Abstract: A orthopedic support unit fastener composed of a female portion which is molded directly as part of an orthopedic support component such as a sternum brace and has reinforcing ridges extending between an outer ring and a central receptacle which receives a male portion.

Abstract: A fastener for holding panels together includes a grommet for engaging a first panel, a stud received in the grommet, and a receptacle for securement to a second panel, wherein the receptacle includes a body having an internally threaded bore, an externally threaded barrel member in engagement with the threads of the bore, curved slots in the barrel member for receiving a cross pin of the stud, and a mechanical arrangement for selectively locking the barrel member from movement relative to the body. The grommet can include diametrically opposed slots having open ends extending through an end of the grommet for receiving the cross pin of the stud. The mechanical arrangement can comprise slots on the barrel member and the receptacle body which are registrable with one another and a locking clip secured to the receptacle body, the locking clip comprising an annular portion biasing a fixing member into the registered slots.

Abstract: A continuous impact-driven fastener pack made of ultra-high strength plastic composite materials, for example, thermoplastic or thermoset materials for use in standard impact driving fastener machines. The individual fasteners have sufficient compressive strength and a flexural modulus such that the fastener may be used with commodity woods for construction, furniture making, or for building boats. Further, this fastener pack is non-corrodible and provides plastic fasteners having a length/diameter ratios of a working nail or staple, e.g., heretofore unavailable.

Abstract: A screw or tap for forming or cutting threads in a workpiece. The screw includes a cylindrical shank directed along a longitudinal axis. The shank includes a work holding portion having a plurality of helical threads of a constant crest diameter, a constant root diameter, a constant pitch diameter, and circular cross-section. The shank also has a lead portion having at least a portion of a helical thread. Intermediate the work holding portion and the lead portion is a forming portion. The forming portion has at least one full thread located thereon having a crest diameter which is greater than the crest diameter of the plurality of helical threads on the holding portion, a root diameter which is larger than the root diameter of the plurality of helical threads on the holding portion, and a pitch diameter which is proportionally greater than the pitch diameter of the holding portion.

Abstract: A plate-like washer of generally annular shape and a method of using the washer for pre-tensioning. The washer is adapted to be placed between a fastening element, used to attach two pieces to form a coupling, and a piece to be fastened. The washer is manufactured from a shape-memory metal whose upper transformation temperature is higher than the highest use and assembly temperature of the coupling. The thickness of the washer is adapted in view of the length and pre-tensioning need of the fastening element, as well as the expansion of the washer at the upper transformation temperature. The washer is actively heated to its upper transformation temperature and undergoes a phase transformation which expands the washer and pre-tensions the coupling to the desired degree.

Abstract: A device for anchoring a threaded fastener in a drywall or blind hole is molded in one flat piece having two half cylinders joined by a thin frangible hinge. Each half-cylinder carries half of a threaded bore divided axially. When folded together the two half-cylinders form a cylindrical headed anchor with a continuously threaded passage extended part way to the hinge. A threaded fastener advances readily down the bore until the unthreaded portion is reached. The fastener, as it advances in that portion, forces the halves apart, rupturing the hinge and anchoring the device.

Abstract: A vacuum compatible fastener useful for fastening a workpiece. The fastener has a head section at an upper end of the fastener of a first diameter. A shank section extends from the head section and includes a spring or spring-like element which allows the fastener to be stretched and pretensioned. The shank section has a diameter less than the diameter of the head section. A tip section at a lower end of the fastener extends from the shank section. The tip section includes one or more retractable elements having upper ends extending radially outward away from the tip section in the non-retracted state for gripping a sidewall of a workpiece receiving hole. An opening extends along the central axis of the fastener through the head section to the tip section. The fastener minimizes contamination and allows high pumpdown rates in vacuum processing tools such as semiconductor manufacturing process tools.

Abstract: A fastener including a fastener body having a drive configuration thereon, and a separate security cap mounted on the drive configuration by an interconnecting structure which can be a snap ring or a flexible spring ring. A security cap which is mountable on a drive configuration of a fastener including a body, a socket in the body, and an interconnecting member such as a snap ring or a spring ring mounted in a groove in the wall of the socket.

Abstract: A bushing adapted to be secured within a circular aperture of a structural channel support member has a head, and a shank portion having an external male machine thread. A centered bore having an internal machine thread penetrates the head and shank portion. The head has a flat inside shoulder adapted to abut against the channel member.

Abstract: A strip includes a number of triangular holes each formed by a triangular peripheral wall for engaging with fasteners and for decreasing the contact area between the strip and the fasteners. The triangular peripheral walls each includes three surfaces each having a slit for increasing the resilience of the triangular peripheral walls and for allowing the triangular peripheral walls to resiliently supporting the fasteners in place and for allowing the fasteners to be easily disengaged from the strip when the fasteners are punched relative to the strip.

