Patents for April 2025

Patents as compiled from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by the editor of FTI for April 2025.

Fastener with Pivoting Head
Patent 12253103
Published March 18, 2025
Inventor: Joseph Daniel Paul Godbout, Vernon, CA, USA
A fastener comprises a threaded shank extending along an axis between top and bottom ends and a semi spherical body affixed at the top end of the threaded shank. The fastener further comprises a head having a receptacle adapted to closely surround the semi-spherical body, the head being pivotable about the semi spherical body and rotatably fixed relative to the semi spherical body about the axis of the threaded shank and a drive disposed on the head adapted to receive a tool for rotating the head and the threaded shank about the axis of the threaded shank.

Fastener-Driving Tool Including a Reversion Trigger with a Damper
Patent 12251805
Published March 18, 2025
Inventors: Madhav Sai Puppala, Glenview, IL, USA; and Stephen Moore, Palatine, IL, USA
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A fastener-driving tool is provided and includes a housing and a workpiece-contacting element movably connected to the housing, where the workpiece-contacting element is movable between a rest position and an activated position. A trigger is movably connected to the housing such that the trigger is movable between a rest position and an activated position. The tool further includes an actuation lever movably connected to the trigger and movable between a rest position and an activated position. A damper mechanism is associated with the actuation lever and is configured to control a rate of movement of the actuation lever between the activated position and the rest position.

Reaction Washer
Patent 12253104
Published March 18, 2025
Inventor: John Davis, Herriman, UT, USA
Assignee: Primesource Consulting LLC, Herriman, UT, USA
A reaction washer can include a castellated portion circumferentially disposed around a perimeter of the reaction washer and a main body portion defining an inner diameter that slidingly receives an associated threaded element therethrough. The castellated portion can include a plurality of castellations that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the reaction washer. Further, the main body can include a first side and a second side that face in opposite directions and an inner engagement ring that extends from the first side and is coaxially disposed between the inner diameter and the castellated portion. The inner engagement ring can include a plurality of serrations that each define a respective serration axis that do not intersect with the engagement axis.

Method for Producing a Threaded Nut of a Threaded Drive, in Particular a Ball Screw Nut of a Ball Screw Drive
Patent 12253144
Published March 18, 2025
Inventors: Mario Kreutzer, Sonneberg, Germany; Dieter Eckert, Fürth, Germany; Paul Heinz, Forchheim, Germany; and Richard Baier, Aurachtal, Germany
Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach, Germany
The disclosure relates to a method for producing a threaded nut of a threaded drive. In a forming process, a sleeve is produced from a steel sheet which is suitable for case-hardening. A flange is integrally formed on the sleeve for welding to a machine part. A welding surface of the flange has a diffusion-inhibiting layer which inhibits the penetration of carbon into the welding surface. The sleeve is case-hardened, and the welding surface is then exposed by removing the diffusion-inhibiting layer. The sleeve can be bonded to a machine part on the exposed welding surface of the sleeve.

Self-Drilling Expanding Anchor Bolt
Patent 12253101
Published March 18, 2025
Inventors: Gaisheng Koh, Shanghai, China; Liang Lu, ZJ, China; and Linda Xu, Shanghai, China
Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft, Schaan, Liechtenstein
A self-drilling expanding anchor bolt, including a drill bit for drilling, an anchor rod connected to the drill bit, and an expanding sleeve surrounding the anchor rod, the anchor rod having an expansion cone at a first end adjoining the drill bit, having a neck region behind and contiguous with the expansion cone, and having a threaded segment at a second end of the neck region remote from the drill bit, wherein the expansion cone expands the expanding sleeve in a radial direction when the expansion cone is pulled into the expanding sleeve; a transition part is provided between the drill bit and the expansion cone of the anchor rod, the maximum diameter of the transition part being smaller than the hole diameter of a drilled hole formed by the drill bit.

Swaged Fasteners
Patent 12247600
Published March 11, 2025
Inventor: Daniel Ian Starbuck, Nottingham, UK
Assignee: Star Fasteners Limited, Nottinghamshire, UK
A swaged fastener (10) includes a coated collar (12) for location in use on a pin (14). In an unswaged condition, the coated collar (12) comprises a substrate material (16) having a substrate colour and an indicator material (20) having an indicator colour. The indicator material (20) is located on the substrate material (16). The indicator colour is visually different to the substrate colour. The coated collar (12) includes a swaging surface (18) to which, in use, a swaging force is applied to move the collar (12) from the unswaged condition to a swaged condition. The indicator material (20) comprises at least part of the swaging surface (18) and is arranged so that, in a correctly swaged condition, the indicator material (20) comprising the swaging surface (18) is substantially removed to expose the substrate colour and thereby provide a visual indication that the swaging process has been correctly carried out.

