Fastener apparatus with self-leveling head

A free-moving, self-leveling-head sheet metal screw fastener assembly for securing a workpiece, the fastener assembly comprising, in combination:

• (a) an enlarged ball head portion comprising a preformed and predetermined flat top surface height, the flat top surface comprising a tool fitting, an outer surface, a base portion, a peripheral edge, and a shank connected to the base portion, the shank comprising a screw threads and a tip;
• (b) a conical washer portion comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a cup portion within the top and bottom surfaces sized to receive the enlarged ball head, and a rounded peripheral edge, and defining a conical washer annular recess beneath the conical washer bottom surface communicating with the enlarged ball head, and wherein the conical washer top surface and bottom surface are parallel one to the other at an acute angle to a central vertical axis through the assembled fastener;
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• (c) an annular gasket comprising a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, and a central annular portion sized to receive and be carried on the enlarged ball head threaded shank portion and to receive the first ball head base portion, whereby the annular gasket defines a first uncompressed position contained radially within the conical washer annular recess providing a seal comprising a peripheral edge equal to the conical washer rounded peripheral edge, and whereby the annular gasket is adapted to a second compressed position wherein the annular gasket top surface is compressed inward to seal around the enlarged ball head base portion and is not dependant on sealing around the shank threaded portion, whereby the annular gasket seals the entire conical recess and the annular gasket bottom surface extends radially beyond the conical washer rounded peripheral edge;
• whereas during installation of the enlarged ball head shank at an angle, the peripheral edge of the conical gasket when adapted to a second compressed position and contained below the peripheral edge of the conical washer portion makes contact with the workpiece and, due to the conical shape of said recess, the annular gasket cannot escape into the recess at this point of installation, thus the conical outer washer portion stops against the workpiece surface while the opposite peripheral edge of the conical washer portion has not yet made contact with the workpiece whereby the conical washer portion and annular gasket portion begin to self level while the enlarged ball head is relatively high with respect to the annular gasket.

A free-moving, self-leveling-head bolt fastener assembly for securing a workpiece, the fastener assembly comprising, in combination:

• (a) an enlarged ball head portion comprising a preformed and predetermined flat top surface height, the flat top surface comprising a tool fitting, an outer surface, a base portion, a peripheral edge, and a shank connected to the base portion, the shank comprising a screw threads and a tip;
• (b) a conical washer portion comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a cup portion within the top and bottom surfaces sized to receive the enlarged ball head, and a rounded peripheral edge, and defining a conical washer annular recess beneath the conical washer bottom surface communicating with the first enlarged ball head, and wherein the conical washer top surface and bottom surface are parallel one to the other at an acute angle to a central vertical axis through the assembled fastener;
• and
• (c) an annular gasket comprising a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, and a central annular portion sized to receive and be carried on the first ball head threaded shank portion and to receive the first ball head base portion, whereby the gasket defines a first uncompressed position contained radially within the conical washer annular recess providing a seal comprising a peripheral edge equal to the conical washer rounded peripheral edge, and whereby the annular gasket is adapted to a second compressed position wherein the annular gasket top surface is compressed inward to seal around the enlarged ball head base portion and is not dependant on sealing around the shank threaded portion, whereby the annular gasket seals the entire conical recess and the annular gasket bottom surface extends radially beyond the conical washer rounded peripheral edge;
• whereas during installation of the enlarged ball head shank at an angle, the peripheral edge of the annular gasket when adapted to a second compressed position and contained below the peripheral edge of the conical washer portion makes contact with the workpiece and, due to the conical shape of said recess, the annular gasket cannot escape into the recess at this point of installation, thus the conical outer washer portion stops against the workpiece surface while the opposite peripheral edge of the conical washer portion has not yet made contact with the workpiece whereby the conical washer portion and annular gasket portion begin to self level while the enlarged ball head is relatively high with respect to the annular gasket.