Self Locking Fasteners And Methods Relating To Same

A method for fastening a screw or bolt type fastener, comprising:

• providing a cup or sleeve defining an opening therein, a screw or bolt disposed within the opening of the cup or sleeve and aligned coaxially with the cup or sleeve about a primary axis, the screw or bolt defining a passage, and a cam operator inserted at least partially through a portion of the cup or sleeve and the passage of the screw or bolt such that the cam operator connects the cup or sleeve and the screw or bolt to one another to form a locking fastener, the cam operator being rotatable about a secondary axis that is generally normal to the primary axis and movable between a first position wherein the cup or sleeve and screw or bolt are rotatable with respect to a first and second article to which the fastener is being fastened, and a second position wherein the cup or sleeve and screw or bolt are not rotatable with respect to the first and second article and secure the first and second article to one another;
• and
• fastening the cup or sleeve and screw or bolt to one another by moving the cam operator from the first position to the second position so that a clamping force is applied to the cup or sleeve and the screw or bolt to prevent the cup or sleeve from moving with respect to the screw or bolt.

A method for fastening a nut or collar type fastener, comprising:

• providing a cup defining an opening therein, a sleeve disposed within the opening of the cup and aligned coaxially with the cup about a primary axis, the sleeve defining a bore that is at least partially internally threaded and a passage and, and a cam operator inserted at least partially through a portion of the cup and the passage of the sleeve such that the cam operator connects the cup and sleeve to one another to form a nut or collar type fastener, the cam operator being rotatable about a secondary axis that is generally normal to the primary axis and movable between a first position wherein the cup and sleeve are rotatable with respect to a first and second article to which the nut or collar type fastener is being fastened, and a second position wherein the cup and sleeve are not rotatable with respect to the first and second article and secure the first and second article to one another;
• and
• fastening the cup and sleeve to one another by moving the cam operator from the first position to the second position so that a clamping force is applied to the cup and sleeve to prevent the cup and sleeve from moving with respect to the first and second article.

A method of providing pre-packaged fasteners with pre-determined specifications comprising:

• providing a cup or sleeve defining an opening therein, a screw or bolt disposed within the opening of the cup or sleeve and aligned coaxially with the cup or sleeve about a primary axis, the screw or bolt defining a passage and being of at least one of a first and second size, and a cam operator inserted at least partially through a portion of the cup or sleeve and the passage of the screw or bolt such that the cam operator connects the cup or sleeve and the screw or bolt to one another to form a locking fastener, the cam operator being rotatable about a secondary axis that is generally normal to the primary axis and movable between a first position wherein the cup or sleeve and screw or bolt are rotatable with respect to a first and second article to which the fastener is being fastened, and a second position wherein the cup or sleeve and screw or bolt are not rotatable with respect to the first and second article and secure the first and second article to one another;
• and
• packaging the locking fastener so that screws or bolts of the first size are packaged with one another and screws or bolts of the second size are packaged with one another.

A method of customizing a fastener comprising:

• providing a fastener having an outer body defining an opening therein, an inner body disposed within the opening of the outer body and aligned coaxially with the outer body about a primary axis, a cam operator inserted at least partially through a portion of the inner and outer bodies and connecting the inner and outer bodies to one another to form the locking fastener, the cam operator being rotatable about a secondary axis that is generally normal to the primary axis and movable between a first position wherein the inner and outer bodies are rotatable with respect to a surface or structure located adjacent or proximate to the inner and outer bodies and to which the fastener is being fastened, and a second position wherein the inner and outer bodies are not rotatable with respect to the adjacent or proximate surface or structure and the inner and outer bodies are fastened to the adjacent or proximate surface or structure, and an outer sleeve within which at least a portion of the outer or inner body is disposed and at least a portion of the cam lever is disposed;
• and
• applying a specific design to at least a portion of the outer sleeve to customize the fastener for a particular consumer or application.

A method of manufacturing non-marring and abrasion resistant fastener comprising:

• providing a fastener having an outer body defining an opening therein, an inner body disposed within the opening of the outer body and aligned coaxially with the outer body about a primary axis, a cam operator inserted at least partially through a portion of the inner and outer bodies and connecting the inner and outer bodies to one another to form the locking fastener, the cam operator being rotatable about a secondary axis that is generally normal to the primary axis and movable between a first position wherein the inner and outer bodies are rotatable with respect to a surface or structure located adjacent or proximate to the inner and outer bodies and to which the fastener is being fastened, and a second position wherein the inner and outer bodies are not rotatable with respect to the adjacent or proximate surface or structure and the inner and outer bodies are fastened to the adjacent or proximate surface or structure;
• and
• applying an outer coating to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner and outer body to prevent the fastener from marring or abrading a surface to which the fastener is connected.