Patents Examined by Thomas J. Holko
  • Patent number: 4518294
    Abstract: A rotary fastener is disclosed for use in attaching the first panel to a second panel. The fastener has a head and a shank, which shank has at least one helical thread thereon. Additionally, there is at least one helical ramp extending along the shank from the underside of the head. The underside of the head has a generally annular recess which may have helical ribs therein. The fastener is dimensioned so that as it is driven into the two panels, material of the two panels is drawn up into the recess and binds on the helical ramp along the shank. Additionally, a plurality of nibs located on the underside of the head and extending into the recess "rake" up material as the underside of the head encounters the top panel, which raked material is also drawn into the recess and binds on the helical ramp. This combined binding action by panel material and raked material significantly increases stripping torque of the fastener during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald D. Barth
  • Patent number: 4518292
    Abstract: A mechanical anchor including an expansion shell and a camming plug positioned in the shell is threaded onto the end of a mine roof bolt. A roof support plate is carried on the opposite end of the bolt. The mechanical anchor is inserted in a bore hole drilled in a rock formation with one or more resin cartridges advanced by upward movement of the bolt to the end of the bore hole. The cartridge is ruptured by upward thrust and rotation of the bolt to release the resin components for mixing. A stop device extending through the plug abuts the end of the bolt to prevent axial movement of the plug on the bolt when the bolt is rotated in a preselected direction to mix the resin components before the shell is expanded. Rotation of the bolt continues without expansion of the shell for a period of time to permit formation of a curable resin mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Jennmar Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Calandra, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4516415
    Abstract: A steering lock for an automobile includes a key cylinder, rotatable and axially movable upon rotation of a key inserted in the key cylinder, into locking engagement with a locking bar to lift the latter clear of engagement with a steering shaft. When the key cylinder is turned back and the key is pulled out, the key cylinder is moved back out of locking engagement with the locking bar, which then locks the steering shaft. The returning movement of the key cylinder depresses a spring-loaded control member into a key slot in the key cylinder. When the key cylinder is fully moved back, the spring-loaded control member is pulled out of the key slot. With such an arrangement, the key cylinder can directly engage the locking bar to displace the latter into a retracted position or allow the same to move to a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kobayashi, Mikio Masaki, Hideaki Sakuno, Keiichi Shimizu, Takeshi Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 4516893
    Abstract: A rotary fastener for use in attaching sheet metal or attaching articles to sheet metal. The fastener has a serrated helical ramp forged in the undersurface of the head during the heading operation. The serrations have generally radially oriented surfaces which engage workpiece material to increase strip torque, removal torque or both. The ramp advances helically in an axial direction and the ramp is spiral in cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald D. Barth
  • Patent number: 4516885
    Abstract: A mechanical anchor including an expansion shell and a camming plug positioned in the shell is threaded onto the end of a mine roof bolt. A roof support plate is carried on the opposite end of the bolt. The mechanical anchor is inserted in a bore hole drilled in a rock formation with one or more resin cartridges advanced by upward movement of the bolt to the end of the bore hole. The cartridge is ruptured by upward thrust and rotation of the bolt to release the resin components for mixing. A stop device extending through the plug abuts the end of the bolt to prevent axial movement of the plug on the bolt when the bolt is rotated in a preselected direction to mix the resin components before the shell is expanded. Rotation of the bolt continues without expansion of the shell for a period of time to permit formation of a curable resin mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Jennmar Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Calandra, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4512697
    Abstract: A fastener is disclosed having an integral limiting configuration which is adjustable to provide a variable maximum torque transmitted from a threaded bolt to the mechanism being fastened. The torque transmission is controlled at its maximum by a friction-bearing surface in cooperation with a spring. By predetermining and setting the compression exerted by the spring to the friction-bearing surface, the maximum torque transmitted is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Michael R. Cascini
  • Patent number: 4512698
    Abstract: A base member of a ski binding has vertical bores therethrough, and fastening screws which extend through the bores secure the ski binding to the top surface of a ski. Each bore has two vertically spaced, inwardly projecting shoulders which extend generally parallel to the top surface of the ski. Viewed from the top, each shoulder is delimited by two circles of different radius, the larger radius being equal to the radius of the bore. The two circles intersect tangentially at a point opposite the center of the shoulder, and the contact points of the circles of the respective shoulders are angularly offset by 180.degree. with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Al-Madhi Muad
