August Patents

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

Pull-Type Fastener, Method and System for Reduction
US Patent 12042844
Published July 23, 2024
Inventor: Steven Stalcup, City of Industry, CA, USA
Assignee: Allfast Fastening Systems, City of Industry, CA, USA
A fastener, installing tool, system and method all contemplate integrated
magnetic and/or vacuum traps positioned so as to capture particulates and
debris created during the installation and use of the fastener. These
elements are integrated into the installing system so as to eliminate the
need for additional clamps.

Fastening Structure with Double Nuts Having Dual-Threaded Screw
US Patent 12044265
Published July 23, 2024
Inventors: Toshinaka Shinbutsu, Yamanashi, Japan; and Shuichi Amano,
Yamanashi, Japan
Assignee: Form Roll Tech Co., Ltd., Yamanashi, Japan
Fastening art with double nuts for a dual-threaded screw structure is
provided, in which loosening is not created even if the structure is subjected
to vibration. A spring washer is caused to intervene between the nuts, when
double nuts of an inner nut and an outer nut are screwed onto a thread
portion on which dual-threaded screw is formed. Only by tightening the
outer nut, also the inner nut is tightened and the spring washer is
compressed. Both axial force for clamping the fastened member and axial
force between the nuts can be secured with the spring washer, so that
loosening does not occur easily.

Socket Assembly with a Coated Washer
US Patent 12038039
Published July 16, 2024
Inventors: Glen C. Parker, Saint Peters, MO, USA; Thomas J. Byrnes, Jr., St.
Charles, MO, USA; Brennan J. Sugg, St. Louis, MO, USA; and Eric M. Kopsie,
Bethalto, IL, USA
Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC, Southfield, MI, USA
A socket assembly includes a housing having an inner bore extending along
a central axis between a closed first end and an open second end. At least
one bearing is disposed in the inner bore, wherein the at least one bearing
has a bearing surface and a support surface opposite the bearing surface.
The socket assembly also includes a ball stud having a shank portion
extending outwardly from the housing through the open second end and a
ball portion disposed in the inner bore. At least one preload washer biases
the at least one bearing into engagement with the ball portion of the ball
stud. The at least one preload washer has an outer coating of a low friction,
heat insulating material.

Threaded Fastener
US Patent 12038035
Published July 16, 2024
Inventor: Youichi Matsueda, Hadano, Japan
Assignee: Topura Co., Ltd., Hadano, Japan
A threaded fastener includes a bolt and a washer. The washer has a washer
main body and a seal member provided at an outer peripheral side of the
washer main body. The washer is caulked and fixed to a shank portion of
the bolt in a water stop state, and the seal member is in contact with a
fastened member in a water stop state, with a bearing surface of the washer
main body held in contact with the fastened member. The seal member is
provided on its outer periphery with a protrusion portion that protrudes
outward beyond a radially outer end of a contact portion of the seal
member with the washer in a no-load state. A back surface of the protrusion
portion on the opposite side of the fastened member is an inclined surface.

Self-Drilling, Anti-Burr, Threaded Fastener
US Patent 12038034
Published July 16, 2024
Inventors: Sven Spirig, Sinking Spring, PA, USA; Kevin Reinheimer, Exeter, PA,
USA; and Erich Schanzenbach, Hellertown, PA, USA
Assignee: SFS Group International AG, Heerbrugg, Switzerland
A self-drilling, anti-burr, threaded fastener is provided having at least two
different thread portions. The first thread portion extends along the tip and
the second thread portion extends along the tapered portion adjacent to
the tip. A third thread portion can be provided between the first and second
thread portions that includes a plurality of axial gaps that extend to the
thread root to remove burrs. Alternatively, knurling is provided in an area
where the first and second thread portions meet, and the knurling acts to
remove burrs.

Fastener Comprising a Blind Rivet Element and a Sealing Element
US Patent 12025163
Published July 2, 2024
Inventor: Paul Hanratty, Southampton, Great Britain
Assignee: BBA S.r.l., Centobuchi di Monteprandone, Italy
A fastening means having a blind rivet element and a sealing element,
wherein the blind rivet element has a head portion and a shaft adjoining the
head portion in an axial direction, wherein the shaft has an internal thread
or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt and, between the internal thread
or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion, a
deformation portion for forming a closing head when the deformation
portion is deformed. The sealing element has a closed lateral portion and a
closed cover portion adjoining the lateral portion in the axial direction,
wherein the lateral portion circumferentially encloses the shaft of the blind
rivet element at least in the region of the deformation portion, and the
cover portion is formed at an end of the shaft of the blind rivet element
facing away from the head portion.

