And Means To Captively Retain Expander Patents (Class 411/45)
  • Publication number: 20030017022
    Abstract: A fastener including a body and a locking pin is disclosed. The fastener body includes an apertured base and conjoined flexible arms extending from the base and defining a passage therebetween. The locking pin is arranged for movement relative to the fastener body along a predetermined path of travel and within the aperture and the passage defined by the flexible arms. The locking pin has a predriven position and an extended driven position. A resilient lock is provided in conjunction with the fastener body and resiliently extends into the predetermined path of travel of the pin, when said locking or drive pin is in the predriven position, thereby inhibiting movement of said locking pin toward said driven position. The lock remains in position to inhibit inadvertent linear shifting of the driving pin until the flexible arms are inserted through an opening in an article with which the fastener is arranged in operable association.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Charles P. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6494653
    Abstract: The present invention is a wall anchor having a novel finger configuration. This wall anchor has a head and barrel portion with a bore extending therethrough and laterally expandable fingers in general alignment with the bore. Instead of a straight channel, a channel having curved portions separates the fingers. The curved portions of the channel define ramp surfaces that at least partially extend into the path of a securing member created by the bore. Thus, when a securing member, such as a bolt, pin, screw, nail or similar object is inserted into the bore to secure the wall anchor to the wall, the securing member contacts the two ramp surfaces, separating the fingers. As the fingers separate, a portion of the fingers near the ramp surfaces deform such that the ramp surfaces rest on an outer portion of the securing member, thus providing a securing force for connecting the wall anchor to the wall and relieving stress on the area at which the fingers are connected to the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
    Inventor: Lee Remmers
  • Publication number: 20020176762
    Abstract: The fastener includes a pin and a body. The pin includes longitudinal grooves which communicate with partially threaded grooves which traverse the circumference of the shank by an integer multiple of 180°. Retention fingers engage the longitudinal grooves in the pre-installed configuration and allow straight-line insertion of the pin into the body. The retention fingers are then urged outwardly by the walls of the partially threaded grooves and then snap engage into subsequent portions of the partially threaded grooves thereby preventing straight-line removal of the pin. The pin, however, can be subsequently removed by threaded rotating the pin until the retention fingers engage the longitudinal grooves. Thereafter, the pin can be manually removed by a straight-line motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Moerke
  • Patent number: 6481942
    Abstract: A clip is formed of a male and a female members, and can take a temporarily fastened state by inserting an inserting shaft of the male member into an inner side of leg pieces of the female member and a finally fastened state by further inserting the inserting shaft. In the finally fastened state, the leg pieces are widely opened and fixed to the inserting shaft. The clip includes engaging projections, as a correcting device, disposed between the adjacent leg pieces facing each other and allowing the widely opened leg pieces to move inwardly when the male member is moved to the temporally fastened state. Thus, the clip can be easily fastened and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6474921
    Abstract: A two part fastener (10) for clamping together first and second members (20, 22) that have an opening (40). The fastener (10) comprises a base (12) having a plurality of legs (80, 90) resiliently biased outwardly away from each other and insertable through the opening (40). A knob (14) connected with the base (12) is manually rotatable relative to the base to control the position of the legs (80, 90). The knob (14) has a first position of rotation relative to the base (12) in which blocking portions (80, 90) of the legs are in a blocking position to block removal of the legs through the opening (40). In a second position of rotation the knob (14) blocks inward movement of the blocking portions (88, 98) of the legs (80, 90) from the blocking position, thereby blocking removal of the fastener 10. In a third position of rotation the knob (14) holds the blocking portions (88, 98) of the legs (80, 90) inward from the blocking position, thereby enabling removal of the fastener (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Gary G. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6474920
    Abstract: An expansion bolt includes two symmetrical bolt halves. The bolt halves each includes an inner side, an outer side, a front face, a rear face, and outer threads are provided at the outer side for the mounting of a nut thereon. An insert block inserted in between the bolt halves after the bolt halves have been attached together and inserted into a hole on an object. A nut is threaded onto the outer threads of the bolt halves to secure the bolt halves to the hole of the object into which the bolt halves are inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Shiney G&M Associated Co., LTD
