Patents Examined by Roberta S Delisle
  • Patent number: 10823219
    Abstract: A thread-forming screw has a shank which, in a front region of the shank, has a tip for insertion into a bore in a substrate, and in a rear region of the shank, has a drive for transmitting a torque to the shank. The shank has a spiral-shaped groove and a thread spiral which is inserted into the spiral-shaped groove. The spiral-shaped groove has a front flank and a rear flank disposed opposite the front flank. The front flank, at least regionally, has a different part flank angle than the rear flank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Hakenholt, Bernhard Winkler, Roland Schneider, Robert Spring, Huu Toan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10823216
    Abstract: An expansion anchor includes a bolt as a first element and an expansion part as a second element. One of the two elements has a first rib running longitudinally along the bolt and the other of the two elements has a first groove running longitudinally along the bolt, where the first rib engages in the first groove. The one of the two elements has a second rib running longitudinally along the bolt and the other of the two elements has a second groove running longitudinally along the bolt, where the second rib engages in the second groove. A first catch of a snap connection is formed between the first rib and the first groove and a second catch of the snap connection is formed between the second rib and the second groove, where the first catch and the second catch hold the expansion part radially to the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hideki Shimahara, Christian Wachter
  • Patent number: 10823221
    Abstract: A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Wiley, Palvin Chee Leong Chan
  • Patent number: 10823211
    Abstract: A floating fastener includes a socket fastened to a first board member, a locking device axially slidably mounted in the socket and adapted for locking the socket and the first board member to a second board member, and an insulative barrel including a flexible barrel body attached onto the socket, a cap for capping on the barrel body to shield the locking device in the socket and to protect the socket and the locking device against corrosion and a flexible connecting strip connected between the barrel body and the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hanwit Precision Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-De Wu, Chih-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10823222
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for securing a fastening element to a first component, wherein the first component has a passage opening for a shaft of the fastening element, said assembly comprising a securing element, which reaches around the shaft of the fastening element, wherein a head part of the fastening element and the securing element are arranged on opposite sides of the first component and the shaft of the fastening element engages in a receptacle of a second component for the frictional and/or interlocking connection of the two components. According to the invention, the securing element is pre-fastened to the second component before a first connection of the first component to the second component and is separated from the second component and reaches around the shaft of the fastening element after a first release of the connection between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, BÖLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Hübner, Martin Jodeleit, Michael Kahre, Sandra Steffenfauseweh
  • Patent number: 10816023
    Abstract: A system for connecting a wheel rim to a hub flange of a motor vehicle, having a fastener such a threaded nut or bolt, and a tool which engages the fastener in a positive-locking manner in order to tighten or release the fastener. To provide improved protection against theft of wheel rims and tires, the fastener has an annular groove extending axially from an end surface of the fastener, the groove having an annular base and inner and outer sidewalls shaped to form an undercut wider than an opening of the groove, a recess extending axially below the base for receiving a projection of a complementally-shaped key on the tool to allow rotation of the fastener. The undercut prevents an unauthorized person using a mold-making material, from being able to make an imprint of the groove and producing a tool therefrom to release the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raphael Koch, Lars Bognar
  • Patent number: 10816030
    Abstract: A two-piece anti-loosening nut assembly includes a nut and a washer. The nut is configured to threadedly engaged with a bolt and has a main body including an annular outer flange extending outwardly and radially from an end periphery thereof. The annular outer flange has an annular flange surface formed with a cam structure. The washer is fixedly disposed on the nut, and has a lower ring surface facing the annular flange surface and formed with a cam structure engaged with the cam structure of the annular flange surface, and an upper ring surface opposite to the lower ring surface and formed with a serrated structure configured to bite into a surface of a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SPEC PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventor: Zephyr Chang
  • Patent number: 10808747
