Self-threading fastener
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsConor P. LENAHAN, Taylor H. GILBERT, Piotr S. TRZASKOS, Alex C. Yeung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The embodiments described in this paper relate generally to a fastener configured to reduce a risk of doing damage to a high cost component. Various embodiments of fasteners configured to be threaded during insertion are described. This is accomplished by selecting a material for an engaging portion of the fastener that is soft enough to yield to a set of threads to which it is driven into. In this way, a complementary threading pattern is formed on an exterior surface of the fastener as it is twisted against threading of the high cost component to which the fastener is configured to be coupled.
Claims20
A method for securing a first component to a second component, the method comprising:
- arranging a first end of a fastener through an opening in the first component and against a threaded bore disposed in the second component;
- and
- driving the first end of the fastener against a plurality of threads disposed along an inside surface of the threaded bore such that an outer surface of the fastener is deformed against the plurality of threads, the deformation of the outer surface forming a threading pattern along the outer surface of the fastener that is complementary with the plurality of threads,
- wherein the threading pattern interacts with the plurality of threads to secure the first end of the fastener within the threaded bore of the second component, and wherein the outer surface of the fastener is not rigid enough to cause damage to the plurality of threads.
A fastener configured to ground a printed circuit board (PCB) to a housing, the fastener comprising:
- a head portion;
- and
- a deformable body portion, comprising:
- a conductive shaft,
- a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the shaft, and
- a non-conductive over-mold covering at least the shaft and plurality of protrusions of the body portion,
- wherein when the deformable body portion of the fastener is driven against a threaded bore of the housing, a threading pattern is formed along an exterior surface of the non-conductive over-mold, the threading pattern cooperating with a plurality of threads disposed within the threaded bore to secure the fastener to the housing, and wherein the head portion is configured to be electrically coupled to a conductive element disposed on a first surface of the PCB.
An electronic device, comprising:
- a conductive housing having a threaded bore;
- a fastener, comprising:
- a deformable body portion having a first end configured to engage the threaded bore of the conductive housing;
- and
- a printed circuit board secured to the threaded bore of the conductive housing by the fastener,
- wherein when the first end of the deformable body portion is driven into the threaded bore, the first end deforms about a plurality of threads disposed within the threaded bore, thereby securing the first end of the deformable body portion within the threaded bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.