Abstract: A decorative window for use with a sanitary product dispenser such as a dispenser for dispensing tissue, paper towels or liquid soap. The window is substantially transparent and is mounted to the front cover of the dispenser. A decorative strip support releasably engages the window from within the dispenser. The decorative strip support member includes at least one flexible latch bar which is engageable with a latch bolt receptacle in the window. A decorative strip cut to the appropriate size can be inserted against the inside surface of the window with the decorative strip support removed. The decorative strip support can be reinserted against the window such that the latch bar engages the latch receptacle thus pressing and supporting the decorative strip between the window and the decorative strip support and automatically compensating for decorative strips of different thicknesses.

Abstract: A wall mounted toilet tissue dispenser for two very large rolls of toilet tissue. The rolls are rotatably supported side by side in the dispenser with the axis of each roll perpendicular to the mounting wall of the dispenser. Paper is dispensed through a dispensing opening located at the bottom of the dispenser. Tail guide members are provided in the dispenser for limiting the location in the dispensing opening of the tail of each roll of tissue and for guaranteeing that the paper is at an angle to the vertical when the paper is severed so that after the paper is cut the tail will project below the dispensing opening when the paper falls to a vertical position.

Abstract: A two piece fastener includes a pin member having a head and a shank portion having a plurality of grooves thereon, as well as a tubular membered swaged into locking engagement with a predetermined number of the grooves by means of a tool having a swaging anvil. A number of the grooves are combination locking and breakneck grooves defined by first and second radially outwardly diverging sidewalls, the juncture of the sidewalls at each of the grooves including a concave radius portion interconnecting the radially inner ends of the first and second sidewalls, a number of the grooves being located approximate the outer end of the tubular member for receiving the material of the tubular member as it is swaged. The first and second sidewalls are angulated so as to provide a relative force between the sidewalls in the selected ones of the grooves.

Abstract: A fastener in accordance with this invention is a pin member usable with a collar to fasten a joint. The pin member comprises a head and an integrally formed shank extending therefrom. The shank includes a locking portion formed with a plurality of ribs separated from each other by locking grooves, the depth of which are all substantially equal to each other. At least one of the ribs is formed with a portion symmetrical about a line extending at a right angle to the axis of the shank and a portion asymmetrical about that line. Preferably all of the ribs have a radiused crest.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for tightening assemblies held together by threaded fasteners. The desired tightened condition is achieved by calculating the tightening torque required to induce a preload in a fastener equal to or approximating a predetermined preload and comparing this calculated torque with the torque being imparted to the fastener to tighten the assembly. When the two torques are equal, the torque imparted to the fastener is stopped. The tightening torque is calculated by identifying properly the relationship between the actual torque-rotation curve through which the assembly is taken as it is being tightened and the theoretical torque-rotation curve for the assembly from which a theoretical tightening torque required to induce the predetermined preload is established.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for tightening assemblies held together by threaded fasteners. The desired tightened condition is achieved by calculating the tightening torque required to induce a desired preload in the threaded fastener and comparing this calculated tightening torque with the torque being imparted to the fastener to tighten the assembly. When the two torques are equal, the torque imparted to the fastener is stopped. The tightening torque is calculated by identifying properly the relationship between the torque-rotation curve through which the assembly is taken as it is being tightened and the preload-rotation curve for the assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining dynamic friction in a threaded joint and an associated tightening system for tightening such joints including threaded fasteners. A value representative of the coefficient of friction in the threaded joint is obtained by determining the gradient of a torque-rotation curve which could be plotted for the joint being tightened, and dividing this gradient by the product of the fastener pitch diameter and the tension rate of the joint. The desired tightened condition is achieved by computing the tightening torque required to induce a predetermined preload in the threaded fastener and comparing this computed torque with the instantaneous torque being imparted to the fastener. When the two torques are equal, tightening of the fastener is stopped.

Abstract: A fastener which includes an unthreaded bolt member having two groups of grooves formed therein is disclosed. All the grooves within each group have the same depth. The group of grooves furthest from the workpiece have a greater depth than the group of grooves adjacent to the workpiece, thus permitting a more uniform load distribution along the shank of the bolt.