Corrosion-Resistant Screw-Securing Disc
US Patent 12025173
Published July 2, 2024
Inventor: Thomas Volborth, Halver, Germany
Assignee: SLI Assets GmbH & Co. KG, Plettenberg, Germany
A corrosion-resistant screwsecuring disc has an annular, stainless steel disc
body for arrangement between a screw head and a flat support, with a disc
upper side and a disc underside. The surfaces of the disc upper side and of
the disc underside of the disc body are compacted by a stamping process,
wherein the disc body has a material thickness of at least 1.5 mm and has a
convex shape.

Locknut
US Patent 12025172
Published July 2, 2024
Inventor: Daniel John Spriggel, Henderson, NV, USA
A locknut includes a nut body having a threaded through opening therein
extending between a first end and a second end. A pocket is defined within
the second end of the nut body. A spring member disposed within the
pocket includes a pair of leg members joined together by an apex member
so that the leg members are disposed in substantially parallel, spaced-apart
relation to one another. The leg members define locking surfaces thereon
so that when the externally threaded member is threaded into the threaded
through opening defined by the nut body the externally threaded member
contacts the locking surfaces. The locking surfaces exert pressure on the
externally threaded member at substantially opposed radial locations to
develop a locking force between the nut body and the externally threaded
member.

Anti-Slippage Fastener
US Patent 12018708
Published June 25, 2024
Inventors: Paul Kukucka, Brandon, FL, USA; and Thomas Stefan Kukucka,
Brandon, FL, USA
Assignee: Grip Holdings LLC, Brandon, FL, USA
An anti-slippage fastener that utilizes a plurality of engagement features to
prevent slippage and facilitate torque transfer between a torque-tool and
the fastener. The fastener includes a shank, a fastener head and an external
threading. The fastener head includes a rotation axis and a plurality of
engagement walls; wherein the engagement walls are radially distributed
about the rotation axis. Each of the engagement walls includes a first
transversal line, a second transversal line and a partially-circular portion.
The first transversal line is terminally connected to the partially-circular
portion. The second transversal line is terminally connected to the partially circular portion, opposite the first transversal line. A center of the partially circular portion is oriented away from the rotation axis. The shank is
concentrically connected to the fastener head to act as the body of the
fastener. The external threading is laterally connected along the shank,
similar to traditional fasteners.

Two-Piece Fastener
US Patent 12018711
Published June 25, 2024
Inventor: Edwin Ingalls, The Villages, FL, USA
A two-piece fastener used to combine two substrates of the same or
differing thickness. The fastener may include a bolt portion and a locking
base. The bolt portion and locking base may include complimentary sets of
teeth that mechanically engage with one another when the bolt is passed
through the two substrates and affixed to the locking base.

Press-In Nut and Method for Producing a Press-In Nut and Press-In Connection
US Patent 12012986
Published June 18, 2024
Inventors: Markus Hirschmann, Erlangen, Germany; Juliane Gersler, RothEckersmuehlen, Germany; and Klaus Heubusch, Spalt, Germany
Assignee: Richard Bergner Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Schwabach, Germany
A press-in nut is formed as a cap nut and has a nut body with a through
hole, which is closed by a cap under formation of a blind hole. This is
provided to obtain a media-tight connection with the nut body. The nut
body has a ring collar at the top. In a pre-assembled state, the ring collar is
only at least partially bent over, so that the cap is only held captively,
without a media-tight connection being formed. The desired media-tight
connection is only formed when press-fitting into a component.

Automotive Component with Flange and Mounting Screw
US Patent 12012153
Published June 18, 2024
Inventor: Siegmund Oberer, Berglen-Kottweil, Germany
Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, Ludwigsburg, Germany
An automotive component is described, comprising a flange, which has a
through hole, and a screw, which is inserted in the through hole. According
to this disclosure, at least three clamping ribs are provided, extending in an
axial direction, in the through hole.

