Patents Examined by Roberta S Delisle
  • Patent number: 10570943
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
  • Patent number: 10570946
    Abstract: A blind rivet-nut having an annular-flange-like setting head and a hollow shaft for securing a blind rivet-nut in an opening of a carrier. The hollow shaft has a free end having a threaded portion for receiving a threaded element of a tensioning tool. A clamping portion adjacent to the setting head forms a bead-like deformation when the tensioning tool is used to clamp the carrier between the bead-like deformation and the setting head. A threadless shaft portion is formed between the clamping portion and the threaded portion. The threadless shaft portion is threaded by a thread self-rolling or thread self-tapping fastener. The fastener is received in a positive-locking manner when the fastener is screwed into the thread formed on the previously threadless shaft portion. A method is also disclosed for securing a component to a carrier by a blind rivet-nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jens Linsel
  • Patent number: 10562172
    Abstract: Various embodiments of pole devices are described having inner and outer poles or segments that allow for telescoping of the pole device. The inner and outer poles can each include one or more flat side wall portions, which act to thereby prevent rotation of the inner and outer poles with respect to each other. Each of the inner and outer poles can include one or more apertures that are sized to receive a pin to thereby couple the inner and outer poles. One or more gaps may be formed between the inner and outer poles that is sized to receive a burr of at least one of the inner or outer pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: BLUE POINT FASTENERS
    Inventor: William D. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10563680
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided with a first threaded fastener. A damper has a body sized to receive the first threaded fastener, and a flange to provide an installation surface. A second threaded fastener is sized to engage the first threaded fastener. An actuator includes a housing with a receptacle. The receptacle has a cavity sized to receive the flange of the damper, and the receptacle is provided with a slot with an opening to receive the body of the damper. A structural support member has an aperture formed therethrough. The second threaded fastener is engaged with the aperture of the structural support member to fasten the actuator to the structural support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Benthaus, Zvonko Van Der Meer
  • Patent number: 10563685
    Abstract: A staple may include one staple top and two staple shoulders connected to the staple top. The staple may also include a spiked foot connected to each of the two staple shoulders. The staple may also include adhesive tapes arranged on surfaces of the staple shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CAH, INC
    Inventor: Guomin Tao
  • Patent number: 10557494
    Abstract: A retaining device is disclosed for retaining a wheel fastener. The retaining device comprises a main body attachable to a wheel. An engagement portion is arranged to engage with the wheel fastener, the engagement portion comprising at least one opening for, in use, permitting a wheel fastener to extend through the opening, wherein the engagement portion is moveable with respect to the main body. A stop mechanism is co operable with the engagement portion, such that the engagement portion is moveable in a first direction so as to permit the wheel fastener to become secured and the engagement portion is prohibited from moving in a second direction by the stop mechanism so as to restrict movement of the wheel fastener in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Joseph Evans
  • Patent number: 10550874
    Abstract: A connection element, in particular a setting bolt, for connecting at least two components, in particular metal sheet components, is disclosed. The connection element has a tapered region and a shaft region, the properties of which are different. The connection element is formed as one piece. A method for producing a connection element is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Groezinger, Oliver Gustke, Daniel Kohl, Carsten Spira
  • Patent number: 10550875
    Abstract: A method, process and machine to anchor objects to a surface using an encapsulated compound such as adhesive, expanding glue, hardening agent or other reactive and/or bonding substance intended for single use in a single anchor installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dmarko Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: David J Markowicz, Bryan P Schofield
  • Patent number: 10544815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic fastener (10; 40) for the interference fit assembly of at least two structural elements (20, 22) comprising a through hole, the fastener comprising an enlarged head (12; 42), a shaft (14; 44) having an external diameter before installation that is greater than an internal diameter of the hole, said shaft comprising a conductive surface (26; 56). Before installation, at least the conductive surface (26; 56) is coated with a lubricating layer (30), which comprises a mixture of at least one polyolefin and one polytetrafluoroethylene, for example, having sufficient adherence to prevent its abrasion by manual manipulation of the fastener and being weak enough to be at least partly stripped from the conductive surface during the interference fit assembly of the fastener. The invention further relates to a method for obtaining such a fastener and to a method for installing such a fastener in a structure. The invention is applicable to the assembly of aircraft structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LISI AEROSPACE
    Inventors: Laurent Bourges, Johan Stephan, Christophe Van Daele
  • Patent number: 10539171
    Abstract: An anchor fastener is described. The anchor fastener includes a head, a generally cylindrical shaft extending from the head, a base at a distal end of the shaft, and at least one frangible portion configured to frangibly connect the shaft to the base. The shaft includes a helical thread that extends along an outer surface of the shaft towards the distal end of the shaft. The frangible portions are separable from the base and the shaft under application of a force to the shaft. The base includes a distal surface and an engagement portion configured to engage an object to be anchored to a mounting surface and configured to hold the anchor fastener to the object before installation of the shaft through the object and into the mounting surface. The base includes a thread guide configured to support the helical thread during installation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GOOD EARTH LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Kowalenko, Christopher J. Serak
  • Patent number: 10533747
    Abstract: An additively manufactured fastener and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The fastener includes a shank defining an internal passageway and a head defining a distribution plenum in fluid communication with the internal passageway. The head further defines a cooling face defining a plurality of cooling holes for receiving a flow of cooling air from the internal passageway and the distribution plenum. In addition, an impingement baffle is positioned in the distribution plenum and defines impingement holes for directing the flow of cooling air onto the cooling face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Michael Corsmeier, Peter Andrew Flynn
