Abstract: A friction welding fastener system is disclosed for fusing a thermoplastic material fastener to a substrate by heat of friction induced through the application of rotative and axial forces applied to the fastener. A cavity is formed inwardly of the bottom surface of the thermoplastic base member and a heat activated adhesive material having a bonding affinity for both the base material and the substrate material is inserted into the cavity to form a layer having a thickness equal or greater than the thickness of the base member. The base member is rotated with sufficient rotative and axial forces to cause the heat activated adhesive layer to adhere to the substrate.

Abstract: An insulator used in connecting heat generating electrical components to heat sinks. Fasteners which include insulators of the present invention include flexible engaging means for preassembling an insulating washer portion to a conductive fastener element. The insulators may be made of high performance plastic material or of a coated metal. The fasteners used with the insulators preferably have integral spring washers to maintain thermal conductivity between the components and the associated heat sinks. The insulator preferably have integral bosses which prevent arcing between the conductive fasteners and the heat sinks.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and a fastener for use in attaching articles to printed circuit boards. The fastener, which has a generally tubular body, flanged at one end, is adapted to receive a screw. The fastener has a polygonal cross-section over a portion of its length. The flange which is located at one end of the tubular body, has an integral spring washer and includes indentations which allow solder to flow from one side of the printed circuit board to the other. The fastener with its integral spring washer provides improved clamping characteristics and avoids problems associated with large coefficients of thermal expansion of printed circuit board material in a direction perpendicular to the board.

Abstract: A thermoplastic fastener having a slight taper, is friction welded to a thermoplastic workpiece. A system for friction welding the fastener includes a way of automatically stopping rotation of the fastener while contact pressure between the fastener and the workpiece is maintained.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved fastener of the type having a head portion, a shank portion extending from the head portion, and a plastic cover overlying the fastener head. The head includes an outer perimeter of generally square configuration having a plurality of substantially straight side portions. The upper surface of the head is provided with an oversized drive recess which extends along the diagonals of the square perimeter. As a result, the fastener head may be readily aligned within a mold which forms the plastic head cover. More particularly, anyone of the straight side portions may engage an alignment surface of the mold to permit the final drive recess forming portion of the mold to be readily aligned with and received by the initial over sized drive recess. The resulting plastic cover entirely overlies the fastener head and the thickness of the plastic within the oversized recess reduces the drive recess dimension to a final desired size.

Abstract: A nut member and composite joint configuration designed to eliminate compressive stress on work panels that are fragile. A nut with a tubular section and a flange, which is spaced both radially and axially from one extremity of the tube and provided with an adhesive surface, may be inserted from one side of the fragile panel so that the end of the tubular section is spaced within the aperture in the fragile panel. Compressive clamping forces applied by a male member draws the end up into abutment with the overlying panel while the adhesive absorbs much of the stress in the joint.

Abstract: A spacing or shimming system for accurately securing a workpiece to a work-securing surface with a predetermined space between these two surfaces. A collapsible shim device includes a support securement surface and a workpiece supporting surface interconnected integrally by a selectively displaceable strut having a knee section which is particularly adapted to permit the workpiece supporting surface to become closer to the support securement surface upon significant compression. A further part of this system includes a self-drilling and threading fastener having a spacing or supporting washer.

Abstract: A sheet metal clinch nut configured to be attached to a plastic panel. A portion of the plastic panel is extruded into a toothed aperture without puncturing the plastic to axially and rotationally fix the clinch nut to the panel. A plurality of embodiments are disclosed as is the method of assembling these clinch nuts to the plastic panel. Also a method of feeding an interconnected strip of clinch nuts and breaking off the lead nut at the staking station is described.

Abstract: A switch actuating device designed to control the speed of rotation of shafts, particularly electric motor shafts. A plastic hub section is designed to be positioned about the shaft, and a plurality of relatively independent, flexing leg, weight members, radially disposed from the hub and integrally connected to the hub by a thin web section, create the actuating members for acting on a switch which directly controls the rotation of the shaft. The web section is dome-like in configuration so that the top regions of the legs are at an axial plane below the uppermost region of the hub and is so designed to permit the legs to force the web upwardly snappingly into contact with the independent switch member.

Abstract: A nut device permitting securement of and to thin panel members. An axially extending, internally threaded shank has two laterally extending flanges interconnected to one end, the flanges being bent downward. Two beam members extend laterally from the shank in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the flanges, the ends of the beam members being bent upwardly toward the flanges. The nut is inserted in a slot in the panel by positioning the beam members parallel to the slot, pushing downwardly on the beam members to flex the flanges so that the beam members may be rotated clockwise beneath the panel. The flanges and beam members cooperate to frictionally clamp the panel and resist lateral and rotational displacement relative to the panel. A specially configured tool is also disclosed.

