Flexible head fasteners
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsRandall James Sovereign, Frans Hendrik Ebersohn, Jonathon Robert Heinrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a fastener includes a flexible head and a shank coupled to the flexible head. The flexible head includes a center head portion and a plurality of wing portions coupled to the center head portion. Each of the plurality of wing portions includes a contact area configured to contact a first surface of a part to be fastened. The shank includes a clip groove configured to hold a retainer clip against a second surface of the part to be fastened. The second first surface of the part to be fastened is opposite the first surface of the part to be fastened.
Claims19
A fastener comprising:
- a flexible head comprising:
- a center head portion;
- a plurality of wing portions coupled to the center head portion;
- an outer head portion directly coupled to at least one of the plurality of wing portions, the outer head portion configured to contact a first surface of a part to be fastened;
- an undercut area that prevents at least a portion of each of the plurality of wing portions from contacting the first surface of the part to be fastened;
- and
- a shank coupled to the flexible head, the shank comprising a clip groove configured to hold a retainer clip against a second surface of the part to be fastened, the second surface of the part to be fastened opposite the first surface of the part to be fastened.
A fastener comprising:
- a flexible head comprising:
- a center head portion;
- a plurality of wing portions coupled to the center head portion, each of the plurality of wing portions comprising a contact area configured to contact a first surface of a part to be fastened;
- an outer head portion in a circular shape, the outer head portion directly coupled to ends of the wing portions that are opposite the center head portion;
- and
- a shank coupled to the flexible head, the shank comprising a clip groove configured to hold a retainer clip against a second surface of the part to be fastened, the second surface of the part to be fastened opposite the first surface of the part to be fastened.
A fastener system comprising:
- a flexible head comprising:
- a center head portion;
- a plurality of wing portions coupled to the center head portion, each of the plurality of wing portions comprising a contact area configured to contact a first surface of a part to be fastened;
- an outer head portion in a circular shape, the outer head portion directly coupled to ends of the wing portions that are opposite the center head portion;
- a threaded shank coupled to the flexible head;
- and
- a mounting rod comprising a threaded aperture and a contact surface, wherein the threaded shank is configured to be screwed into the threaded aperture in order to cause the contact surface of the mounting rod to contact a second surface of the part to be fastened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.