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US 5,836,731 AGranted
Anti-cross threading fastener
AssigneeMathread Inc.
InventorsJerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having first and/or second members with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of the other member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.
Claims46
An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising:
- a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads having a constant minor diameter and the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a receiving member;
- at least one thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said shank member and having an outside diameter and a surface;
- the remaining plurality of threads having a major diameter;
- and
- the outside diameter of the at least one thread is smaller than the major diameter of the remaining plurality of threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the minor diameter to the outside diameter so that the at least one thread of the plurality of threads is adapted to cam over corresponding mating threads of a receiving member until there is substantially collinear alignment therebetween.
2 more elements
An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising:
- a first fastener having a length, first and second ends, and a circular opening inside of the fastener, the opening running longitudinally to the length;
- a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads inside said circular opening, the plurality of threads having a constant major diameter and the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a second fastener;
- at least one thread of the plurality of threads toward the first end of said fastener and having an inside diameter and a surface;
- the remaining plurality of threads having a minor diameter;
- and
- the inside diameter of the at least one thread is larger than the minor diameter of the remaining plurality of threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the major diameter to the inside diameter such that the at least one thread of the plurality of threads is adapted to cam over corresponding mating threads of the second fastener until there is substantially collinear alignment therebetween.
3 more elements
An anti-cross threading fastener system, said system comprising:
- a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads having a constant minor diameter;
- a head, said head fixedly attached to the second end of said shank member, said head adapted for transmission of rotational torque to said shank member;
- a receiving member for receiving the first end and plurality of threads of said shank member and having corresponding threads inside said receiving member for mating with the plurality of threads of said shank member;
- at least one thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said shank member and having an outside diameter and a surface;
- the remaining plurality of threads having a major diameter;
- and
- the outside diameter of the at least one thread is smaller than the major diameter of the remaining plurality of threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the minor diameter to the outside diameter such that the at least one thread of the plurality of threads cams over the corresponding mating threads of said receiving member until there is substantially collinear alignment therebetween whereby a longitudinal axis of said shank member and a longitudinal axis of said receiving member become substantially collinearly aligned.
4 more elements
An anti-cross threading fastener system, said system comprising:
- a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of first threads around a circumference of said shank member;
- a head, said head fixedly attached to the second end of said shank member, said head adapted for transmission of rotational torque to said shank member;
- a receiving member for receiving the first end and plurality of first threads of said shank member and having a plurality of second threads inside said receiving member which mate with the plurality of first threads, the second threads having a constant major diameter;
- and
- at least one thread of the plurality of second threads of said receiving member proximate to the first end of said shank member and having an inside diameter and a surface;
- the remaining plurality of second threads having a minor diameter;
- and
- the inside diameter of the at least one thread is larger than the minor diameter of the remaining plurality of second threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the major diameter to the inside diameter such that the at least one thread of the plurality of second threads cams over the plurality of first threads until there is substantially collinear alignment between said shank member and said receiving member.
5 more elements
A method of correcting misalignment between first and second members of a threaded fastener to prevent cross threading, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a first end of a first member into a second member at a non-collinear angle, the first member having a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of the first member, the plurality of threads having a constant minor diameter, at least one thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said first member and having an outside diameter and a surface, the remaining plurality of threads having a major diameter, the outside diameter of the at least one thread is smaller than the major diameter of the remaining plurality of threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the minor diameter to the outside diameter, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of the second member;
- and
- rotating the first member in relation to the second member, wherein the at least one thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of the first member engages the corresponding mating threads of the second member such that the at least one thread of the plurality of threads of the first member cams over corresponding mating threads of the second member until there is substantially collinear alignment therebetween.
The method of claim 38, wherein the transitional surface of the at least one thread is a smoothly curved shape.
A method of correcting misalignment between first and second members of a threaded fastener to prevent cross threading, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a first end of a first member into an opening of a second member at a non-collinear angle, the second member having a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads in the opening, the plurality of threads having a constant major diameter, at least one thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said first member and having an inside diameter and a surface, the remaining plurality of threads having a minor diameter, the inside diameter of the at least one thread is larger than the minor diameter of the remaining plurality of threads, and the surface of the at least one thread is a transitional surface from the major diameter to the inside diameter, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of the first member;
- and
- rotating the first member in relation to the second member, wherein the at least one thread of the plurality of threads engages the corresponding mating threads of the first member such that the at least one thread of the plurality of threads of the second member cams over corresponding mating threads of the first member until there is substantially collinear alignment therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.