Thread Or Shank Structure Patents (Class 411/411)
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Patent number: 6149363Abstract: The present invention is to a lightweight threaded bolt type fastener having a shank with a large diameter portion and small diameter portion connected by a transition portion; a thread is roll formed on the small diameter portion and terminates in a run-out section where the thread gradually decreases in root depth and width and with the run-out section being of minimal axial length and being located closely adjacent the transition portion to produce a run-out zone of minimal axial length. A rolling die for forming the thread with minimal thread run-out having ridge segments with tapered end surfaces for providing the run-out thread with an end wall parallel to the transition portion and a method of making the bolt type fastener.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Huck International, Inc.Inventor: Michael U. March
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Patent number: 6113331Abstract: A retaining screw produced by cold rolling includes a self tapping thread designed to be screwed into thermoplastic material or the like. The screw has a virtually end-to-end cylindrical thread as well as thread teeth, the thread crest of which has the same height on the whole length, while the free space between two teeth remains the same all along the thread The screw presents the following characteristics: either 1) the thread outer diameter Do and the thread inner diameter Dk represent the ratio Q.sub.1 =Do/Dk, in a magnitude of 1.2 to 1.4; 2) the axial distance P between two thread teeth gives with the height H of the latter a ratio Q2=P/H, in a magnitude of 2.75 to 2.9; 3) the point angle of the thread teeth is about 30.degree.; or 1) the thread outer diameter Do and this thread inner diameter gives a ratio Q1=Do/Dk, in a magnitude of 1.25 to 1.65; 2) the axial distance P between two thread teeth gives with the height H of the latter a ratio Q2=P/H, in a magnitude of 2.35 to 2.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: EJOT Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Herman Grossberndt, Gottfried Konig
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Patent number: 6109851Abstract: A carbon steel screw has one or more portions which have been selectively hardened by selective heat treatment and quenching. In one embodiment, an upper portion of the screw head is selectively hardened to prevent or reduce damage when torque is applied using a driving tool. In another embodiment, the screw tip is selectively hardened for more effective penetration into a substrate. Preferably, the selectively heated portions are selectively quenched to reduce or avoid distortion.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Bauer, William A. Spring, Michael Starozhitsky, S. Riaz U L Hasan
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Patent number: 6109850Abstract: A wood screw for holding a wood structural member to another member such as a sheet metal member a heavy metal member or another wood member wherein the screw includes a shank having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. A knurled means is provided on the shank between the threaded and the unthreaded portion for forming an annular zone of mashed and severed, as well as unsevered, wood fibers for preventing wood splitting and laterally holding the screw to the wood structural member in a tight fit.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1997Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Alfred D. Commins
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Patent number: 6089806Abstract: A blank for a self tapping fastener, and corresponding fastener is provided. The blank defines an odd number of lobes along a cross section taken perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The lobes define a relatively high out-of-round cross section along a tapered thread-forming zone, and a relatively low out-of-round cross section along the main body taken in a direction toward the drive head. Between the main body and tapered thread-forming zone is located an additional thread forming zone having an axial length of approximately one thread pitch and a cross section that conforms to the high out-of-round of the tapered zone. The maximum diameter (at the lobes) of the additional thread-forming section approximately matches that of the full-diameter main body section. A lower-diameter stabilizing section can be provided ahead of the tapered zone, adjacent the tip of the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1999Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Conti FastenersInventors: John R. Reynolds, Alan Pritchard
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Patent number: 6042315Abstract: A fastener body comprises a head and a shank fabricated from a composite material. The head has at least one side which extends beyond the side of the shank and has two other sides coplanar with the shank.A fastener for engaging a liner has perpendicular lengthwise and widthwise reference axes and a head and a shank, with the shank extending in a first lengthwise direction away from the head, the head further having at least one extension that extends in the widthwise direction beyond the shank for engaging the liner, wherein substantially all lengthwise directed load components transmitted from the liner to the head are transmitted through the extension.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert J. Miller, Jeffery C. Moree, David C. Jarmon
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Patent number: 5997231Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having first and/or second members with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of the other member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Inventors: Jerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
