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US 6,435,791 B1Granted
Wheel fastener assemblies
AssigneeMacLean-Fogg Company
InventorTheodore J. Bydalek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener assembly includes (a) a fastening member that includes an out-of-round portion centered about a longitudinal axis and configured for engagement with a torque-transmitting tool, a frustoconical load-bearing surface that extends radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and a threaded portion that is centered about the longitudinal axis; (b) a metallic, frustoconical thrust washer having a concave surface positioned adjacent to the load-bearing surface of the fastening member, and a convex surface; and (c) a pressure ring that includes a flange, a frustoconical load-bearing surface formed by the flange and positioned adjacent to the convex surface of the thrust washer, and a frustoconical undersurface oriented to contact a complementary depression in a workpiece.
Claims43
A wheel fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) a fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion centered about a longitudinal axis, said out-of-round portion being configured for engagement with a torque-transmitting tool;
- a load-bearing surface extending radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis;
- a flange;
- a threaded portion centered about said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a surface for supporting a lower periphery of said tool when said tool is fully engaged with said out-of-round portion, said surface for supporting extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion, such that said surface for supporting prevents said tool from contacting said flange of said fastening member;
- (b) a metallic thrust washer comprising:
- a first load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said load-bearing surface of said fastening member;
- and
- a second load-bearing surface;
- and
- (c) a pressure ring comprising:
- a load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said second load-bearing surface of said thrust washer;
- and
- an undersurface oriented to contact a workpiece.
13 more elements
A wheel fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) a fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion centered about a longitudinal axis, said out-of-round portion being configured for engagement with a torque-transmitting tool;
- a load-bearing surface extending radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a threaded portion centered about said longitudinal axis;
- (b) a metallic thrust washer comprising:
- a first load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said load-bearing surface of said fastening member;
- and
- a second load-bearing surface;
- and
- (c) a pressure ring comprising:
- a load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said second load-bearing surface of said thrust washer;
- and
- an undersurface oriented to contact a workpiece, wherein said undersurface of said pressure ring comprises a frustoconical portion.
11 more elements
A wheel fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) a fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion centered about a longitudinal axis, said out-of-round portion being configured for engagement with a torque-transmitting tool;
- a load-bearing surface extending radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis;
- a threaded portion centered about said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a decorative cap;
- (b) a metallic thrust washer comprising:
- a first load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said load-bearing surface of said fastening member;
- and
- a second load-bearing surface;
- and
- (c) a pressure ring comprising:
- a load-bearing surface positioned adjacent to said second load-bearing surface of said thrust washer;
- and
- an undersurface oriented to contact a workpiece.
12 more elements
A wheel fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion configured for receiving torque from a tool, said tool having a lower periphery configured for bearing upon at least one surface of said out-of-round portion;
- a flange extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion;
- and
- a surface for supporting said lower periphery of said tool when said tool is fully engaged with said out-of-round portion, said surface for supporting extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion, such that said surface for supporting prevents said tool from contacting said flange, wherein said surface for supporting is selected from the group consisting of a surface defined by an annular ring, a surface defined by a penannular ring, a surface defined by a stanchion, and a surface defined by a pair of stanchions.
1 more element
A wheel fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion configured for receiving torque from a tool, said tool having a lower periphery configured for bearing upon at least one surface of said out-of-round portion;
- a flange extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion;
- and
- a surface for supporting said lower periphery of said tool when said tool is fully engaged with said out-of-round portion, said surface for supporting extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion, such that said surface for supporting prevents said tool from contacting said flange;
- in combination with a rotatable pressure ring extending above said flange of said wheel fastening member, such that said surface for supporting prevents said tool from contacting said pressure ring.
2 more elements
A wheel fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion configured for receiving torque from a tool, said tool having a lower periphery configured for bearing upon at least one surface of said out-of-round portion;
- a flange extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion;
- and
- means for supporting said lower periphery of said tool when said tool is fully engaged with said out-of-round portion, said supporting means extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion, such that said supporting means prevents said tool from contacting said flange;
- in combination with a rotatable pressure ring extending above said flange of said wheel fastening member, such that said supporting means prevents said tool from contacting said pressure ring.
2 more elements
A wheel fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) a fastening member comprising:
- an out-of-round portion centered about a longitudinal axis, said out-of-round portion being configured for engagement with a torque-transmitting tool;
- a flange extending radially outwardly from said out-of-round portion;
- a frustoconical load-bearing surface, said load-bearing surface being separated from said out-of-round portion by said flange;
- and
- a threaded portion centered about said longitudinal axis;
- (b) a frustoconical, metallic thrust washer comprising a concave surface and an opposing convex surface, said concave surface positioned adjacent to said load-bearing surface of said fastening member;
- and
- (c) a pressure ring comprising:
- a flange;
- a frustoconical load-bearing surface formed by said flange, said load-bearing surface being positioned adjacent to said convex surface of said thrust washer;
- and
- a frustoconical undersurface oriented to contact a complementary depression in a workpiece.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.