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing damping capacity in a mechanical fastener by utilizing dry friction between individual wires of a sheathed rope is disclosed. For metal fasteners, the sheathed rope is inserted loosely into a thick-walled metal tube. The tube is then rolled to reduce the tube diameter, thereby uniformly embedding the rope into the tube material. The tube is then subjected to either cold or hot forming. After forming, the fastener blank may be threaded. For composite or plastic fasteners, the sheathed rope includes insert locators attached to the sheathing. The sheathed rope having the insert locators is placed in the mold cavity prior to the polymerizable material being injected into the mold. Regardless of the embodiment, the resulting fastener has increased damping due to the dry inter-wire friction within the embedded rope which develops between the surfaces of individual wires upon dynamic loading of a fastened joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yuri Anatoly Karpenko
  • Patent number: 10808742
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a nail with a head having an inwardly curved top surface. In one embodiment, the nail has a longitudinal axis and comprises a head, a shank, and a tip. The head includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes an inwardly curved top surface forming a partially spherical cavity, while the bottom portion includes a radially inwardly tapered annular bottom surface. The shank is integrally connected to and extends from the bottom portion of the head. The tip is integrally connected to and extends from the shank and terminates in a free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Genaro Cortez
  • Patent number: 10801539
    Abstract: A screw capable of reducing drilling torque includes a shank provided with cutting threads, and a head and a drilling portion respectively formed at two ends of the shank. Each cutting thread has two opposite flank surfaces converging at a thread crest. On the thread crest are recessedly formed notches alternating with grooves. Each groove has an upper crest edge and a lower crest edge meeting the flank surfaces respectively. Each notch has a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge meeting the flank surfaces respectively. The above cutting edges and crest edges cooperate to provide multiple cutting points, thereby increasing the cutting efficiency, preventing the improper entanglement of fibers, and reducing drilling torque for easier screwing. The notches and grooves accommodate and press partial debris for achieving a stable and tight engagement between the screw and an object and increasing the ability of resisting the pulling-out force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Shan Yin International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou-Tsair Su, Chen-Long Su
  • Patent number: 10801540
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a lock nut configured to threadably engage a threaded body portion, and a first lock member including a plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth. The fastener assembly also includes a second lock member including a base portion and at least one tab extending axially from the base portion. The base portion defines an aperture sized to receive the threaded body portion. The at least one tab has a proximal end joined to the base portion and a free end opposite the proximal end. The second lock member is positionable between a locked configuration in which the free end of the at least one tab is configured to engage the plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth and an unlocked configuration in which the free end of the at least one tab is spaced from the plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth. The base portion and the at least one tab are a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Enduralock, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely, Igor Komsitsky, Deeptesh Selvaraj
  • Patent number: 10801541
    Abstract: A locking structure includes a main body, a first combining portion, and a second combining portion. The second combining portion is disposed on an outer periphery of the main body. The first combining portion is connected to a bottom portion of the main body. A chamber is formed inside the first combining portion. At least one slot is formed on a side wall or a bottom wall of the first combining portion and communicated with the chamber. The chamber is at least partially filled with the workpiece via the at least one slot, and the workpiece is at least partially combined with an inner side and an outer side of the first combining portion, so as to combine the locking structure with the workpiece tightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chang-Feng Lan
  • Patent number: 10794416
    Abstract: An error of an axial force detection is reduced by tensioning a bolt with a tensioning device engaged with a part of the bolt, different from a shaft portion of the bolt. A tensioning device is configured to apply upward tension to a bolt fastened to a fastened member H, and fitted with a washer. A first male thread portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the washer. The tensioning device includes a connection member having a first female thread portion to be engaged with the first male thread portion, a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the connection member in a state where the first male thread portion is engaged with the first female thread portion, and a tension bearer which is disposed around an outer circumference of the connection member, and bears a reaction force applied from the fastened member H in tensioning performed by the tensioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOHNICHI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Komatsu, Hiroshi Tsuji, Osamu Tsuji, Seiji Ito
  • Patent number: 10792873
