Patents for December 2024

December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 FTI 2024, December/January

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

Fastener Insert for a Composite Sandwich Panel, a Panel Assembly and a Method of Fastening a Component to a Composite Sandwich Panel
US Patent 12146522
Published November 19, 2024
Inventor: Christopher J. Mills, Charleston, SC, USA
Assignee: The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL, USA
A fastener insert for securement to a composite sandwich panel at an
opening in the composite sandwich panel includes a base and a fastener
carrier. The base has a body and an angle integral with the body. The flange
extends laterally outward of an outer perimeter of the body. The base
denes a central cavity extending entirely through both the body and the
flange. The base includes a first locking feature disposed at the central
cavity. The fastener carrier is configured to insert into the central cavity of
the base. The fastener carrier denes a fastener opening and has a second
locking feature configured for mechanical engagement with the first locking
feature of the base to retain the fastener carrier to the base. A panel
assembly and a method of fastening a component to a composite sandwich
panel utilize the fastener insert.

Self-Sealing Fastener
US Patent 12146517
Published November 19, 2024
www.uspto.gov
Inventors: Jason R. Wigboldy, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; and Mitchell B. Mahler,
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Assignee: Altenloh, Brinck & Co. US, Inc., Bryan, OH, USA
A self-sealing fastener for securing a building component to a framing
member, such as securing a sheathing layer over which is disposed a barrier
layer to a framing member, includes a fastener with a shank and a head,
and a rubberized coating surrounding at least a portion of the shank of the
fastener. The rubberized coating is designed to peel back from the shank
and accumulate at least around the shank and/or head upon insertion into
the wall assembly, thereby sealing o an entry of the self-sealing fastener
into the barrier layer and sheathing layer.

Lock Nut
US Patent 12140174
Published November 12, 2024
Inventor: Chunlin Ye, Yiwu, China
A lock nut includes: a first nut having a tapered cavity; and a second nut
including a base portion and a tapered lug boss arranged the base portion.
The tapered lug boss can be coupled inside the tapered cavity. The first and
second nuts are used in pair by self-locking. A straight slot is formed in the
lug boss. Under the locking action of the first nut, the straight slot is
deformed to further lock a bolt, or is discontinuously engaged with teeth of
the bolt to increase an effective stress surface and locking performance of
the second nut for locking the bolt. A convex reinforcing rib extends on a
first surface of the first nut. An annular groove is formed in a second surface
of the second nut. The convex reinforcing rib is coupled with the annular
groove to enhance the strength and reliability of locking.

Threaded Bolt, and Hinge Assembly Comprising Such a Threaded Bolt
Patent 12139950
Published November 12, 2024
Inventor: Carsten Lange, Haimhausen, Germany
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW AG), Munich,
Germany
A threaded bolt for a hinge arrangement includes a cylindrical main body.
On an outer circumferential surface thereof the cylindrical main body has a
first frustoconical projection and a second frustoconical projection, which
adjoins the first frustoconical projection. The diameter of a side of the first
frustoconical projection that faces toward the second frustoconical
projection is smaller than the diameter of a side of the second frustoconical
projection that faces toward the first frustoconical projection. The first
frustoconical projection comprises at least one tooth on its outer
circumferential surface, which tooth protrudes radially beyond an imaginary
continuation of the second frustoconical projection.

Rivet Nut with Compression Limiter Shoulder
US Patent 12140173
Published November 12, 2024
Inventors: Christopher J. Kuntze, Goodrich, MI, USA; Heiner Salzmann,
Metamora, MI, USA; and Jan Bárta, Liberec, Czech Republic
Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc., Aurora, CA, USA
The rivet nut (22) includes: the threaded attachment to replace the weld nut,
the collar to spread the load interface to plastic panel (14) and to the
attached component, room for a sleeve type compression limiter (24), or a
collar that would be an integrated compression limiter.

Fastener with Alignment Bushing
US Patent 12140175
Published November 12, 2024
Inventors: Chad Michael Strimpel, Maybee, MI, USA; and Paul Thomas
Reinhart, Livonia, MI, USA
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI, USA
A fastener includes a shank having a threaded section with a first diameter
and an unthreaded section with a second, smaller diameter. A flange is
attached to the unthreaded section of the shank. A bushing has a tip, a
base, and a tapered sidewall extending from the base to the tip. The
bushing denes a central hole received on the unthreaded section with the
base adjacent to the angle.

Relative Rotation Prevention Structure for Screw, Relative Movement Prevention Structure, and Relative Movement Prevention Body
US Patent 12135054
Published November 5, 2024
Inventor: Hiroshi Michiwaki, Tokyo, Japan
Assignee: NejiLaw Inc., Tokyo, Japan
A relative rotation prevention structure for preventing relative rotation of a
screw having a threaded section with respect to a counterpart member, the
relative rotation prevention structure being equipped with: a counter part side displacement section formed in advance on the counterpart member
and capable of displacement in the axial direction or the radial direction;
and a screw-side deformation-capable section that is formed on the screw
and deforms when pressed into the counterpart-side deformation section
by means of fastening force and, due to that deformation, produces a
screw-side displacement section that is displaced in the axial direction or
the radial direction.

