Patents for February

February 14, 2024February 14, 2024 FTI February/March

USPTO Fastener Patents as compiled from: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by the editors of FTI

Simulation Device for the Screw Joint Simulation of a Nutrunner
US Patent 11874190
Published January 16, 2024
Inventors: Gerald Neumann, Hueckeswagen, Germany; and Siegried Fischer, Wermelskirchen, Germany
Assignee: Kistler Holding AG, Winterthur, Switzerland
A simulation device for the screw joint simulation of a nutrunner includes a test connecting element
rigidly connected to a brake unit. The nutrunner can be coupled to the test connecting element and
activated to exert a torque that rotates the test connecting element about an axis of rotation. Activation
of the brake unit brakes the test connecting element. A torque transducer includes a rotational angle
transducer for measuring a rotational angle by which the test connecting element rotates about the
rotation axis. The simulation device includes a zero mark, and the brake unit can be adjusted to a zero
angle with respect to the zero mark.

Precision Torque Control Positive Lock Nut
US Patent 11873856
Published January 16, 2024
Inventor: Donald Wayne Rice, Ripley, NY, USA
Assignee: BPC LG 2, LLC, Charlotte, NC, USA
A torque control fastener system having a fastener nut, a helical wire insert and a shaft, where the nut
and helical wire insert have unique hardness and coefficient of thermal expansion relationships that
produce improved performance.

Rivet Element for Setting a Thread
US Patent 11873850
Published January 16, 2024
Inventors: Martin Mang, Margertshausen, Germany; and Robert Weinmann, Rammingen, Germany
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG), Munich, Germany
A rivet element for setting a thread into at least one component has a head portion which can be
interlockingly brought into abutment with the component and a sleeve portion which can be inserted
into an opening extending through the component and can be plastically deformed. The sleeve portion is
provided with an internal thread into which a traction mandrel and/or a screw element can be screwed.
The sleeve portion has a protruding rib structure on the outer circumference, the rib structure having at
least one first support rib and at least one second support rib which extend in the longitudinal direction
of the sleeve portion and are separated from one another by a recess. After the plastic deformation of
the sleeve portion, the support ribs contact one another in order to allow a direct force flow between the
head portion and the sleeve portion.

Self Drilling Bolt and Nut
US Patent 11867215
Published January 9, 2024
Inventor & Assignee: Ami Chen, Harish, IL, USA
A drilling bolt-and-nut assembly for attaching rigid panels, including a drilling bolt and a grooved nut. The
drilling bolt includes a cylindrical screwthread section, an external thread-diameter, an internal threaddiameter, a drill-bit section and a thread-less section interconnecting the screw-thread section, the drillbit section. The grooved nut has a through cylindrical opening formed at the center of the nut, wherein
the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical opening of the grooved nut is threaded with threads that are
operatively compatible with the threads of the drilling bolt. The drill-bit section includes at least two
cutting-blades, wherein at least two cutting-blades are spaced apart. At least two grooves are formed in
the wall of the through cylindrical opening, wherein the grooves are spaced apart similar to the
peripheral distance between the cutting-blades of the drill bit-section.

Temporary Fastener for Structures
US Patent 11867213
Published January 9, 2024
Inventor: Julien Brachet, Mehun sur Yèvre, France
Assignee: LISI Aerospace, Paris, France
The present invention concerns a fastener (110) for the temporary assembly of at least two previously
drilled structures (112) comprising: a hollow body (122) comprising a bearing surface (40); elastic clips
(24) which are movable relative to the body and which form a projection relative to the bearing surface; a
spacer (26) around which the elastic clips are positioned; a connecting element (130), extending within
the body and secured to the elastic clips (24); and an actuating element (132) linked to connecting
element by a thread/tapping (67, 84). The connecting element is traversed by a lateral opening (70) axially
extended between two closed ends (72, 74); and the fastener also comprises a transverse stop (28)
secured to the spacer, the said stop being capable of sliding between the axial ends of the said lateral
opening.

Compliant Self-Anchoring Screw with Auxetic Properties
US Patent 11867216
Published January 9, 2024
Inventors: Hando Kim, Los Angeles, CA, USA; and Jonathan B. Hopkins, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Assignee: Hando Kim, Los Angeles, CA, USA
The present invention provides compliant screws compatible with standard threaded holes that are selfanchoring via auxetic properties. Once a screw has been twisted in place using a mating screw driver, the
screw won’t be able to be removed unless it is broken, its surrounding material is torn out with the screw,
or unless the screw driver itself is again used to twist the screw in the opposite direction. Thus, although
reusable, the screw will never come out of its hole in the presence of vibrations or other cyclic or random
loading scenarios. The screws are thereby suitable for critical joint applications where screws must never
come loose. Non-limiting examples include satellite fasteners, high-speed vehicle bolts, pedicle screws
and other screws used to secure medical implants within a human body.

