Stepped Expander Patents (Class 411/56)
  • Patent number: 11845296
    Abstract: A method and system of attaching rivets to secure sheets of paper together. The rivets have a head, a recess, a skirt and a tail. A tool is configured so that the tail fits through a hole in the tool. Before the tail is inserted into the hole in the tool, the tail is inserted through two holes in the paper(s) and then in the hole in the tool. Pressure is placed on the paper by pressing downward on the tool thereby causing the paper(s) to snap into the recess, thereby securing both pieces of paper together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Rick Derennaux
  • Patent number: 11268383
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a type of energy-absorbing rock bolt device with umbrella-shaped structure, which consists of a body of bolt, and one end of the said body of bolt is equipped with a preloaded system, as well as the other end of the said body of bolt is equipped with the first support system, in addition, the said body of bolt is equipped with several second support systems, and the said second support system is located between the said preloaded system and the said first support system; meanwhile, the said second support system consists of the first umbrella-shaped support system and the second umbrella support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Songfeng Guo, Shengwen Qi, Shishu Zhang, Xingdong Ma, Guoqing Yuan, Xiuhua Wang, Bowen Zheng, Yu Zou, Xiaolin Huang, Ning Liang, Hang Li, Yubo Liu, Jianxian He, Xianglong Yao, Daping Tai, Guangming Luo
  • Patent number: 10155481
    Abstract: An integrated fastener comprises a component portion including a component housing surrounding a component, a linking platform molded extending from the component portion. A securing means is capable of being received within a receptacle defined by the linking platform and is designed to be received within an aperture defined by an automotive component. The securing means is capable of securing the component portion to the automotive component. The component portion, the linking platform, and the securing means are molded as one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gaetan Vich
  • Patent number: 9011536
    Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface and at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by the sleeve and/or the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface, the frictional engagement of each graft ligament being temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Fening, Anthony Miniaci
  • Patent number: 8526192
    Abstract: A boss for securing a pair of mainboards includes a circular top and a plurality of first flexible legs. The first flexible legs are disposed on one side of the circular top and are separated from each other. Each of the first flexible legs includes a tilted wall and a pressing component. The tilted wall is formed on a surface of the first flexible leg that faces another first flexible leg. The pressing component is formed on one end of the first flexible leg away from the circular top. The tilted walls of all the first flexible legs cooperatively define a tapered channel. The tapered channel can be expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Pin-Cheng Chen, Te-Cheng Lee, Hung-Pin Lin, Yao-Yu Lai, Cheng-Hsin Chen
  • Patent number: 8491652
    Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two radially spaced ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface. The graft ligaments are at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has longitudinally separated proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by at least one of the sleeve and the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has a plurality of longitudinally spaced engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted longitudinally into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Fening, Anthony Miniaci
  • Publication number: 20090269159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding anchor bolt (10) for introduction into a bore. The sliding anchor bolt (10) has a anchor bolt rod (12), disposed on which is a sliding control element (14) having a through-opening (18), through which the anchor bolt rod (12) extends. The sliding control element (14) comprises a sliding body cage (16) having at least one recess (20) for receiving a sliding body (22) that is in contact with the lateral surface of the anchor bolt rod (12). For precise and repeatable setting of a predefined breakaway force, each recess (22) for receiving a sliding body (22) is disposed in the sliding body cage (22) tangentially relative to the lateral surface of the anchor bolt rod (12). Furthermore, the lateral enveloping surface of each recess (20) projects by a predefined dimension into the free cross section of the through-opening (18), and each sliding body (22) fills the cross section of the recess (20) associated with it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ATLAS COPCO MAI GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Meidl
  • Patent number: 5707190
    Abstract: A blind bolt for fastening superposed construction materials with each other through insertion thereof into through holes formed in the construction materials, which blind bolt comprising a bolt section having a male screw, a flange portion formed at one end of the bolt body, and a tapered slanted surface extended from one end of the external peripheral surface of the flange portion to the male screw, a cylindrical spacer formed with a plurality of slits opened to one longitudinal end thereof, which spacer receiving the bolt body in such a manner that the slits are abutted against the flange portion, and a nut to be tightened by engaging with the male screw. With this construction above, as the bendable piece of the spacer is sandwiched between the inner surface of the holes in the construction materials and the flange of the bolt, even though the inner surface of the holes is mechanically deformed, the bendable piece is not severed, so that an extremely great tensile strength can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: ALPS Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuo Hiraguri, Sohkichi Hiraguri
  • Patent number: 4639174
    Abstract: The rivet comprises a tubular body 12 having a shank 14 having a rivet head at one end and an end portion 32 of which is tapered externally and internally towards the other (tail) end 20. A stem 10, disposed in the bore 18 of the body, has a stem-tail 22 which projects from the head end and breaks off when the rivet is set, a plug 24 in the bore 18, and a terminal head 28 abutting the tail-end 20. The diameter of the plug is reduced progressively and stepwise towards the terminal head, providing an abutment 50 and an annular groove 29 between the terminal head 28 and the abutment 50. Material of the end portion 20 extends into the groove to maintain the body and stem assembled, and enters further into the groove during setting of the rivet.The rivet is set by pulling the stem tail while supporting the body, causing the shank to collapse into a bulge which provides a blind head.The external tapering of the portion 32 promotes bulging at a lower applied force than would otherwise be required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Avdel Limited
    Inventors: Keith Denham, Stephen Archer
  • Patent number: 4427327
    Abstract: An axially elongated fastening element is made up of an anchor bolt and a spreader wedge each having a wedge surface. Initially the two parts are inserted in the unspread condition into a borehole. By providing relative movement in the axial direction between the wedge surfaces, the fastening element is anchored in the borehole. The wedge surfaces are divided into at least two portions each disposed at a different angle relative to the axis of the fastening element. The initial spreading action is effected when the portion of the wedge surfaces having smaller angles slide relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Armin Herb
  • Patent number: 4405273
    Abstract: A blind fastener is disclosed which comprises a sleeve and pin of a selected metal in which the pin is designed to form a blind head over a wide range of grips which offers substantially uniform tensile values over the entire grip range. The blind head forming end of the pin includes a plurality of spaced annular or helical ribs formed between spaced annular or helical grooves which are designed to progressively distort or fold as the pin is pulled through the sleeve, at least one of the ribs remaining in an unfolded condition after the fastener is set. The pin shank and internal opening of the sleeve may be provided with complementary tapers to provide a sealing effect if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Huck Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John H. Ruhl, Richard D. Dixon