    Inventor: Richard F. S. Lin
  • Publication number: 20020150441
    Abstract: An anvil is provided for use in a blind fastening system. The anvil is made using a process of wrapping a piece of wire stock around a mandrel. This process provides significant cost advantages compared to the process of machining the anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: John D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6454503
    Abstract: A three-part fastening element having, as the first part or element, a first sleeve which is slit axially at least once, preferably a number of times, at one of its two ends and is thus radially spreadable and has a cylindrical basic shape and, at both ends, stop regions projecting radially from an approximately uniform cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The second part or element comprising a second sleeve which can be introduced into said first sleeve as a spreading mandrel for the radially spreadable end region of the first sleeve and has a radially projecting collar at its end remote from the spreadable end of the first sleeve. The second part or element intended for fastening a first component, by way of the first sleeve, on a wall provided with an opening for receiving the spreadable end of the first sleeve. The third element comprising a cap with a spreading pin which extends from the latter that is intended for introduction into the spreading mandrel which is the second sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Marko Polic, Günther Weikert
  • Patent number: 6428089
    Abstract: A pair of mounts 3A and 3B for an assist grip G each include a pair of engaging pieces 19 which are pushed apart from each other by press-insertion of a locking member 23 between them and thereby engaged on the edge of a panel opening p1 of an inner panel P. On at least one of both sides of the mount 3A (3B) where the pair of engaging pieces 19 are located, a provisional retention piece 20 is provided which is independent of and separated from the engaging piece 19. In mounting the assist grip G to the inner panel P through the panel opening p1, the provisional retention piece is inserted together with the engaging pieces 19 into the panel opening p1 and thereby engaged on the edge of the panel opening p1 to provisionally retain the mount 3A (3B) onto the inner panel P. This provides ease and reliable provisional retention and full retention of the mount with a small force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Nishikawa Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hozumi Noda
  • Patent number: 6415478
    Abstract: An attachment structure for attaching an assist grip to a vehicle body is provided wherein the assist grip has a contractible member formed integrally on its grip body such that the contractible member includes large-width portions and small-width portions. The large-width portions have a larger width than attachment holes of a ceiling base member and the vehicle body when the contractible member is in the normal state, but the width of the large-width portions may be reduced to be smaller than those of the attachment holes when the contractible member is contracted. The small-width portions have a smaller width than the attachment holes so as to be fitted in the holes. After fitting the contractible member into the attachment hole of the vehicle body, a lock pin is inserted into a space formed in the contractible member so as to restrict contraction of the contractible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Boshoku Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Watanabe, Takumi Endo
  • Patent number: 6406234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthopedic fastener for fixing an implant, suture, or tissue to a bone. The fastener comprises a blind rivet and a closing element. The blind rivet includes a head at a proximal end, a shank connected to the head, and an anchoring portion near a distal end. A bore extends through the head and shank from the proximal end to the distal end and the bore has a polygonal cross-section through the anchoring portion. The closing element has a body with an outer surface and is configured and dimensioned to be received in the anchoring portion. The outer surface of at least a portion of the closing element distal end has a polygonal cross-section flaring along the longitudinal axis toward the closing element distal end. The anchoring portion of the blind rivet severs into a plurality of anchoring legs when the closing element is pulled in the bore toward the blind rivet proximal end to thereby prevent rotation of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Synthes (USA)
    Inventor: Robert Frigg
  • Patent number: 6406235
    Abstract: A mounting element with a connecting pin and a fastening sleeve, wherein the fastening sleeve can be fixed in place in a bore of a workpiece. So that the mounting element can be dependably and securely mounted, the connecting pin is held in a pre-plug-in position in a receptacle of the fastening sleeve. The connecting pin has a detent which, in the pre-plug-in position, rests against a shoulder of the fastening sleeve, and rests against the fastening sleeve in the direction of the insertion movement of the connecting pin into the fastening sleeve. The connecting pin and/or the fastening sleeve has a triggering device, by which the connection between the connecting pin and the fastening sleeve can be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Simon GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Bantle
