Patents Examined by Gary W. Estremsky
  • Patent number: 11078948
    Abstract: A fastener boss includes a body having a receiving column. The receiving column includes a first section with a first wall thickness and a second section with a second wall thickness wherein the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness. A motor vehicle component incorporating the fastener boss is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Santiago Yepes Gallo, Bhavani S. Thota, Linh Ngoc Doan, Ryan Mowery
  • Patent number: 11078950
    Abstract: A biasing system for use with a fastener is disclosed. The biasing system can include a sleeve configured to be disposed about a shank of a fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path between the fastener and a component coupled to the fastener to preload the fastener through the sleeve. The biasing system can also include a spring configured to be associated with the sleeve and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jacob L. Wymore, Ross Warlick, Eric Klasen
  • Patent number: 11060551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a snap alignment guard for a nut plate ring. The alignment guard includes a curved elongated body comprising an inner surface and an outer surface. The alignment guard further includes a plurality of couplings extending from the inner surface. Each of the plurality of couplings are configured to engage a nut plate ring to attach the alignment guard to the nut plate ring. The elongated body forms a plurality of apertures defined in the outer surface. Each of the plurality of apertures are configured to receive at least a portion of a nut plate to maintain a circumferential position of the nut plate relative to an inner surface of the nut plate ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11059188
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a fastener suitable for industrial tasks. Some embodiments include a sealing surface sized so that an outer surface of a sealing ring is located at approximately the same diameter as the fastener head, thus reducing ingress risk for foreign contaminants. Further embodiments provide a centering pilot to improve sealing consistency and quality. Some embodiments provide an angled flange on the fastener head to lift tightening tools away from the surface to which the fastener is being applied, and to shed liquids readily. The portion of the head that receives the tightening tools may be relatively small (approximately the same diameter as the fastener's threaded shaft) to reduce the risk of over-torquing. A bearing surface of the fastener may be located below the sealing ring (towards the threaded shaft) to prevent the fastener from marring the unsealed surface to which the fastener is being applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SOFT ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Curhan, Craig Demello, Thomas Womersley, William Gunner
  • Patent number: 11060542
    Abstract: A connecting member, a receiving member, a housing, and a display device are provided. The connecting member includes a columnar body, and a securing member at a first end of the columnar body. The securing member is elastically deformable to detachably connect the connecting member and a receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., K-TRONICS (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jielong Xu, Tao Ni
  • Patent number: 11053969
    Abstract: A deformable insertion fastening arrangement for insertion into a planar ply structure and for retention thereon by subsequent deformation, including a retention component having a passthrough opening passing through it along a passthrough axis and having a fastening configuration for fastening a further component thereonto; the retention component having at least two portions that are radially displaceable relative to the notional passthrough axis that passes centrally through the passthrough opening, the retention component, when considered in its undeformed initial state, is embodied segmentedly in a circumferential direction around the passthrough axis; at least two segments, constituting the radially displaceable portions, being connected to one another by at least one connecting configuration deformable in a circumferential direction; at least one segment being displaceable in a radial direction away from the passthrough axis against a shape inertia force of the at least one connecting configuration, ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jochem Fischer
  • Patent number: 11054032
    Abstract: A hole plug includes a cap and a securing frame. The securing frame extends from the cap. The securing frame includes first and second support legs, first and second connectors, and a lock body. The first connector is engaged with the first support leg. The second connector is engaged with the second support leg. The lock body is engaged with the first and second connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Chlystek, Tao Wang, George Siragusa, Gregory Mamelson
  • Patent number: 11053970
    Abstract: A toggle fixing with two obliquely arranged compression elements which enter into engagement with a screw thread of a screw passed through a screw hole and provide triangular support for the screw. A tension element absorbs compressive forces of the compression elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: fischerwerke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Aaron Daly
  • Patent number: 11047418
    Abstract: A locking apparatus for locking the rotational position of a fastener component which is rotatable about an axis relative to a structure. The locking apparatus includes a rigid locking member having a first end configured to engage with the fastener component such that rotation of the fastener component relative to the first end is substantially prevented, and a second end configured to engage with the structure such that rotation of the locking member relative to the structure is substantially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: William Tulloch, Pat Broomfield
  • Patent number: 11035401
    Abstract: A washer with integrated fluid distribution which includes a body with an outer ring having an aperture located centrally within the ring, a channel enclosed within the outer ring and a release channel exit in fluid communication with the aperture and an interior surface of the channel. The channel is filled with a dispensing fluid and the release channel is reversibly closed. The release channel exit is located within an inner wall of the aperture. The body comprises a compressible material. The release channel exit is opened when pressure is applied to the washer body and the dispensing fluid exits the channel via the opened release channel exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jerome J. Guidish, Douglas Guidish