Fastener Systems and Methods for Joining Multiple Substrates of Workpiece
Patent 12247609
Published March 11, 2025
Inventors: Nathan A. Muntz, Everett, WA, USA; Farahnaz Sisco, Mukilteo, WA, USA; and Blake A. Simpson, Kirkland, WA, USA
Assignee: Boeing Company, The, Arlington, VA, USA
A fastener system for joining substrates of a workpiece with working and blind sides includes a nut member, a sleeve member and a bolt member. The nut member includes a nut bore with internal threads. The nut member is placed with the nut bore over a joining bore through the substrates on the blind side. The sleeve member includes an outer sleeve surface with a lubricious coating. The sleeve member is inserted in the joining bore from the working side. The bolt member includes a head portion, a threaded portion and a shank portion. The bolt member is inserted in a central bore of the sleeve member. The threaded portion engages with the internal threads of the nut member. As the bolt member becomes fully engaged, the shank portion causes radial expansion of the sleeve member, and the sleeve member provides an interference fit within the joining bore.

Self-Piercing Rivet
Patent 12241491
Published March 4, 2025
Inventors: Dominik Dostal, Giessen, Germany; Matthias Wissling, Giessen, Germany; Andreas Schmitt, Giessen, Germany; Paul Bartig, Giessen, Germany; and Joachim Schneider, Giessen, Germany
Assignee: Newfrey LLC, New Britain, CT, USA
A self-piercing rivet with a head and a shank which has a shank diameter (Ds), wherein, at a foot end opposite the head, the shank has an axial recess which has an axial depth (LB), wherein the axial recess has a recess volume, wherein a ratio of recess volume to volume of the shank and the head is in the range of 0.06 to 0.08.

Arrangement for Securing a Nut
Patent 12234855
Published February 25, 2025
Inventor: Øyvind Karlsen, Stavanger, Norway
Assignee: Bondura Technology AS, Bryne, Norway
An arrangement is for securing a nut on a threaded bolt comprising a bolt shaft projecting from a bolt head and being provided, in an opposite end portion, with a first threaded portion arranged to engage with an internal threaded portion of the nut. The nut and the bolt head are arranged to abut against adjacent elements. A nut-locking element is provided with a threaded portion arranged to engage with a second threaded portion of the threaded bolt. The second threaded portion is arranged externally on a stepped end portion of the threaded bolt and is concentric with and having a smaller pitch than the first threaded portion. The nut-locking element is provided with a friction portion arranged to rest supportingly against a corresponding friction portion on the nut.

Method for the Servo-Installation of a Threaded Fastener
Patent 12233518
Published February 25, 2025
Inventors: Benoit Regnard, Les Clayes sous Bois, France; and Clément Rousseau, Paris, France
Assignee: LISI Aerospace, Paris, France
A method for the installation of a threaded fastener (10) in a structure, the threaded fastener comprising a screw (20) and a nut (28), the method comprising the following steps: a) inserting the screw into the structure, and tightening the nut onto the screw, b) simultaneously transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves into/from the fastener for the measurement of a parameter representative of a variation in said waves, said first parameter providing an indirect measurement of an axial tension in the screw, c) stopping the screwing when a target value for the first parameter is reached. The process further comprises determining the thickness of the structure to be tightened, and determining the target value of the first parameter in accordance with the thickness of the structure to be tightened and the geometrical characteristics of the fastener (10).

Nut with Injection Port for Reinforcing Bar
Patent 12228163
Published February 18, 2025
Inventors: Cameron Gilmour, Auckland, New Zealand; Emanuele Naccini, Auckland, New Zealand; and Terry Seagrave, Auckland, New Zealand
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, USA
A nut for threading onto a reinforcing bar, wherein the nut includes a female thread for threading onto a male thread of the reinforcing bar, wherein the nut includes a port arranged such that, when the nut is in situ on the reinforcing bar the port provides a passage for injection of fluid material to flow into a cavity defined by an external surface of the reinforcing bar and an internal surface of the nut.

Two-Piece Threaded Fastener Assembly
Patent 12228160
Published February 18, 2025
Inventor: Craig A. Roberts, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Assignee: Tite-Spot, LLC, Cincinnati, OH, USA
A threaded fastener assembly for use with a nut includes a shaft head and a separate shaft. The shaft head includes a head, and an internally-threaded portion. The shaft has a first externally-threaded portion for cooperation with the internally-threaded portion of the shaft head to selectively secure the shaft to the shaft head, a second externally-threaded portion for cooperation with the nut, and an integrated nut or wrenching portion for tightening the shaft to the shaft head.

Leveling Fastener
Patent 12228167
Published February 18, 2025
Inventor: Juan Cristobal Oropeza,Tampa, FL, USA
A fastener having a cylindrical shank with a fastener head attached to the first shank end, the head having a tool slot for engaging a tool, the tool slot directed away from the first shank end and a lower head surface adjacent the shaft. The cylindrical shank has a head collar adjacent the head, a threaded collar having securing threads, the threaded collar disposed along a portion of the second shank end, a shank smooth portion disposed between head collar and the threaded collar and a grip washer disposed along the collar. The grip washer has a first washer side with a plurality of protrusions and a second washer side having a profile corresponding with the lower head surface, wherein the grip washer is rotatable about the collar and the lower head surface. The fastener includes a retractable frame rotatable about the shank smooth portion.

