US 6,568,894 B2 · Fastener devices, such as lock-pins

Abstract

Fasteners, such as lock-pins, that in selected embodiments can be installed or removed from the near side of a blind installation. In one embodiment, the lock-pin includes a pin and a rotatable key. The pin includes a head portion, a shaft portion having a tip end, and a longitudinal axis of symmetry. A bore extends through the head portion and the shaft portion in a generally longitudinal direction non-colinear with the longitudinal axis of symmetry. In one aspect of this embodiment, the key includes a spring portion toward the head portion of the pin, a retainer portion toward the tip end of the pin, and an actuator rod portion extending therebetween rotatably disposed within the bore of the pin. When the key is rotated to an unlocked position, the retainer portion is disposed within the diameter of the shaft portion such that the pin can be inserted in, or retracted from, a hole only slightly larger in diameter than the shaft portion. When the key is rotated to a locked position, the retainer portion is extended outboard of the shaft portion thereby retaining the lock-pin in the hole.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A look-pin for joining two or more structures, the lock-pin comprising:

a pin having first and second ends, a head portion toward the first end, and a shaft portion extending away from the head portion toward the second end, the pin further having a longitudinal axis and a bore extending through the head portion and the shaft portion in a generally longitudinal direction non-collinear with the longitudinal axis;
and
a rotatable key having an integral spring portion adjacent to the head portion of the pin, a retainer portion adjacent to the second end of the pin, and an actuator rod portion interconnecting the spring portion to the retainer portion and being at least partially rotatably disposed within the bore of the pin, the spring portion being rotatable to position the retainer portion in a first position wherein the retainer portion is positioned entirely within a projected cross-section of the shaft portion and a second position wherein the retainer portion is at least partially extending outside of the projected cross-section of the shaft portion.

A method for joining a first structure having a first hole to a second structure having a second hole, the method comprising:

providing a lock-pin, the lock-pin including a shaft portion having first and second ends and defining a cross-section dimension, the shaft portion further having a longitudinal axis and a bore extending between the first and second ends in a generally longitudinal direction non-collinear with the longitudinal axis, the lock-pin further including a rotatable key having a spring actuating portion urging toward the first end of the shaft portion, a retainer portion adjacent to the second end of the shaft portion, and an actuator rod portion interconnecting the spring actuating portion to the retainer portion and being at least partially rotatably disposed within the bore of the shaft portion, the spring actuating portion being rotatably positionable to rotate the retainer portion to a first position entirely within the cross-section dimension of the shaft portion or to a second position at least partially outside of the cross-section dimension of the shaft portion;
axially aligning the first hole in the first structure with the second hole in the second structure;
inserting the shaft portion through the axially aligned first and second holes when the retainer portion is in the first position;
and
rotating the spring actuating portion to rotate the retainer portion to the second position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fastener devices, such as lock-pins

Life of this patent

Fastener devices, such as lock-pins

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39