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US 7,484,420 B2Granted
Fastener assembly and method
AssigneeMJSI, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Schuster, Larry Lee Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener assembly and method are provided. In one embodiment, the fastener assembly comprises a nut compatible with a threaded shaft. A rotation indicator having at least one indicator extension is attached to the nut. At least one protruding structure extends from the nut. The protruding structure interferes with the indicator extension when the nut is rotated on the threaded shaft and the rotation indicator is compressed between the nut and a surface.
Claims23
A fastener assembly, comprising:
- a nut compatible with a threaded shaft;
- a rotation indicator having at least one indicator extension;
- and
- at least one protruding structure extending from the nut, the protruding structure interfering with the indicator extension when the nut is rotated on the threaded shaft and the rotation indicator is compressed between the nut and a surface.
1 more element
A method for limiting an amount of torque employed to fasten a nut to a threaded shaft, comprising the steps of:
- rotating a nut to engage an inner thread of the nut with an outer thread of the threaded shaft;
- rotating the nut along the threaded shaft until a rotation indicator is compressed between the nut and a surface;
- causing at least one indicator extension extending from the rotation indicator to periodically engage at least one protrusion structure located on a side of the nut due to the rotation of the nut;
- and
- rotating the nut after the rotation indicator is compressed between the nut and the surface so that the at least one indicator extension engages the at least one protrusion structure a predefined number of times, thereby limiting a force exerted against the surface by the nut.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.