Load-distributing washer for plastic members
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorFrancis C. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A specially designed washer for attaching a plastic member to a metal substrate. The washer has a generally polygonal configuration with a metal-substrate-engaging member which projects through the plastic from an off-center location. This member provides some dissipation of the clamp load through a metal-to-metal contact path through the plastic and also acts as a pivot point for the washer to transfer another component outwardly from the aperture in the plastic and distribute it over a wide surface area to reduce plastic creep and eliminate loosening of the joint. A crowning of the washer body dissipates additional clamp loading from the resulting spring forces.
Claims6
A device for clamping a resilient plastic member which has a plurality of bolt-receiving apertures to a metal substrate, said device comprising a resiliently deformable, generally polygonally shaped washer, a hole extending through the washer which has a diameter that is at least equal to that of the bolt, an extending collar portion surrounding at least a portion of the hole and projecting generally axially of the washer, said collar portion being received in at least part of one of the bolt-receiving apertures of the plastic member, a metal-substrate-engaging member located adjacent said hole, said metal-substrate-engaging member providing metal-to-metal clamp loading through the plastic member and being non-centrally located so as to act as a pivot for the washer whereby a large portion of the washer body is brought into engagement with the plastic member to distribute the clamping load over a broad surface to thereby substantially reduce joint loosening caused by plastic creep.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.