Locking fastener assembly for threaded joint

A threaded joint such as an automotive wheel assembly of the type tightened or loosened by a wrench socket and comprising:

• a fixed mounting structure including a threaded member extending along an axis and including first restraining means;
• a locking fastener assembly engageable with said fixed mounting structure and including a rotatable fastener and a retainer;
• said fastener having a tool receiving portion with wrenching flats and corners between said flats, a flange, and a thread structure engageable with said threaded member for tightening and loosening of the threaded joint in response to rotation of the fastener around the axis;
• said retainer including means for holding said retainer in relatively rotatable assembly with said flange;
• said retainer including second restraining means engageable with said first restraining means for permitting axial movement and preventing rotation of said retainer relative to said fixed mounting structure;
• and
• latch means connected between said fastener and said retainer for permitting relative rotation between said fastener and said retainer in a released position and preventing relative rotation between said fastener and said retainer in a latched position;
• said latch means including latch release means disposed at said tool receiving portion of said fastener for releasing said latch means in response to engagement of said fastener by the tool;
• the threaded joint being characterized by:
• said latch means comprising a pair of resilient latch clips mounted in a resiliently compressed condition at diametrically opposed positions between said fastener and said retainer, said positions being on said wrenching flats and spaced from said corners.