  • Patent number: 4512699
    Abstract: A daze fastener system for connecting two or more structural elements wherein the structural elements and fastener parts have substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion physical property characteristics is employed in this invention. By providing frusto-conical abutting surfaces between the structural elements and fastener parts any differences in thermal expansion/contraction between the parts is translated to sliding motion and avoids deleterious thermal stresses in the connection. An essential feature for isotropic homogeneous material connections is that at least two sets of mating surfaces are required wherein each set of mating surfaces have line element extensions that pass through a common point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: L. Robert Jackson, Randall C. Davis, Allan H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4512263
    Abstract: A depository apparatus capable of sequential stacking deposits comprises a transfer duct movable from a position solely in communication with a storage chamber to a second position solely in communication with an external deposit aperture. The storage chamber is separated into a storage zone and a receiving zone, the latter being the portion of the chamber in communication with the transfer duct. The two zones are separated one from the other by a one way gate system that allows a pusher element to push deposits from the receiving zone into the storage zone against an oppositely biased stacker plate movably mounted in the storage zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick E. Lanning
  • Patent number: 4511296
    Abstract: In order to provide an anchor site in a matrix of solid material which has an accessible face, a socket is formed in the material through the accessible face. A shaft such as an anchor bolt is inserted in the socket, leaving an accessible emergent outer end portion. Via the outer end, explosive force is introduced to or generated in a central cavity of the shaft, which explosive force dislodges and deploys radially essentially outwardly at least one key at at least one level within the socket. Various ways for producing the explosive force are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Invocas, Inc.
    Inventor: Israel Stol
  • Patent number: 4509890
    Abstract: A unitary, non-metallic captive panel screw adapted to be inserted in a suitable orifice defined in a workpiece includes a head and an outwardly projecting, multi-section shaft. A shaft spacer section has a diameter less than the diameter of the head, and extends a predetermined length from the head, terminating in a spaced-apart shoulder portion. A relief section of the shaft extends axially outwardly from the spacer section, and is substantially smaller both in diameter and length than the spacer section. A terminal threaded section having a diameter smaller than either the relief section or the spacer section is adapted to threadably receive a suitable nut whereby to secure a mechanical component in spaced relation relative to a workpiece. An integral, generally frustro-conical snap-fit flange section divides the terminal threaded section from the relief section, and includes a plurality of radially spaced-apart wedge shaped members extending radially outwardly from the axis of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Micro Plastics Inc.
    Inventor: Royce W. Hill
  • Patent number: 4508477
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening device (70, 72, 74, 76, 78) for securement of a threaded member such as a screw ("s") to an article such as a panel or the like. The device is of the type having a base member (12) having a frusto-conical projection (14) having a lower and higher helical edge (16, 16a) surrounding an opening (40, 42') therethrough which in conjunction with a pair of resilient finger portions (30, 32') having respective free-ends (34, 36) spaced-apart from each other along an axis ("y--y") defined therebetween of which one finger portion is displaced a distance ("x") further from the base member than the other finger portion to provide a means of engaging the threads of the threaded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald N. Oehlke, Ralph A. MacRae, James Crammond, Hans R. Rattmann
  • Patent number: 4507034
    Abstract: A pin mounts a plurality of expandable and contractable bushings that upon expansion engage the bore of workpieces to hold the latter together. A ball lock expands behind the workpieces to present a positive lock against axial pullout of the fastener. The bushings are alternate male and female, split ring bushings that have complementary contiguous surfaces that act as wedges. Upon axial compressive loading the female bushings expand and the male bushings contract. The ball lock includes a pair of diametrically opposed balls radially displaceable in the pin. A slide has an annular recess for receiving the balls in a withdrawn position within the pin. A spring normally biases a land of the slide into a position radially inside the balls to rigidly hold the balls in their extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Adjustable Bushing Corporation
    Inventors: Wing G. Lew, Richard A. Deutsch, Mojtaba Nasserian