Abstract: A tightening and control system is disclosed for automatically tightening a fastener to a predetermined tightened condition in a workpiece, where the fastener is of the type which exhibits more than one installation region on a graph of two tightening characteristics during a complete tightening cycle. Typical of such fasteners are thread tapping fasteners, such as thread-cutting or thread forming types, which first generate a mating thread in a workpiece material and thereafter are tightened in the workpiece to a predetermined load condition. Such fasteners typically exhibit a curve of two related input tightening characteristics, such as torque and rotation, having a thread forming region characterized by a generally linear portion followed by a marked drop off in the slope, an intermediate region having several possible characteristic shapes, and a tightening region having a somewhat similar shape to the thread forming region.

Abstract: A tightening and control system is disclosed for automatically tightening a blind fastener assembly to a desired tightened condition in a workpiece, where the assembly is of the type which exhibits more than one installation region on a graph of two tightening characteristics during a complete tightening cycle. Typical of such assemblies are the types which first form an outwardly flared bulb adjacent the blindside surface of a workpiece and thereafter are tightened against the blindside surface to a predetermined clamp load condition. Such fasteners typically exhibit a curve of two related input tightening characteristics, such as torque and rotation, torque and time, or force and stroke. Each curve has a bulb forming region characterized by a generally linear portion followed by a marked drop off in the slope, an intermediate region, and a tightening region having a somewhat similar shape to the bulb forming region.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein relates to a method of and tightening system for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener system to a yield point of one of the members in the assembly. According to the method, torque is applied and rotation is imparted to a fastener member, and the torque and rotational displacement of the fastener are determined at predetermined increments of rotation for use in determining the area between successive increments of rotation under the Torque-Rotation curve which could be plotted. The incremental areas are compared to determine when some member in the joint assembly has been tightened to its yield point or some similarly significant point. The tightening system includes a wrench and a control system associated with the wrench including measuring systems for developing a first signal representative of the torque applied to the fastener and a second signal representative of the rotation of the fastener.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein relates to a method of and a tightening system for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener system to a yield point of one of the members in the assembly. According to the method torque is applied and rotation is imparted to a fastener member and the instantaneous slope of the Torque-Rotation curve which could be plotted is determined between successive increments of rotation of the fastener member. Each instantaneous slope is compared with the preceding instantaneous slope to determine the change in the slope of the curve. When the instantaneous slope of the curve decreases a predetermined consecutive number of times equal to a predetermined span of rotation divided by the interval between successive increments of rotation, tightening is discontinued.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a fastener assembly and method of using same to preload a joint including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings formed therein. The fastener assembly includes a pin member having an enlarged head and a shank located within the aligned openings in the workpieces and further includes a collar member having a deformable outer portion and a relatively hard inner portion located about a portion of the shank such that the inner portion is directly adjacent the shank portion. Also formed on the shank is a thread configuration adapted to cooperate with a complimentary thread configuration for snugging the workpieces together with a relatively light preload. After the joint has been snugged together, the collar member is crimped causing axial flow of material in the outer portion which reacts to stretch the pin member and induce a desired preload in the joint.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a fastener assembly and method of using same to preload a joint including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings formed therein. The fastener assembly includes a pin member having an enlarged head and a shank located within the aligned openings in the workpieces and further includes a collar member having a deformable outer portion and a relatively hard inner portion located about a portion of the shank such that the inner portion is directly adjacent the shank portion. Also formed on the shank is a thread configuration adapted to cooperate with a complimentary thread configuration for snugging the workpieces together with a relatively light preload. After the joint has been snugged together, the collar member is crimped causing axial flow of material in the outer portion which reacts to stretch the pin member and induce a desired preload in the joint.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a tightening system including a wrench for applying torque and imparting rotation to a fastener system. Associated with the wrench is a control system including measuring systems for developing a first signal representative of the torque applied to the fastener being tightened and a second signal representative of the rotation of the fastener, both of which are fed to a gradient calculating system for developing a signal representative of the slope of a Torque-Rotation curve which can be plotted for the particular fastener being tightened. The gradient signal is used to develop a signal representative of a theoretical curve which is processed with one of the previously developed signals to develop a control signal when the fastener has been tightened to its yield point or some similarly significant point.