  • Patent number: 6405425
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is inserted into a throughhole of a composite laminate to thereby fasten the composite laminate together. The throughhole has a length extending from a first outer surface of the composite laminate to a second outer surface of the composite laminate. The throughhole has a first width at the first outer surface, a second width at the second outer surface, and a third width at a point along the length of the throughhole between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The third width is less than each of the first width and the second width. The fastener assembly includes a substantially annular fastener device having an axial opening and a peripheral surface substantially conforming to the inner surface of the throughhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Novator AB
    Inventor: Ingvar Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20020067973
    Abstract: An anchor (1) for hard stones has a female-threaded main part (2) formed of a stainless steel, a thinned cylindrical extension (3) formed of the same or a different stainless steel and preliminarily annealed, and an expander (4) substantially columnar in shape and harder than the thinned cylindrical extension (3). The extension holding the expander (4) has a distal tapered region (6) whose inner diameter gradually decreases towards a distal opening (5) of the extension. A proximal end of the extension is resistance welded to a distal end of the main part so as to be coaxial with each other. The expander can be struck towards the distal opening to be forced into engagement with the tapered region, causing a partial and plastic deformation of the extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinjo
  • Patent number: 6398472
    Abstract: A blind rivet assembly 10 includes a mandrel 2 and a rivet body 4. The mandrel 2 has a head portion 6 and a shank portion 8. The rivet body 4 has a generally cylindrical body portion 12 terminating in a flange 14 at a first end, and a free end 16 at the other end of the body portion 12. The mandrel 2 is assembled into the rivet body 4 so that the free end 16 of the body portion 12 contacts the underside 18 of the head portion 6. The free end 16 of the body portion 12 is attached to the underside 18 of the head portion 6 of the mandrel 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Emhart LLC
    Inventor: Steven V. Jones
  • Patent number: 6371708
    Abstract: The expansion rivet consists of an expansion peg and a drive-in pin, which in the preassembled state of the expansion rivet are captively joined together. In its midsection, the expansion peg has an insertion hole adapted to the form of the drive-in pin, two lateral engagement wings projecting in opposite directions and two opposing spreader legs projecting downward at right angles. The preassembled drive-in pin protrudes slightly out of the expansion peg but is in engagement with the two spreader legs. When the drive-in pin is driven into the expansion peg, the spreader legs are forced apart by the drive-in pin to form a riveted connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: A. Raymond & Cie
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Tresorier
  • Publication number: 20020001513
    Abstract: A clip is formed of a male and a female members, and can take a temporarily fastened state by inserting an inserting shaft of the male member into an inner side of leg pieces of the female member and a finally fastened state by further inserting the inserting shaft. In the finally fastened state, the leg pieces are widely opened and fixed to the inserting shaft. The clip includes a correcting device disposed between the adjacent leg pieces facing each other and allowing the widely opened leg pieces to reduce the size thereof when the male member is moved to the temporally fastened state. Thus, the clip can be easily fastened and removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6332289
    Abstract: A window runner includes a clip-in member that engages a hole in a window to attach the window runner to the window. A locking member, in the form of a screw pre-mounted on the runner, is introduced into a central orifice of the clip from the side of the window which faces toward the interior of the vehicle. Flexible tabs extending from the clip lock into the periphery of the window hole. It is therefore extremely difficult to detach the clip from outside the vehicle. In consequence, any unauthorized lowering of the window by detaching the window clip-in member is no longer possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
    Inventor: Yi-Hwa M. Chu
  • Publication number: 20010022923
    Abstract: A clip is used to hold two or more sheet-like materials, for example, an automobile panel and a trim, together. The clip comprises a grommet having a V-shaped leg portion, a pin movable in the axial direction in a space between the V-shaped leg, and a pair of hinges coupling the pin with the V-shaped leg portion of the grommet. The V-shaped leg has a pair of leg pieces and a bottom connecting the leg pieces. The hinges are curved in the free state, and extend in planes perpendicular to the plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the leg pieces of the V-shaped leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Oomi Arisaka
  • Patent number: 6273656
