Load indicating washer

A load-indicating washer having a central hole and a rim portion, the load indicating washer comprising:

• two bearing surface means provided in the rim portion, said two bearing surface means consisting of an upper bearing surface means and a lower bearing surface means, a depression provided in each of said bearing surface means, each of said depressions being substantially ring-shaped and disposed substantially concentrically with the central hole, one of said ring-shaped depressions being disposed adjacent the central hole and the other ring-shaped depression being disposed along the periphery of the washer, means for communicating said depression disposed adjacent the central hole with the outside washer, and means selectively retained in each depression for visually indicating the load applied on the washer including at least one layer of an indicating fluid, each of said bearing surface means includes a substantially flat portion, each of said bearing surface means includes a substantially flat portion, each of said depressions being connected to said flat portion by a wall extending substantially parellel to the axis of the central hole, and wherein said means for communicating said depression disposed adjacent the central hole includes a plurality of radially extending grooves provided in said substantially flat portion of said bearing surface means.