Tee-Bolt for Use with Accessory Mounting Track
US Patent 11867353
Published January 9, 2024
Inventor: Luther Cifers, Farmville, VA, USA
Assignee: YakAttack, LLC, Farmville, VA, USA
A tee-bolt for use with an accessory mounting track provides a quick and easy removable attachment of
various devices. The tee-bolt comprises a head comprising upper and lower surfaces and a female
threaded hole passing therethrough between the upper and lower surfaces, and a stud comprising a
male thread having an end threaded through the head so that the end is flush with the lower surface of
the head and a portion of the stud extends from the upper surface of the head. The end of the stud is
flared outwardly within the threaded hole and flush with the lower surface of the head by the application
of pressure to form a flare that interacts with the head to inhibit separation of the head and the stud.

Fastener
US Patent 11859647
Published January 2, 2024
Inventors: Xiaolong Chu, Zhanjiang, China; Cheng Lin, Zhanjiang, China; Yixiang Liao, Zhanjiang, China;
Xiaojian Huang, Zhanjiang, China; and Man Liu, Irving, TX, USA
Assignee: Hilti AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein
A fastener includes a main body having a tubular portion and a split portion that extends from a lower
end of the tubular portion, and longitudinally includes a tapered section that tapers in a direction
towards the tubular portion. The fastener further includes an expansion sleeve annularly surrounding
the split portion, wherein the expansion sleeve longitudinally extends to a lower end of the tapered
section.

Locking Fastener Assembly with Authentication Based Unlocking
US Patent 11858458
Published January 2, 2024
Inventors: Joel Richard Goergen, Soulsbyville, CA, USA; Mary Kathryn Savage, Hoover, AL, USA; Kameron
Rose Hurst, Sonora, CA, USA; and Robert Gregory Twiss, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, USA
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first member, a second member configured for coupling
with the first member, an authentication module integrated into one of the first or second member and a
locking device operable to lock the second member to the first member, and unlock the second member
from the first member upon receiving input from the authentication module. The authentication module
is operable to authenticate an unlock request received from an external source.

Robot For Tightening a Series of Bolt Nuts on a Vehicle Chassis and Manufacturing Process
US Patent 11851122
Published December 26, 2023
Inventors: Charles Sahakian, Décines, France; Johan Iderot, Gothenburg, Sweden; José Vieira, Montreuil
sous Bois, France; and Ekhi Laniesse, Pontoise, France
Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation, Gothenburg, Sweden
The invention relates to a robot for tightening bolt nuts on a vehicle chassis, the robot comprising a
polyarticulated arm at the end of which is a nut tightening tool. A sleeve-shaped centering member is
fixed around the nut tightening tool and comprises a frustoconical surface which makes it possible, on
contact with a nut, to reposition the nut tightening tool automatically in the axis of the nut.

Fastener Element Bonded to Another Fastener Element
US Patent 11852184
Published December 26, 2023
Inventors: John P. Rizzo, Jr., Vernon, CT, USA; and Istiak Ahmed, Queens Village, NY, USA
Assignee: RTX Corporation, Farmington, CT, USA
An assembly is provided that includes a first fastener element and a second fastener element. The first
fastener element is secured to the second fastener element with bonding material. The first fastener
element may be a spacer such as a washer. The second fastener element may be a fastener or a washer.

Separation Bolt by Eutectic Decohesion
US Patent 11852181
Published December 26, 2023
Inventors: Timothy James Thomasson, Woodford, VA, USA; and Michael James Parsons, King George, VA, USA
Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA, USA
An axially separable fastener for securing a structure is provided to detach upon command of an electric
signal. The fastener includes a metal bolt, an external nut, a frangible ampoule containing a liquid metal
eutectic and an internal plug. The bolt has a metal shank with proximal and distal ends. The shank
includes a first head at the proximal end, and a first helical external thread and an axial bore with a first
helical internal thread at the distal end. The fastener secures a structure in compression between the
first head and the external nut. The external nut screws onto the first external thread. The ampoule
contains a liquid metal eutectic. The ampoule is insertable into the bore. The internal plug includes a
second head, an actuator mechanism, and an auger opposite thereto. The internal plug has a second
helical external thread between the second head and the auger for screwing into the bore along the first
internal thread. Upon receipt of the signal, the internal plug axially drives the auger towards the proximal
end into the ampoule to release the eutectic, thereby fracturing the bolt.