    Abstract: A fastener includes an upper retaining portion, a body and a pin. The upper retaining portion has an aperture. The body has first and second side portions. The first and second side portions have first and second ends. The first ends of the first and second side portions are coupled to a surface of the upper retaining portion on opposite sides of the aperture and extending in a direction away from the surface of the upper retaining portion. The first and second side portions having a plurality of branch portions coupled to an outer surface of the respective first and second side portions. The pin has a top and an insertion portion. The insertion portion is adapted to be inserted through the aperture of the upper retaining portion, thereby expanding the body in outward directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Cleland, Christopher L Riddle
  • Patent number: 6264413
    Abstract: A fastening element for attaching plate-shaped boards, and including a large-surface clamping member (2;22) with a hollow-stem (3;23) projecting from opening in the clamping member (2,22) with a hollow stem (3;23) projecting from and having a bore (5;25) opening in the clamping member (2;22) for receiving an expansion member (14) for an anchoring member (4;14); and a plug-shaped member (9;29) attached to the clamping member (2;22) with a strap (8;28) for closing the bore and having a plug-in section (11) with a sealing surface (12;32) sealing by cooperating with the bore wall and is force-lockingly retained therein, with the plug-in section (11;31) having at least one recess (13;33) provided with an undercut and a largest diameter of which corresponds to a diameter of a stem (15) of the expansion member (14) for enabling the closing member (9;29) to eclipse the shaft (15) of the expansion member (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Bisping, Thomas Belz, Wolfgang Hausner, Erich Daigeler
  • Publication number: 20010003570
    Abstract: The present invention can provide an inexpensive synthetic resin grommet which is designed to exhibit sealing facility when it is fitted to a body of a car or a home electric appliance and when a part is attached thereto through the grommet, and which can prevent accurately and securely entrance of water into the body without requiring intricate procedures including fitting of sealing annulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventors: Hiromichi Mizuno, Hisashi Ito
  • Patent number: 6200080
    Abstract: A sleeve (1) to form one component of a fastener, comprises a body portion (2) which is externally cylindrical at (3) and is provided at one end thereof with an enlarged diameter collar (4), the body portion (2) being internally tapered down at (8) from its end (6) remote from the collar (4) as far as the face (7) of the collar (4), and the collar (4) being internally tapered down at (8) from its end (9) remote from the body portion (2) as far as the face (7). The invention also includes, in combination, a sleeve as defined above and a bolt having a frustoconical head, to form a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Universal Drilling & Cutting Equipment Limited
    Inventor: Michael Timothy Bryan
  • Patent number: 6196756
    Abstract: The article includes a first piece (7) provided with two flexible lugs adopting, in the absence of any force, a position of rest in which they can, over a certain length, be inserted without effort into an opening (6) in a support (1), and a second piece (30) having a fixing foot (32) adapted to cooperate with the first piece so that the fixing foot can be inserted through the first piece (7) as far as a configuration of locking on the support in which the fixing foot (32) keeps the flexible lugs on the first piece (7) separated and in which the first and second pieces (7, 30) are snapped into each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Leverger
  • Patent number: 6176660
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is integrated with a motor vehicle component such as an assist strap handle in a manner to allow the assist strap to be releasably mounted to overhead or other structural vehicle body panels. The fastener assembly includes a first set of resilient latch legs that extend from a main body of the fastener and are adapted to engage in a motor vehicle body panel opening. The latch legs are interengaged at their respective termini opposite the fastener body to facilitate insertion into the panel opening by preventing the latch legs from deflecting away from one another during movement through the opening. A second set of semi-rigid lateral support legs carried on the main body permit the fastener construction to be preassembled to another vehicle component, such as a headliner, prior to the time that the assist strap component and the headliner component are joined to the vehicle body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Lewis, James F. Fleck, Jordan M. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6089805
