Resilient fastener washer

A method of tightening or securing a fastener using a torque or force comprises the steps of:

• providing a resilient washer and a fastener, the resilient washer having a central opening for receiving the fastener in an upper fastener interfacing section or bowl, wherein the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl is annular and has a concavity for holding a head of the fastener, wherein the concavity is of a hemispherical shape;
• a lower structure interfacing section or bowl and a resilient middle portion connecting the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl and the lower structure interfacing section or bowl, wherein the middle portion has a plurality of columns connecting the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl and lower structure interfacing section or bowl, wherein each of the plurality of columns is spaced by an enclosed slotted opening forming a plurality of enclosed slotted openings, wherein the resilient middle portion is configured to be locally collapsed at a collapsing force when a fastener in the central opening of the resilient washer is tightened or inserted into a structure;
• and
• tightening or inserting the fastener into a structure by torqueing or otherwise applying an insertion force sufficient to locally collapse the middle portion.

A method of tightening or securing a fastener using a visual indicator comprises the steps of:

• providing a resilient washer and a fastener, the resilient washer having a central opening for receiving the fastener in an upper fastener interfacing section or bowl, wherein the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl is annular and has a concavity for holding a head of the fastener, wherein the concavity is of a hemispherical shape;
• a lower structure interfacing section or bowl and a resilient middle portion connecting the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl and the lower structure interfacing section or bowl, wherein the middle portion has a plurality of columns connecting the upper fastener interfacing section or bowl and lower structure interfacing section or bowl, wherein each of the plurality of columns is spaced by an enclosed slotted opening forming a plurality of enclosed slotted openings, wherein the resilient middle portion is configured to be locally collapsed at a predetermined force when a fastener in the central opening of the resilient washer is tightened or inserted into a structure;
• tightening or inserting the fastener into a structure by torqueing or otherwise applying an insertion force sufficient to locally collapse the middle portion;
• visually observing the middle portion of the resilient washer to see the local collapsing;
• and
• stopping the tightening or insertion when the collapsing occurs.