Locking fastener
OwnerBruce A. Bennettinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Locking fastener comprising a threaded part such as a bolt or nut and a lock plate which fits over the bolt or nut and is prevented from rotation by engagement with a stationary object such as a protrusion on the part to be secured. The lock plate has an opening with a contour which mates with the outer contour of the threaded part to prevent rotation of the threaded part, and the plate is retained on the threaded part by a retainer received in a detent opening or groove formed in the threaded part. In some embodiments, the retainer is a separate part which is free to rotate in the groove. In other embodiments, the retainer comprises a detent lug carried by the lock plate.
Claims16
A locking fastener, comprising a threaded part having an external surface of non-circular contour, a lock plate having an opening in which the surface of non-circular contour is received to prevent rotation of the threaded part, a detent opening formed in a fixed position relative to the external surface of the threaded part, and a detent lug carried by the lock plate and extending into the detent opening to retain the lock plate on the threaded part, said lock plate being fabricated of a material such that it is rigid enough to prevent rotation of the threaded part and resilient enough to permit the lug to deflect and snap into the detent opening.
A locking fastener, comprising a bolt having a head with a hexagonal peripheral surface, a lock plate having an opening in which the hexagonal surface is received to prevent rotation of the bolt, a detent opening formed in a fixed position relative to the hexagonal surface, and a detent lug carried by the lock plate and extending into the detent opening to retain the lock plate on the bolt, said lock plate being fabricated of a material such that it is rigid enough to prevent rotation of the bolt and resilient enough to permit the lug to deflect and snap into the detent opening.
A locking fastener, comprising a nut having a hexagonal peripheral surface, a lock plate having an opening in which the hexagonal surface is received to prevent rotation of the nut, a detent opening formed in a fixed position relative to the hexagonal surface, and a detent lug carried by the lock plate and extending into the detent opening to retain the lock plate on the nut, said lock plate being fabricated of a material such that it is rigid enough to prevent rotation of the nut and resilient enough to permit the lug to deflect and snap into the detent opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.