Fastener with means for indicating if too much material has been removed from the head of the fastener and method for shaving same.
OwnerCharles R. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The fastener of the present invention is made to be shaved flush with a surface. The fastener is made such that some visually or mechanically detectable indicator reveals if too much material has been removed from the head of the fastener during the shaving process. The fastener and its method of use contemplates several means of indicating if too much material has been removed from the head of the fastener. These means include either tightly controlling the height of the fastener head or adding features to the head, land, or countersink of the fastener which indicate if an excessive amount of material has been removed.
Claims27
A fastener for connecting structural elements, said fastener intended to be shaved flush with the surface of one of said structural elements, said fastener having a head portion and a shank portion, said head portion comprising a top and countersink, and said head portion having means for indicating if too much material has been removed from said head portion.
A method for shaving a structural fastener flush with the surface of a structure to be joined, said fastener having a head portion and a shank portion, said head portion comprising a top and countersink, comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing said fastener into a countersink hole in said structure to be joined;
- (b) shaving material from the head of said fastener such that said fastener is made flush with said structure to be joined;
- and
- (c) observing means for indicating whether too much material has been removed from said fastener.
A method for detecting defects in the manufacturing of shavable fasteners and countersink holes in structural elements to be joined comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a fastener with means for indicating if too much material has been removed from said fastener during the shaving process;
- (b) installing said fastener into a countersink hole formed in structural elements to be joined by said fastener;
- (c) removing excess material from the top of said fastener by shaving said fastener so that said fastener is flush with the surface of said structural elements to be joined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.