Patents Examined by Neill Wilson
  • Patent number: 6755601
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent weld nut wherein the weld nut and an iron plate are closely fixed together by inserting extra metal materials upon welding into a groove around a weld projection. The present invention relates to weld nuts each having such a groove in the vicinity of such a weld projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Youichi Ohta
  • Patent number: 6749385
    Abstract: A nail structure comprises a wall nail casing a center of the wall nail casing being formed with a tapered central axial hole which is reduced toward a distal end thereof; two sides of the distal end of the wall nail casing being formed with respective slots; and one end of the central axial hole being an through opening and another end thereof being an inlet; a hammer nail capable of inserting into the central axial hole; and a plurality of semi-round enhancing ribs are on an inner surface of the central axial hole of the wall nail casing; a front end of each enhancing rib being reduced toward one inlet of the central axial hole for receiving the hammer nail easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Tien Yeh
  • Patent number: 6749384
    Abstract: A drive rivet fastens a plurality of panel members together as a unit. The drive rivet is installed within preformed holes which are drilled or punched through each of the panel members. The drive rivet includes a head portion which abuts the outer surface of the first panel member when installed. A shank portion extends from the head portion and includes a plurality of expansible prongs on its distal end which protrude out from the opposite end of the panel members. The shank portion includes at least a first area of substantially constant diameter and a second area of decreased diameter less than that of the first area which is not in contact with the panel members when the drive rivet is received therein. A generally elongated bore is formed within the drive rivet which is adapted for receiving an expander pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6739813
    Abstract: A plastic encapsulated bolt includes a metallic insert having a head (e.g., a hex head, square head, or other type of deformed head) and a shank. An outer plastic layer encapsulates the metallic insert and forms a plastic encapsulated head and a plastic encapsulated shank. The plastic encapsulated shank can be totally or partially threaded. In one application, the plastic encapsulated bolt is used in combination with a plastic female anchor having an internally threaded portion. The plastic female anchor preferably includes multiple sections. The plastic encapsulated bolt includes a tapered threaded nose that engages the internally threaded portion such that the sections of the plastic female anchor expand outwardly as the plastic encapsulated bolt is threaded therein, causing the anchor to engage in an interference fit with a hole, for example, in concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventors: William P. Gundy, Russell Wilmot
  • Patent number: 6736580
    Abstract: A drive socket for a male threaded fastener includes a plurality of rounded lobes of equal radius which are located equidistant from the center of the fastener and an equal distance from each other. The drive socket also includes flat surfaces located opposite the lobes and equidistant from the center of the fastener. Another embodiment of a drive socket includes a first set of lobes and a second set of lobes, each lobe being of equal radius and equidistant from the center of the fastener. The lobes of the first set are equidistant apart and the lobes of the second set are also equidistant apart and equidistant apart from the adjacent lobes of the first set on either side of the lobe of the second set. Each of the lobes of the first set includes a flat surface which is adjacent and tangential to the radius portion of the lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hi-Shear Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Schultz
  • Patent number: 6736577
    Abstract: The present invention includes a sleeve for receiving a pip pin. The sleeve is configured to be embedded in a bulkhead and includes a cylindrical housing. The housing has an axis and defines a bore along that axis. There are a plurality of spaced-apart annular lands defined within the bore. Each land is arranged to engage a plurality of locking balls on a shaft of a pip pin to secure the pip pin in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Todd D. Smith, Kwun-Wing W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6736578
    Abstract: A front mounted retaining mechanism including a retention device and a captivatable device. The retention device has a head and a hollow shank. The head or the shank may include inwardly directed threads. The shank may include outwardly directed threads to facilitate mounting within a structure. The captivatable device includes a head and a shank, with the shank including a portion having a greater diameter than the remainder of the shank. That portion may be threads or a retainer ring. The captivatable device is threaded into the retention device in such a way as to allow its captivation therein. Then the first structure is aligned with a second structure into which the captivatable device is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Accurate Screw Machine Co.
