# US 11,028,870 B2 · Hybrid three-point drive fastener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,870 B2 - Document ID: US11028870B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/872,386 - Filed: 2018-01-16 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-16 - Assignees: MacLean-Fogg Company - Applicants: MacLean-Fogg Company - Inventors: Steven J. Tomaszewski; Duncan A. MacLean; Larry J. Wilson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028870B2 ## CPC - F16B 23/0038: {substantially prismatic with up to six edges, e.g. triangular, square, pentagonal, Allen-type cross-sections} - F16B 23/003: {star-shaped or multi-lobular, e.g. Torx-type, twelve-point star} - F16B 23/0092: {with a head engageable by two or more different tools (F16B23/0076 takes precedence)} - F16B 23/0061: {with grooves, notches or splines on the external peripheral surface designed for tools engaging in radial direction (F16B23/003 takes precedence)} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract Fasteners are disclosed for use with multiple standard torque delivery tools. The fasteners include several different torque bearing portions for use with different torque delivery tools, as well as non-torque bearing portions disposed between torque bearing portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener comprising: a threaded portion; a first bearing portion to receive torque from a first tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion, wherein the first bearing portion comprises exactly three pairs of first bearing surfaces, wherein each pair of first bearing surfaces is equally spaced apart from each other pair of first bearing surfaces; a second bearing portion to receive torque from a second tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion, wherein the second bearing portion comprises exactly six concave bearing surfaces; wherein each pair of the first bearings surfaces is disposed between two of the concave bearing surfaces; and a non-bearing portion, wherein the non-bearing portion comprises three convex non-bearing surfaces, wherein each convex non-bearing surface separates two of the concave bearing surfaces, wherein each concave bearing surface smoothly transitions to an adjacent non-bearing surface, wherein one of the first bearing surfaces of each of the three pairs of first bearing surfaces is parallel to one other first bearing surface of one other of the three pairs of first bearing surfaces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein a torque application portion of the first tool is shaped differently than a torque application portion of the second tool. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastener of claim 2, wherein the first tool is a six-point hexagon socket or a twelve-point socket, and wherein the second tool is a six-lobe socket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein the six concave bearing surfaces are not adjacent to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein each pair of first bearing surfaces is comprised of a first tightening surface and a first loosening surface, wherein the first tightening surfaces are designed to transmit torque in a tightening direction to the threaded portion and the first loosening surfaces are designed to transmit torque in a loosening direction to the threaded portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fastener of claim 5, wherein the first tightening surface and the first loosening surface of each first bearing surface form an approximately 120 degree angle at an edge connecting the first tightening surface to the first loosening surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fastener of claim 5, wherein each of the first tightening surfaces and the first loosening surfaces are substantially flat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein one of the surfaces of each first pair of bearing surfaces is parallel to only one other surface of one other first pair of bearing surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein each of the concave bearing surfaces is formed between the adjacent non-bearing surface and one of the first bearing surfaces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, further comprising a flange disposed at an end of the first bearing portion and second bearing portion, wherein the flange extends radially beyond the first bearing portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, further comprising an opening extending along an axial length of the fastener, wherein the threaded portion comprises internal threads on the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fastener of claim 11, wherein the wall thickness between the non-bearing surfaces and the base of the internal threads is at least half as thick as a distance between an outermost radial edge of the first bearing portion and the base of the internal threads. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fastener of claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises approximately 13 percent less mass than a six-lobe nut fastener sized to receive the second tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion comprises external threads. ### Claim 15 A fastener comprising: a threaded portion; a first bearing portion to receive torque from a first socket tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion, wherein the first bearing portion comprises exactly three pairs of first bearing surfaces; a second bearing portion to receive torque from a second socket tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion, wherein the second bearing portion comprises concave bearing surfaces; wherein each pair of the first bearings surfaces is disposed between two of the concave bearing surfaces; and three convex non-bearing surfaces wherein each convex non-bearing surface is disposed between two of the pairs of first bearing surfaces and between two of the concave bearing surfaces, wherein each concave bearing surface smoothly transitions to one adjacent non-bearing surface, wherein one of the first bearing surfaces of each of the three pairs of first bearing surfaces is parallel to one other first bearing surface of one other of the three pairs of first bearing surfaces. ### Claim 16 A fastener comprising: a threaded portion; a fastener head having exactly three fastener points, each fastener point comprising; a first bearing portion to receive torque from a first tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion; and a second bearing portion defining a concave bearing surface to receive torque from a second tool and transmit torque to the threaded portion; and three convex non-bearing surfaces, wherein one of the non-bearing surfaces is disposed between each of the fastener points, each fastener point projecting beyond a periphery of the non-bearing surfaces, wherein each convex non-bearing surface separates two of the concave bearing surfaces, wherein each concave bearing surface smoothly transitions to an adjacent non-bearing surface, wherein the first bearing portion of each fastener point is parallel to one other bearing portion of one other fastener point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fastener of claim 16, wherein the fastener points are equally spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The fastener of claim 16, wherein the first bearing portion comprises a pair of first bearing surfaces, and the second bearing portion comprises a pair of concave bearing surfaces, wherein each pair of first bearing surfaces is disposed between the two concave bearing surfaces.