Abstract: A male coupling with movable threaded segments, consisting of a shaft, a sleeve mounted to move along the shaft, a plurality of threaded segments surrounding the shaft and mounted to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the shaft to effectively vary the outer diameter of the assembled threaded segments, the sleeve and threaded segments including surfaces adjoining each other such that movement of the sleeve in one direction causes the threaded segments to move inwardly toward the shaft, and a spring resiliently urging the threaded segments outward.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, lightweight, compact threaded fastener that has a relatively shortened transition thread rollout zone between the grip of the fastener and the threaded shank of the fastener. This transition zone is shortened due to the fact that the runout (or inner end) of the rolled thread on the fastener extends no more than one-third the circumference of the rolled thread at its pitch diameter. The short runout of the rolled thread does not compromise the strength of the fastener, because the runout does not have a relatively abrupt transition. Instead, the depth of the runout of the rolled thread of the fastener gradually decreases along its length from a depth equal to the uniform depth of the rolled thread throughout the length of the threaded shaft of the fastener to no depth at the very end of the runout. The invention further provides a pair of thread rolling dies for producing such an improved, lightweight, compact threaded fastener.

Abstract: An internally threaded fastener assembled from formed laminae can be inexpensively and efficiently produced from a variety of materials in a multi-staged, die-operated, drawing press. Each lamina has an internal bore with less than one full thread form at the helix plane and is designed to be stacked in an aligned, alternating arrangement to provide full thread rotations along the interior of the assembled fastener.

Abstract: A standard size fastener, such as a nail or screw, is provided with a pointed PVC or similar type material on the fastener tip. The soft end will penetrate wood but not metal materials, such as copper pipe and electrical conduit, when nailing sheathing or sheet rock onto wood framing. The soft front end will squash on impact with metal leaving a rounded blunt shape that will turn or stop when contacting a pipe.

Abstract: The stud retention device has a top end, a base defining a bottom end and two diametrically opposed longitudinal members defining a shank. The shank has a longitudinal passage in which a ribbed stud or externally threaded bolt is insertable. Staggered along the length of the shank are one or more ribs, each rib having a finger projecting inwardly. One or more flexible arms project from the base toward the top end, where the angle between each arm and the shank is 45 degrees. When a stud or bolt is inserted into the passage, arms and fingers engage in the recesses between the ribs of the stud or threads of the bolt, thereby imparting a retention force which prevents retraction of the stud or bolt from the passage. A range of stud diameters and lengths may be coupled with the stud retention device.

Abstract: An assembly unit includes an assembly element having a wall bounding a through hole thereof; and a counterpart back engagement part protruding radially inwardly from the wall and into the through hole. The assembly unit further includes a fastening element to be inserted into the through hole for assuming an initial position and a final assembly position therein, having a head for actuating a fastening of the fastening element; a shaft disposed adjacent the head for resting with radial play in the through hole, the shaft resting entirely in the through hole in the final assembly position of the fastening element; and a back engagement part disposed on the shaft and having a cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft which protrudes beyond a cross section of the shaft in the plane. The shaft defines an undercut region between the head and the back engagement part.

Abstract: Two secateur jaws are jointed together by means of a pin with radial lugs engaging a ring attached to one jaw and extending through a sleeve slidably arranged in the two jaws. Said sleeve encloses a helical return spring between the sleeve and the head of the pin. The head of the sleeve has an external screw thread with a ring screwed thereon for adjusting the tension of the spring. The sleeve may be moved axially by screwing said ring on or off to change the tension of the spring and thus the force exerted by the latter on said jaws, whereby the engagement pressure therebetween also changes.

Abstract: In a fastener having a head, which may have having torque-absorbing ribs, and a shank, which is unitary with the head and which has a primary thread formation and a secondary thread formation. The primary thread formation, which defines axially spaced threads along a generally cylindrical portion of the shank and along a tapered tip of the shank, has a generally uniform radial dimension along the generally cylindrical portion of the shank. The secondary thread formation, which defines axially spaced threads between some of the threads defined by the primary thread formation, originates at a region spaced axially from the distal end of the generally cylindrical portion of the shank, terminates at the head, and tapers outwardly from the region where it originates toward the head. The secondary thread formation at the region adjoining the head has a radial dimension less than the generally uniform radial dimension of the primary thread formation along the generally cylindrical portion of the shank.

Abstract: A nut (30) carried by a nut holder (11) is inserted into a dovetail groove (46) in a profile frame (45) to connect another profile frame or a mechanical component to the profile frame (45). The nut holder (11) has clamping portions (19A, 19B) at both longitudinal ends that extend in one direction at approximately right angles to a bottom member. Coupling projections (23) or recesses are formed on the inner sides of the clamping portions (19A, 19B). Elastically deformable portions (13) project from the sides of the bottom member. Abutments (34) are formed at both ends of the nut (30). When the nut (30) is coupled to the nut holder (11), the coupling projections (23) are engaged with the coupling recesses (34) to maintain the coupled state. When the nut (30) coupled to the nut holder (11) is inserted into the dovetail groove (46), the nut is maintained at a predetermined position in the groove by frictional force due to resilient force from the elastically deformable portions (13).

Abstract: A device for fastening an insulation element to a constructional component and including a large-surface head (1); a hollow shank (2) projecting from the head (1) and having an inner space which is freely accessible from an opening (15) provided in the head (1), for receiving a fastening member (3), and a lid supported on the head and pivotable about an articulation axis (16, 17) located outside of the opening (15), for closing the opening with the lid engaging, in its closed position, a projection extending from a head surface extending parallel to a cross-sectional surface of the hollow shank (2).