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Patent number: 5964766Abstract: A buttress-thread dental implant constitutes a rigid body including axially symmetric and radially uniform circumferential spiral pitch surfaces in the range or about 22 to about 28 of such pitch surfaces per axial inch. Above each pitch surface is a concave upper bevel surface which is longer than a lower bevel surface beneath each pitch surface. The intersection of each plane of each pitch surface with each plane of each lower bevel surface defines a total included bevel angle in the range of about 90 to about 1.30 degrees. The implant is also characterized by ratio of thread pitch to thread depth in the range of about 1.25:1 to about 1.40:1.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1993Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Biolok International, Inc.Inventor: Leon Shaw
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Patent number: 5944465Abstract: A threaded fastener is having a raised area or bump on a thread flank. The flank can be positioned on the nut thread or on the bolt thread. The bump forces the mating threads at least on one flank to have near zero tolerances along the pitchline of the threads and thereby eliminating play.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Inventor: Bernhard M. Janitzki
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Patent number: 5921735Abstract: A fastener is constructed having four thread zones constructed over the length of the fastener, from the head to the tip, namely a ridged cylindrical holding zone, a ridged cylindrical transition thread forming zone, a rectilobular tapered thread forming zone, and a rectilobular alignment zone. The pitch cross section of the thread varies in each zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Phillips Screw CompanyInventor: Barry J. Hughes
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Patent number: 5897280Abstract: A self perforating (punching) and thread forming connecting element such as a screw having a screw shaft 2 and screw tip 6 which tapers to a pointed end 4 as well as a single or multiple thread 8 which extends at least partially along the screw shaft 2 and along the screw tip 6 to the pointed end 4. This screw tip 6 has an essentially polygonal cross section along at least a partial region of its axial length and the thread 8 is constructed as a radially raised portion which has a helical shape with an outer thread edge 8a which, when viewed in an axial projection, forms a spiral in the region of the screw tip 6 as the radius of the thread becomes smaller and in the region of the screw shaft 2, the outer thread edge 8a proceeds with a constant radius in the form of a circle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1998Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: A-Z Ausrustung und Zubehor GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Robert Dicke
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Patent number: 5897279Abstract: A gutter fastener screw is provided including a body having a cylindrical configuration with a first length and a first predetermined diameter. A tip is included having a second length less than 1/4 of the first length. The tip is coupled to a bottom end of the body and includes a screw extent having a second diameter 1/2 the first diameter with a plurality of threaded screw grooves formed in an outer surface thereof. A drill extent is integrally coupled to a bottom end of the screw extent with a drill bit groove formed in an outer surface thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1998Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Inventors: R. William Bentley, Raymond B. Zito
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Patent number: 5882160Abstract: The present invention relates to a male and female screw set wherein the male screw comprises at least a projecting part pressing against the flank plane of the female screw when the male and female screws are engaged. A dimensional difference is formed between the pitches of the female and male screw threads. When the female and male screws are engaged, the advancing side flank plane of the female screw thread is contacted by the advancing side flank plane of the male screw thread, while the other receding side flank plane of the female screw thread is contacted by other receding side flank plane of the male screw thread, and these respective flank planes are pressed together with tightening.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Iwata Bolt Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yukichi Iwata
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Patent number: 5882162Abstract: A drive screw comprises: a head portion; a shank; and a helical thread portion extending along almost all the length of the shank, wherein an outside diameter of the drive screw including the thread portion being formed so as to be reduced from a portion close to the head portion in at least three stages.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshihiro Kaneko
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Patent number: 5876168Abstract: The present invention provides a male screwthread that does not loosen. In a male screwthread that has a thread ridge formed on an outer peripheral surface of an axial portion and a head portion that forms a tool mating means at one end of this axial portion, loosening and return between the male screwthread and a female screwthread is prevented (self-locking) by a configuration in which the thread ridge thereof is formed to have a major diameter that is larger than a reference value and the half-angle of the head-portion side of the thread ridge is formed to be less than 30 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1996Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Iwata Bolt Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yukichi Iwata
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Patent number: 5871475Abstract: Apparatus and methods using rotational advancement and emplacement of various devices for catheterization, dilation and occlusion of mammalian genito-urinary and gastro-intestinal passages and organs, where devices and assemblies have an external helical element present near the distal end which provides a longitudinal pull on the wall of the passage when rotational force is applied to the proximal end of the device.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Inventor: James J. Frassica
