Patents Examined by Gary Estremsky
  • Screw method for forming a screw thread
    Patent number: 8899898
    Abstract: In the case of a screw having at least one thread (26) that is formed by a rolling process, especially a flat-die rolling process, whereby the thread (26) consists of two ridges of material (28a, 28b) which are shaped from a blank (12) by means of cold-forming during the rolling process in such a way that the thread has a closing crease (32) where the ridges of material (28a, 28b) meet each other, it is provided that the closing crease (32) is situated in the area of a flank (30a, 30b) of the thread (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Falk Rosenkranz, Corinna Achleitner
  • Fastener with display receptacle
    Patent number: 8894337
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a fastener with an arrangement on the head of the fastener for receiving a medallion, coin or other flat commemorative or decorative item. A threaded stud is secured to a cap which includes a receptacle on a rear surface, complimentary to the head of the stud, and a display pocket on a forward or outer surface for receiving the medallion or coin. The receptacle on the rear side of the cap includes an upstanding rim or lip having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the head of the stud. In the disclosed embodiments, the cap is secured to the stud by swaging or deforming the rim against the head of the stud to rigidly and permanently attach the cap to the stud, forming a fastener with an enlarged head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Custom Metal Crafters, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Bourget, Romeo Carrier
  • Slider locknut
    Patent number: 8894335
    Abstract: A locknut (12) has an L-shaped slider (18) formed of a washer-like piece (19) held above a nut (13) by a contiguous spring element (20) spot-welded to the nut. The spring causes the washer to press against a bolt (33) or stud with locking torque when the locknut is secured thereon, and to rest away from the nut when not adjacent a bolt or stud. While the locknut is being tightened or loosened, a wrench (29) forces the spring against the nut so the washer surrounds a bolt or stud without contacting it. A skirt (43), of straight or downwardly-curved cantilevers (46, 46a) may be disposed on an annulus secured to a surface of the nut opposite the washer, for additional locking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Bourdoulous
  • Antitheft locking device
    Patent number: 8888430
    Abstract: An antitheft locking device (11), in particular for fixing a wheel to a motor vehicle hub, made in form of a nut or bolt, comprising a body (13) provided with engagement means (21) for a complementary key by means of which it is possible to rotate said device, and an associated bushing (19) freely rotatable around said body (13), in which at least a radial seat (25) is provided for at least a retaining element (23) capable of preventing the axial withdrawal of the bushing (19) from the body (13), said seat being obtained partially in the body (13) of the device and partially in the bushing (19), wherein said seat (25) has a depth varying along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Lazzaro Groppo
  • Functional element for attachment to a plastic component and a component assembly
    Patent number: 8888426
    Abstract: A functional element of metal having a flange of larger diameter from an attachment surface and a centering section arranged inside the attachment surface and extending away from the flange, characterized in that an adhesive is arranged around the cylindrical section and adjacent to the attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert
  • Fastener coating formulation
    Patent number: 8882426
    Abstract: A coated fastener has a tip and a coating on the fastener, at least at the tip. The coating is formulated from a solvent-borne resin. The fastener includes one or both of a solids based additive in the solvent-borne acrylic resin and an overcoat on the solvent-borne acrylic resin. A strip of collated fasteners with the coating is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Horst, Jyi-Jiin Luo, Wen-Feng Liu, Daniel V. Chin, Daniel P. Birr
  • Tire puncture repair tool
    Patent number: 8882420
    Abstract: A tire puncture repair apparatus may include a handle, a puncture repair screw, and an integral neck between the handle and the puncture repair screw. The puncture repair screw may include a screw head, a cylindrical shaft extending from the screw head opposite the neck, a partially threaded and solid cone that uniformly narrows from the shaft to a tip opposite the shaft, and a conic-helical thread coiled about the cone between the tip and the shaft. The diameter of the shaft may be approximately equal to the diameter of the cone at the widest point of the cone. The thread on the cone may include an angled ridge and may be coiled around the cone from the intersection of the shaft and the cone to before tip of the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Kwai Kong, Patrick L. Ohm, Silas Veloz, Randy Lee
  • Screw fall preventing structure
    Patent number: 8882424
    Abstract: A screw fall preventing structure prevents a screw from falling out of a unit that is attachable to and removable from a main body of an apparatus. The screw is used for fastening the unit to the main body of the apparatus. The screw fall preventing structure includes: a wire piece having a bent portion fitted around the screw to hold the screw axially rotatably; and a fixing member fixing the wire piece to the unit. When the unit is not fastening by the screw, the screw is elastically supported via the wire piece on the fixing member and the elasticity is given by a portion of the wire between a portion fixed by the fixing member and the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Naruse
  • Lightning-resistant fastener and mounting structure of lightning-resistant fastener
    Patent number: 8882423
    Abstract: To provide a lightning-resistant fastener capable of assuring a sufficient lightning-resistant performance. A cap 30A has an elastically deformable part 50 continuous in the circumferential direction thereof. The elastically deformable part 50 has a smaller thickness than the other parts of the cap 30A in a circumferentially continuous area thereof. Since the cap 30A has the elastically deformable part 50, even if a surface 22b of a member 22 is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of a fastener main body 25, the cap 30A can be installed without forming a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Watanabe
  • Fastening structure for part and clip used therein
    Patent number: 8882421
    Abstract: A fastening member has a head part, a shaft part, a thinly formed flange extending in a straight shape from an outer perimeter of the head part, and a coupling device (for example, head part of a grommet). A part has a through-hole, and a wall part positioned on an outer perimeter of the through hole and extending toward the direction of insertion of the shaft part. A base has an installation hole allowing insertion of the shaft part. When the base and the part are bound by insertion of the shaft part, the flange is pressed against the wall part and becomes in a bent-back state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Sasaki
  • Thread load distribution