Screw-Fixing Device, with Locking in the Screwed State
US Patent 12135056
Published November 5, 2024
Inventors: Damien Marc, Blandy les Tours, France; Denis Messager, Melun,
France; and Laure Le Bellu, Villeparisis, France
Assignee: JPB Système, Montereau-sur-le-Jard, France
A nut includes locking jaws, a floating end of which is actuated by cam
proles inside a rotary actuation ring. The jaws are produced by removing
material from the body of the nut, and shift from a locking state to a release
state and vice versa by elastic bending deformation. A locking surface on the
inside of the jaws has the same thread as the body of the nut.

Nut Fastener Assembly
US Patent 12135050
Published November 5, 2024
Inventors: Zhilin Li, Shanghai, China; Weibin Liu, Shanghai, China; and
Chunjie Lv, Shanghai, China
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A nut fastener assembly includes a nut assembly and a fastening clip.
Opposite sides of the bottom of the nut assembly are provided with a pair
of protrusions. The fastening clip includes a pair of lugs arranged on
opposite ends of the fastening clip and extending towards the nut assembly,
and a pair of receiving channels configured to respectively penetrate the
pair of lugs. At least one of the pair of lugs is an adjustable lug including a
blocking part and an elastic part. The distal end of the elastic part is
movable relative to the distal end of the blocking part. The corresponding
protrusion in the pair of protrusions can enter the corresponding receiving
channel through a space between the distal end of the blocking part and the
distal end of the elastic part to be held in the receiving channel.

Screw with Integrated Slot
US Patent 12135055
Published November 5, 2024
Inventor: Tate Cannady, Wichita, KS, USA
The present invention relates to a novel screw that causes drag and
prohibits unwinding of the screw. The screw is designed for use in
eyeglasses for securing eyeglass lenses and prohibiting same from falling
out. The screw includes a filister head, a drive disposed on the head for
engaging a screwdriver, a shaft running from the head to a terminal end,
the shaft having non-contiguous circumferential threads along the length of
the shaft for rotatably sliding the screw through slots. The screw includes a
longitudinal channel in the form of a slot disposed along the surface of the
shaft and through the length of the shaft. A planar bar of neoprene or any
other polypropene can be inserted in the channel which assists with
prohibiting unwinding of the screw when the screw is in use.

Rivet Connection and Method for Producing a Rivet Connection
US Patent 12128634
Published October 29, 2024
Inventors: Udo Murmann, Eppertshausen, Germany; Sven Friedrich,
Chemnitz, Germany; and Eric Brückner, Chemnitz, Germany
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH, Hannover, Germany
A rivet connection has a hollow rivet composed of plastics material and
connects a first component to a second component. The first component
has a first surface and the second component has a second and third
surface. The rst surface and the second surface bear on one another. The
second component has a rst opening between the second and the third
surface. The hollow rivet has a tubular component having a lateral wall, a
cavity, a first end and a second end. Part of the tubular component is
disposed in the first opening of the second component. The second end of
the tubular component protrudes beyond the second component. The
lateral wall of the tubular component adjacent the rst opening of the
second component is heated and compressed and configures an outwardly
bulging region. Part of the outwardly bulging region contacts the third
surface of the second component.

Security Nut and Security Bolt
US Patent 12129883
Published October 29, 2024
Inventor: Ryuya Oota, Tokyo, Japan
Assignee: Iwata Bolt Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan
A nut and a bolt are provided, which make it difficult to be loosened once
they have been tightened. A security nut includes: a nut body having an
inside screw; and a plurality of torque transmission projections provided on
an outer surface of the nut body along a circumferential direction. Each
torque transmission projection has a torque transmission surface provided
on an upstream side in a tightening direction of the security nut, and a
release surface provided on a downstream side in the tightening direction
of the security nut. A ridge line is formed between the release surface and
the torque transmission surface, the ridge line inclining toward the
upstream side of the tightening direction along the circumferential
direction, from an advancing-direction end of the nut body to a
retracting direction end of the nut body.

Anchor Bolt Mounting
US Patent 12123206
Published October 22, 2024
Inventor & Assignee: Michael D. Sugden, Yakima, WA, USA
A system for mounting an anchor bolt to formwork or other structures
associated with concrete construction includes a main body and latch
coupled to the main body. The anchor bolt can pass through the main body
and the latch can be moved so that threads formed in the latch engage
threads formed in the anchor bolt to secure the anchor bolt in position as
concrete is poured around the anchor bolt. The main body and the latch can
have through holes for receiving a nail to lock the position of the latch with
respect to the main body.

