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US 10,359,066 B2Granted
Automated self-aligning mechanical fastener
AssigneeAmple, Inc.
InventorsKhaled Hassounah, Ankit Srivastava
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Corresponding threaded mechanical fasteners are automatically aligned with an alignment guide. The alignment guide includes a tapered cavity defined in a housing. As the threaded mechanical fasteners are moved towards one another to mate, the tapered cavity in the alignment guide causes the threaded mechanical fasteners to align with each other. The mechanical fasteners can connect a modular rechargeable battery to a battery receptacle in a vehicle.
Claims16
A self-aligning mechanical fastener system comprising:
- a first apparatus comprising:
- a first threaded fastener disposed at least partially in a first fastener guide hole defined in a first fastener guide housing;
- and
- a motor in mechanical communication with said first threaded fastener;
- and
- a second apparatus comprising:
- a second threaded fastener disposed at least partially in a second fastener hole defined in a second fastener housing, the second threaded fastener configured to mate with the first threaded fastener;
- a second fastener alignment guide disposed on the second fastener housing, the second fastener alignment guide including a hollow body having a hollow body aperture defined by an internal tapered wall, the hollow body aperture having a first width at a first end of the hollow body and a second width at a second end of the hollow body, the first width greater than the second width, the second width configured to align the first threaded fastener with the second threaded fastener when the first fastener guide housing is disposed in the hollow body aperture of the hollow body aperture of the second fastener alignment guide;
- and
- a plate connecting the second end of the second fastener alignment guide to the second fastener guide housing, the plate having a plate hole in alignment with the hollow body aperture and the second fastener hole, the plate hole having a plate hole width less than a width of at least a portion of the second threaded fastener disposed in the second fastener hole, wherein the plate secures at least a portion of the second threaded fastener in the second fastener hole.
7 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing including a housing hole defined in a housing face of the housing;
- a threaded fastener including at least a portion of the fastener disposed in the hole, the at least a portion of the fastener having a fastener width;
- a plate disposed on the housing face, the plate having a plate hole aligned with the housing hole, the plate hole having a width less than the fastener width, wherein the plate retains the at least a portion of the fastener in the housing hole;
- and
- an alignment guide including a body having opposing first and second faces, the first face disposed on the plate, the body having a cavity extending from the first face to the second face, the cavity having a first width at the first face and a second width at the second face, the second width greater than the first width, the cavity aligned with the plate hole and the housing hole.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.