Anti-theft fastener device
OwnerEdward P. Swertzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved anti-theft device includes a fastener covered by a circumferential sleeve intended to slip to prevent torque application directly to the fastener, and a corresponding adapter for connecting a tool, such as a socket wrench, to the fastener. An outer face of the fastener comprises an open abutment wall for engagement by an open actuating wall of the adapter, and at least one locating pin communicates between the fastener and adapter. The invention allows unique configurations of the locating pins and walls for giving the adapter the quality of a key. Torque transmission from the adapter to the fastener is more evenly distributed over a greater surface area as compared with prior art anti-theft fasteners and adapters utilizing pins only for torque transmission.
Claims17
An anti-theft device comprising, in combination:
- a fastener having rotational axis, an inner face for facing an item to be secured, an outer face having a recessed portion defining an open abutment wall, and an exterior surface extending between said inner face and said outer face;
- a sleeve arranged circumferentially in loose fit about said exterior surface of said fastener to permit relative rotation between said sleeve and said fastener, said sleeve being restrained from outwardly directed axial movement relative to said fastener;
- and
- an adapter including a key face and a tool portion, said key face having a protruding portion defining an open actuating wall for engagement with said open abutment wall of said fastener, and said tool portion being configured for interfacing with a conventional tool for applying torque to said adapter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.