Abstract: A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.

Abstract: A frog, and a bow with a frog, for stringed musical instruments is disclosed. The frog is made with a body from stabilized wood. The speed of sound through the frog body is enhanced resulting in more beautiful music.

Abstract: A bolt (10) for securing timber to any other material, comprises: a bolt head (101) with a series of spiked teeth (102) on its underside; a cylindrical bolt rod (103) extending from the bolt head (101) is threaded and split into two rods (105a,b) at its free end, so as to define a slot (106) therebetween. In use a user drills a hole through pieces of timber to be secured together, and hammers the bolt through the hole. The spiked teeth on the bolt head lock into the timber, securing the bolt at one end. At the free, split end of the bolt rod, a washer and nut are tightened onto the bolt. A cold chisel is hammered into the slot between the split ends of the rod, bending the ends outwards and thus preventing the nut from loosening.

Abstract: A self-countersinking screw (10) is capable of full penetration into wood, plastic veneered wood, and cementaceous products. An alternating sequence of peripheral cutters (A, B) extend from the periphery of the underside of the screw head (11), acting in conjunction with countersink cutting edges (24) and debris receiving recesses (20). Cutter (A) has an arcuate notch (30) in the cutting face (28), cutter (B) has a rectangular notch (31) in the trailing edge. Full countersinking without tearing, cracking or dimpling of the surface is achieved.

Abstract: A fastener is retained within an opening of a workpiece by deforming a portion of an edge of the opening inwardly to prevent removal of the fastener. A deforming member associated with a head of the fastener includes a body having a clamping surface extending radially form a central axis. A wedge-like deforming element has a deforming member and having a deforming face angled axially and radially outward from the clamping surface. The deforming element, when pressed against a malleable edge of the workpiece, deforms at least a portion of the edge into the fastener opening thereby creating a stop which reduces the diameter of the opening and mechanically retains the fastener therein. The deforming member may be formed as a separate washer assembled on the fastener or may be made integral with the fastener head.

Abstract: A fastener includes an axial shank and a clamping face extending radially from the shank. A plurality of serrations are formed on the clamping face and extend radially from a shank periphery to an outer periphery of the clamping face. The shank periphery is axially displaced away from the clamping face relative to the outer periphery of the clamping face to define a ramped surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning and mounting fixtures is described. At least one ring for fitted insertion into a fixture to be mounted is provided. A disc having an opening for receiving a fastening device is provided for each ring. The fastening device is installed through the opening in the disc, then aligned through the ring in the fixture with a pre-drilled hole in the mounting surface, and loosely tightened into the pre-drilled hole. The fixture is then aligned to a desired position relative to the mounting surface, and the fastening device is tightened such that the underside of the disc fixedly engages the ring and the fixture to the mounting surface.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of this invention, a fastener having a flat thin body with sharp profusions thereon is anchored in a workpiece so that relative rotation is prevented between the anchored fastener and the workpiece. The sharp protrusions form anchoring legs which cut into the softer material of the work piece. These legs may be spike or tack shaped, and may be forced into the workpiece by pressing or hammering in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the workpiece. For sandwich applications between pairs of workpieces, the anchoring legs may be disposed on both sides of the body. In addition, individual anchoring legs may include a sharp edge which will cut into the work piece in the rotational direction. In a second embodiment, the thin surfaces of the body may be curved so that the body of the anchoring legs is deformed by the compression of a nut being tightened on a bolt. This elastic deformation provides an axial retention force in a manner similar to a lock washer.

Abstract: A drawbar assembly includes a self-locking bushing which is supported from the drawbar mounting bracket by a conventional nut and bolt fastener. Each end of the bushing includes radial line projections which bite into the mounting bracket and into a washer interposed between the nut and the bushing when the nut is threaded onto the bolt. By capturing both bushing ends, the bushing cannot rotate to loosen the nut or wear against the mounting bracket and washer. The bushing is formed as a single component with the radial line projections by a powdered metal process and hardened to provide wear resistance. Dissimilar metals in the bushing and the drawbar at the pivotal connection reduce wear.

Abstract: A lock washer, a locking fastener assembly, and a method of providing a secure, inexpensive fastener joint. The lock washer has a convexly conical upper surface including circumferentially spaced cam surfaces separated by radial shoulders and a concavely conical undersurface. The washer is hardened relative to the associated nut so that as the washer and a nut are tightened together the upper face of the washer acts as a die which presses into the underface of the nut to form a mirror mating image of the conical upper surface of the washer on the underface of the nut. The fully torqued nut and washer define coacting ramp surfaces on the underface of the nut and the upper face of the washer which act upon any tendency of the nut to move in a loosening direction to increase the overall height of the nut and the washer so as to further tighten the joint. The washer is hardened to ensure that the surface of the washer cuts as a die into the lower surface of the nut.