    Abstract: Device for mounting blind on an element (57a, 58a) provided with an opening (Ua) having:a) a first piece (1) having at least one holding lug (4) having a first projecting part and a second projecting part (9) disposed downstream of the said first projecting part in the direction of engagement,b) a second piece (20) provided with a foot having a first portion having a projecting part, a second portion (25) having a projecting part (26) and a breakable part,the first and second pieces being adapted to cooperate so that, once the first piece has been inserted until it abuts in the opening, a driving of the foot with respect to each holding lug produces, when the first projecting part of the first piece and the projecting part of the first portion meet, a breaking of the breakable part which enables the projecting part of the second portion to come up against the second projecting part of the first piece and to bend each holding lug around a first edge (Ra) if the edge is situated downstream of the first projecti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: I.T.W. de France
    Inventor: Bertrand Salmon
  • Patent number: 6082788
    Abstract: A latch for attaching a door to a frame, having a latch stud secured to the door having a threaded stud portion and a head portion, the head portion having a driver recess to facilitate axial rotation, and a stud receptacle secured to the frame having a threaded latch stud captivator that allows the latch stud to be longitudinally inserted into said latch stud captivation means and requires the latch stud to be manually axially rotated for removal from the threaded stud captivation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Dale Turner, Stuart Kevan Buckland
  • Patent number: 6074144
    Abstract: The fastener includes a body and a locking pin. The body includes a base with an aperture therethrough which is aligned with a slot formed between two downwardly extending conjoined arms. The downwardly extending conjoined arms include predrive engagement notches and locking surfaces. The locking pin includes two downwardly extending flexible legs with predrive positioning protrusions. In the predriven position of the fastener, the predrive positioning protrusions are engaged by the predrive engagement notches. In the driven position of the fastener, the predrive positioning protrusions are engaged by the locking surfaces. Additionally, in the driven position, pin retention protrusions on the locking pin are engaged by mating surfaces in the base of the body. The predrive positioning protrusions are formed in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane in which the pin retention protrusions are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Meyer
  • Patent number: 6062783
    Abstract: An expanding bush and captive bolt assembly (1), comprising a bolt (2), a generally cylindrical bush (4), and a ring clip (6) that retains the bush on the bolt. The bush (2) has an inner surface with a portion (22) that has a frustoconical taper, a channel (12) that extends circumferentially inside the bush, and an expansion split or slot (7) so that the bush may be expanded radially. The bolt (2) has a threaded portion (10) for engaging with a socket that has a matching thread, a head (8) by which the bolt may be rotated to tighten the bolt (2) to the socket and to squeeze axially the bush (4), a shaft (18,20,23) between the head (8) and the threaded portion (10), said shaft having a portion (20) with a taper that engages with the tapering portion (22) of the bush to expand the bush (4) as it is squeezed axially between the taper (20) and the socket, and a channel (16) that extends circumferentially around the shaft and which opposes the channel (12) of the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Jaguar Cars, Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Eric Austin
  • Patent number: 6045309
    Abstract: The rivet includes a rivet body and a rivet shaft. The rivet shaft includes a shank with a head and an oval boss at opposite ends of the shank. The rivet body includes a circular flange with expandable arms extending therefrom with an oval aperture therebetween. The oval boss passes through the oval aperture and into cam grooves on the inner surface of the expandable arms. The oval boss, with its major axis positioned between the expandable arms, expands the arms apart into an installed position without the need for rotating the shaft subsequent to insertion. By turning the shaft one quarter turn after reaching the installed position, the minor axis of the oval boss is positioned between the expandable arms and the arms collapse to the uninstalled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth LeVey
  • Patent number: 5984562
    Abstract: An arrangement for fixing a tubular element, such as a shaft, that is provided with a bore and a flange in position with respect to plate element involves the use of a ball that pressed into the bore in the tubular element. To achieve a simple fixation that is secure in both axial directions, the plate element is fixed on one side by the flange of the tubular element and on the other side by the bulge that is created through insertion of the ball into the bore in the tubular element. The ball has a greater diameter than that of the bore in the tubular element so that insertion of the ball into the bore causes the tubular element to become enlarged, thus forming the bulge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Brandenstein, Wolfgang Friedrich, Roland Haas, Roland Harich, Gerhard Herrmann, Josef Stork
  • Patent number: 5945606
