Abstract: The present invention is a self-piercing rivet wherein the hollow shell has an external spiraling, wherein the spiraling is with respect to the axis of rotation of the hollow shell. Once installed in a stack of sheets, the spiraling prevents the riveted sheets from mutually separating and the rivet loosening with respect to the sheets.

Abstract: A screw-and-nut assembly comprising a support secured to the nut, which support is provided with a surface in contact with the thread of the screw, and an electrical sensing member responsive to mechanical interaction with the thread of the screw, the sensing member being placed in the support close to said surface to come into interaction with the thread of the screw in the event of said surface wearing, wherein the support and the nut are constituted by the same block of material, the sensing member thus being placed inside the nut.

Abstract: A one-piece flag nut having a flag portion protruding perpendicularly to the axis of a nut portion thereof such that during installation, as the flag nut rotates, the flag portion catches on any nearby structure and acts as a wrench during the installation process. The one-piece flag nut is formed by an extrusion process, and preferably formed to have ribs provided on the flag portion thereof which provide strength to the flag nut. The outer edges of the flag portion are preferably rolled to prevent the flag portion from being hung up on the structure during the installation process, thus preventing the flag nut from being properly seated.

Abstract: A retention structure includes a retainer housing for retaining an object, such as a fastener, commonly used to secure trim panel to an inner vehicle panel. The retainer housing is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a back wall, and a base. The first sidewall, the second sidewall and the back wall extend from a substrate to the base. The base includes an insertion slot and a retention portion for retaining the fastener. The retention portion includes at least one cutout for increasing the flexibility of the base. The retainer housing also includes a holding arm integral to the retainer housing. The holding arm acts provides a biasing force on the fastener once the fastener is inserted into the retaining portion and restrains lateral movement of the fastener. This abstract submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A fastener device comprising a nut, a threaded member for receiving the nut, and visual indicator means for visually indicating if the nut has become loose on the threaded member during use of the fastener device. The visual indicator means may comprise an indicator member which is mounted on the nut, biasing means which biases the indicator member to an indicating position in which the indicator member gives a visual indication that the nut has become loose, and at least one recess into which the indicator member is moved by the biasing means consequent upon the nut becoming loose, the indicator member then being in the indicating position.

Abstract: An integrally formed screw, such as a wood screw has a threaded cylindric stem and a head (9). At least a part (25) of the head (9) is shallowly convexly curved (25) and is provided with a screwdriver recess (26). The head (9) has an annular, shallowly concave underside (22) adapted to accommodate a relatively soft, polymeric washer (27).

Abstract: In a fastener comprising a bolt (3), a nut (2), and a washer (1), a bolt through-hole (5) which is slightly larger than a nominal diameter of the bolt (3) is formed in a base portion (4) of the washer (1), a conical barrel member (6) whose diameter decreases toward an upward position in a bolt axial direction is formed around the bolt through-hole (5) so as to stand therefrom, a continuous slit for a notched circle is formed in the base portion (4) and the conical barrel member (6), the diameter of the conical barrel member (6) of such a washer (1) is decreased by the fastening of the nut (2) and the bolt (3), and the conical barrel member (6) is fitted into a conical hole portion (10) of the nut (2), thereby obtaining a state where the conical barrel member (6) of the washer (1) is bitten and sandwiched between the bolt (3) and the nut (2).

Abstract: A fastener device is disclosed for fastening a member having a post extending therefrom to a retainer defining an aperture. The arrangement is such that the post is received within the aperture of the retainer for lockably retaining the member relative to the retainer. The device includes a washer which has a peripheral rim and a first and a second face. The washer defines a hole for the reception therein of the post. The washer has a plurality of barbs which surround the hole, the barbs lockably cooperating with the post when the post is inserted into the hole. Also, the washer defines a plurality of ears which extend from the peripheral rim such that when the post is inserted into the aperture of the retainer, the ears engage the retainer for retaining the member relative to the retainer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bolt for integrally fastening a first member and a second member, which are spaced away to each other, the bolt comprising a cylindrical-shaped collar bolt provided on a portion of an outer peripheral surface thereof with an external thread portion and on an inner peripheral surface thereof with an internal thread portion; and a bolt body having in an area of one end of a shank an external thread portion capable of threading into the internal thread portion of the collar bolt and a head on the other end thereof.

Abstract: A fastening element having a stem provided, at its opposite ends, with a head and a tip, respectively, and a separate cover element releasably arrangeable on the head.