    Abstract: Fastening devices are described. In one example, the fastening devices can be used for a landing string buoyancy solution. The landing string hardware includes a stop collar to be fitted and secured around a drill pipe and stop collar hardware to secure the stop collar together around the drill pipe. The stop collar can be secured at one end of a number of buoyancy modules placed along a longitudinal length of the drill pipe to hold them into place along the drill pipe. The stop collar can be formed from long fiber thermoplastic using extrusion-compression molding. The stop collar hardware includes a bolt having an external thread formed from long fiber thermoplastic and a nut having an internal thread formed from long fiber thermoplastic. Both the stop collar and the stop collar hardware are tested for suitability for the application of holding the buoyancy modules in place under operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: THE UAB RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Selvum Pillay, Haibin Ning
  • Patent number: 10794417
    Abstract: A self-punching press-fit element, in particular a punching nut, has a head part with a head bearing for bearing on a component, as well as a punching collar having an end-side cutting edge. An undercut is configured between the punching collar and the head bearing. An encircling displacement web is configured so as to adjoin the punching collar on the head bearing, the encircling displacement web being adjoined in the radial direction by a further external region of the head bearing. The further external region in the longitudinal direction is set back in relation to the displacement web. During the configuration of the press-fit connection, material is press-fitted from the upper side of the component into the undercut by the displacement web. A deformation of the lower side of the component is preferably not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Richard Bergner Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Hirschmann, Juliane Niedermueller
  • Patent number: 10788070
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided having a cylindrical shank with a plurality of annular grooves formed along a length of the shank. A plurality of elongated ribs extends perpendicular to the grooves along the length. A fastener disc is provided with a central opening with a diameter less than a cylindrical shank diameter wherein an inner edge of the central opening includes a contact surface. The fastener disc is retained on the fastener portion in a locked position when the contact surface engages one of the plurality of grooves with a friction fit. The fastener disc is rotated to a release position so that the elongated rib contacts the inner edge thereby releasing the contact surface from the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.
    Inventors: Earl David Forrest, Sagar Kishor Giri, Jegatheesan Mohandoss
  • Patent number: 10781845
    Abstract: A roof cover fastener may include a cover plate having a planar body with a perimeter. A central aperture may be disposed centrally in the body. A first annular rib may be formed into the body and may encircle the central aperture. A second annular rib may be formed into the body and may encircle the first annular rib. A first channel may separate the first annular rib from the second annular rib. A medial aperture may be disposed in the channel between the first annular rib and the second annular rib. Optionally, the fastener may also include an auger element having a first end and a second end. A head may be coupled to the first end, and a tip may be coupled to the second end. A thread crest with a thread root may extend from the second end towards the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Celcore Incorporated
    Inventors: William R. MacDonald, Peter C. Garrigus, Derek J. Krueger
  • Patent number: 10781842
    Abstract: An expansion anchor is disclosed. The expansion anchor has a bolt having a neck region and an expansion region adjoining the neck region in which the bolt tapers down towards the neck region. The bolt has a groove in the neck region which extends along the bolt, and is at least partially surrounded by an expansion sleeve, and which has on its inside a web. The web at least partially engages in the groove in the neck region and the wall thickness of the expansion sleeve is increased locally by the web. The expansion sleeve is displaceable under radial expansion of the expansion sleeve along the bolt from the neck region into the expansion region. The web, on displacement of the expansion sleeve from the neck region, at least by region, passes into the expansion area and is forced radially outward by the expansion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10781846
    Abstract: One aspect is an apparatus including an additively manufactured first component and a captive nut contained within the first component for interconnecting the first component to a second component. Another aspect is an apparatus including a first additively manufactured component having a hole and a second additively manufactured component having a socket. The apparatus further includes a pin having a head engaging a surface of the first component and a shaft extending from the head through the hole in the first component and into the socket of the second component. Another aspect is an apparatus including first and second panels. The apparatus also includes a bolt having a head and a shaft extending from the head and a nut located at a distal end of the shaft. The first and seconds panels may be sandwiched between the bolt and nut to interconnect the first and second panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jon Paul Gunner, John Russell Bucknell, Antonio Bernerd Martinez, Eahab Nagi El Naga
  • Patent number: 10774863
    Abstract: A blind fastener system including a sleeve and, optionally, a core bolt insertable into the sleeve, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the core bolt includes a lubricious metallic coating containing at least one of tin, bismuth, indium and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Blake A. Simpson, Dave G. Ellsworth, Stephen G. Holley, Michael Howard-Edward Ware, Casey M. Cowell