Abstract: A fastener for securing a sheet metal roof panel to a roof frame with a layer of compressible insulation between the two includes an elongated shank with a tip at one end and a driving head at the other. The shank either is inserted tip first through a preformed hole in the sheet or through a hole which the tip drills and the shank is driven through the insulation layer. A first thread on the shank adjacent the tip is driven into the frame and draws a flared portion of the shank through the hole to enlarge the latter and roll over the metal around the edge of the hole. The rolled over edge then is engaged by a second thread on an enlarged portion of the shank under the head and the plate together with a washer are compressed between the second thread and the head so as to prevent overdrive of the fastener and reduce the possibility of the sheet being dimpled. Longitudinally extending beads or a third thread on the flared portion produce a smooth and gradual rolling over of the edge of the hole in the plate.

Abstract: The skull of a patient is immobilized utilizing a generally ring-shaped member (crown) that can be used in place of a conventional halo or tongs, and is affixed to the patient's skull utilizing particularly advantageous skull pins. The crown has a first major portion which is in a first plane, and has a second portion extending at an angle out of the first plane. Preferably it has a generally horseshoe shape in plan view, with first and second ends spaced from each other, those ends being part of the second portion of the crown. Skull pins pass through threaded openings in the crown, including threaded openings in the second portion to attach the crown below a capital distal plane extending between the top of the ears and the top of the eyes of the patient's head. The rigid crown is preferably of a boron fiber or graphite fiber reinforced plastic. The skull pins, which do not artifact any more than bone does, comprise an exteriorly threaded cylinder of plastic (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bolt comprising a screw the threaded portion of which is provided with a guiding end, and a nut whose upper portion contains a self-locking washer with which is separably associated a ring internally concentric with the washer and ensuring the centering of the screw during its introduction into the nut.

Abstract: A clamping device is disclosed of band material and including an adjustment device similar to a conventional hose clamp however having a variable accessibility achieved by a drive screw being orientable perpendicular to the conventional drive screw and parallel to the axis of the gripping aperture. The perpendicular drive screw can include a locking tip at the opposite end from the head thereof to facilitate securement within the housing of the adjustment device to facilitate retaining of the screw herein or facilitate removal of the screw therefrom selectively. The housing may include a single or double aperture to facilitate driving of the screw in the opposite direction for tightening or loosening selectively by positioning of the screw. The drive screw can also extend through the opposite side to achieve this same purpose by driving of the conventional drive gear in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fastener installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button. The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding a central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel.

Abstract: A method of attaching a metal fastener, such as a stud-bolt, to a panel. The fastener includes a self-piercing annular projecting wall defining a recess having a bottom wall and an inner side wall defined by the annular wall. The method includes locating the fastener adjacent a panel with the self-piercing end portion facing the panel opposite a die member. The fastener is then forced toward the die member, such that the annular wall pierces a slug from the panel into the central recess and against the bottom wall. The die member simultaneously deforms the distal end of the annular wall outwardly and the pierced panel edge is deformed from the plane of the panel against the external surface of the annular wall, interlocking the panel and fastener.

Abstract: A thread forming screw made from a blank which has a tip with an assymetrical cross-section comprised of two oppositely disposed inner surfaces which gradually merge with two oppositely disposed outer surfaces. The inner surfaces may be arcuate or generally flat or a combination thereof. The inner and outer surfaces are generally parallel to each other and to the axis of the screw so that, when rolled, the tip has generally fully formed sharp crested threads which gradually deform workpiece material upon insertion and axially advancing rotation in a bore. The reduced frictional contact is achieved because of substantial unthreaded portions on the inner surfaces. Improved gripping action results from the formation of full threads which extend substantially the full length of the fastener.

Abstract: A thread cover is attached to the terminal end of a threaded shaft in a releasable manner. The thread cover includes a main body having a magnet at one end thereof and a plurality of flexible arms affixed to the opposed end thereof. The main body is magnetically attached to the threaded shaft end, and the flexible arms are arranged to be adjacent to and cover the main body as well as the threads of the shaft end. When the threaded end of the shaft is extended through a seal means, the arms prevent the threads of the shaft from engaging and damaging the interior of the seal means. After the threaded end of the shaft has been telescopingly extended through the seal means, the thread cover is easily removed from the shaft end.

Abstract: An improvement to expansible bushing type locking pins which include a handle or clip having camming means at one end to operate the bushings. Such handles or clips include an opening which cooperates with the adjusting nut on the free end of the locking pin to secure the assemblage together and in place on the parts to be assembled using the locking pin and clip assembly. The improvement comprises a nose cone on the free end of the locking pin having a circular cross-sectional shape, the nose cone overlying the adjusting nut so that the criticality of position of the nut on the pin in the prior art is avoided, while at the same time the tapered nose cone provides a guiding function to mount the pin into the parts to be assembled together.

Abstract: A screw for use in fastening resilient insulation to a metal building surface having threads near its tip and a reduced-diameter portion just above the threads, so that when the threaded portion has been screwed entirely through an opening in the substrate, the reduced-diameter portion of the screw is free to reciprocate in the opening and then permit compression and reexpansion of the insulation while still retaining it against lift-off.

Abstract: A hollow wall fastener using a conventional toggle bolt and a toggle anchor which is pointed and which has an open groove for receiving the toggle bolt. An end cap within the anchor has an internally threaded head portion and a frangible portion which allows the head portion to separate from the rest of the end cap when the end of the bolt is threaded into the head portion, thus twisting the frangible portion until it breaks. Thereafter the head portion prevents withdrawal of the toggle bolt from the anchor. The end of the groove has a threaded portion which cooperates with a threaded portion of an aperture opposite the groove to permit the anchor to pivot with respect to the bolt to a position where the bolt is threadably engaged and locked in the threaded portions of the anchor, forming a "T" configuration behind the surface of the hollow wall. Thereafter the bolt may be rotated to draw the anchor tightly against the interior of the hollow wall.

Abstract: A plastic screw anchor for fastening fixtures and other objects to a hollow wall, the anchor including a four-legged diamond-shaped shank whose front legs are joined together by a front apex living hinge and whose rear legs are joined to the front legs by side apex living hinges, the ends of the rear legs defining a rear apex. Secured by a pair of normally outstretched resilient webs to the rear legs of the shank is a flanged socket whose bore lies in registration with an opening formed in the front apex hinge. The diamond-shaped shank is collapsible to form a tongue that is insertable in a hole drilled in the wall to accommodate the socket, the webs then reverting to their outstretched condition to cause the shank which is now behind the wall to recover its diamond formation. When a self-tapping screw is turned into the socket bore, it acts to thread the bore.

Abstract: An improved thread tapping form is used to form an internal thread convolution in a member. The thread tapping form includes a plurality of projections which are disposed on a shank having a circular cross sectional configuration. Each of the thread forming projections includes a leading section which parts the material of the member to initiate formation of the flanks of the internal thread convolution. A side section of each thread forming projection presses against the flanks of the internal thread convolution to further form the flanks. A trailing section of each projection supports the side and leading sections of the projection.