Ground retainer

In combination, a fastener system for preventing disengagement of a screw fastener from a workpiece and for providing a good electrical connection between said workpiece and a support member, comprising:

• a screw fastener comprising a head portion and a threaded shank portion;
• a workpiece having an aperture defined therein through which said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener extends while said head portion of said screw fastener engages a first surface of said workpiece;
• a support member having a threaded bore defined therein for threadedly receiving said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener so as to secure said screw fastener within said support member and thereby secure said workpiece upon said support member;
• and
• a washer device engaged with said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener so as to prevent disengagement of said screw fastener from said workpiece, and interposed between a second surface of said workpiece and said support member so as to provide a good electrical connection between said workpiece and said support member;
• said washer device comprising a relatively thin sheet metal member having a radially outer annular body portion disposed within a plane, and a radially inner tooth portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially inwardly from a radially inner margin of said radially outer annular body portion;
• said plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth comprising a first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth and a second set of grounding teeth;
• a first locus defined by radially innermost portions of said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth having a first diametrical value which is slightly smaller than a maximum diameter of said threaded shank portion of said fastener such that said first set of said flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth are deflected in a first direction by said threaded shank portion of said fastener when said washer device is telescopically mounted upon said threaded shank portion of said fastener as a result of relative movement of said washer device along said threaded shank portion of said fastener in a second relative direction, and yet said first set of said flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth are rigid enough for preventing said washer device from being easily detached from said threaded shank portion of said fastener by relative movement of said washer device with respect to said threaded shank portion of said fastener in said first direction after said washer device has been mounted upon said threaded shank portion of said fastener and said first set of said flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth have engaged said threaded shank portion of said fastener;
• and
• a second locus defined by radially innermost portions of said second set of grounding teeth having a second diametrical value which is slightly larger than a maximum diameter of said threaded shank portion of said fastener with which said washer device is telescopically associated such that said grounding teeth are not engaged with said threaded shank portion of said fastener, said grounding teeth being axially deflected out of said plane of said annular body portion of said washer device for enabling said grounding teeth to engage said second surface of said workpiece and said support member, when said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener is inserted through said aperture of said workpiece, through said washer device, and tightly threadedly engaged within said threaded bore of said support member, thereby creating and maintaining a good electrical connection between said workpiece and said support member.

In combination, a fastener system for preventing disengagement of a screw fastener from a workpiece and for providing a good electrical connection between said workpiece and a support member, comprising:

• a screw fastener comprising a head portion and a threaded shank portion;
• a workpiece having an aperture defined therein through which said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener extends while said head portion of said screw fastener engages a first surface of said workpiece;
• and
• a washer device engaged with said threaded shank portion of said screw fastener so as to prevent disengagement of said screw fastener from said workpiece, and adapted to be interposed between a second surface of said workpiece and a support member so as to provide a good electrical connection between said workpiece and a support member when said screw fastener is engaged with a support member;
• said washer device comprising a relatively thin sheet metal member having a radially outer annular body portion disposed within a plane, and a radially inner tooth portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially inwardly from a radially inner margin of said radially outer annular body portion;
• said plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth comprising a first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth, and a second set of grounding teeth;
• said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth having a first predetermined length defining a first locus, defined by radially innermost portions of said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth, having a first diametrical value such that said first set of said flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth are engageable with, and deflectable in a first direction by, said threaded shank portion of said fastener, when said washer device is telescopically mounted upon said threaded shank portion of said fastener, for permitting passage of said washer device along said threaded shank portion of said fastener in a second relative direction, and yet said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth are rigid enough for preventing said washer device from being easily detached from said threaded shank portion of said fastener by relative movement of said washer device with respect to said threaded shank portion of said fastener in said first direction after said washer device has been mounted upon said threaded shank portion of said fastener and said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth have engaged said threaded shank portion of said fastener;
• and
• said second set of grounding teeth having a second predetermined length, which is slightly smaller than said first predetermined length of said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth, defining a second locus, defined by radially innermost portions of said second set of grounding teeth, having a second diametrical value which is slightly larger than said first diametrical value of said first locus as defined by said radially innermost portions of said first set of flat, resiliently flexible retaining teeth such that said grounding teeth are not engaged with said threaded shank portion of said fastener when said washer device is telescopically mounted upon threaded shank portion of said fastener, said grounding teeth being axially deflected out of said plane of said annular body portion of said washer device for enabling said grounding teeth to engage said second surface of said workpiece and a support member, when said threaded shank portion of said fastener is inserted through said aperture of said workpiece, through said washer device, and tightly threadedly engaged within a threaded bore of a support member, and thereby create and maintain a good electrical connection between said workpiece and a support member.