Abstract: A button system containing two pieces that snap and lock together to fasten multiple articles of clothing. The top piece is made of three distinct parts: a detachable ridged color-coded cover, a fastener that attaches said cover to a rotatable hinged plate, and a fastener that secures all three pieces of the top piece. The bottom piece is also made up of three distinct parts: a plate to receive the hinges from the top piece, a curved structure that connects the hinge/cavity plates to the article of clothing, and a rivet that attaches to the article of clothing and the snap and lock invention.

Abstract: A toggle fastener includes an arm extending along a first axis and defining a threaded opening through the arm along a direction perpendicular to the first axis the toggle fastener. A rachet strap extends along a second axis and is pivotally coupled to the arm adjacent a proximal end of the rachet strap. The arm and rachet strap cooperate to block the arm and rachet strap from aligning. Pivoting the arm and the rachet strap relative to each other about a first direction, the angle between the first and second axes can be reduced to a first angle before further pivoting is blocked in a first blocking configuration of the toggle fastener. Attempting to pivot the rachet strap further in the first direction relative to the arm causes the rachet strap to recoverably flex.

Abstract: A rivetless nut plate assembly, which is fully preassembled, which can be installed into an aperture of a hard metal material workpiece having a hardness of at least 25 Rc, such as Titanium and Steel Alloys. The rivetless nut plate assembly includes a nut, a holding bracket, a retainer, and a sleeve member. Additionally, a stem is used to install the rivetless nut plate assembly. The sleeve member is configured such that the nut plate assembly can be installed in a hard metal material workpiece. The sleeve member may be formed of a high strength, but ductile material, such as Titanium Columbium, Monel, soft Nickel alloys or soft Titanium alloys.

Abstract: A bolted joint which is formed by using a bolt having a tapered shoulder to cold form a deformable sleeve in order to provide a “zero-clearance” fit. Specifically, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used to join a ring gear to a differential case. As the bolts are installed into the differential case and ring gear, tapered shoulders on the bolts dilate deformable sleeves until outer diameters of the sleeves contact internal walls of through holes in the differential case.

Abstract: A captive shoulder nut for a electronic module heat sink has a threaded nut portion and a tubular portion extending therefrom. A ramped section in the exterior wall of the tubular portion leads to a retaining groove adjacent the bottom face of the nut portion. A compression spring is slipped over the tubular portion to ride over the ramped section and be retained at one end in the retaining groove. The tubular portion is suitable to be inserted through a straight hole, whereof the inner diameter of the spring is larger than the hole. The free end of the tubular portion is suitable to be flared to a larger diameter than the hole, thereby establishing a captivation.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to a three piece blind fastener comprising a mandrel 40, a tubular body portion of 10 and a radially extending flange 14, wherein the cylindrical body 10 is mounted on an elongate stem 42 of the mandrel so as to extend co-axially about a central axis of such blind fastener, and the mandrel having a mandrel head in operative engagement with a tail end of the body for transmitting force there to during setting of the fastener, wherein the radially extending flange is separate from and held in crimped engagement with the body portion at or towards a front end of the tubular body so as to be axially remote from the tail end of such body.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly has a nut and a cage. The cage has a base having an aperture therethrough and a pair of flexible arm portions which are capable of supporting the nut off of the base. The cage nut assembly is welded to a workpiece. The workpiece is sent through an e-coat or ELPO bath. As the flexible arm portions of the cage support the nut off of the base, the possibility of the nut being stuck to the cage is reduced. A fastener is inserted through an aperture of the workpiece, through the aperture of the base and is threadedly engaged with the nut. As the fastener is torqued down, a force is applied to the nut such that the arm portions of the cage flex and allow the nut to come into contact and be secured against the base.

Abstract: A blind rivet nut has a shank with a thread and a deformation zone. The blind rivet nut has also a set head with a larger outside diameter than that of the shank. The set head has a deformable extension on a side opposite the shank. A fastening unit formed with the blind rivet nut has a bolt having a threaded shank and a bolt head with an outside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the threaded shank and at least as large as an outside diameter of the deformable extension.

Abstract: A compression clip of the present invention comprises a bolt and a self-tightening member having two side sections and a grooved intermediate section therebetween. The intermediate section has a hole for receiving the bolt. Preferably, the intermediate section has grooves on both an interior and exterior surface thereof. After tightening of the clip, the intermediate section flattens to become somewhat planar and the side sections are compressed inward to securely engage a guide rail or wear strip within the clip.

Abstract: A circular opening (48) is formed in a structural wall (12). A tubular shank (28) of a nut mounting grommet (26) is inserted into the opening (48). The grommet (26) is moved endwise to place a shoulder surface (34) on the base of a nut mounting cup (30) against the wall (12). A split sleeve (54) is installed on a small diameter portion (62) of a mandrel (52) and the mandrel and sleeve (52, 54) are inserted into the tubular shank (28) from the side of the wall (12) opposite the nut receiving cup (30). The mandrel (52) is then retracted to successively move increasing and maximum diameter portions (64, 66) of the mandrel (52) through the split sleeve (54). The mandrel portions (64, 66) exert a radially outwardly expanding force on the split sleeve (54). The split sleeve (54) in turn imposes a radially outwardly expanding force on the tubular shank ( 28).

Abstract: An improved fastening device is disclosed for securing a longitudinally extending body member within an aperture of a workpiece. The fastening device is designed to accept resilient material after it is inserted within the workpiece. In one alternative embodiment the inserted resilient material acts in cooperation with the longitudinally extending body member to lock the device in place and to provide a support structure to the workpiece. In another alternative embodiment, the body member, after injection by the resilient material, assumes the shape of the workpiece aperture. In another alternative embodiment, structure fibers are added and held to the fastening device by the inserted resilient material.

Abstract: On a brake support (12) engaging over a brake disk (10) a piston (34) is supported and on the other side a floating caliper (14) is supported for axial displacement. In both cases slide guides (40) are provided for the supporting and each have a guide body (42) having a groove (46) parallel to the axis (A) of the brake disk (10) and a threaded pin (48) which extends transversely of the axial center plane (B) of the brake and engages into the associated groove (46). The slide guides (40) are surrounded in each case by a resilient sealing sleeve (54) which is protected by a heat shield (66) arranged between it and the brake disk (10). Associated with the threaded pins (48) are anti-rotation locks for securing the pins against turning and which comprise mounting members (56) secured to the brake support (12). The mounting members (56) carry at the same time the heat shields (66).

Abstract: A plastic seal housing with an integrally bonded elastomeric seal for use about the rear crankshaft of an internal combustion engine featuring fewer leak paths and requiring no secondary machining of the seal housing subsequent to the molding thereof.