Abstract: A fastener is provided to be pre-assembled to a substrate. The fastener comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a thread portion adjacent to the second end; a head disposed on the first end; and a unidirectional retention member between the head and the thread portion. The unidirectional retention member is configured to pass through a mounting hole of the substrate in one direction such that the fastener is retained on the substrate once the unidirectional retention member has passed through the mounting hole.

Abstract: A metal member defining a hole in which the hole is reinforced by forming a flange and turning the flange back upon itself so that the rolled outer surface of the flange defines the perimeter of the hole. The sheared edge is spaced from the perimeter of the hole. The shaft of the fastener inserted in the hole contacts a non-sheared surface. A reinforcement ring may be assembled around the flange.

Abstract: A washer includes a wedge-shaped main body, a wedge-shaped adjusting portion moveably positioned on the main body and a flexible connecting portion interconnecting the main body and the adjusting portion. The main body defines a through hole through which the screw passes. The main body includes a bottom surface and a positioning surface angled relative to the bottom surface. The adjusting portion includes a flat contact surface and a latching surface contacting the positioning surface of the main body. The latching surface is angled relative to the contact surface. A wedge angle of the adjusting portion equals that of the main body, thus the bottom surface of the main body is substantially parallel with the contact surface of the adjusting portion.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a hollow beam by inserting a sleeve that is held in place by a tang that is placed on a supporting portion of a first or second opening formed in the beam. A fastener is inserted inside the sleeve. A component is attached to the beam by inserting a fastener through the sleeve. An insertion tool may be used to insert the sleeve into the beam.

Abstract: A nut and retainer fastener assembly includes a one-piece retainer having a flat base with an opening and a plurality of retainer clips extending from the base around the opening. At least one flange nut is secured to the base between adjacent clips and offset from the opening in the base. The opening preferably is polygonal, most preferably rectangular (including square), and the clips preferably are disposed at corners of the opening. The clips preferably have integral spring fingers that extend from ends of the clips toward the base and at an angle away from the opening to capture the mounting wall between the base and the ends of the spring clips. The base preferably has an ear extending away from the opening, most preferably laterally opposed ears extending away from the opening, and a flange nut mounted on each of the ears for alignment with a fastener opening in the mounting wall when the nut and fastener assembly is secured to the wall.

Abstract: A device f or the bracing connection of spaced-apart components (1, 2) by a connecting screw (5), comprising a supporting part (3), which can be secured on the first component (1) by fastening elements (8), and a spacer part (4), which can be displaced axially in relation to the supporting part (3) by rotation and, as the connecting screw (5), fitted into an opening of the spacer part, is screwed in, is carried along, as a result of friction-fitting engagement of the lateral surface of the screw shank against resilient elements (9) projecting into the opening, until it strikes against the second component (2) Both the supporting part (3) and the spacer part (4) are threaded bushings (6, 7) formed in one piece, the fastening elements (8) and the resilient elements (9) forming parts of the respective shaped member.

Abstract: A linear flexure washer bearing in a bolt interface assembly allows relative differential thermal expansion and contraction motion between a component plate and a base plate fastened together by a bolt without inducing large strains and stresses upon the bolt. The flexure washer bearing functions as a thin spacer between the component and base plates enabling high preload tightening of the bolted assembly while enabling relative bidirectional motion of the plates. The flexure washer is a multiple blade flexure assembly with thin flexure blades arranged unidirectionally between the top and bottom flexure plates. The elastic flexures bend to enable relative alternating unidirectional motion while the full strength of the bolt remains available to the support the component plate without creating high friction shear forces.

Abstract: A spacing apparatus to be used in conjunction with electrical wiring boxes, comprising an elongated thin foldable strip approximatelly 1" in width and 6" in length which further comprises a multiplicity of rectangular shaped equal sized sections each having a round central hole, whereby a certain number of the multiplicity of sections can be folded together to form a rectangular shaped corrugated spacer with a desired thickness to fill the gap between the screw arms of the electrical wiring devices and a round central hole to accommodate the fastening screw.

Abstract: For mounting a dual socket switch, or similar electrical fitting or accessory to a junction box, a method of stabilizing the mounting and a deformable shim adapted for slidable securement, one on each of two mounting screws, for pressed deformation between the fitting and the junction box to thereby rigidify the fitting in its attachment to the junction box as an incidence of the fitting's installation.

Abstract: In an installation method according to the invention, one pulls the wings of a toggle bolt into contact with the inner surface of a wall continuously during tightening of the bolt, this being in contrast with previous practice where the finger nails eventually must be removed, and thus the pulling action eliminated, in order to prevent locking of the fingernails between the wall and bolt head. An apparatus according to the invention comprises means for exerting a pull on the bolt of a toggle bolt, for maintaining the contact of the wings with the inner surface of a wall until the bolt has been tightened. The invention also provides a special manufacturing method for a particular apparatus of the invention.

Abstract: An automotive panel bracket 10 is formed from a strip having a central fold line 22 forming a double-walled stand-off 15 between a pair of base portions 11 and 12 interconnected with an automotive panel 20. A pair of confronting semi-cylindrical grooves 17 and 18 in double walled stand-off 15 form a generally cylindrical pilot hole 16 guiding a fastener 25 that extends through panel 20, through pilot hole 16 in stand-off 15, and into an automotive body 30 to which panel 20 is secured.

Abstract: A combination of a truck bed having side walls with an upper edge and a flange on the inner side extending downwardly from the upper edge, a liner for the bed having side walls positioned along the inner side of the flanges on the bed side wall, and a plurality of fixtures slidably securing the liner side walls to the respective flanges. The fixtures include a bracket seated on the inner side of the respective flange and on the outer surface of the liner side wall and screws, preferably of the self-tapping type, extending through the adjacent liner side wall into the bracket to hold the respective side wall against the flange in slidable relationship.

Abstract: A fastener and a nosepiece for use in attaching lath to a support. The fastener includes a screw and a spacing element, in which the spacing element is adapted to threadingly penetrate the lath and abut the support. The lath is retained between the spacing element and the head of the screw and is thereby held away from the support in order to allow plaster to properly extrude through openings in the lath. The nosepiece is attachable to a driving tool and has rigid prongs which reach through openings in the lath. Travel of a bit on the driving tool is limited so that automatic disengagement occurs to prevent over-driving of the screw. The prongs ensure that the lath is held a predetermined distance from the support.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for clamping plastic workpieces such as replacement engine and transmission covers in the automotive aftermarket. The mounting arrangement includes a metal eyelet crimped over an annular bead on the workpiece and having a flat central portion with a mounting opening. An annular metal spacer is captured on and carried by the eyelet surrounding the mounting opening to position the head of a mounting bolt above the plane of the workpiece for access by a socket wrench or the like.

Abstract: A spacing or shimming system for accurately securing a workpiece to a work-securing surface with a predetermined space between these two surfaces. A collapsible shim device includes a support securement surface and a workpiece supporting surface interconnected integrally by a selectively displaceable strut having a knee section which is particularly adapted to permit the workpiece supporting surface to become closer to the support securement surface upon significant compression. A further part of this system includes a self-drilling and threading fastener having a spacing or supporting washer.