Fastener assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorTravis Stephen Bengtson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fastener assembly includes a fastening element. The fastening element includes a head portion and a shank portion fixedly coupled to the head portion. The fastener assembly also includes a clip removably coupled to the fastening element. The clip includes an annular, base portion and a pair of first retention elements, at least a portion of the first retention elements is disposed oblique to diametrically opposing ends of the base portion. The clip defines a receiving space. The fastener assembly further includes at least one conical spring washer received within the receiving space of the clip. The at least one conical spring washer is disposed between the base portion of the clip and the head portion of the fastening element.
Claims20
A fastener assembly comprising:
- a fastening element including a head portion and a shank portion fixedly coupled to the head portion;
- and
- a retention system coupled to the fastening element, the retention system including:
- a clip removably coupled to the fastening element, wherein the clip includes:
- an annular, base portion;
- and
- a pair of first retention elements, at least a portion of the first retention elements is disposed oblique to diametrically opposing ends of the base portion, wherein the clip defines a receiving space;
- and
- at least one conical spring washer received within the receiving space of the clip, wherein the at least one conical spring washer is disposed between the base portion of the clip and the head portion of the fastening element.
A method of assembling a fastener assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a clip of the fastener assembly, the clip including an annular, base portion and a pair of first retention elements, at least a portion of the first retention elements is disposed oblique to diametrically opposing ends of the base portion, wherein the clip defines a receiving space;
- removably coupling at least one conical spring washer of the fastener assembly with the clip, wherein the at least one conical spring washer is received within the receiving space of the clip;
- providing a fastening element of the fastener assembly, the fastening element including a head portion and a shank portion fixedly coupled to the head portion;
- and
- removably coupling the clip and the at least one conical spring washer with the fastening element, wherein the at least one conical spring washer is disposed between the base portion of the clip and the head portion of the fastening element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.