    Abstract: In an elastic member for attaching a sensor having a protruding portion to a sensor attachment member, the elastic member has a body member having a hollow shape, a first end protrusion formed on an inner surface of the body member close to a first end thereof, and a second end flange protruding outwardly from an outer surface of the body member close to a second end thereof. The sensor protruding portion is inserted into the elastic member from the second end of the elastic member to be a provisionally fixed state, and is inserted into the through hole of the sensor attachment member while keeping the provisionally fixed state. Thereafter, only the sensor protruding portion is additionally inserted into the through hole of the sensor attachment member. These processes can be easily performed by using the above-mentioned elastic member and the thus obtained sensor assembled body has high airtightness and high stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Desno Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tokunaga, Hiroshi Nomura, Yukihiro Kato
  • Patent number: 5920957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic hand grip 1 having two end zones respectively attachable in a support opening 5 by means of a connecting part. Each connecting part 3 has at least one locking zone adapted to grasp behind the support opening 5 and to be held therein in a spread position. The connecting part 3 has two oppositely facing connecting flanges 10, 11. One connecting flange 11 is resilient and the other connecting flange 10 is rigid. In closed position, the resilient connecting flange 11 is held in the spread position S by means of a secured arresting bolt 15. The connecting part below the two contact flanges 10, 11 is provided with two locations, arranged at a distance from each other, for a spring-loaded hinge bolt 20 for penetrating the end zones of the tiltably designed hand grip 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jorg Wagner
  • Patent number: 5881989
    Abstract: A vibration-isolating system for mounting a cathode ray tube monitor to an enclosed audio base includes an annular vibration-isolating grommet having an axial bore; a snap cap including an annular portion having a surface for supporting the grommet and an axial aperture, at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to distal ends, and a nub extending radially from the distal end of each leg; and an elongated member configured to fit about the legs, through the axial aperture and through the axial bore, and to attach to a cathode ray tube housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. O'Brien, Roy J. Riccomini
  • Patent number: 5881982
    Abstract: A fastener for holding objects to a perforated wall having at least one hole passing therethrough from a front wall surface to a rear wall surface, the fastener comprising a first portion which is in contact with an object to be secured to the wall, a second portion passing into the hole in the wall and extending to the rear wall surface, and a third portion passable through the hole and having at least a portion thereof moveable relative to the opening of the hole after passing through it so as to extend, at least partially, radially outwardly of the periphery of the hole, thereby offering resistance to the removal of the fastener from the hole in a rear-to-front direction. The second portion of the fastener may be integrally attached to a base member. The second portion may include a plurality of spaced elongated fingers, the first and second fastener portions having a central passageway therethrough extending axially of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventors: Don A. Hollingsworth, Gregory A. Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 5846040
    Abstract: A pin grommet includes a male member that has a head and a shaft that extends integrally from the head, and a female member that has a flange in which a through hole is formed for insertion of the shaft, and a plurality of resilient members around the through hole extending from the flange. A resilient seal is provided on the side of the male member head on which the shaft is located, and another resilient seal is disposed on the side of the female member flange on which the resilient members are located. The resilient members on the female portion are splayed outward by insertion of the male member shaft into the female member through hole, thereby holding the male member in engagement with the female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji Ueno
  • Patent number: 5779415
    Abstract: A sleeve (1) for guiding, deflecting and holding nail (2), having a sleeve body (3), a deflection opening (4) in sleeve body (3) and a guide (5) which extends into the deflection opening (4), and a process for producing such a sleeve (1). To simplify the production process and to reduce production costs of sleeve (1), it is provided, according to preferred embodiments of the invention, that the sleeve body (3) is formed of a rolled section of a flat material, preferably, a rolled sheet-metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Jochen Hoene
  • Patent number: 5779085
    Abstract: This invention is a new device that can be used to plug perforations in materials. This plug comprises a cylinder plug with a tapered bore partially extending through the plug from one end. A cylinder pin that is tapered substantially the same as the plug will fit in the plug after installation is complete. A shear flange surrounds the pin so that when the pin is installed in the plug, the shear flange is against a plug flange. The pin is adhered to the plug by means such as a thin layer of epoxy or glue which allows the pin and plug to be handled as a single component. The pin is designed so that while in this position, there is no significant radial expansion of the plug. The pin has a pattern of holes or grooves that extend the entire length of the pin in order to allow for the expansion of any trapped fluids in the bore of the plug. The pin can have a groove along the outer diameter to allow for easier handling of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Kenneth Havlinek, Michele Tesciuba, Thomas D. MacDougall
