Abstract: A retaining ring for use with a fastener is disclosed. The retaining ring comprises a plurality of substantially t-shaped internal tabs that oppose one another and are about twice as thick as the exterior of the ring. The ring is installed onto a fastener having at least two longitudinally-oriented slots by locating a tab into one of the slots and snapping another tab into another slot, thereby momentarily elongating during installation. The tabs substantially reduce the possibility of accidental removal of the retaining ring. In addition, resistance and damage to the internal tabs of the retaining ring is substantially reduced when the retaining ring slides axially in the longitudinal slots of the fastener. Since only the longitudinally-oriented slots are required for installation, the axially-oriented entry slots and cross-over slots of some fastener embodiments can be eliminated, thereby significantly reducing fastener cost and manufacturing time.

Abstract: A threaded locking beam nut having a plurality of locking beams configured such that the inside edge surface of each locking beam has a radially inwardly angled surface thereby forming substantially a V-shaped channel between adjacent beams.

Abstract: A threaded locking beam nut having a plurality of locking beams configured such that the inside edge surface of each locking beam has a radially inwardly angled surface thereby forming substantially a V-shaped channel between adjacent beams.

Abstract: A threaded locking beam nut having a plurality of locking beams configured such that the inside edge surface of each locking beam has a radially inwardly angled surface thereby forming substantially a V-shaped channel between adjacent beams.

Abstract: A fastener assembly having an elongated shaft with an exterior surface defining a plurality of open-ended longitudinally-extending splines on one end of the shaft and a second plurality of longitudinally-oriented closed-ended spline circumferentially spaced from the first splines. The assembly includes a substantially triangular retaining ring having an inwardly directed tab is positioned in the middle of each side of the ring. Cross-over slots interconnect the first and second splines and are sized to require the retaining ring tabs to flex to permit transition of the ring tabs between the first splines and the second splines.

Abstract: A fastener assembly having an elongated shaft with an exterior surface defining a plurality of open-ended longitudinaily-extending splines on one end of the shaft and a second plurality of longitudinally-oriented closed-ended spline circumferentially spaced from the first splines. The assembly includes a substantially triangular retaining ring having an inwardly directed tab is positioned in the middle of each side of the ring. Cross-over slots interconnect the first and second splines and are sized to require the retaining ring tabs to flex to permit transition of the ring tabs between the first splines and the second splines.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The drive nut has a smooth bore and protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. A retaining device is used to retain the drive nut on the screw against the nut. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head. The nut is then threaded onto the screw adjacent the sleeve. The drive nut's protruding nibs are next aligned and physically engaged into the driving recess of the nut head by sliding the smooth bore over the screw. A retaining device is placed over the screw adjacent the drive nut to retain the drive nut to the screw.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The drive nut has a smooth bore and protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. An end of the drive nut opposite the nibs is deformed to retain the drive nut on the screw against the nut. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head. The nut is then threaded onto the screw adjacent the sleeve. The drive nut's protruding nibs are next aligned and physically engaged into the driving recess of the nut head by sliding the smooth bore over the screw.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener of the present invention includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The new drive nut of this invention has protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. The protruding nibs of the new drive nut are not deformable and serve to replace the deformable annular ridge that was used in previous drive nut assemblies. The configuration of the protruding nibs and the recess in the nut head can be of many forms, so long as both parts are capable of being mated. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener of the present invention includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The new drive nut of this invention has protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. The protruding nibs of the new drive nut are not deformable and serve to replace the deformable annular ridge that was used in previous drive nut assemblies. The configuration of the protruding nibs and the recess in the nut head can be of many forms, so long as both parts are capable of being mated. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head.

Abstract: A protruding head fastener incorporates a slight head taper that gradually increases in diameter as it moves in the opposite direction from the female threaded section formed in a parent material. The fastener head engages the mating non-tapered counterbore located in the parent material, the counterbore being slightly larger than the outside diameter of the tapered head portion of the fastener closest to the threads and slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the outward taper of the fastener at the farthest position away from the threads. As the male fastener engages the female threads, the taper of the head of the male fastener abuts against the non-tapered counterbore of the parent material. An interference condition occurs and the mechanical advantage of the threads rotationally pull the tapered head into the counterbore. The counterbore material then begins to yield and deform slightly to conform to a precise matching taper fit with the head of the male fastener.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The drive nut has a smooth bore and protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. An end of the drive nut opposite the nibs is deformed to retain the drive nut on the screw against the nut. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head. The nut is then threaded onto the screw adjacent the sleeve. The drive nut's protruding nibs are next aligned and physically engaged into the driving recess of the nut head by sliding the smooth bore over the screw.

