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 fastener for securing workpieces having aligned bores and including a tubular sleeve and a pin with the sleeve having an elongated sleeve shank and a through bore and the pin having an enlarged pin head and an elongated pin shank, the pin shank having a retaining groove and a lock groove located proximate thereto, a resilient retaining clip located in the retaining groove and being axially captured therein, the retaining clip being of a split construction and having a relaxed outside diameter greater than that of the workpiece bores and being adapted to be located in at least one of the bores with an interference fit to thereby axially retain the pin to the workpieces in a preassembly, the sleeve shank having a sleeve lock groove adapted to be radially deformed into an aligned lock groove in the pin, the sleeve shank having a grip adjusting groove adapted to deform radially whereby the fastener can accommodate workpieces varying in total thickness.

Abstract: A fastener for securing workpieces having aligned bores and including a tubular sleeve and a pin with the sleeve having an elongated sleeve shank and a through bore and the pin having an enlarged pin head and an elongated pin shank, the pin shank having a locking groove, a resilient retaining clip located in the locking groove and being axially captured therein, the retaining clip being of a split construction and having a relaxed outside diameter greater than that of the workpiece bores and being adapted to be located in at least one of the bores with an interference fit to thereby axially retain the pin to the workpieces in a pre-assembly, the retaining clip and pin lock groove defining a lock cavity, the sleeve shank having its free end adapted to be radially deformed into the lock cavity, the sleeve shank being adapted to buckle radially after the sleeve free end is deformed into the lock cavity whereby the fastener can accommodate workpieces varying in total thickness.

Abstract: In order to support an annular member, to which the non-rotatable center hub is connected, on a tubular holder without permitting an axial play of the annular member relative to the tubular holder, an improved measure is disclosed which comprises an annular groove formed about the tubular holder, the rounded bottom surface of the annular groove being tapered toward the major portion of the tubular holder, and a snap ring coaxially disposed in the annular groove with its inner wall contacting with the tapered bottom surface of the annular groove and its inboard side surface slidably contacting with an axial end surface of the annular member.

Abstract: An assembly of a vacuum booster device and a master cylinder comprising a booster shell composed of front and rear halves and a brake master cylinder body which are together combined by the aid of tie rods extending through the booster shell, and a booster piston accommodated in the shell so that the load on the booster shell is removed, any means for fastening the opposite edge portions of both the shell halves is eliminated and, accordingly, outside diameter of the shell is decreased without lowering its strength. Furthermore, retaining ring fitted in the tie rod effective in preventing the shell from separation enables both the constructing and separating works of the assembly easier.

Abstract: A snap stud usable in window hardware, such as window operators and window hinges, for releasably pivotally interconnecting a pair of members. The snap stud has a stud extending from a first of the members and provided with an external peripheral groove which mounts a C-ring of spring music wire. The C-ring has a retention position partially extending beyond the periphery of the stud for overlying a second of the members and a compressed release position substantially entirely within the periphery of the stud, with the movement of the C-ring to the compressed release position occurring automatically in assembly and disassembly of said members.

Abstract: This invention provides a captive fastener in which a nut is held to a workpiece by a retainer ring held in a two-piece grommet attached to the workpiece, the retainer ring being flat and split, with its grain perpendicular to a diameter bisecting the split, and its inner and outer edges having alternate elongated recesses to increase the effective ring width without increasing spring force. The stud assembly includes a cage secured to the other workpiece, with side flanges removably and floatingly retaining a housing in which is a stud and spring biased ratchet washer. The notched outer end of the housing is bent over the head of the stud to secure the stud. The ratchet washer has tabs fitting in the housing wall, and ratchet teeth to engage teeth on the end of the nut. A cover fits over the housing.

Abstract: A lock including an elongate member which is inserted into a lock housing, useful in locking structural frame members together, among other things.