  • Patent number: 5759002
    Abstract: A plastic fastener for securely and reliably fastening a cover plate to a rack cabinet includes a fastener part and a pin. The fastener part has a pierced shaft which includes tabs or similar appendages and two spaced flange-like collars. The fastener part is inserted in a hole in a rack cabinet and the pin is then inserted in the pierced shaft of the fastener part, which forces the tabs to spread outward from the fastener part to fix the fastener part in the hole. The cover plate is then pushed between the two flange-like collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Telefoanktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventor: J. A. Corrie Essenberg
  • Patent number: 5754412
    Abstract: A standoff connector for fastening two plates in spaced relation, including a body and a stud for insertion into the body. The body has a base and a trunk projecting upward from the base, and also has a central opening for receiving the stud, with a sleeve carried in the central opening with a plurality of spaced resilient fingers having upper ends fixed in the trunk and lower ends spaced from the trunk for outward radial movement, the lower ends of the fingers having inwardly directed tips for gripping the stud. The stud has a shaft for positioning in the body opening and a handle at one end for rotating the stud, with a shaft having a major diameter adjacent the other end and a minor diameter between the major diameter and the handle for receiving the tips of the body sleeve, with the body and stud having interengaging elements for limiting rotation of the stud in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Clavin
  • Patent number: 5746557
    Abstract: An expansion dowel including an expansion sleeve one end portion (4) of which receives a load and an opposite portion of which has an expansion region divided into expansion tabs by a plurality of longitudinal slots (7) extending toward a leading end of the expansion sleeve (2), with the expansion tabs (6) being connected with the expansion sleeve (2) by a first ductile joint (5) and having an annular collar (8) interrupted by the longitudinal slots (7), and an expansion member (13) displaceable in an axial through-bore (3) of the expansion sleeve (2) from an initial position to an end position upon expansion of the expansion region of the expansion sleeve (2), with the expansion tabs (6) projecting beyond the annular collar (8) and integrally connected with a distance segment (10) of the expansion sleeve (2), which distance segment collapses radially inward upon expansion of the expansion tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Kaibach
  • Patent number: 5718547
    Abstract: A device for securing a holder to a bore support formed with an undercut blind bore has a sleeve-like plug and a bolt received therein. The plug is formed with a central axis-defining passage having a smooth inner wall, a plurality of axially extending and radially throughgoing slits open at an inner end of the plug and defining a plurality of axially inwardly extending and radially deflectable tongues, and an annularly continuous outer portion from which the tongues extend. The bolt has a smooth outer surface and is shaped and dimensioned to fit complementarily into the passage with outward deflection of the tongues. The bolt and passage are of generally the same axial length so that when fully inserted in the passage the bolt is flush with the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Karl Eischeid
  • Patent number: 5688066
    Abstract: An expansion dowel includes an axially extending cylindrically-shaped expansion sleeve (2) having an axially extending expansion region (5) with one of axially extending slots or grooves therein and a central bore (4) tapering inwardly toward a leading end of the sleeve facing in the setting direction (S). The central bore (4) is shaped to receive an expanding member (6). The expanding member (6) has a trailing end face in contact with a safety element (11) for preventing axial displacement of the expanding member (6) opposite to the setting direction. The safety element (11) has a radially outer circumferential surface that can be enlarged in the circumferential direction by a pin-shaped member (7) having a conically-shaped region which can be driven in the setting direction into the safety element. The expanding member (6) is shaped at its trailing end region for receiving a leading end region (9) of the pin-shaped member (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Loose
  • Patent number: 5688089
    Abstract: A fastening element for fitting into a drilled hole and a method of fixing a fastening element in a drilled hole are proposed. In the method, an expandable sleeve is fixed in the drilled hole upon drawing of an axially movable anchor, in the direction out of the drilled hole, it being possible for all the elements of the fastening element to consist of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Solle
  • Patent number: 5682678