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Patent number: 5865584Abstract: A fastener and method for securing plywood to sheet metal comprises a head, and a shank with three distinct segments. The first segment is a threaded tip segment with a pierce point tip; the second segment is unthreaded; the third segment is threaded and extends from the unthreaded second segment to the fastener head. The method provides for use of a power tool to secure together a plywood sheet with a sheet metal stud using the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Inventor: Daniel Onofrio
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Patent number: 5839866Abstract: A new overload protection device has been invented of the type in which components are fixed mutually by means of a safety member adapted to be cut or broken when the components are subjected to an overload, wherein the safety member is a thread spiral or spirals adapted to be cut loose from a member, rod or sleeve when the thread spiral (or spirals) is subjected to an overload.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Terje Moen, Erik Peter V. Eriksen, Tarald Gudmestad
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Patent number: 5836731Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having first and/or second members with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of the other member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: MAThread, Inc.Inventors: Jerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
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Patent number: 5827030Abstract: The present invention pertains to a thread-forming joining element, in particular, a screw, which comprises a single or multiple thread that extends over at least part of the screw shaft (1), a screw tip (3) and a screw head (2). The thread extends to the point of the screw tip (3), with at least one friction edge region (11) extending over at least part of the length of the screw tip (3) in the longitudinal direction of the screw, namely on the circumferential surface in the region of the screw head (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: A-Z Ausrustung und Zubehor GmbH & Co., KGInventor: Robert Dicke
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Patent number: 5800107Abstract: A self-tapping, screw-type anchor capable of being turned into a hole drilled in masonry whose hardness renders the wall of the hole highly resistant to a tapping action. The anchor includes a thread forming a helical ridge on the root of the anchor, the thread having a profile defining a pair of opposing curvilinear flanks rising above the root and converging toward a crest. The curvature of the flanks which is preferably hyperbolic, creates a crest having a small included angle adapted to penetrate the wall of the hole, the crest being supported on a relatively broad base that merges with the root to firmly secure the thread thereto and thereby prevent deformation or mutilation of the thread as the anchor is being turned into the hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Inventors: Louis N. Giannuzzi, Anthony C. Giannuzzi
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Patent number: 5791849Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having first and/or second members with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of the other member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Inventors: Jerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
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Patent number: 5788441Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, lightweight, compact threaded fastener that has a relatively shortened transition thread rollout zone between the grip of the fastener and the threaded shank of the fastener. This transition zone is shortened due to the fact that the runout (or inner end) of the rolled thread on the fastener extends no more than one-third the circumference of the rolled thread at its pitch diameter. The short runout of the rolled thread does not compromise the strength of the fastener, because the runout does not have a relatively abrupt transition. Instead, the depth of the runout of the rolled thread of the fastener gradually decreases along its length from a depth equal to the uniform depth of the rolled thread throughout the length of the threaded shaft of the fastener to no depth at the very end of the runout. The invention further provides a pair of thread rolling dies for producing such an improved, lightweight, compact threaded fastener.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1997Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: West Coast Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas C. Karabestos, Gary L. Stewart
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Patent number: 5779416Abstract: The bolt or stud shaft and nut combination includes an undercut of the first thread of the shaft adjacent the load face of the nut, the undercut having a compound fillet with the smaller radius lying between the larger radius and the first thread of the shaft. The shaft threads are buried two threads deep into the nut so that the first two teeth of the nut do not contact the threads of the shaft and overlie the undercut. The nut threads have a taper opening the pitch diameter in a direction towards the loaded face. The combination affords resistance to high-cycle fatigue of rotating structures joined together by the bolt or stud shaft and nut combination.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventor: Kevin W. Sternitzky
