US 5,511,301 AGranted

Self retaining fastener

AssigneeTextron Inc.

InventorJames T. McGuire

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Abstract

A fastener is mounted in preassembly with a workpiece through an aperture in the workpiece. The fastener has a head and an elongate shank integrally formed therewith. The shank has a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion with the threaded portion having a major diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the aperture in the workpiece and the unthreaded portion having an outside diameter which is less than the inside diameter of the aperture in the workpiece. To engage the fastener with the workpiece, the threaded portion is passed through the aperture to dispose the unthreaded portion within the aperture. When the fastener is engaged with the aperture, a partial internal thread is formed therein which does not materially enlarge or decrease the effective inside diameter of the aperture. The difference between the inside diameter of the aperture and the major diameter of the threaded portion provides a degree of interference which maintains the fastener in a preassembled condition with respect to the workpiece.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method of preassembly and mounting a fastener to a workpiece comprising the steps of:

providing a workpiece of a predetermined thickness, said workpiece including an initially unthreaded aperture therethrough, said aperture having an inside diameter of a predetermined size;
providing a fastener comprising a head portion and an elongated shank portion connected to said head portion, said shank portion having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, said threaded portion having a major diameter which is 5% to 30% greater than the inside diameter of the aperture in the workpiece, said unthreaded portion having an outside diameter which is less than the inside diameter of the aperture in the workpiece;
and
engaging said threaded portion of greater diameter with said aperture and threading said threaded portion of said fastener completely through said aperture until said unthreaded portion is housed within the aperture thereby forming partial threads on the inside of said aperture of said workpiece without materially enlarging or reducing the effective inside diameter of said aperture, such that the difference in said effective inside diameter and the major diameter of said threaded portion maintains the fastener preassembled with the workpiece.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/279,435Filed 25 Jul 1994
Granted: 30 Apr 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16B 41/002
Measures against loss of bolts, nuts, or pins; Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins: measures against loss of bolts,…
Y10S 411/999
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-threaded fastener: with retainer, e.g. tether
Y10T 29/49881
Assembling or joining: of separate helix [e.g., screw thread]
F16B
Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together