T-Bolt Fastening System

A fastening system for fastening a first joining member having a first slot to a second joining member having a second slot, the fastening system comprising:

• a T-bolt having a distal end and a proximal end including, the T-bolt including:
• a bolt head disposed adjacent the distal end and having a bolt head base portion and a bolt head collar portion, the bolt head base portion having an outer end and an interior end, the interior end of the bolt head including a bolt head engaging surface formed of a plurality of teeth, and the bolt head collar portion extending from the interior end of the bolt head base portion in a direction opposite the outer end of the bolt head base portion with the bolt head engaging surface disposed around a base of the bolt head collar portion, and
• a shaft extending from the bolt head to the proximal end, the shaft including threads disposed along at least a portion of a length of the shaft;
• a nut having a threaded opening for engaging the corresponding threads of the shaft;
• and
• a washer including a washer base portion, an aperture extending through the washer base portion for slidably positioning the washer around the shaft of the T-bolt between the nut and the bolt head, and a washer engaging surface having a plurality of engaging members disposed on an interior end of the washer base portion around the aperture,
• wherein, when the fastening system is in an installed position for fastening the first joining member to the second joining member with the first and second slots being aligned, the T-bolt is dimensioned and configured such that the bolt head engaging surface of the bolt head base portion engages an outer surface of the first joining member, the bolt head collar portion extends at least partially into an opening formed by the aligned first and second slots, and the plurality of engaging members of the washer engaging surface engages an outer surface of the second joining member.