    Abstract: A method of reinforcing a sandwich panel having opposed first and second skins spaced apart by a core having a thickness "F" in a manner to preserve the spacing between the skins, including the steps of boring an in-line hole through the panel to provide a hole in both skins and the core of a diameter "A", enlarging the hole in the first skin to a diameter "B", inserting a tubular sleeve into the in-line hole, the sleeve having a length substantially equal to "F" and having an external diameter greater than "A" and slightly less than "B", the first end of the sleeve contacting the inner surface of the second skin, and flaring the second end of the sleeve to an external diameter greater than "B" so that it engages the inner surface of the first skin, and inserting a bolt through the sleeve, the bolt having a head to contact the external surface of the first skin and applying a nut to the bolt to contact the external surface of the second skin so that the skins are held in fixed position by the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Nordam Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gallagher, David H. Lafevers, David D. Breckenridge
  • Patent number: 5667184
    Abstract: There is provided a mounting construction of an elastic member of which one end is fixed to a mounting member fixed to and extending from a first member, the other end of the elastic member being engaged with a second member so that the second member is pressed against the first member, the elastic member having substantially a through hole extending in a pressing direction in which the second member is pressed. A first engaging portion, which is capable of being elastically deformed in a radially outward direction of the through hole, is formed on the one end of the elastic member. A first hook portion, being engaged with the first engaging portion, is formed on an end of the mounting member so that the first hook portion blocks a movement of the first engaging portion in a reverse direction of the pressing direction. The first hook portion may instead be elastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuichiro Nawa, Masafumi Ishizuki
  • Patent number: 5655864
    Abstract: In an expansible fixing plug having an internal bore passing right through the plug body into which an expansion bolt in the form of a nail or screw is to be driven, the internal bore is arranged helically wound around the center line and at least for a part of its length has a diameter that is the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the expansion bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventors: Manfred Haage, Gunter Seibold, Bernd Plocher, Bernd Hein, Wilfried Weber
  • Patent number: 5641255
    Abstract: A clip which is comprised of a male member and a female member. The male member is inserted into the female member, and an inserting portion of a leg of the male member passes through split pieces of the female member. The clip in which the male member and the female member are assembled is inserted into through holes in panels to be fastened. When the male member is slightly pulled back, tip ends of the split pieces are engaged in engaging holes in the inserting portion, allowing the clip to be pressed in with the split pieces set in a state of reduced diameter. When the fastened state of the panels is canceled, the male member is pulled out, and the tip ends of the split pieces are engaged in the engaging holes in the inserting portion while being guided by guide grooves. As a result, the diameter of the tip ends of the split pieces is reduced, and the clip is pulled out with the female member held integrally with the male member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Nifco, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5575600
    Abstract: An all-metal expansible hollow anchor and nail assembly adapted to fasten to masonry a fixture or other object having a mounting hole. The anchor which goes through the fixture mounting hole into a hole drilled in the masonry, is provided with a head that then engages the fixture and an expansible body projecting from the head into the drilled hole whereby when the nail is driven into the hollow anchor, the anchor body then expands against the wall of the hole to lock the anchor therein. The expander nail has a head whose diameter is greater than that of the drilled hole and a shank of smaller diameter joined to the underside of the nail head by a junction section of progressively increasing diameter whereby the shank gradually merges with the head. Countersunk in the head of the anchor is a well that conforms to the shape of the nail head and the junction section, the well receiving and nesting the nail head and junction section when hammer blows are applied to the nail head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Anthony C. Giannuzzi
    Inventors: Louis N. Giannuzzi, Anthony C. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 5560669
    Abstract: A sun visor retainer assembly (10) adapted for attachment to a header opening (36) in a vehicle header (22) is disclosed. The retainer assembly (10) includes a housing and a retainer pin (46). The housing (44) has a main body (50) with a pin opening (55) therein and at least one flap (58) pivotally connected to the main body (50) by living hinge portion (56). The retaining pin (46) is insertable through the pin opening (53) to pivot the flap (58) into engagement with an outer surface (32) of the header (22) to clamp the flap (58) and the main body (50) against respective outer and inner surfaces (32,34) of the header (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Gute