# US 5,704,746 A · Plastic fastener for threaded blind aperture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,746 A - Document ID: US5704746A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/791,644 - Filed: 1997-01-30 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1997-01-30 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: William J. Leib; Arnold DeCarlo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704746A ## CPC - F16B 19/1081: {fastened by a drive-pin (F16B19/109 takes precedence)} - F16B 33/006: {Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract The fastener, which is typically made of thermoformed or similar plastic, includes a shank portion at least two parallel fingers which further include a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the fingers is integral with a base portion and the distal end of the fingers is integral with bridge elements which attach to a wedge element. A driving pin is attached to the base portion and is aligned with a gap formed between the at least two parallel fingers. The parallel fingers further include lateral serrated portions and radially oriented stabilizing fins. Upon impact to the driving pin when the fastener is placed into a blind threaded aperture, the wedge portion forces apart the distal ends of the parallel fingers, while the driving pin forces apart the proximal ends of the parallel fingers thereby driving the serrated portions of the fingers against the threads of the blind threaded aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener for use in a blind threaded aperture, said fastener comprising: a base portion with a first side and a second side; a shank portion including at least two parallel fingers with a gap therebetween, each finger including a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said at least two parallel fingers attached to said first side of said base portion; a wedge portion aligned with said gap and attached to said distal ends of said at least two parallel fingers by an attaching means, said attaching means being flexible to permit movement of said wedge portion along a longitudinal axis of said shank potion; and a driving pin attached to said second side of said base portion, said driving pin aligned with said gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1 wherein, in an installed position, said wedge portion is driven between said distal ends of said at least two parallel fingers, and said driving pin is driven between said proximal ends of said at least two parallel fingers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastener of claim 2 wherein said at least two parallel fingers include at least partially serrated sides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fastener of claim 2 wherein said base portion is planar for aligning said base portion with a planar surface having said blind threaded aperture when said shank portion is inserted into the blind threaded aperture and said fastener is in the installed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The fastener of claim 2 wherein said driving pin includes a head portion which is subjected to a sudden impact to place said driving pin and said wedge into the installed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The fastener of claim 3 wherein said attaching means comprises bridge sections of reduced thickness. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fastener of claim 6 wherein a portion of said base section between said driving pin and said gap is of reduced thickness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fastener of claim 6 wherein said wedge portion has inclined walls oriented toward said at least two parallel fingers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The fastener of claim 6 wherein said wedge portion includes a point for engaging a blind end of said blind threaded aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The fastener of claim 7 wherein said bridge sections and said portion of said base section are configured such that upon sudden impact to said drive pin, said wedge portion separates said distal ends of said at least two parallel fingers prior to said drive pin separating said proximal ends of said at least two parallel fingers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fastener of claim 10 wherein said at least two parallel fingers include radially extending stabilizing fins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fastener of claim 11 wherein said stabilizing fins include oblique outwardly extending walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fastener of claim 11 wherein said driving pin includes at least one groove aligned with at least one notch on said at least two parallel fingers, and wherein, in the installed position, said at least one groove engages said at least one notch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1 wherein said fastener is formed from plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1 wherein said fastener is formed from thermoformed plastic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fastener of claim 15 wherein the fastener is formed from a single unitary piece.