Abstract: A simplified captive panel fastener including a head, shank, a threaded outer end, and a centrally threaded opening at the outer end. Longitudinal slots extend along the outer end of the fastener to receive a retention washer with inwardly extending prongs. The method of mounting the fastener to its desired location and locking a retention washer and fastener in place is easily performed by employing a tool which disposes the threaded mating part, for example, a screw or bolt, into the central threaded opening of the outer end of the fastener. The head of the screw or bolt has radial extent sufficient to block the slots and prevent loss of the retention washer. Only a common screwdriver is used to mount the retention screw or bolt in the end of the fastener.

Abstract: A simplified captive panel fastener including a head, shank, a threaded outer end, and a centrally threaded opening at the outer end. Longitudinal slots extend along the outer end of the fastener to receive a retention washer with inwardly extending prongs. The method of mounting the fastener to its desired location and locking a retention washer and fastener in place is easily performed by employing a tool which disposes the threaded mating part, for example, a screw or bolt, into the central threaded opening of the outer end of the fastener. The head of the screw or bolt has radial extent sufficient to block the slots and prevent loss of the retention washer. Only a common screwdriver is used to mount the retention screw or bolt in the end of the fastener.

Abstract: A bolt and restraining clip assembly are formed by providing a raised square portion on the head of the bolt on the side of the head away from the threaded end of the bolt. A clip with a mating square hole is mounted on the raised square portion, and an additional central protrusion extending outwardly from the raised square portion is impacted, for example in a punch press, to form a boss extending outwardly over the hole in the clip to firmly secure the clip to the bolt.

Abstract: An attaching sleeve for a floating nut assembly is formed from rod or wire stock by successive cold heading or cold forming operations. The steps involve cutting off a longitudinal segment from the stock, forming a flange on the front end of the segment, forming a centrally disposed opening through the segment, and forming longitudinally extending ridges projecting outwardly around the periphery of the segment. The attaching sleeves made by the method of the present invention have accurately positioned ridges or knurls which will consistently mate with a similarly configured opening in panels to which the floating nut assembly is to be secured.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener includes a head, a shank, internal threads, and external, longitudinally extending slots extending from near the head to near the shank's outer end. A washer is provided and the washer has inwardly extending prongs that fit into the longitudinally extending slots when the washer is slipped onto the fastener. The outer end of the shank, past the ends of the slots, has a thin walled portion which, after the washer is in place, is deformed with a forming tool so that the wall is pushed outward. The outwardly deformed end wall blocks the ends of the longitudinally extending slots, thereby holding the washer onto the fastener. The retaining washer captures the fastener on the panel or other surface through which the fastener has been extended. A small washer may be utilized between the outer ends of the slots and the deformed end walls to block the ends of the slots, thereby allowing the end walls to indirectly hold the larger retention washer.

Abstract: Locking fasteners for pivotal tools which will not loosen during use and which apply a constant pressure between pivotal tool members. A pivot screw is provided with a holow inner bore in which a securing screw is inserted to cause binding engagement with a portion of the wall formed by the opening in which the pivot screw is inserted. In one embodiment, the securing screw causes expansion of the pivot screw shaft. In another, the securing screw actuates a compressible member which engages the wall. In the event of looseness between the two pivotal parts as a result of shock or for any other reason, the securing screw may be actuated to permit tightening or readjustment of the pivot screw.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener includes a head, a shank and a threaded outer end, with slots extending longitudinally down through the threads towad the outer end of the fastener. A relatively rigid and inflexible retention washer is provided and this washer has inwardly extending prongs which fit into the longitudinally extending slots on the fastener. The outer end of the fastener has a hole in it, and, after the washer is in place, a forming tool is employed to deform the outer end wall of the opening, so that the wall is pushed outwardly to block the outer ends of the longitudinally extending slots, thereby holding the washer onto the fastener, and retaining it extending through a hole in a panel or the like through which it may have been inserted. A small washer may be employed at the end of the fastener between the ends of the slots and the deformed extreme outer end of the fastener.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener includes three parts, a screw, a tapered bushing, and a slotted expandable sleeve. The bushing fits closely over the shank of the screw, and has an outwardly extending shoulder or flange at its lower end away from the head of the screw, to retain the expandable sleeve in the expanded condition. The slotted sleeve has a cylindrical upper flange which is generally co-extensive with the head of the screw, and has a lower flange which in the initial or relaxed condition is smaller than the panel hole through which the captive fastener is to be secured. Following insertion of the shank of the screw and the unstressed slotted sleeve into a hole in a panel where the fastener is to be secured, further pressure on the head of the fastener forces the sleeve into the bushing, expanding the lower end of the sleeve, so that its lower slotted flange grips around the lower edge of the panel.

