Undeformed lock nut with slot

A self-deforming lock nut threadably engageable and retainable about a threaded shaft extending through a workpiece, the lock nut comprising:

• a body member having a threaded bore along a bore axis for receiving the threaded shaft, the body member having a top end, a bottom end, and a side portion having at one flat surface thereon;
• a deformable slot disposed on the side portion of the body member and extending into the body member toward the threaded bore, the deformable slot disposed substantially transversely to the bore axis;
• a lower portion of the body member having a skirt with a bottom end extending outwardly beyond the side portion of the body member;
• a nut deforming member protruding axially from the bottom end of the skirt, the nut deforming member is a substantially annular portion disposed about the threaded bore, at least a portion of the nut deforming member located outwardly of the side portion of the body member,
• the threaded bore undeformed prior to installation of the lock nut about the threaded shaft,
• the nut deforming member protruding from the bottom end of the body member engageable with the workpiece to deform a lower portion of the body member and a lower portion of the threaded bore upon threadably installing the lock nut about the threaded shaft.

A lock nut threadably engageable and retainable about a threaded shaft extending through a workpiece, the lock nut comprising:

• a body member having a threaded bore along a bore axis for receiving the threaded shaft, the body member having a top end, a bottom end, and a side portion;
• a plurality of at least two deformable slots disposed on the side portion of the body member and extending into the body member toward the threaded bore, each deformable slot disposed substantially transversely to the bore axis;
• a plurality of nut deforming members corresponding to the plurality of deformable slots, each nut deforming member protruding from the bottom end of the body member and aligned substantially with a corresponding deformable slot,
• at least a portion of the plurality of nut deforming members extending outwardly beyond the side portion of the body member,
• the threaded bore undeformed prior to installation of the lock nut about the threaded shaft, and the nut deforming member protruding from the bottom end of the body member engageable with the workpiece to deform a lower portion of the body member and a lower portion of the threaded bore upon threadably installing the lock nut about the threaded shaft.