Tapered thread-forming fasteners
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Adam Antoun, Kenan Uslu, Joe Yang Chin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tapered fastener adapted to be installed in an unthreaded, tapered hole in a workpiece formed of a cast material is provided. The tapered fastener can have a head and a shank. The shank can have a tapering outer face with substantially the same tapering angle as the tapered hole in the workpiece. A thread forming screw thread in the tapering outer face forms threads in the unthreaded, tapered hole as the head drives the shank into the workpiece.
Claims36
A steel fastener adapted to be installed in an unthreaded, tapered hole in a workpiece formed of a non-ferrous cast metal material, the steel fastener comprising:
- a head having a driving arrangement;
- and
- a shank comprising;
- a tapering outer face with substantially the same tapering angle as the tapered hole in the workpiece;
- and
- a thread forming screw thread disposed in the tapering outer face and configured to form threads in the unthreaded, tapered hole as the head drives the shank into the workpiece.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A steel threaded insert adapted to be installed in an unthreaded, tapered hole in a workpiece formed of a non-ferrous cast metal material, the steel threaded insert comprising:
- a head having a driving arrangement and an aperture, the aperture being sized and shaped to receive a threaded fastener;
- and
- a generally tubular shank comprising;
- a tapering outer face with substantially the same tapering angle as the tapered hole in the workpiece;
- a thread forming screw thread disposed in the tapering outer face and configured to form threads in the unthreaded, tapered hole as the head drives the tubular shank into the workpiece;
- and
- a screw thread formed inside the tubular shank and configured to receive the threaded fastener.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of installing a steel tapered fastener in an unthreaded, tapered hole in a workpiece formed of a non-ferrous cast metal material, the method comprising:
- providing a steel tapered fastener having a head and shank, the head comprising a driving arrangement, the shank comprising a tapering outer face with substantially the same tapering angle as the tapered hole in the workpiece, the tapering outer face comprising a thread forming screw thread;
- inserting at least a portion of the shank into the unthreaded, tapered hole;
- and
- driving the fastener via the driving arrangement into the unthreaded, tapered hole to form threads in the unthreaded, tapered hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.