Abstract: The captive screw has an enlarged head to prevent complete passage of the screw through a bore in a panel. The shank of the screw has a side opening incorporating a retractable latch radially extending from the shank. This latch has upper and lower sloping cam surfaces at its forward end. The lower surface is oriented such that urging of the screw inwardly through the bore in the panel retracts the latch. The latch is spring-biased radially outwardly so that after the latch clears the bore, the screw is held captive. The upper cam surface of the latch intercepts the lower cam surface in a line which is tilted at an angle corresponding to the helix angle of the threads in a nut receiving the screw in an adjacent panel. The screw can thus be threaded into this nut to close the panel and the latch will function as a thread lock.

Abstract: A tamper-proof screw assembly is made up of three basic parts, two of which are coupled together. First, there is provided a screw having a flat head with a center tapped opening and an annular array of teeth formed in its surface surrounding the tapped opening. A second member constitutes a torquing member with a flat bottom and central bore passing completely through the member. An annular array of teeth is formed in the flat bottom in a position to register with the first mentioned annular array of teeth. A third member serves to apply an axial force between the torquing member and the screw head to hold the teeth respectively in engagement with each other so that torque can be transferred to the screw.

Abstract: A cylindrical bushing is positioned over the shank of a screw member prior to forming threads on the shank. After the threads are formed, the outside diameter of the threads is greater than the inside diameter of the bushing so that the bushing is held captive on the shank of the screw. A cylindrical sleeve is then inwardly deformed so as to be permanently secured to the bushing. The opposite end of the sleeve facing away from the head of the screw shank extends beyond the bushing and forms a skirt which can be peened over the peripheral inner edge of a panel opening to secure the sleeve to the panel, thereby holding the screw captive to the panel. The end of the bushing next to the underside of the screw head has an increased internal diameter portion for accommodating a spring serving to bias the head and shank away from the bushing so that when the screw is unfastened, it will pop outwardly and release quickly any member to be secured to the panel.

Abstract: A grommet attached to a top panel captures a stud nut of a panel fastener through a retaining ring held by the grommet. A complimentary stud assembly attaches to a subpanel and receives the stud nut to clamp the panels together. The grommet has a stand-off base that projects axially from a counterbore in the top panel to form a barrier for a gasket. A flared end of the grommet and the standoff base clamp the top panel between them. The retaining ring compressively bears radially against the stud nut to retain it in any desired axial position and maintain axial alignment of the stud nut. The stud nut can draw completely into the top panel. The stud nut has a clear-through bore threaded at one end. A wrenching recess, defined by a hardened insert, occupies the other end of the bore. A plug separates the wrenching recess from the threads. A basket of the stud assembly attaches to the subpanel by rivets. A barrel attaches to the basket through lugs engaged in slots of down turned wings of the basket.

Abstract: This invention provides a flarable fastener having a sleeve with a bendable wall at one end and a head at the other. A screw has a shank extending through the sleeve and a head overlying one end of the sleeve, with a knurl holding the screw and sleeve together. A nut is received on the outer threaded end of the shank and includes an axial protrusion dimensioned to enter the end of the sleeve upon advancement of the nut, causing the sleeve to be flared outwardly to form a flange for holding it to a workpiece.

Abstract: This invention provides a removal arrangement for a fastener element which includes spaced exterior portions of a first diameter with a frustoconical portion in between, the frustoconical portion tapering from the first portion to a shoulder that connects to the third portion. A resilient retainer ring fits within a groove in a grommet attachable to a workpiece and encircles the fastener element at the first and third surface portions, and is engageable with the shoulder for preventing separation of the fastener element from the retainer ring. In the removal of the fastener element, an expansible member is extended over the fastener to encircle it at the third surface portion, the expansible member presenting an exterior surface substantially that of the first diameter of the fastener, bridging between the first and second surface portions so that said fastener element can be withdrawn from the retainer ring.

Abstract: This invention provides a removal arrangement for a fastener element which includes spaced exterior portions of a first diameter with a frustoconical portion in between, the frustoconical portion tapering from the first portion to a shoulder that connects to the third portion. A resilient retainer ring fits within a groove in a grommet attachable to a workpiece and encircles the fastener element at the first and third surface portions, and is engageable with the shoulder for preventing separation of the fastener element from the retainer ring. In the removal of the fastener element, an expansible member is extended over the fastener to encircle it at the third surface portion, the expansible member presenting an exterior surface substantially that of the first diameter of the fastener, bridging between the first and second surface portions so that said fastener element can be withdrawn from the retainer ring.