Removable Blind Fastener
US Patent 12123444
Published October 22, 2024
Inventor: Michael Eaton Nabers, San Antonio, TX, USA
A removable blind fastener comprising an anchor having anchor members
each having a threaded outer surface and a retainer section, and an anchor
drive mechanism comprising a shaft having a top portion with a threaded
section. The retainer section has a periphery that extends beyond a
periphery of the elongated body. The anchor in a closed configuration is
inserted through a frontal face of a hole on a work piece such that the
retainer sections are positioned behind a rear face of the hole. The anchor is
then set in an open configuration and the shaft is placed irrotatably
between the anchor elements. A head having internal threads is engaged to
the threaded outer surface and the threaded section such that rotation of
the head causes a retraction of the anchor till at least a part of the retainer
sections abuts the rear face of the hole.

Centering a Washer to a Fastener Element During Installation
US Patent 12115623
Published October 15, 2024
Inventors: Bernard Chow, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; and Gerard
Theriault, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada.
Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., Longueuil, Quebec, Canada.
An assembly method is provided during which a first component is
arranged with a second component. The first component is secured to the
second component using a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly
includes a fastener element and a washer. The fastener element includes a
wrenching feature. The washer has a full-hoop annular body with a
cylindrical outer surface. The securing includes: mating a socket device with
the fastener element and the washer, the socket device engaging the
wrenching feature and the cylindrical outer surface; and rotating the
fastener element about an axis using the socket device to tighten the
fastener assembly and clamp the washer axially between the first
component and the fastener element. The socket device centers the washer
to the fastener element during the rotating.

Bimetallic Stainless Screw
US Patent 12110919
Published October 8, 2024
Inventor: Roland Schneider, Schlins, Austria
Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft, Schaan, Liechtenstein
A screw includes a shank having a tip, a rear end which is disposed opposite
the tip and a longitudinal axis which extends through the tip and through
the rear end. The shank consists of a first steel material. A screw thread
helix is disposed on the shank and protrudes from the shank. The screw
thread helix consists of a second steel material that is different from the
first steel material. Both the first steel material and the second steel
material are stainless steels.

Fastener Assembly
US Patent 12104639
Published October 1, 2024
Inventor: Roberto E. Robaina, Cerritos, CA, USA
Assignee: RDI (Robaina Design Innovations) LLC, Cerritos, CA, USA
A fastener assembly having a novel capture feature, or features, integrated
within a unique and a newly dened portion of the fastener which
protrudes from the working surface is provided. The fastener assembly
comprises a bolt and a circular clip. The bolt comprises a threaded shank
having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis; a head section continuous with the shank, the head
section comprising a head; a washer portion; and a groove integrally formed
between the head and the washer portion. The circular clip is congured to
be received within the groove of the head section.

Flexible Fastener Captivator
US Patent 12104642
Published October 1, 2024
Inventors: Je Wilke, Palmer Lake, CO, USA; Bart Carter, Pueblo, CO, USA
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA
A exible fastener captivator includes a ange comprising an orice
congured to enable a fastener to pass through and an adhesive, and a
exible cap coupled with the ange and congured to provide operational
access to a fastener encapsulated within the cap, where the cap includes a
retaining structure congured to hold a separate fastener within the cap.
The retaining structure may be congured as a plurality of exible ledges
extending from an inner surface of the cap and having a planar surface
congured to support a head of a separate fastener, such as a standard o –
the-shelf screw or bolt. Such a captivator can be dimensioned
commensurate with the fastener type and size for which its use is intended,
and/or captivator strips may be constructed in Rack Units of length.

Locking Fastener Utilizing an Inserted Key
US Patent 12104637
Published October 1, 2024
Inventor: Patrick J. Santini, West Bend, WI, USA
A locking fastener utilizing an inserted key preferably includes a fastener
and a lock key. The fastener includes a drive head and a threaded shank.
The drive head is preferably a countersunk head. A drive cavity is formed in
a top of the drive head. The threaded shank extends from a bottom of the
drive head. The lock key preferably includes a tapered head and a shank.
The shank extends downward from a bottom of the tapered head. A head
projection extends outward from a rear of the tapered head. At least one
shank projection extends outward from a front of the shank. A key slot is
formed in a side of the drive head and a side of the threaded shank. A head
retention slot is formed in the key slot, adjacent a top of the drive head to
receive the head tapered projection.

Threaded Fastener Capable of Torque Detection
US Patent 12098740
Published September 24, 2024
Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh, Taichung, Taiwan
Assignee: KABO Tool Company, Taichung, Taiwan
A threaded fastener capable of torque detection includes: a head and a
shank connected together, wherein the shank has a threaded peripheral
surface; a neck formed at the junction between one end of the shank and
the head; and at least one sensing element and a sealing element, both
provided on the neck, wherein the sensing element is congured to detect
deformation of the neck, and the sealing element seals the sensing element.
The threaded fastener may further include a covering element that covers
the sealing element. The threaded fastener can be deformed consistently,
allowing the sensing element to obtain relatively accurate detection values.