US 10,330,139 B2Granted

Tools and ratchet locking mechanisms for threaded fasteners

AssigneeEnduralock, LLC

InventorsHarold Hess, Logan Thorup

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fastening device includes a fastener, a lock washer, and a lock nut. The fastener has a head portion, a threaded body portion, and a longitudinally extending flat section formed in the threaded body portion. The lock washer has an upper surface and a circumferential surface extending therefrom. The circumferential surface includes an array of radially-extending ratchet teeth. The lock washer also has an aperture with a flat inner surface configured to engage the flat section of the fastener and rotationally fix the lock washer. The lock nut has an upper surface and a peripheral outer surface extending therefrom and defining an axially-extending recessed portion. The upper surface includes an integrally-formed pawl arm having a tapered inner surface defining a tapered slot between the pawl arm and the lock nut in axial alignment with the recessed portion. The pawl arm includes a pawl tooth for engagement with the array of ratchet teeth.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fastening device comprising:

a fastener comprising a head portion, an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from said head portion, and at least one longitudinally-extending flat section formed in said elongated threaded body portion;
a lock washer comprising an upper surface and a circumferential surface extending therefrom, said circumferential surface comprising an array of radially-extending ratchet teeth, said lock washer further comprising an aperture comprising at least one flat inner surface configured to engage said at least one longitudinally-extending flat section of said elongated threaded body portion and rotationally fix said lock washer with respect to said fastener;
and
a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with said threaded body portion, said threaded lock nut comprising an upper surface and a peripheral outer surface extending therefrom and defining an axially-extending recessed portion, said upper surface comprising an integrally-formed pawl arm comprising a tapered inner surface that defines a tapered slot between said pawl arm and said threaded lock nut in axial alignment with said axially-extending recessed portion, said pawl arm comprising a pawl tooth for engagement with at least one ratchet tooth of said array of ratchet teeth.

1 more element

A fastening device comprising:

a fastener comprising an axially-extending elongated threaded body portion;
a lock washer comprising an upper surface and a circumferential surface extending therefrom, said circumferential surface comprising an array of ratchet teeth extending radially therefrom, wherein said lock washer is configured to couple to said threaded body portion for axial movement but is fixed rotationally by said fastener;
and
a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with said threaded body portion, said threaded lock nut comprising an upper surface defining a pair of integrally-formed opposing pawl arms, each pawl arm of said pair of integrally-formed opposing pawl arms comprising a proximal end coupled to said threaded lock nut, a flexible arm portion extending from said proximal end, a distal end extending from said flexible arm portion, and a pawl tooth disposed on said distal end for engagement with at least one tooth of said array of ratchet teeth as said flexible arm portion flexes relative thereto, wherein each said flexible arm portion defines a tapered slot between said threaded lock nut and each said flexible arm portion for receiving a portion of a tool for flexing said flexible arm portion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/496,926Filed 25 Apr 2017 · continuation
Priority: 14 Sep 2010
Published: US 2017/0292558 A112 Oct 2017
Granted: 25 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16B 39/12
In which the locking takes place after screwing down: by means of locknuts
F16B 39/24
In which the locking takes place during screwing down or tightening: by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against…
F16B 39/32
By special members on, or shape of, the nut or bolt: locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue
F16B
Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together

Family

Application61/403,332Us provisional application · filed 14 Sep 2010
Application13/068,171Parent of this division · filed 4 May 2011
Application61/866,332Us provisional application · filed 15 Aug 2013
Application61/891,002Us provisional application · filed 15 Oct 2013
Application14/319,453Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Jun 2014
US 8,784,027 B2Parent of this division · filed 22 Jul 2014
Application14/460,037Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 2014
US 2017/0292558 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Oct 2017
US 9,657,766 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,255,600 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application14/460,037Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application14/319,453Parent of this division
US 2012/0063864 A1Published application
US 2014/0308089 A1Published application
US 2014/0356097 A1Published application
US 10,330,139 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.