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Patent number: 5759003Abstract: A combination screw and clearance drill is provided that in one mode of operation is able to drill a pilot hole for the screw threads through a top piece of material and then screw into a lower piece of material, thus enabling the two pieces of material to be screwed tightly together in a single operation. The screw is designed in such a manner that the ability of the screw to drill a clearance hole for the threads does not substantially effect the gripping ability of the screw. In one direction of rotation the screw is able to drill the clearance hole for the threads of the screw and by reversing rotation the screw is able to stop drilling a clearance hole and function as a regular screw. Flutes in the screw head cut a counter bore for the head when the head contacts the surface of the top piece of material.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1996Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Inventors: John Michael Greenway, Matthew James Greenway
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Patent number: 5738472Abstract: A threaded fastener has a standard part with a standard thread form characterized by thread walls with a standard included angle, and a modified part complementary to the standard part having a modified thread form characterized by thread walls which are symmetrically inclined with a modified included angle that is different from the standard included angle of the standard part's thread walls, such that the threads of one part make pre-loaded edge contact with the thread walls of the other part. The thread form of the modified part can have an included angle that is greater, less, or compound as compared to the included angle of the standard part. The standard part may be a bolt and the modified part a nut, or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1996Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Honeybee Robotics Inc.Inventors: Roopnarine, John D. Vranish
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Patent number: 5730566Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having a first member with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of a second member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1997Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Inventors: Jerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
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Patent number: 5722808Abstract: A fastener system capable of clamping a workpiece that provides for enhanced distribution of the internal forces that are generated in the components as a result of the assembly of the system. The fastener system includes an externally threaded member having a thread formed thereon with a substantially non-triangular profile, and an internally threaded member having a thread formed therein which also includes a substantially non-triangular profile. In assembled form, the substantially non-triangular thread faces of the internally and externally threaded members mate along a contact face and, by virtue of their unique thread forms, are able to withstand axial loads of greater magnitude than comparable systems employing threads having substantially triangular profiles.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1996Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Conti Fasteners AGInventor: Alan Pritchard
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Patent number: 5704749Abstract: A fastener assembly having a receptacle attached to the underside of a substructure and extending through a hole within the substructure which are both generally aligned with a panel with a hole adapted to receive a threaded bolt. The hole in the panel has a cylindrical portion. The fastener extends through the panel which is being secured to the substructure and enters the receptacle before engaging a threaded section within the receptacle. The dimensions are sized so that the central section of the fastener engages the central section of the receptacle before the tapered section of the fastener contacts the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel. Continued rotation of the fastener causes the tapered section on the fastener to enter the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, exerting a lateral force on the panel to align the hole in the panel with the bore in the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1996Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: James H. Landgrebe
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Patent number: 5704750Abstract: A threaded screw has a first segment adjacent the screw head (10) with nontapered sides for engaging metal automotive fastener clip nuts (30) and a second segment with tapered sides for engaging plastic bosses (24). The second segment is adjacent the first segment but distant from the screw head (10). A single set of threads (36) is used for both the metal clip nut (30) and the plastic boss (24). The threads (36) have a helical pitch angle (P) of about nine degrees and form a flank angle (.beta.) of about thirty degrees relative to a horizontal axis (20) of the screw. The screw taper matches the taper of the boss opening (22) to promote even stress distribution.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1997Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher James Bartos, Albert James Dapoz, Richard Joseph Rozmus, Martin Arthur Trapp, Barry James Hughes
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Patent number: 5700120Abstract: A threaded fastener and a method by which the fastener exhibits sufficiently enhanced fatigue strength so as to be suitable for use in gas compressors and turbines operating at relatively high service temperatures. The method entails a selective heat treatment to achieve a dramatic improvement in fatigue properties while not interfering with other required properties for the fastener. The heat treatment process preferentially develops a case-hardened region in those threads nearest a transition region between the threads and an unthreaded portion of the fastener. In contrast, the unthreaded portion and the threads furthest from the transition region need not be case-hardened. The hardening pattern in the threads yields a martensitic steel fastener that exhibits fatigue properties which are dramatically superior to otherwise identical fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1996Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Michael Patrick Manning, Peter William Schilke