Washers for Rotatable Cutting Tools
US Patent 12011852
Published June 18, 2024
Inventors: James R. Geyer, Manns Choice, PA, USA; Arkadiusz Dlugosz,
Osiedle Sikorskiego, Poland; and Thomas J. Long, II, Greensburg, PA, USA
Assignee: Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA, USA
The present invention provides rotatable cutting tools having washers with
changing thicknesses. One side of the washer has a tapered surface that
increases the thickness of the washer from the inner radius towards the
outer radius, resulting in a thicker portion at the outer edge of the washer.
The rotatable cutting tool may also have a bit with a tapered surface. The
tapered surface of the bit may be structured and arranged to engage with
the tapered surface of the washer. The rotatable cutting tool may also
include a holder such that the assembled rotatable cutting tool includes the
washer between the bit and the holder with the bit inserted into the holder
and washer.

Rivet Fastener Assembly and Method of Use Thereof
US Patent 12006958
Published June 11, 2024
Inventors: Joel R. Lee, Peotone, IL, USA; and Mark O. Lepper, Oak Park, IL, USA
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A rivet fastener assembly is configured to securely clamp together one or
more components. The rivet fastener assembly includes a pin and a rivet
body having a collar and a column extending from the collar. The rivet body
further includes a collar stop configured to provide a positive locating
feature for the pin once assembled.

Modular Screw and Method of Manufacturing a Modular Screw
US Patent 12006961
Published June 11, 2024
Inventors: Sven Becker, Bochum, Germany; Bruno Da Rocha, Altena,
Germany; Andreas Jakob, Hemer, Germany; Stefan Helbert, Witten,
Germany; and Nelson Santos, Iserlohn, Germany
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A modular screw is provided, wherein the screw includes, in an axial
direction, the following elements: a screw head, a shank having a second
functional portion, a third functional portion for distributing a prestressing
force, wherein a washer is arranged in the second functional portion and is
mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the screw, and a
fourth functional portion having an external thread, and wherein the
washer is secured in an approximately positionally fixed manner in the axial
direction by bearing against the second and the fourth functional portion.

Anti-Vibration Anti-Loosening Threaded Fastener
US Patent 12006962
Published June 11, 2024
Inventor: Sheng-Hsiung Shih, Tainan, Taiwan
Assignee: Shoxproof Technology Co., Ltd., Tainan, Taiwan
An anti-vibration antiloosening threaded fastener is revealed. The threaded
fastener includes a bolt and a nut. The bolt consists of a head, a stud
disposed on a bottom surface of the head, and a through hole mounted
axially in the stud. The nut is composed of a threaded slotted portion
provided with an opening facing upward and fastened to the stud by
threaded connection, and a post protruding from central area of a bottom
of the threaded slotted portion. The post and the through hole are disposed
eccentrically to each other so that forces that pull the bolt and the nut
together are generated when the bolt and the nut are threaded and
fastened with each other and the post is mounted into the through hole.
Thereby the bolt and the nut are fastened more tightly and the threaded
fastener is vibration resistant and anti-loosening.

Locking Threaded Fastener Assembly
US Patent 12000425
Published June 4, 2024
Inventor: Richard J. Adams, Charlestown, MA, USA
Assignee: Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA, USA
A locking fastener assembly comprising a fastener having a threaded
portion, and a head having a first end and a second end axially spaced from
the first end, the second end comprising a fastening surface and a locking
washer recess. The locking fastener assembly further comprises a locking
washer disposed at least partially within the locking washer recess, the
locking washer comprising a locking tab extending in a first direction and a
stop biased in a second direction opposing the first direction, wherein the
locking tab is operable to lock rotation of the locking washer relative to an
item being secured upon a torquing rotation and a loosening rotation of
the fastener. A locking member is supported by the fastener, and operable
to interface with the stop of the locking washer upon the loosening rotation
of the fastener to lock the fastener relative to the item being secured.

Self-Drilling Self-Tapping Fastener
US Patent 12000421
Published June 4, 2024
Inventors: Yongping Gong, Wilmette, IL, USA; Randall Derek Riffle, Lake Villa,
IL, USA; Mark Latz, Stuart, FL, USA; and Alex Baciu, Chicago, IL, USA
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A self-drilling self-tapping fastener that provides improved performance in
both drilling time and pullout force without decreasing performance in any
of ductility, tapping torque, torsional strength and tension strength.