  • Patent number: 11015636
    Abstract: A nut strip assembly is provided that includes a carrier and a plurality of nuts. The carrier includes a base, a plurality of first tabs and a plurality of second tabs. The base is configured with a plurality of apertures. Each of the first tabs is connected to and project out from a first side of the base. Each of the second tabs is connected to and projects out from a second side of the base. The nuts are secured to the carrier. Each of the nuts are aligned with a respective one of the apertures. Each of the nuts is captured between the base and a respective one of the first tabs. Each of the nuts captured between the base and a respective one of the second tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Russell B. Hanson
  • Patent number: 11015634
    Abstract: A plate member joining structure includes a lower plate that is made of metal, a fitting base portion being formed at an upper surface of the lower plate; an upper plate that is made of metal, that is disposed on the upper surface of the lower plate, and that has a fitting insert portion that is fitted to the fitting base portion so as to form a first gap between a lower surface of the fitting insert portion and a surface of the fitting base portion facing the lower surface of the fitting insert portion; and a screw that, in a state in which the fitting insert portion is fitted to the fitting base portion, is screwed into the fitting insert portion and the fitting base portion, and joins the fitting insert portion and the fitting base portion together in a plate thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Inamori
  • Patent number: 11015637
    Abstract: An improved leveling bolt adapted to be received within an aperture defined by a panel is provided. The leveling bolt includes a threaded shaft, a base, and an obstruction. The base is joined to a first end of the threaded shaft. The obstruction is proximal to a second end of the threaded shaft and is adapted to engage the panel at the aperture during reversal of the threaded shaft from the aperture to prevent full withdrawal of the leveling bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Jason Reznar, William Teller
  • Patent number: 11015638
    Abstract: A captive fastener and method of use is disclosed wherein the screw is comprised of a head and shank, and where the shank includes a radial counter bore that retains a spring biased pin. The spring may bear against a plug in the counter bore or the shank inner wall, and biases the pin outward such that it extends outside of the shank in the absence of a compressive force. The captive screw is inserted through a top panel by tilting the screw at the opening of the panel such that the pin is pushed inward into the channel formed by the counter bore (against the force of the spring). Once the pin is recessed in the screw, the screw is passed through the panel opening until the shank emerges on the other side. Once the shank pushes through the panel, the pin will emerge under the biasing of the spring to extend outward of the shank in the radial direction. The pin thus prevents the screw from disengaging with the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FASTENER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Phan, Simon Ly, William Smyrski, An Tran, Patrick Tran, Yuriy Bern, Larisa Zilber, Jeffrey Hang, Dennis Suedkamp
  • Patent number: 11009058
    Abstract: An anchoring part, comprising: an anchoring rod that has a plurality of side walls, and a plug hole extending along a height direction of the anchoring rod; a head portion that surrounds the anchoring rod and is disposed at an upper end of the anchoring rod; at least one elastic fin that is formed by extending outwardly obliquely from at least one of the sidewalls; wherein the anchoring rod further comprises a plurality of corner portions connecting adjacent sidewalls, the plurality of corner portions being provided with locking notches at the positions adjacent to a lower surface of the head portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Weibin Liu
  • Patent number: 11002303
    Abstract: A fastener-retaining system (100) is configured to securely couple a fastener (102) to a substrate (104). The fastener-retaining system (100) includes a compression-limiting bushing (106) including a tube defining a central passage (132), and a retainer (130) positioned within the central passage. The retainer (130) includes a first portion that securely connects to the bushing, and a second portion that is configured to securely connect to a portion of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Owens, II, Jeremy R. D. Tuttle, Chad M. Clark
  • Patent number: 10995788
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide a fastener system having straight walled driving surfaces that provides a reliable stick fit feature, while also improving stability of engagement between the system components. A feature of the new system is to allow stick fit engagement of existing standard straight walled drivers in the new system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Phillips Screw Company
    Inventor: Gary Dilling
  • Patent number: 10982707
    Abstract: A tie bolt retention assembly includes a retention ring configured to contact a tie bolt head of a tie bolt; a retention washer configured to be disposed between the tie bolt head and a wheel section of a wheel assembly; and a retainer configured to engage with the retention washer; wherein the retention washer and the retainer are configured to secure the retention ring to the tie bolt head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert S. Summers, Alan Michael Bonifas
  • Patent number: 10975903
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system to secure an anchor within a bore hole comprising a drill bit tool to be connected and secured to an improved setting tool head. The system is also comprised of an anchor removably secured to the setting tool head to optimize the setting strength of the anchor. The system is also comprised of bullets having preferred size ranges to further optimize the setting of various anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Cousineau
  • Patent number: 10968945
    Abstract: A lock nut system includes a nut having a retaining member which includes locking teeth configured to engage with the lock nut teeth. The retaining member is rotatable in both a clockwise or counterclockwise direction a preselected distance to allow the locking teeth to mesh with the nut teeth so the lock nut can be locked into position on the shaft without further rotation or other adjustment of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Nicholas Mesiti