Fastener Assembly, Wind Turbine Hub Assembly and Related Methods
US Patent 11846266
Published December 19, 2023
Inventors: Michael Wenani Nielsen, Lunderskov, Denmark; and Diego Vidal Rebollal, Ponferrada, Spain
Assignees: LM Wind Power A/S, Kolding, Denmark; and LM Wind Power (Spain) S.A., Ponferrada, Spain
The present disclosure relates to fastener assemblies (400) for a wind turbine blade (22) to rotor hub (20)
connection, wherein the fastener assembly (400) comprises a fastener (401) and one or more sleeves
(410) configured to absorb the ingress of liquid into a blade root insert (220). The present disclosure also
relates to wind turbine hub assemblies (1000) and associated methods (700).

Hidden Fastener Unit and Related Method of Use
US Patent 11840848
Published December 12, 2023
Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Hudsonville, MI, USA; and Todd E.A. Schwartzkopf, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Assignee: National Nail Corp., Grand Rapids, MI, USA
A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit
includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and
engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements. The board engagement
elements can engage the groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent
the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are
provided.

Anti-Loosening Metallic Externally Threaded Fastener
US Patent 11835080
Published December 5, 2023
Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Kitanagoya, Japan; and Yoshirou Haze, Himeji, Japan
Assignees: Yahata Holdings Corporation, Kitanagoya, Japan; and World Lock Corporation, Himeji, Japan
[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an anti-loosening metallic male screw that
can exhibit a sufficient anti-loosening effect by forming a flat part and a short slope in a part of the
thread bottom of the male screw and thus ensuring pressure contact between a thread peak of a female
screw and the slope at the thread bottom of the male screw. [Solution] An anti-loosening metallic male
screw according to the present invention is to be engaged with a female screw for a metric screw, and is
characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the thread bottom of the metallic male screw is formed
into a flat shape in which a non-pressurized flank side thereof is parallel to the axis of the male screw, is
formed into a shape in which a pressurized flank side thereof is sloped toward the pressurized flank side
with respect to an extension line of the flat part, and the outer diameter and the effective radial size of
the metallic male screw are smaller than the reference sizes of the metric screw.

Anti-Vibration Nut/Bolt System
US Patent 11835079
Published December 5, 2023
Inventor & Assignee: Shurun Zhao, Tampa, FL, USA
A bolt has an axis and a bolt plane perpendicular to the axis. The bolt has male bolt threads. Each male
bolt thread has a bolt root and a bolt crest. Each male bolt thread forms axially interior and exterior male
surfaces extending radially exteriorly away from the axis and forms a first angle with respect to the bolt
plane. A nut has an axis and a nut plane perpendicular to the axis. The nut has female nut threads. Each
female nut thread has a nut root and a nut crest. Each female nut thread forms axially interior and
exterior female surfaces extending radially interiorly toward the axis and forms a second angle with
respect to the nut plane. The first angle and the second angle are not equal.

Screw
US Patent 11835077
Published December 5, 2023
Inventors: Kou-Tsair Su, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Chen-Long Su, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Assignee: Taiwan Shan Yin International Co., Ltd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan
A screw includes a head having a top face and a conical bottom surface, a shank and thread
convolutions. A chip guiding channel is recessedly formed on the conical bottom surface. On the conical
bottom surface are spirally disposed a cutting portion which has a plurality cutting units sequentially
arranged in a spiral manner, thereby allowing the chip guiding channel to be surrounded by the cutting
units along a spiral track. The spiral arrangement of the cutting units assists the head in cutting fibers of
a workpiece which are wound around the head into small chips in a continuous and spiral severing
manner to reduce drilling torque and resistance, and the spirally-defined chip guiding channel also
facilitates a smooth removal of the chips, thereby allowing the head to fit level with a top surface of the
workpiece and increasing a fastening effect.

Storage, Recall and Use of Tightening Specifications on Threaded Mechanical Fasteners
US Patent 11828316
Published November 28, 2023
Inventor: David M. Mante, Warwick, NY, USA
A surface marked threaded fastener comprising an elongated and threaded shaft and a head at one end
of the elongated and threaded shaft; said head comprising on a surface contacting face a readable
matrix comprising a dot pattern, said dot pattern defining a tightening specification.