Abstract: An improved structure of an anti-burglar screw bolt having a pad and a nut, the bolt including a bolt head and a bolt shaft, characterized in that the bolt head is hexagonal with the inner edges being arranged with equal angle and provided with sloping faces continuing from one to another, and connection region of each of the sloping faces being a blocking face having a high-low depression, the pad being flat and circular having a diameter equivalent to the largest diameter of the bolt head, the center of the pad being provided with a through hole having a hole diameter larger than that of the bolt shaft, one face of the pad being formed into a continuing sloping face corresponding to the sloping face of the individual bolt head, the other face of the pad being provided with a plurality of equally arranged sharp engaging straps, each of the strap having an upright face and a sloping face, the sloping direction of the sloping face being similar to that of the continuing sloping face of the pad, the nut being h

Abstract: The present technique provides a stemmed washer and fastener assembly, which has a fastener retained in assembly with a stemmed washer. The assembly is particularly useful for applications in which a standoff is desired between a washer and a mating fastener. The stemmed washer includes a washer portion, a retaining portion, and a standoff portion. The retaining portion interfaces with the fastener, such as with a plastically deformed skirt portion, to retain the fastener in the assembly. The standoff portion has a toolfree mounting structure, such as a snap-fit member, to mount the stemmed washer and fastener assembly to one or more panels, thereby forming a fastener-panel assembly.

Abstract: Two-piece fastener assembly for securing thermoplastic roof membranes to an underlying roof deck having: a batten bar coated with a thermoplastic coating on its top surface; a plurality of openings in the batten bar; and fasteners positioned in the plurality of openings for securing the batten bar and one thermoplastic roof membrane to the underlying roof deck.

Abstract: A locking device and method for securing a cover as for a catch basin or manhole in position including two elongate members pivotally connected together end to end so as to be able to articulate. The members are held aligned while being inserted through a cover opening suspended in said opening on a flange on the upper member, the lower member then released to be angled by a spring force to wedge against sidewall and an edge of the cover opening. A bolt extending through the top threaded into a trunnion extending across an intermediate space of the lower member draws the lower member up to create a powerful wedging action to prevent cover removal. The bolt head is recessed into the flange and configured with a special shape engageable only with a special tool to be tamper resistant. A protective plastic cap covers the bolt head and has protrusions sheared off when the cap is removed to provide a tamper indication.

Abstract: A female screw rod is constructed to include a female screw rod adapted for mounting in a mounting hole of a motherboard to support an object above the motherboard, the female screw rod having an axially extended screw hole for the installation of a screw, and a quick-release cap connectable to the female screw rod to block the screw hole, the quick-release cap having a downwardly extended barrel-like coupling portion for capping on the female screw rod.

Abstract: A fastener having a shank and head, the latter formed with a recess in its lower surface. A gasket is positioned in the recess, which it partially fills until the screw is employed to joint two elements and the gasket is compressed so that it fills the entirety of the recess, thereby preventing the ingress of undesirable materials.

Abstract: A self-threading screw is described which includes a (basically) conical point set at the end of its shank opposite that where the head is housed, and a sunken zone set between the end of the screw shank and the conical point. In addition, an apparatus is described to produce a self-threading screw provided with a point and a sunken zone, in which at least the thread of the self-threading screw, the conical point and the sunken zone are simultaneously produced by rolling.

Abstract: A threaded blind insert includes a shank with an axial bore therethrough having a head at one end and a threaded region of the bore at the opposite end. The wall of the shank between its outer surface and the bore includes a weakened deformable portion created by a reduced outside diameter of the shank in that area. A reinforcement collar integral with the shank is located at approximately the middle of the deformable portion of the shank thus providing a more rigid area at the collar which creates bulges in the deformable portion on either side of the collar when the insert is compressed. A flange located adjacent the underside of the head of the insert has an outer diameter greater than the shank but less than the head. When fitted into a mounting hole of a workpiece, the flange centers the insert and provides an annular gap between the shank and the mounting hole.

Abstract: A first washer is disposed on an upper surface of a member to be tightened and its projecting portion is inserted into a clearance formed between a trunk of a bolt and a piercing hole of the member to be tightened. A second washer is disposed on an upper surface of the first washer and its claw portion is met with engaging teeth of the first washer. A head portion of the bolt is fitted into a fitting portion of the second washer. The first washer and the second washer are allowed to relatively rotate in a direction of tightening the bolt which is achieved by the claw portion sliding along sloped wall surfaces of the engaging teeth and are prevented from relative rotation in a direction of loosening the bolt which is achieved by the claw portion engaging with substantially vertical wall surfaces of the engaging teeth.

Abstract: A cage for a cage fastener includes a base and sides, with a flap integral with one side bendable to be disposed in spaced relation to the base and overlying the base. A distal edge of the flap and a distal edge of one of the sides define a cooperating locking structure whereby the position of the flap relative to the side can be secured, with a fastener positioned between the flap and the base.