US 6,272,728 B1Granted

Self-lubricating thrust rivet and its method of manufacture

AssigneeNorton Performance Plastics Corporation

InventorsAlbert Lenac, Antoni Jan Szwedziuk, Louis V. Portelli

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Abstract

A hollow self-lubricating thrust rivet or fastener is adapted to pivotably fasten first and second members to one another. The fastener is laminated on its outer surface with a self-lubricating or lubricious bearing material such as an organic polymer or plastic material. The bearing material provides the fastener with requisite lubricity to enable the members to rotate about the fastener without requiring application of a discrete lubricant to the interface of the fastener and the members. The fastener thus effectively combines the functions of a conventional fastener and a conventional bearing into a single unitary device. The fastener preferably includes an annular thrust portion laminated with the lubricious bearing material and adapted for placement between the members. The thrust portion effectively eliminates the need for installation of a discrete washer between the members.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of fabrication of a fastener adapted to join a plurality of members to one another, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate of relatively high ductility, tensile strength and shear strength;
(b) applying a sliding layer to the substrate;
(c) after said steps (a) and (b), forming the substrate into a shank portion which is elongated along a central axis thereof, so that the sliding layer is disposed on an outer surface of the shank portion, wherein the shank portion is adapted for receipt within apertures disposed in the plurality of members;
(d) forming at least one thrust portion that extends transversely outward from a medial perimeter of the shank portion;
(e) adapting a first and second end of the shank portion wherein they are flanged to capture at least one member of the plurality of members between the at least one thrust portion and the first and second end, respectively
(f) providing the shank portion with a predetermined diameter wherein the fastener is adapted for being disposed in an interference fit with the aperture of the at least one member of the plurality of members;
wherein the sliding layer is adapted to engage the at least one member of the plurality of members to provide for substantially maintenance free sliding movement of the at least one member relative to the fastener.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.