Reusable rivet
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorDavid W. Edland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The rivet includes a screw element which rotates within a body element. The body element includes an upper collar, integral with the body head, which is longitudinally stabilized with respect to the rotating screw element. The body element further includes a lower collar which is internally threaded and engages the external threads of the shank of the screw element. The lower collar therefore traverses a portion of the shank of the screw element as the screw element rotates. Folding legs join the upper collar and the lower collar. In the uninstalled position, the folding legs are parallel to and abut the screw shank. However, in the installed position, the lower collar approaches the upper collar and the legs fold so as to be substantially perpendicular to the screw shank.
Claims18
A rivet comprising:
- a screw element including a screwhead and a shank, said shank including a threaded portion, said screw element rotating about a longitudinal axis;
- a body element, including an aperture through which said screw element extends, said body element further including a head and a lower collar, wherein said head and said lower collar are attached by a plurality of folding legs;
- said screwhead abutting a top of said head in both an installed and an uninstalled position;
- and
- said head being longitudinally stabilized with respect to said screw element during rotation of said screw element and said lower collar longitudinally traversing a portion of said screw element during rotation of said screw element;
- wherein said shank terminates in an integral enlarged portion which has a diameter substantially equal to that of said lower collar and is substantially free of longitudinal movement during rotation of said screw elements;
- and a means for longitudinally stabilizing said screw element with respect to said body element during rotation of said screw.
A rivet comprising:
- a screw element including a screwhead and a shank, said shank including a threaded portion, said screw element rotating about a longitudinal axis;
- a body element further including a head and a lower collar, wherein said head and said lower collar are attached by a plurality of folding legs;
- said screwhead abutting a top of said head in both an installed and an uninstalled position;
- said head being longitudinally stabilized with respect to said screw element during rotation of said screw element and said lower collar longitudinally traversing a portion of said screw element during rotation of said screw element;
- wherein said shank terminates in an integral enlarged portion has a diameter substantially equal to that of said lower collar and includes rotationally tapered walls, said lower collar abutting said integral enlarged portion prior to folding legs and said lower collar moving away from said integral enlarged portion during folding of said plurality of folding legs in response to rotation of said screw element;
- and
- a means for longitudinally stabilizing said screw element with respect to said body element during rotation of said screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.