    Inventor: Rodger McIninch
  • Patent number: 6733221
    Abstract: Insert nut for a screw nut joint of the type which comprises a substantially rectangular block, of which the short side substantially corresponds to the width of the outer groove portion in a T-formed groove, which outer groove portion is delimited by side flanges in a profile or the like and which inner groove portion is expanded relative to the outer groove portion. The long side of the insert nut substantially corresponds to the width of the inner groove portion, and which nut by rotation can be transversally positioned and be brought into contact with the underside of the side flanges of the groove. The nut is designed with a substantially quadratic shoulder section, which is arranged concentric with the threaded hole of the nut, and with substantially the same width as the short side of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Jokab Safety AB
    Inventor: Mats Linger
  • Patent number: 6729819
    Abstract: A friction reducing device comprises a stretchable thin film of elastomeric material impregnated or dusted with lubricating material. The thin film adheres to an annular member through which a fastener element having external threads can pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Bolting Technology Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan Wayne Wallace
  • Patent number: 6729822
    Abstract: A plastic fastening element is configured to be fastened on a threaded bolt welded to a support member. The fastening element includes a first hollow element portion made of plastic material and having an axial through hole. The through hole has a polygonal cross section and radially resilient wall portions that will be radially outwardly deformed if the first element portion is pushed onto the threaded bolt. The fastening element also includes a second hollow annular element portion which is connected to one end of the first element portion by a breakable connecting portion. The second element portion has an inner cross section dimensioned such that the second element portion can be pushed over the first element portion under radial deformation of the resilient wall portions, whereby a thread of the threaded bolt is partially formed into the resilient wall portions of the first element portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Albert Sbongk
  • Patent number: 6726421
    Abstract: A helical thread insert having a removable tang attached to the front end of the insert, a retention device, and a removal notch located along the rear portion of the insert. The removable tang is oriented radially inward and includes a “V” shaped notch oriented along a bottom of a thread to detach the tang at a specified point. The retention device is located at a rear end of the thread insert and prevents counterclockwise, or removal rotation of the insert by engaging female threads of the bore in which the helical thread insert is disposed. The removal notch is formed along an inner surface of the insert proximal to the retention device to allow a tool to actuate the retention device inward, generally away from the female threads of a parent material, to allow relatively free counterclockwise rotation and removal of the thread insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: William Giannakakos, John F. Carvalho
  • Patent number: 6726417
    Abstract: The clip 1 comprises a hollow bushing 6 with a flange 10 and a shank 11, and a pin 5 with a shank 9 inserted into the bushing 6. The pin shank 9 is inserted into the bushing shank 11 to enlarge the bushing shank 11 so workpieces 2, 3 are connected to each other by the enlarged section of the bushing shank 26 and the bushing flange 10. A guide 13 extending from the end of the bushing shank so the pin shank is inserted into the bushing shank 11 without enlarging the bushing shank is formed in the end of the pin shank 5. The guide 13 has a large diameter section 14 larger than the end of the bushing shank. The diameter of the large diameter section 14 is formed so as to be larger than the diameter of a thick section 26 of the creep-deformed bushing shank when enlarged by the pin shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Hideki Kanie
  • Patent number: 6722832
    Abstract: An assembly unit includes a component including at least one through hole and at least one screw. The screw is associated with the through hole of the component. The screw is designed and arranged to produce a thread. The screw includes a head and a supporting surface to face the component. The screw includes a shank at least partly including a thread. The screw in the region of the shank and close to the supporting surface includes an annular channel, the diameter of the annular channel being less than the core diameter of the thread of the screw and the effective axial length of the annular channel being more than the axial length of the through hole. The diameter of the through hole of the component is more than the core diameter of the thread of the screw and being less than the outer diameter of the thread of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kamax-Werke Rudolf Kellermann GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Gunther Hartmann, Wolfgang Sommer, Frank Wagner
  • Patent number: 6719511
