Abstract: A self-tapping, self-captivating fastener is provided for engagement in a predrilled aperture to enable the connection of an electrically conductive element such as a lead wire, or spade type terminal attached to the end of such a wire, to a workpiece or bus bar. The fastener includes a shank and an enlarged driving head, said shank having a threaded portion which includes a thread lead-in portion that tapers and converges in a direction away from the driving head toward an enlarged abutment projection formed at the work entering end of said fastener. The diameter of this abutment projection is less than the diameter of the predrilled aperture and said apertural diameter is less than the crest diameter of the threaded portion. Thus the abutment portion may pass through this aperture with said threaded portion reshaping the periphery of the aperture to form internal mating threads, such that the apertural diameter is reduced to less than that of the abutment portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fastener assembly including a fastener or screw member having a head portion and an externally threaded body portion, and an improved novel washer design pre-assembled thereon and held in captive relation by the external thread form. The washer member comprises a frusto-conical body section which includes surfaces converging in a direction away from the fastener drive head, in contrast to the normal accepted practice of employing washer which surfaces converge toward the drive head. From this reversal of design numerous manufacturing and operational advantages result, most particularly when the washer includes a plurality of axially extending teeth disposed radially about the convex face thereof. When the assembly is engaged with a nut or a workpiece to clamp or join structural elements, the fastener head portion will bear directly over the teeth of the washer member urging them into biting engagement with the adjacent surface regardless of the degree of final assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel externally threaded fastener unit and the novel combination resulting from employment of said unit with an internally threaded element, such as a nut or the like, and the method of manufacture thereof. The fastener unit includes a headed screw member having a frusto-conical washer preassembled thereon and held in captive relation by the external thread form. Disposed adjacent the threaded portion of the screw member is an unthreaded neck section of a controlled cross-sectional dimension. This neck section is designed to have a dimension which is less than the minimum minor dimension of an internal thread designed in accordance with industry specified dimensions and tolerances for mating engagement with the external thread on said fastener.

Abstract: A terminal assembly is disclosed for effecting connection with an electrically conductive element such as a lead or antenna wire or a spade type terminal mounted to the end of such a conductor wire. The disclosed assembly comprising a screw fastener having a clamping washer mounted thereon, which fastener is engageable with an internally threaded element providing a clamping surface opposing said washer. Said washer is provided with a central aperture, an intermediate section surrounding said aperture and an axially extending clamping flange. The intermediate section of said washer includes an inwardly tapered segment which is engageable against abutment means on the fastener shank, which abutment means and the driving head on said fastener serves to limit the movement of the washer relative to the fastener shank. Accordingly, movement of the fastener relative to the support surface will produce almost immediate movement of said washer relative to said support surface.