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Patent number: 5685680Abstract: A method for fabricating a threaded fastener having a discontinuous coating of a contaminant-inhibiting coating material. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded fastener is formed so as to provide a coated fastener with substantially coating-free crests. The article resulting from the fabrication method also forms a part of the present invention. The resulting threaded fasteners include electrically conductive portions, allowing use of the fasteners in fabricating structural assemblies using welding techniques.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Nylok Fastener CorporationInventors: Richard J. Duffy, Joseph R. Dudley
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Patent number: 5676406Abstract: A screw-threaded connection incorporates multiple synchronized threads, that is, one connection element has a set of external threads that mates with a corresponding set of internal threads on the mating connection element, in customary fashion. The first connection element additionally includes a second set of internal threads synchronized with the first set such that the leads of both sets of threads are the same. This second set of internal threads mates with a corresponding set of external threads on the mating connection element. Of course, the two sets of threads on the mating connection element are synchronized such that their leads are the same, and, of course, the same as first sets of mating multiple synchronized threads. This multiple synchronized thread connection has application to any fluid connector and particularly to fluid connectors in wide-variant temperature deviation, high-pressure, and/or mechanical vibration environments.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1995Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Inventors: John M. Simmons, Tom M. Simmons
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Patent number: 5674035Abstract: A thread forming screw for concrete, masonry, rock, or similar material. The size ratios of various portions of the screw are defined to reduce thread engagement which, in turn, reduces screw-in torque. A burr in the screw's thread includes bow-shaped cutting teeth to facilitate screw-in.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1996Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: Ludwig Hettich Schraubenfabrik GmbH & Co.Inventors: Stefan Hettich, Ulrich Hettich
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Patent number: 5672037Abstract: The present invention relates to a male and female screw set wherein the male screw comprises at least a projecting part pressing against the flank plane of the female screw when the male and female screws are engaged. A dimensional difference is formed between the pitches of the female and male screw threads. When the female and male screws are engaged, the advancing side flank plane of the female screw thread is contacted by the advancing side flank plane of the male screw thread, while the other receding side flank plane of the female screw thread is contacted by other receding side flank plane of the male screw thread, and these respective flank planes are pressed together with tightening.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1995Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Iwata Bolt Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yukichi Iwata
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Patent number: 5669199Abstract: A member (1) for insertion into a borehole (9) in a receiving material (10) has an axially extending generally cylindrical hollow body (2) closed at its leading end (4) and open at its trailing end (5) and into which a mortar mass and anchor member can be inserted. The hollow body (2) has a sieve-like mesh wall. At least one circumferentially extending strip (8) of a compressible elastic open pore material is secured on the outside surface of the hollow body (2) for cleaning the surface of the borehole while the member is inserted into the borehole.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1996Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Hilti AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Ludwig, Erich Leibhard
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Patent number: 5645386Abstract: A force fit connecting element (1), particularly a wheel stud, which may be force fit into in a drilled hole (3) through the exertion of an axial force, having a shank (5) and a stop (4) in the shape of a head, a collar or the like, having a diameter larger than shank (5). The shank (5) has on the side facing the stop (4) a force fit section (10), which is oversized with respect to the corresponding drilled hole (3). The shank (5) has on the side facing away from the stop (4) a section (22) with a fastening thread (23). The force fit section (10) has a multiple-threaded, preferably at least triple-threaded, helical profile (11). The helical profile (11), with respect to the cylindrical surface area of the drilled hole (3), has a contact area fraction (33) of at least 30% and is made by cold forming.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1996Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Kamax-Werke Rudolf Kellermann GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Klaus Damm, Walter Mages, Andreas Mohr
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Patent number: 5639195Abstract: Wall panels are fastened to walls or to one another with pairs of identical elically-wound fastener rods which engage each other by turning. Spacer tubes are provided to maintain the desired spacing between panels, or between panels and walls, and to align the helically-wound sections of the fasteners before engaging. Guide prongs may also be used to assist in the alignment of the fasteners with each other before engaging.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1996Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: William Newell Brabston, Philip G. Malone, Roger H. Jones, Jr.