    Abstract: A series of high security fastener constructions feature rotatable anti-theft shrouds mounted on locking wheel nuts and wheel bolts designed for vehicular wheels. Each construction features (1) a fastener body having a first body end adapted to accommodate a key receiving pattern or member, a second body end having thread pattern extending therefrom, and a shroud receiving portion located between the first and second body ends, (2) a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud receiving, and (3) a shroud retaining system for retaining the shroud for rotation relative to the fastener body such that the shroud will rotate under an applied torque prior to the fastener rotating when it is installed at a design installation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: McGard, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Notaro, Adam W. Schreckengost
  • Patent number: 6719509
    Abstract: An improved expansion screw and particularly an expansion screw for securely anchoring on various types of solid walls and hollow walls mainly includes a bolt and a nail tube. The nail tube has a front end fastened to a nut, a middle portion formed at least one expansion section which has carved slots formed thereon in an annular manner, and at least one -shaped slot formed annularly between the nut and the expansion section. Each -shaped slot has an expansion flap located therein. Every two neighboring -shaped slots are bridged by a longitudinal connection strip to form a bend section. When the bolt nut at the front end of the bolt is turned and driven to generate an inward compression, the expansion flap is forced to extend outwards and overlap with the annular ring at the front end of the nail tube, and the longitudinal connection strip is bent outwards on the bend section to form a double compression on the inner side of a construction hole in a wall to form a secured coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Joker Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pan-Ching Huang, Chih-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 6719512
    Abstract: A harpoon nail having two or more sets of teeth on opposite sides of fingers that deform while penetrating the framing members. The teeth engage with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A piercing nail having sets of teeth on two edges penetrates through framing members and the teeth engage with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A piercing nail with a spring member that deforms as the nail penetrates through framing members engages with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A self-locking nail having two members that move relative to one another when penetrating through framing members fastens the framing members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. O'Banion, Robert A. Berry, Alfred H. Judge
  • Patent number: 6715975
    Abstract: A tension control arrangement including a plurality of cams disposed about an opening that accommodates a bolt to which a nut is intended to be secured. Each of the cams has a contoured outer surface, and each of the cams is rotatably supported such that the contoured outer surface operatively engages both the base and a contact member interposed between the cam and the nut. A lever assembly is operatively coupled to the cams, such that movement of the cams is substantially restricted to rotational motion from a first position in which the nut is engaged with the bolt and tightened by hand until it is seated against the contact member, to a second position in which the bolt is elongated to achieve a predetermined bolt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen Murphy
  • Patent number: 6712574
    Abstract: A quick insertion fastener has an internally threaded first member (“nut”) adapted to be quickly attached and tightened on an externally threaded second member (“bolt”). The nut is formed with a casing with an internal frusto-conical front surface, a plurality of threaded shell segments contained in the casing having external frusto-conical front surfaces which abut the front surface of the casing, a spring member positioned at a rear part of the casing which elastically holds the rear ends of the shell assembly together, and an end retainer provided at the rear part of the casing having a taper for engaging the rear ends of the shell assembly and displacing them radially apart when the shell assembly is displaced axially toward the end retainer by insertion of the bolt. This allows the bolt threads to move without interference past the internal threads of the shell segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Honeybee Robtotics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Roopnarine
  • Patent number: 6709213
    Abstract: An adapter for hanger bolts is disclosed that includes a hex head adapted for use in a receiving device, a socket head set screw having a thread, wherein the socket head set screw is set at least partially in a socket head set screw receptacle of the hex head, and a hanger bolt housing having a hanger bolt channel abutting an end of the socket head set screw receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Ray Bailey
  • Patent number: 6709210
    Abstract: A fastener having a head and two expandable legs. The fastener further has a Y-shaped funnel configuration, which has been formed by a partial cut of the legs. The sides of the Y-shaped funnel comprise inwardly bent portions which are designed to extend into the slot of an object. The bent portions produce jamming and clamping when an expanding member is inserted through a hole on the head, resulting to highly improved pulling force. The fastener may be used in slots of different widths and may be pulled easily out of the slots, if so desired, in contrast with the fasteners of the present state in the art. Further, the fastener may be used in vehicles to connect one or more parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eustathios Vassiliou Revocable
    Inventors: Joseph William Lowry, Eustathios Vassiliou