Abstract: In order to provide an unobstructed outer face on a retaining ring for the seal assembly of a butterfly valve, so that the outer face can make an improved seal with an adjacent pipe end, the retaining ring is held captive in the valve housing by a wire ring, instead of by the usual screws which penetrate the outer face and inhibit sealing with the pipe end. The wire ring is of regular polygonal shape such that the central portions of its sides are received in a radially outwardly facing groove in the retaining ring, and its corners are received in a radially inwardly facing groove in the housing. A helical lead-in groove in the housing connects with the housing groove to permit assembly of the retaining ring to the housing by a screwing action.

Abstract: An excavating tooth has a blade of substantially constant thickness with a transverse shoulder at its inner end and a longitudinal gusset. The tooth terminates in a reduced diameter spindle and a button with a shoulder on its forward face. The adapter has a recess to receive the tooth, the forward end of the adapter receiving the thrust of the tooth because the transverse shoulder bears thereagainst. A top to bottom opening in the adapter intersects the recess at the spindle. A pair of grooves are formed on the outside edges of the opening with projections extending inward from the outer walls of the grooves. A retainer is formed of round cross-section wire and slides in the grooves between locked and unlocked positions, the diameter of the wire being less than the width of the grooves. The retainer is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line, having a slightly upward bowed top connector and legs depending from either end of the connector.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a means for coupling an oscillator mechanism of a fishing reel to the spool of the fishing reel so that the spool will reciprocate back and forth as the fishing line is wound thereon. The spool shaft is received in a mounting mechanism associated with the yoke strap cam follower portion of the oscillating mechanism. An undercut groove on the shaft facilitates its fastening to the yoke strap.

Abstract: A snap ring cooperating with a double acting cam provided by a land formed on the shank of the bolt serves to lock the bolt into place and requires a positive predetermined torque to retract the bolt.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener having an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a pair of slots extending longitudinally along the outer periphery of said shank through the threads thereon. A C-shaped ring is trapped in a grommet assembly and has a pair of inwardly extending ends riding in the slots. In this manner, when the grommet assembly is installed in an aperture, such as in the skin of an aircraft panel, the fastener can be pushed between positions whereby in a first position the grommet assembly and C-ring are at one end of the shank holding the head and shank outwardly from the aircraft panel and, in a second position, the C-ring rides along the slots and abuts against the head so that the remaining threaded shaft can extend through the aperture and a nut threaded thereon securing the fastener to the panel.

Abstract: A lock washer for use with spring type retainer rings such as snap rings, axially coiled springs, and the like, which are adapted to be mounted in a spring-retained holding position upon a shaft or other cylindrical member within a circumferentially extending groove or back of a retaining shoulder, but which may be deformed in a generally radially outward direction to a released position with respect to the groove or shoulder. The lock washer comprises an annular body portion which is adapted for axial face engagement mounting with an associated retainer ring, and is fabricated to provide a plurality of integral bendable peripheral tabs which are bendable over peripheral edge portions of the retainer ring to form radial holding abutments for opposing deformation of the retaining ring to a released position. The bent tabs also serve to axially secure the retaining ring and the associated lock washer against axial separation.

Abstract: A coupling pin for agricultural implement hitches and other mechanical couplings includes an elongated generally cylindrical body portion and a ring-like retainer portion integrally formed with the body portion. The coupling pin is formed from spring steel plate or the like by a shearing or blanking operation and successive bending operations to form the pin body from opposed overlapping or abutting blade portions. The ring-like retainer portion which is concomitantly formed with the pin body has opposed sides drawn to shorten the retainer to provide engagement of a recessed portion formed on the retainer with the distal end of the pin body.

Abstract: A spiral wound retaining ring 10 with angled ends 214 and 216 is disclosed. The ring is crimped 220 at the same angle as the ring ends to maintain a constant thickness dimension. The angling of the ends of the ring and crimp allow the ends to be positioned closer together while maintaining enough clearance to enable insertion and removal of the ring. By reducing the separation distance between the ends a stronger ring results since the double layer area of the ring is maximized.