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Patent number: 5636549Abstract: Producing novel threaded members such as lead screws (10, 20) by winding and anchoring a hardened tempered spring wire (14, 16) around a support body such as a screw shaft (11, 15) to form a hard, smooth thread comprising a wear-resistant running surface for engagement with a bearing nut member (43) in an adjustment assembly (30), such as for a zoom lens. The shaft (11) may be shallow-grooved (13) to determine the pitch of the threads. Alternatively the shaft (15) may be wound with contacting thread wire (16) and spacer wire (17) to determine the pitch of the thread.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1993Date of Patent: June 10, 1997Assignee: Hughes ElectronicsInventor: Gabor Devenyi
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Patent number: 5624219Abstract: A high-strength bolt and a high-strength nut is suited for use in combination with a standardized nut and a standardized bolt, respectively. The high-strength bolt and the high-strength nut have an external triangular thread and an internal triangular thread, respectively, of which the angle no greater than the range of each thread ridge differs by an angle of 0.degree.55' to 2.degree. from the angle of standardized thread ridges.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1994Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignee: Hamanaka Nut Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigenobu Hamanaka
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Patent number: 5609455Abstract: An externally threaded male fastener has a right circular cylinder at one end that is slidably engageable with the internal threads of a female element, a pair diametrically opposed circumferentially truncated approach thread portions between the right circular cylinder and its conventional threads, and a pair of diametrically opposed unthreaded portions between the approach thread portions that preclude cross-threading with an internally threaded female element.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Inventor: Arthur J. McKewan
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Patent number: 5603661Abstract: An improved railroad frog bolt-nut assembly is disclosed. The bolt has a square head and a shank. The shank has an unthreaded portion adjacent the head and a threaded portion at its terminal end. The threaded portion is rolled to a diameter equal to the shank's unthreaded portion to produce high fastener strength. A unitary lock nut is formed with an annular boss extending from its outside end in which indentations intersecting with some of the nut threads are pressed to provide an interference, locking fit with the bolt threads.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1995Date of Patent: February 18, 1997Assignee: Barnes Group, Inc.Inventor: John J. Grey
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Patent number: 5570983Abstract: A reduced-friction screw is described. The screw requires less turning torque than a conventional screw to drive it into a workpiece. The shaft of the screw has a reduced-thickness thread that produces less sliding friction than a conventional screw having thread of the same depth and pitch. In addition, the holding ability of the reduced-friction screw is substantially the same as a conventional screw having thread of the same pitch and depth. Another embodiment contains a shaft having a reduced diameter, to further reduce sliding friction. Yet another embodiment contains a segmented, reduced-thickness thread that resists removal and loosening when the workpiece is subject to twisting, vibration, or warping. To prevent loosening of the reduced-friction screw, the bottom of the screw head may contain protrusions to increase the frictional contact of the head with the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1994Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Inventor: Andrew A. Hollander
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Patent number: 5562379Abstract: A vibration resistant fastener comprising a pin and a collar. The pin is threaded or peripherally grooved. At a central location, the major diameter of the thread or groove is reduced to a diameter which is still larger than its minor diameter. A collar is threaded or swaged on to the pin and collar material is pressed into an open region that was formed by the reduction of the major diameter, to form a thread lock.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1994Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Assignee: Hi-Shear CorporationInventors: James G. Rausch, Rosendo Lomeli, Petrus Ioan