Abstract: A blind fastener with an improved drive nut and assembly process. The blind fastener includes a screw, a sleeve, a nut, and a drive nut. The drive nut has a smooth bore and protruding nibs that mate precisely with a driving recess located in the nut head. A retaining device is used to retain the drive nut on the screw against the nut. Once the new assembly process for the blind fastener has been completed, the drive nut will have been mated with the nut head to prevent any rotation of the nut during installation of the blind fastener. The assembly process will now include placing the sleeve over the threads of the screw to a position adjacent the screw head. The nut is then threaded onto the screw adjacent the sleeve. The drive nut's protruding nibs are next aligned and physically engaged into the driving recess of the nut head by sliding the smooth bore over the screw. A retaining device is placed over the screw adjacent the drive nut to retain the drive nut to the screw.

Abstract: An improved fastener system includes a threaded pin and a tool. The pin contains a recess in a threaded end of the pin for receiving the tool, thus holding the pin against rotation during application of a nut on the pin. The recess includes splines extending around a circumference of the recess. A plurality of mating splines are located on an end of the tool for engaging the slots of the recess. The splines are oriented to maximize torsional performance and to balance the shear strength of the pin with the shear strength of the tool. Additionally the ends of the recess splines and a minor diameter of the tool include a matching curved surface to increase torsional strength.

Abstract: A hold down fastener clutching mechanism comprising an inner torque ring having a pair of split outer ring members with angled ends. A sloped surface at one of the angled ends is at a predetermined angle to the fastener axis. The other end of the inner ring member is integrally joined to an adjacent inner ring member which has a pair of rib members. The selected slope (angle) of the angled surface, for the specific material used, determines the amount of prevailing torque provided by the device itself. A pair of angled rib members protrude from the sleeve inner diameter, the angle of the rib members corresponding to the angled surface formed on the inner torque ring. The inner torque ring and the sleeve are operatively connected such that when the connecting shaft is rotated, the rib members on the inner surface of the sleeve compresses the inner torque ring to the desired preload. In one embodiment, the inner ring is a single, integral member.

Abstract: A blind bolt assembly for compressively connecting at least two overlapping workpieces having a hollow bolt sized to be received within aligned aperture in the workpieces. The hollow bolt includes an enlarged head portion, a grip section extending from the head portion and reduced diameter externally threaded end portion extending from the grip section. An angled ramp section extends along the hollow bolt between the grip section and the threaded end portion. A core bolt having an elongated shaft is positioned within a cylindrical hole in the hollow bolt and includes a drive head extending outside of the hollow bolt. The blind bolt assembly includes a cylindrical collar having an internally threaded section for threadable receipt of the threaded end portion of the hollow bolt and a drive section for receipt of the drive portion of the core bolt. The drive portion of the core bolt and the drive section of the collar preferably include mating splines.

Abstract: A fastener system including a blind grounding stud and a sleeve. The sleeve has a first section abutting a second section. The first section has a smaller outer surface diameter than the second section. A knurled band is formed around the first section beginning at the intersection between the first and second sections. The sleeve has an opening axially through the two sections. The opening has a first larger inner surface which tapers via a frusto-conical surface to a smaller diameter inner surface. The larger diameter inner surface extends from the free end of the sleeve first section and extends toward the second section to the frusto-conical surface. The smaller diameter inner surface begins at the free end of the second section and extends toward the first section to the frusto-conical inner surface. The smaller diameter inner surface spans at least a portion and preferably all of the knurled band.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for interconnecting a prosthesis to a bone of a patient includes a first component adapted for direct attachment to the bone. The first component has a longitudinally extending aperture including an upper portion defined by a smooth surface and a lower portion defined by a plurality of internal threads. The mounting arrangement additionally includes a second component adapted to abut the first component. The second component includes a generally cylindrical channel passing longitudinally therethrough. Further, the mounting arrangement includes a threaded fastener including an upper segment having a smooth surface and a lower segment including a plurality of external threads for meshing engagement with the plurality of internal threads. The upper segment passes through the generally cylindrical channel and it extends partially into the aperture.

Abstract: A fastening system comprising a bolt having a threaded shaft portion with a major thread diameter and a member having an aperture formed therein, said aperture being threaded over a portion thereof, a locking element having a preformed thread configuration being positioned within said aperture.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for securing a first panel member to a second panel member in a spaced-apart relationship. The fastener comprises a tubular shank portion having first and second end portions, a cavity being formed in the shank portion. A first spring member is secured on the outside of the shank portion and has openings near the first end of the shank portion to enable steel ball members to protrude therefrom. Inside the shank portion cavity is a stepped pin member that is spring loaded and held in place by a combination of the shank portion spring ball retention feature and step angles formed on the pin member.