Abstract: Two staple-like spring metal parts designated "lock" and "key" are provided to retain an excavating tooth in a holder. The lock part slides into an opening in the holder for the tooth around a reduced diameter portion of the shank of the tooth and thereby prevents withdrawal of the tooth by interfering with the outward movement of a button on the extreme end of the shank. The legs of the lock are biased outwardly by reason of the unstressed shape of the lock. These outwardly biased legs are forced inward by insertion in the opening of a key which fits outward of the lock and forces the legs of the lock inward into locked position, engaging a portion of the shank. When the key is removed, it provides space for outward movement of the legs of the lock and thereby prevents a tendency of dirt compacting in the opening of the holder from preventing withdrawal of the lock.

Abstract: The combination of a crank arm having a crank pin, a drive link carrying a bushing receiving the crank pin, and a retainer clip adapted to coact with the bushing and crank pin to retain the crank arm and linkage arm in assembled relationship. The clip may be preassembled to the bushing before the crank pin is inserted through the bushing. If so, as the crank pin is inserted through the bushing, a pilot portion on the crank pin is effective to radially spread the clip until a retaining groove on the crank pin becomes aligned with the clip. The clip then snaps into the groove and interlocks the bushing and crank pin against substantial axial displacement relative to one another.

Abstract: An accumulator incorporating an improved plug retaining assembly for supporting the plug and associated valve asssembly in the oil port of an accumulator device. More particularly, there is provided in accordance with the invention a split locking ring assembly adapted to be deformed in such manner that the same may be readily convoluted about the shoulder portion of a plug assembly, enabling the use of an improved oil port sealing arrangement.

Abstract: A spring retaining ring of the type adapted for assembly within a groove provided therefor in a housing bore or on a shaft to form an artificial shoulder for axially locating a machine part in the bore or on the shaft. The spring comprises an open-ended ring body of spring material. The body includes opposite side surfaces, each surface including a generally radial shoulder-forming portion and a groove-seating portion which is inclined at an acute angle relative to the shoulder forming portion. Either of the groove-seating surface portions are adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined wall of the groove to take-up axial play of the machine part. The length of each groove seating surface portion is from 80% to 120% of the minimum groove penetration depth for the ring.

Abstract: A quick-acting panel fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-structure is disclosed. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The grommet assembly includes a retainer ring which engages a groove in the sleeve bolt when it is in its withdrawn position so that the sleeve bolt is retained in the panel and remains in its withdrawn position when the panel is disengaged from the sub-structure.

Abstract: In devices, such as well tools, where two telescopically related members are telescopically related, the two members are connected together by a split ring in such fashion that loads are transferred from one member to the other via the split ring with the split ring accepting the load in compression.

Abstract: A sealing ring retention device for use in rotary mechanical fluid seals subjected to high fluid pressure and/or high temperature environments which utilizes unitary locking and anti-rotational structural features.

Abstract: There is disclosed a structural joint comprising a workpiece in the form of a section of sheet material and a fastener assembly, wherein the components of said joint are constructed to retain the fastener assembly in mounted relation with respect to the sheet material and confine the fastener against rotation upon the attachment of an additional fastener component thereto. The section of sheet material includes an aperture having a multi-lobular periphery. The fastener assembly includes a head portion and a shank portion extending axially therefrom. The head portion has an end cap section which is of a greater dimension than the sheet material aperture, and an intermediate section extending axially from the cap section and having a multi-lobular peripheral dimension to be received in the multi-lobular aperture formed in the section of sheet material.

Abstract: A retainer clip for tool bits comprises an annular strip having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween. A pair of proximate projections and at least one remote projection project outwardly from the strip. The proximate projections are located on opposite sides of the gap. The proximate projections include positively oriented front surfaces, and the remote projection includes a non-positively oriented front surface disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to forwardmost portions of the front surfaces of the proximate projections. Upon forward displacement of the clip within the hole of a holder, contact occurs between the proximate projections and a wall of a retaining groove of the holder to produce radial shifting of the gap of the clip toward the axis of the bit. Removal of the bit from the hole is possible only by shearing the remote projection.