Abstract: A specially designed washer for attaching a plastic member to a metal substrate. The washer has a generally polygonal configuration with a metal-substrate-engaging member which projects through the plastic from an off-center location. This member provides some dissipation of the clamp load through a metal-to-metal contact path through the plastic and also acts as a pivot point for the washer to transfer another component outwardly from the aperture in the plastic and distribute it over a wide surface area to reduce plastic creep and eliminate loosening of the joint. A crowning of the washer body dissipates additional clamp loading from the resulting spring forces.

Abstract: An adjustable shelf support having a standard with a shelf bracket capable of infinite adjustability. The standard has a L-shaped cross section, a first leg of the `L` lying along the supporting surface and a second leg extending outwardly therefrom. The free end of the second leg is folded back towards the first leg forming two parallel, spaced extensions. The bracket is planar with two fingers extending outwardly from but parallel to the plane of the bracket. The upper finger is inserted behind the free end of the second leg by rotating the bracket downward. This brings the flat trailing edge between two protrusions formed on the first arm and allows the second finger to snap into place behind the free end of the second leg, thereby, preventing accidental dislodgement by an upward force. The distance between the flat trailing edge and the farthest extent of the first protrusion slightly exceeds the length of the inner wall of the second leg.

Abstract: A rotary cutting or shearing wheel of one-piece configuration formed from sheet stock including an extruded hub section and a dome wheel section including a cold formed, feathered, cutting edge at the outer periphery.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monitor for monitoring the state of charge of a battery having an internal charge transfer medium. A monitor includes detecting means arranged to be disposed beneath the surface of the charge transfer medium and arranged for sensing the specific gravity of a fluid medium, enclosure means for enclosing the detecting means, and a fluid medium within the enclosure means. The fluid medium exhibits specific gravities related to the degree of electric charge therein and the enclosure means is formed at least partly from a non-permeable electric charge transmissible material to enable the fluid medium to assume the electric charge of the charge transfer medium while substantially separating the fluid medium therefrom. The monitor further includes indicating means responsive to the detecting means for indicating the specific gravity of the fluid medium and thus the state of charge of the battery.

Abstract: A spring retainer strip for releasably securing a liner and a gasket to the inner face of a refrigerator door. The retainer strip has a length which is generally equal to that of the gasket to be secured and a width which is somewhat less than that of the gasket. The retainer strip has a rectangular body portion with a plurality of spaced fingers extending from one side of the body. The retainer strip can be moved from a first to a second staging position to effect clamping of the liner and gasket to the refrigerator door. Return to the first staging position facilitates removal and replacement of the linear and the gasket. A method of assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting plate assembly for securing a curtain rod bracket to dry wall or the like. The assembly includes radiused anchors which are easily rotated into the wall. The anchors may be constructed individually and then incorporated into the assembly or, in an alternate embodiment, may be formed integrally with the mounting plate. The mounting plate employs a U-shaped flange and a plurality of spring fingers to removably retain the curtain rod bracket on the dry wall.

Abstract: A washer for indicating the amount of load placed on a fastener joint. A disc-like body has a pair of arms extending outwardly and then upwardly from two elbow portions. These two arms will deflect toward one another and, when a predetermined load is reached, they will touch. Any loosening occurring within the joint will result in the arms disengaging contact presenting an immediate visual indication.

Abstract: A self-penetrating fastener assembly for anchoring in wallboard has a pointed anchor member and a threaded fastener. The anchor member has a longitudinal recess formed by semicylindrical segments which intersects an aperture that extends through the anchor. The fastener is aligned within the recess which engages the threads of the fastener, the head thereof protruding beyond the end of the anchor and the assembly is hammered into the wallboard. When the anchor clears the wallboard, the fastener is threadingly advanced into the anchor which, in turn, is drawn up against the back of the wallboard securely attaching an article thereto.

Abstract: A security screw has an axially directed drive hole in its head, with the axis of that hole being coincident with the axis of the screw itself. To turn the screw in either direction, the shank of a driver is inserted into the drive hole and turned in the desired direction. The shank has at least one camming surface on it in the form of a land, and a gripping rod extends along that camming surface in the direction of the shank, the rod being generally centered with respect to the camming surface over which it lies. The arrangement is such that when the shank of the driver is turned with the gripping rod remaining generally with the screw head, the shank forces the gripping rod outwardly into snug contact with the side wall of the drive hole. Indeed, the gripping rod becomes lodged tightly between the wall of the drive hole and the shank of the driver so that the torque applied to the driver is transferred to the screw.

Abstract: A lock located within a door has a bolt that is extended and retracted by a double acting air cylinder. A single air line extends from the door frame and into the door where it is connected with a valve having two discharge lines that lead to opposite ends of the cylinder. To energize the cylinder and move the lock bolt, a charge of pressurized air is directed to the valve which in turn directs it to one end of the cylinder. The charge of air further causes the valve to reset itself so that the next charge will be directed to the opposite end of the cylinder. Consequently, with successive charges of air the piston rod of the cylinder and the lock bolt move in opposite directions.