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Patent number: 5544993Abstract: A fastener which can be utilized with advantage as a bone screw or another osteosynthetic force transmitting member, instrument or accessory has a thread with two flanks each having a first section adjacent the crest and a second section adjacent the root of the thread. The second sections jointly include or consist of at least four concave portions having different radii of curvature and gradually merging into each other. The first sections make angles of at least 40.degree. with a plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the thread. The first and second sections of each tooth flank are separated from each other by an imaginary cylinder having a diameter which matches the pitch diameter of the thread and a longitudinal axis which coincides with or is at least close to the longitudinal axis of the thread.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1994Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Inventor: Anton Harle
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Patent number: 5536126Abstract: A locking assembly is formed of a first article (40), a second article (44), and a locking fastener (46) positioned between the two articles and made of a shape memory alloy material. The locking fastener (46) is dimensioned to have a first shape below the transformation temperature wherein the first article (40) and the second article (44) are not locked together, and a second shape above the transformation temperature wherein the first article (40) and the second article (44) are locked together by the locking fastener (46). In one form, the first article (40) has a cylindrical bore (42) therein, the second article (44) is a cylinder that fits within the bore (42), and the locking fastener (46) is a helical coil or an annular ring having a radial slot therethrough, placed between the cylinder and the wall of the bore.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventor: Peter M. Gross
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Patent number: 5534031Abstract: An artificial vertebra spacer is embedded in and bridges a space between two adjacent vertebrae which are positioned superiorly and inferiorly of a removed intervertebral disk, respectively. The artificial vertebra spacer includes a hollow cylindrical member, and a helical screw thread disposed integrally on and extending helically around the hollow cylindrical member. An annular plate has a tubular member fitted in an axial end of the artificial vertebra spacer and a circular flange extending radially outwardly from the tubular member. The circular flange is fastened to the helical screw thread by screws when the artificial vertebra spacer is embedded in the vertebrae. Each of the artificial vertebra spacer, the annular plate, and the at least one screw is made of a titanium alloy.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromi Matsuzaki, Satoshi Ojima, Masashi Nakamura
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Patent number: 5531553Abstract: A masonry fixing device 1 comprises a steel shank 2 which in the form of the blank is right circular cylindrical form. A ridge-groove-ridge configuration extends helically along the lower portion 4 of shank 2 and comprises a pair of parallel opposed ridges 7 upstanding from an adjacent land 9. Each ridge defines with the adjacent ridge a groove 5. At least the forward end of the lower portion 4 of shank 2 is configured so as to provide a self-tapping facility. In use, the fixing device is introduced into a pre-drilled bore in a masonry substrate such as brickwork by turning so as to form a thread on the interior walls of the bore. The axial dimension of the land 9 is at least 50% of the blank diameter with the result that relatively large amounts of substrate material are disposed between the ridge-groove-ridge configuration when the fixing device is in place.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1994Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Inventor: Charles Bickford
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Patent number: 5503187Abstract: A screw-threaded connection incorporates multiple synchronized threads, that is, one connection element has one or more sets of male threads that mates with one or more corresponding sets of female threads on the mating connection element, in customary fashion. Of course, the multiple sets of threads on the mating connection element are synchronized such that their leads are the same, and, of course, the same as the sets of mating multiple synchronized threads. This multiple synchronized thread connection has application to any fluid connector and particularly to fluid connectors in wide-variant temperature deviation, high-pressure, and/or mechanical vibration environments.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Inventors: John M. Simmons, Tom M. Simmons
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Patent number: 5492442Abstract: A bone screw having a helical thread with a constant outside diameter and curling around a tapered core. The fine screw tip and thread at the tip of the screw can be inserted into a bone with minimal tearing or cracking of the bone. The thicker core just below the screw head increases the screw's ability to withstand compressive and distractive loads. The core is thickest just below the head because it is at that point on the screw that the fulcrum loads are greatest.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1994Date of Patent: February 20, 1996Assignee: National Medical Specialty, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey I. Lasner