11542977
    Abstract: A self-locking pin having a shaft, a headed end, and plunger biased in a bore in the pin. The portion of the detent or plunger that extends outwardly from the bore may be wedge-shaped, or possess other geometrical shapes, while the portion of the plunger disposed inside the bore is of a cylindrical shape or other geometrical shapes. The plunger comprises a plunger section and a biasing section in a unitary one-piece construction. At least one transition ledge is defined on the plunger. The shaft is staked at points along the perimeter of the bore so that the inwardly extending surface created by the staking abuts the transition ledge and prevents the plunger from rotating or being removed from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PIVOT POINT INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Roman J Baus
  • Patent number: 11519446
    Abstract: A fastener or grommet is configured to securely clamp together one or more components. The fastener includes a body having a longitudinal axis and at least one wall. The body further includes two arms extending from the body on opposite sides at a flexure joint. Each of the arms includes a feedback feature that causes hesitation in the fastener during installation. The feedback feature further comprises an arched profile that extends the entire width of each of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Liebelt, Jason Zander
  • Patent number: 11519452
    Abstract: A fastener including a bolt having an elongated shank having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a threaded portion having an external bolt thread, the bolt thread including a bolt pitch. The fastener includes a nut having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the nut, and an internal nut thread extending between the first and second ends of the nut and adapted to engage threadedly the bolt thread of the bolt. The nut thread includes a nut pitch and a hardness that changes gradationally between the first and second ends of the nut. The bolt pitch of the bolt thread of the bolt is mismatched with the nut pitch of the nut thread of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Donald C. Busby, Richard Franklin, James L. Wollard