  • Patent number: 4505628
    Abstract: A bearing lockout assembly having a locking cup piece which maintains locking keys in retentive association in counterbores of a lockout is disclosed. The locking cup piece is keyed on its inner diameter to a shaft and provided on the edge of its outer diameter with means to coact with the locking keys to define a vernier self locking feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Inventor: George C. Meibuhr
  • Patent number: 4502826
    Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a device for fastening objects to thin or hollow walls which comprises: a bolt, a nut with an aperture, a guide blade mounted to the bolt and extending lengthwise thereof and a bascule mounted to the bolt and interconnected to the nut; pivotal movement of the bascule on and relative to the bolt is caused by the nut being threadedly displaced along the shank portion of the bolt as a result of the screw being rotated; the guide blade extends through the aperture of the nut and prevents it from rotating with the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Quebec
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Fafard
  • Patent number: 4501520
    Abstract: An expansion dowel assembly is used to anchor a part to the surface of a structural member. The expansion dowel assembly is inserted into and anchored within a borehole in the structural member. The assembly includes a support tube, an anchor rod extending axially through the support tube, and expansion elements positioned within the support tube so as to be radially displaced by the anchor rod into anchoring engagement with the structural member. The expansion elements are positioned within the support tube in bearing contact with a support surface. The support surface contacting the expansion elements faces toward the bottom of the borehole into which the dowel assembly is inserted. The support surface is a web formed as part of the support tube and it is axially displaceable when a force acting on the anchor rod exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Arndt Bergner
  • Patent number: 4501521
    Abstract: A locking fastener assembly has a fastener with a generally cylindrical body with external threads for assembly with a hollow outer member. Crenellations are provided at a first end of the body for engaging an inner member in the hollow member for preventing rotation of the inner member relative to the locking fastener. At the other end of the body there is a radially extending flange carrying an interrupted annular rim which defines an annular channel between the body and the rim. A locking ring can fit substantially entirely into the annular channel. The ring has a plurality of projections which fit into a plurality of radial slots in the rim for preventing relative rotation between the locking ring and fastener. A snap ring or the like can be used for releasably spacing the locking ring away from the bottom of the annular channel so that the projections on the ring can engage projections on the outer member and prevent relative rotation between the outer member and the split ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bela A. Geczy
  • Patent number: 4500240
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bolt fastener adapted to rotatably or non-rotatably secure a bolt to a frame through an aperture therethrough. The fastener is provided with a base member having a slot therethrough and a resilient arm that extends upwardly from an edge of the base member and, in spaced relationship, across the side thereof that is to face away from the side of the frame against which the base member is to be laid and then downwardly past an opposite edge of the base member and then inwardly towards a plane generally transverse to the plane of the base member to a free-end thereof disposed in the side of the base member facing towards the frame against which the base member is to be laid to provide an open-ended clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Moran, Benedict J. DiBello
  • Patent number: 4500238
    Abstract: A fastener useful for securing articles on a hollow wall, made of a thin sheet of metal, shaped as to provide two spreadable pointed thin blades for easy insertion into a wall where after the blades are spread apart by the insertion of a screw to form an anchor resisting withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Inventor: Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Patent number: 4500239
    Abstract: Toggle bolt (10) which can be set interlockingly in an undercut bore (12) and having locking elements disposed for pivoting on the toggle bolt front end and biased by a spring (32) for an excursion into the position of engagement with the undercut (16).The locking elements (22) are secured against excursion by a clasping element (46) embracing them, which has the form of a plastic sleeve (48) from whose rearward end a circumferential annular flange projects radially whose outside diameter is greater than the diameter of the corresponding mounting bore (12). Upon the introduction of the toggle bolt (10) into the mounting bore (12), the annular flange (50) holds the clasping element (46) back at the outer end of the mounting bore, the locking elements (22) being pushed out of the sleeve (48) and being then able to swing out freely.Thin tabs (42) pointing radially inward on the sleeve (48) prevent a premature pushing of the clasping element (46) away from the locking elements (22) prior to the setting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Inventor: Heinrich Liebig