  • Patent number: 10532455
    Abstract: An ergonomic handle to be used in conjunction with a hand-operated personal use tool. A unique feature of the ergonomic handle is a series of concave-shaped grooves and convex-shaped protrusions on the top surface and one concave-shaped groove and two convex-shaped protrusions on the bottom surface. The ergonomic handle has an arcuate shape to facilitate a secure grasping of the handle by the fingers of one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bonfit America Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Krok, Brian Steinhobel
  • Patent number: 10527081
    Abstract: A tapered internal thread and threaded column connecting structure comprises an external thread and an internal thread in threaded connection with each other. The external thread is arranged on a column-shaped body, and the internal thread is arranged in a connecting hole. The internal thread comprises an inside helical surface and a helical end surface. A shape of the inside helical surface is the same as a shape of a lateral surface of a solid of revolution formed by using a right trapezoid as a generatrix, rotating uniformly around a cathetus of the right trapezoid which is coincident with a center axis of the connection hole, and synchronously, axially and uniformly moving the right trapezoid along the center axis of the connection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Yihua You
  • Patent number: 10527084
    Abstract: An elastomeric collar has a body portion with a generally cylindrical shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and defining a through opening extending along a central axis. A first annular flange is connected to and extends radially outward from the first end portion of the body portion. A second annular flange is connected to and extends radially outward from the second end portion of the body portion, where the second annular flange is axially spaced by a gap from the first annular flange. The body portion, the first annular flange, and the second annular flange are made of an elastomer having a durometer of at least 40A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher Prevost
  • Patent number: 10527082
    Abstract: A connection structure for tapered male screw and threaded hole comprises a male screw and a female screw, and the male screw comprises an external helical surface and an end helical surface. The shape of the external helical surface is the same shape as a helical external surface of a rotating body formed by taking a right angle side of a right trapezoid coincident with a central axis of a cylindrical body as an axis of rotation and rotating the rotating body circumferentially at a constant speed, and at the same time moving the right trapezoid at a constant speed along the central axis of the cylindrical body. The shape of the end helical surface is the same as the helical end surface at the end in the movement direction of the axial movement of the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Yihua You
  • Patent number: 10520113
    Abstract: Trapeze system for suspending utilities from ceilings by threaded rod utilizing a rod locking and ratcheting device having a housing and a locking control lever for adjustably attaching a trapeze structure to the threaded rod suspension. The rod locking and ratcheting device quickly attaches to the trapeze structure by a channel tab that fastens the rod locking and ratcheting device to the trapeze. The rod locking and ratcheting device has a thumb actuated locking control lever that moves in the housing to engage or disengage a screw threaded portion on the locking control lever with threads on a threaded rod inside the housing of the locking and ratcheting device. The parts of the locking and ratcheting device are cold formed from 12 to 20 gauge steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: William J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10514055
    Abstract: A tapered threaded bolt and nut are provided. The bolt comprises a main body; an outside helical surface and a first end helical surface are defined on the main body; a shape of the outside helical surface is the same as a shape of a lateral surface of a solid of revolution formed by using a right trapezoid as a generatrix, rotating uniformly around a cathetus of the right trapezoid which is coincident with a center axis of the main body, and synchronously, axially and uniformly moving the right trapezoid along the center axis of the main body; a shape of the first end helical surface is the same as a shape of helical end surface with a same direction as an axial moving direction of the solid of revolution. An inside helical surface and a second end helical surface are defined in a screw hole of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Yihua You
  • Patent number: 10508677
    Abstract: A tapered thread connection pair comprises an external thread and an internal thread. The external thread comprises an outside helical surface and a first end helical surface, the shape of the outside helical surface is the same as that of a spiral outside surface of a solid of revolution, and the shape of the first end helical surface is the same as that of a spiral end surface of the end having a moving direction that is the same as an axial movement direction of the solid of revolution. The internal thread comprises an inside helical surface and a second end helical surface. The shape of the inside helical surface is the same as that of the spiral outside surface of the solid of revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Yihua You
  • Patent number: 10508676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection element for interconnecting at least two workpieces, having a shaft; a connection-element head, radially protruding beyond the external side of the shaft, at the one end of the shaft; a drive configuration on the connection-element head and a front shaft end, wherein in a holding portion of the shaft that emanates from the lower side of the connection-element head at least one pair of closed annular protrusions are disposed thereon, of which at least one annular protrusion is not completely disposed in a plane that runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and the spacings between the two annular protrusions of the pair along the circumference are of dissimilar size, or the two annular protrusions of the pair of annular protrusions are disposed so as to be mutually parallel; wherein the front end of the shaft is configured as a tapered hole-forming portion, and wherein a maximum external diameter of the hole-forming portion is between 3% and 10% smaller,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Miller, Dominik Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 10502254
    Abstract: Additively manufactured parts are disclosed comprising an integral additively manufactured nut plate cradle, and methods of their manufacture and use in part and component installation and to facilitate joining parts and components to larger structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Dufour, Michael Hand, Matthew Molitor