Flow Drill Screw and Tip Configuration
Patent 12228159
Published February 18, 2025
Inventors: Nicholas Dornik; Canton, MI, USA; Amanda Kay Freis, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Garret Sankey Huff, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Brandt J. Ruszkiewicz, Cumming, GA, USA; and Stephen J. Crockett, Bartlett, IL, USA
Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI, USA; and Semblex Corporation, Elmhurst, IL, USA
A screw includes a head portion, an externally threaded shank extending from the head portion, the externally threaded shank having an external surface, and a flow-hole-forming tip disposed at a distal end portion of the externally threaded shank. The flow-hole-forming tip includes a radiused lower zone having an external surface tangent to the external surface of the externally threaded shank, a conical middle zone having an external surface tangent to the external surface of the radiused lower zone, the conical middle zone defining a vertex angle, and a radiused distal end zone having an external surface tangent to the external surface of the conical middle zone. The flow-hole-forming tip includes a width of the flow-hole-forming tip is greater than a length of the flow-hole-forming tip and/or the vertex angle is greater than or equal to 90º.

Screw with Axial Thread Play
Patent 12221993
Published February 11, 2025
Inventor: Roland Schneider, Schlins, Austria
Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft, Schaan, Liechtenstein
A screw including a shank having a tip, a rear end, which is located opposite the tip, and a longitudinal axis, which extends through the tip and through the rear end, and a screw thread helix, which is arranged on the shank, wherein the screw thread helix has a screw thread ridge for engaging into an internal screw thread groove. The screw thread helix has axial tipward play with respect to the shank, wherein the tipward play increases as the axial distance of the screw thread helix from the tip increases.

Anti-Loosening Bolt and Nut Assembly
Patent 12221995
Published February 11, 2025
Inventors: Shukeng Ye, Fujian, China; and Wei Zhang, Fujian, China
An anti-loosening bolt and nut assembly includes a bolt, a nut, and a locking member. A screw rod of the bolt has an upper portion formed with an external thread and a lower portion formed with a retaining section. The nut has an upper cavity formed with an internal thread and a lower portion formed with a locking section. The locking section has elasticity. When the locking section is pressed, the locking section is in tight fit with the retaining section. The locking member is sleeved on the locking section. The locking member has an inner cavity with a tapered section. When the locking member is rotated, the nut is moved axially for the tapered section to be pressed against the locking section tightly. The bolt and nut assembly provides an anti-loosening effect, has few parts, and can be operated easily in a narrow space.

Stress Reducing Fastener Assembly
Patent 12215743
Published February 4, 2025
Inventor: Krzysztof D. Kopanski, Stratford, CT, USA
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD, USA
A system includes a first structure having an upper surface coupled to a second structure by a fastener assembly including a bushing positioned within an opening in the upper surface of the first structure. An inner opening of the bushing defines an inner diameter, and a fastener is at least partially positioned within the bushing. An outer surface of the fastener defines an outer diameter of the fastener. The bushing and the fastener are configured such that a space between the outer surface of the fastener and the inner opening of the bushing defines a gap which increases in size in a direction extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the first structure.
Fastener Assembly
Patent 12215730
Published February 4, 2025
Inventors: Jon Lambert, Crown Point, IN, USA; and Kent Troxel, Highland, IN, USA
Assignee: Advanced Wheel Locks LLC, Crown Point, IN, USA
A fastener assembly includes a threaded fastener having a threaded shaft and a head coupled to the threaded shaft, an engagement member having a central cavity and an outer profile having a plurality of notches cut therein to define an engagement feature that is engageable by a torquing member, a retention member configured to engage the engagement member and retain the head of the threaded fastener within the central cavity of the engagement member, and a lower base threaded on the threaded shaft and into abutment with the engagement member and/or the retention member.

Screw
Patent 12215728
Published February 4, 2025
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 shank extending axially from a head and thread convolutions spirally disposed on the shank. The head has a top surface, a conical surface opposite to the top surface, cutting units extending circumferentially of the top surface, accommodation portions recessed provided in the conical surface, and ridge portions each located between every two adjacent accommodation portions. The accommodation portions and the ridge portions extend between the cutting units and the shank. Accordingly, the cutting units sever fibers and scrape burrs which incur a ragged edge of a workpiece, thereby preventing the entanglement of unsevered fibers. The ridge portions cut fibers into chips and guide chips to the accommodation portions for suitable accommodation of chips inside the accommodation portions, which attains a tight engagement between the screw and the workpiece, reduces screwing resistance, and allows the top surface to fit level with a surface of the workpiece.