Drive system
AssigneeAsia Fastening (US), Inc.
InventorPhua Cheng Siong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article for use in a torque transmitting system which has a drive surface configuration having side and end surfaces is disclosed. The end surface tapers upwardly and outwardly from a lowermost point provided along a longitudinal axis to the side surface. The end surface defines a plurality of identically configured lobes that extend from a first point to a second point. The first point of one lobe is identical to the second point of an adjacent lobe. The first and second points of each lobe are provided along an imaginary circle having its center along the longitudinal axis. Each lobe extends from the first point to the second point by a series of edges that are straight, concave and/or convex. Two of the edges are tangential to the imaginary circle. The side surface extends upwardly from the edges defining the plurality of lobes.
Claims30
An article of manufacture for use in a torque transmitting system having a longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture comprising:
- a drive surface configuration having a side surface and an end surface, said end surface tapers upwardly and outwardly from a lowermost point provided along the longitudinal axis to said side surface, said end surface defining a plurality of identically configured lobes, each said lobe extending from a first point to a second point, said first point of one of said plurality of lobes being said second point of an adjacent one of said plurality of lobes, each of said first and second points of each said lobe being provided along an imaginary circle having its center along the longitudinal axis, said side surface extends upwardly from said end surface defining said plurality of lobes, each of said lobes extends from said first point to said second point by, in series, a first convex edge, a straight edge, first and second concave edges, and a second convex edge, said first and second convex edges each being tangential to said imaginary circle.
A fastener comprising:
- a shank extending about a central axis;
- and
- an internally configured drive surface which is accessible from an upper surface of said fastener, said internally configured drive surface comprising:
- a base surface having a plurality of outer edges defining a plurality of lobes, each said lobe having a first edge which extends from a first point to a second point in a convex manner, a second edge which extends from said second point to a third point in a straight manner, a third edge which curves from said third point to a fourth point in a concave manner, a fourth edge which curves from said fourth point to a fifth point in a concave manner, and a fifth edge which curves from said fifth point to a sixth point in a convex manner, wherein said sixth point of one of said plurality of lobes is said first point of an adjacent one of said plurality of lobes, and wherein said first and sixth points of each said lobe are provided along an imaginary circle having its center along the central axis;
- and
- a wall which extends upwardly from said plurality of outer edges toward said upper surface of said fastener.
The article of manufacture for use in a torque transmitting system having a longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture comprising:
- a drive surface configuration having a side surface and an end surface, said end surface extending from a center point along the longitudinal axis to an outer edge thereof which defines a plurality of identically configured lobes, each said lobe extending from a first point to a second point, said first point of one of said plurality of lobes being said second point of an adjacent one of said plurality of lobes, each of said first and second points of each said lobe being provided along an imaginary circle having its center along the longitudinal axis, said side surface extends upwardly and outwardly from said outer edge of said end surface, each of said lobes extends from said first point to said second point by, in series, a first convex edge, a straight edge, first and second concave edges, and a second convex edge, said first and second convex edges each being tangential to said imaginary circle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.