    Patent number: 8882425
    Abstract: A fastener arrangement includes a threaded member having threads extending from a first end to a second end. The threads have a thread contour provided by a load and clearance flank surfaces joined to one another by a crest and root. For the external threaded member the crest provides a crest diameter, and a root provides a root diameter and is arranged between adjoining threads. At least one thread near the first end has a weakened thread contour that decreases rigidity of the one thread compared to other threads, enabling axial loads to be distributed more evenly between the threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Benjamin, Kaliya Balamurugan, Daniel R. Kapszukiewicz
  • Plug with fixing element and sleeve
    Patent number: 8876449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device for anchoring in a building material, comprising a fixing element with an axial conical anchoring region and a fixing region and a radially flexible clamping sleeve which may be clamped between the anchoring region and the building material. The invention further relates to a method for anchoring the fixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brunson Instrument Company
    Inventor: Dietmar Heimer
  • Riveting assembly
    Patent number: 8870505
    Abstract: A riveting assembly includes a base plate and a stud. The base plate has a first surface, a second surface, and a riveting hole. The riveting hole is communicated with the first surface and the second surface and has at least one notch. The stud includes a main body and a riveting structure. The main body abuts against the second surface and covers the riveting hole. The riveting structure is connected to the main body. The riveting structure protrudes out from the riveting hole to abut against the first surface and to be engaged with the notch. A portion of the base plate is clamped between the main body and the riveting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Cheng Tsai
  • Functional element for the attachment to a sheet metal part, component assembly manufactured from these and also a method for the attachment of the functional element to a sheet metal part
    Patent number: 8864429
    Abstract: A functional element (10), for fixing to a piece of sheet metal (40), such as for example, a nut element or a bolt element with a body section or head section, comprising an annular flange (14) which transforms into a cylindrical rivet section, is characterized in that the transformation from annular flange into the rivet section is formed by an at least essentially conical surface, forming a contact surface for a corresponding conical region of a piece of sheet metal, which, on fixing the functional element to a piece of sheet metal, is clamped between the side of the annular flange facing the rivet section and an annular bead (50) formed from the rivet section. An assembled component and a method for the fixing of a functional element are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jiri Babej, Wolfgang Hoessrich
  • Screw capable of rapidly drilling and cutting
    Patent number: 8864431
    Abstract: A screw capable of drilling and cutting includes two inclined cutting planes with a cutting edge formed on a convergence of the cutting planes. A tapered positioning member extends from the convergence of the cutting planes, where the cutting edge is divided into dual sub cutting edges by means of the positioning member. Each sub cutting edge has an inclined angle. An included angle included by the sub cutting edges is smaller than 180 degrees. Threads spiral on a shank and extend to the sub cutting edges. Setting the positioning member against on an object permits a steady performance during the first stage of screwing. Subsequently, the sub cutting edges provides a scraping effect on the object during drilling. Torque is reduced and drilling speed is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Shan Yin International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou-Tsair Su, Yu-Jung Su
  • Insulated support for electric conductors, finger grip, and method of making same
    Patent number: 8858146
    Abstract: A manufacturing method and device for supporting conductors. Using a non-metallic insulating material extending beyond the inside of one or both parallel legs of a staple the thumb and forefinger may grip this extension while the staple is being driven into a supporting structure. This finger grip allows for a small, insulated staple to be held with increased safety to thumb and forefinger during penetration of staple into support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventors: Dale Derrig, Jeffrey Roy
  • Self-piercing rivet
    Patent number: 8858147
    Abstract: A self-piercing rivet is disclosed. The self-piercing rivet integrally joins an upper plate member and a lower plate member overlapping each other. The self-piercing rivet includes a head portion, a shank portion integrally connected with the head portion, a plurality of ribs formed to an external circumferential surface of the shank portion along a length direction of the shank portion in a spiral form, and at least one stopper protrusion protruded from a lower portion of the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Yong Lee, Byung-Jun Park
  • Self-piercing rivet
    Patent number: 8851814
    Abstract: A self-piercing rivet is disclosed. The self-piercing rivet integrally joins an upper plate member and a lower plate member overlapping each other. The self-piercing rivet includes a head portion, a shank portion integrally connected with the head portion, and a plurality of ribs formed to an external circumferential surface of the shank portion along a length direction of the shank portion in a spiral form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Yong Lee, Byung-Jun Park
  • Self-piercing rivet
    Patent number: 8851815
    Abstract: A self-piercing rivet is disclosed. The self-piercing rivet integrally joins an upper plate member and a lower plate member overlapping each other. The self-piercing rivet includes a head portion, a shank portion integrally connected with the head portion and a plurality of ribs formed to an external circumferential surface of the shank portion along a length direction of the shank portion in a spiral form, wherein a drive slot is formed to upper portion of the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Yong Lee, Byung-Jun Park
  • Fastening devices, assemblies and related methods
    Patent number: 8845251
    Abstract: Fastening devices are disclosed herein with variations on how said devices resist loosening or un-fastening from a structure or structures. In some examples, the fastening devices accomplish the removal resistant condition by using a spring component engaging ridged surfaces. The spring component generally consists of a spring ring conveniently coiled to a canting position. One exemplary design is characterized by incorporating a screw element with its head underside surface being ridged and a lock element with a ridged topside surface and engaging the two ridges surfaces. Another exemplary design is characterized by a screw element having a head outer sidewall being ridged for cooperating with a bore having a ridged inner sidewall. The bore can be part of a first body or structure or a lock element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Changsrivong, Hugh Cook