# US 8,784,024 B2 · Pull-up bolt assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,024 B2 - Document ID: US8784024B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/057,791 - Filed: 2009-08-05 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-07 - Applicants: Edward T. Vitone, Jr.; Edward A. DePietro; Karen M. Lison - Inventors: Ronald A. Lison; Edward T. Vitone, Jr.; Edward A. DePietro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784024B2 ## CPC - F16B 29/00: Screwed connection with deformation of nut or auxiliary member while fastening ({Nuts fastened to surfaces by riveting F16B37/065}; members deformed for locking screws, bolts or nuts F16B39/22) - F16B 13/0858: {with an expansible sleeve or dowel body driven against a tapered or spherical expander plug (F16B13/004 takes precedence)} - F16J 13/16: Pivoted closures (F16J13/22 takes precedence) - B65D 90/10: Manholes; Inspection openings; Covers therefor - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A pull-up bolt assembly for frictionally supporting a high-weight structure to a hinge component using an opening or recess in the high-weight structure. The bolt assembly includes a pull-up bolt member having a threaded shaft with a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and an abutting member with a tapered surface formed at the first shaft end, the abutting member being wider than and tapering toward the threaded shaft, a nut component with an external torque-applying surface threadably connected to the threaded shaft, a tapered member with a tapered end portion and a flange formed between the external torque-applying surface of the nut component and the tapered end portion wherein the tapered end portion faces toward the tapered surface of the abutting member, and an expandable friction member disposed around the threaded shaft between the abutting member and the tapered member whereby the expandable friction member expands when the nut component is threadably moved toward the abutting member of the pull-up bolt member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pull-up bolt assembly adapted to be used for frictionally supporting a high-weight structure to a hinge component using an opening or recess in the high-weight structure, the bolt assembly comprising: a pull-up bolt member having a threaded shaft with a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and an abutting member with a tapered surface formed at the first shaft end, the abutting member being wider than and tapering toward the threaded shaft; a nut component with an external torque-applying surface threadably connected to the threaded shaft; a tapered member with a tapered end portion, a flange formed between the external torque-applying surface of the nut component and the tapered end portion and a cylindrically-shaped portion between the tapered end portion and the flange wherein the tapered end portion faces toward the tapered surface of the abutting member; and an expandable friction member disposed around the threaded shaft between the abutting member and the tapered member whereby the expandable friction member expands when the nut component is threadably moved toward the abutting member of the pull-up bolt member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the second shaft end of the pull-up bolt member has an end face with a slot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the nut component and the tapered member are integrally formed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the tapered member includes a cylindrical central portion having a stop end with a peripheral surface that extends laterally from the cylindrical central portion, a tapered end opposite the stop end, and a bore through the central portion that is larger than the threaded shaft of the pull-up bolt member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the expandable friction member has a plurality of slots extending from each friction member end to a central continuous portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the expandable friction member includes a plurality of segments and an expansion ring disposed around the plurality of segments forming an expandable tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the expandable friction member includes plurality of spaced slots extending from each friction member end a predefined distance along the longitudinal length of the friction member and ending adjacent the opposite friction member end sufficient to maintain a continuous, single, unitary friction member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the expandable friction member has a lateral flange extending from a first friction member end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the expandable friction member has an inclined inner wall portion with a diameter gradually decreasing from a friction member end to an inner portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 further comprising an anti-rotation member configured to prevent the expandable friction member from rotating around the pull-up bolt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bolt assembly of claim 10 wherein the anti-rotation member extends laterally from the pull-up bolt member and mates with an end notch formed into the friction member end of the expandable friction member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein the hardness of the expandable friction member is adapted to be harder than, equal to or softer than the hardness of the structural component in which the friction member is used. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein an outside surface of the expandable friction member has one or more surface characteristics selected from roughened, knurled, grooved, ridged, and threaded. ### Claim 14 The method of making a pull-up bolt assembly for use to frictionally support a manway cover to a hinge component using an opening or recess in the manway cover, the method comprising: obtaining a pull-up bolt having a threaded shaft with a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and an abutting member with a tapered surface formed at the first shaft end, the abutting member being wider than and tapering toward the threaded shaft; slidably disposing an expandable friction member around the threaded shaft wherein a first outer end of a first outer end portion is positioned against the tapered surface of the abutting member; threadably connecting a nut component with an external torque-applying surface onto the threaded shaft of the pull-up bolt wherein a tapered member with a tapered end portion, a flange disposed between the external torque-applying surface of the nut component and the tapered end portion and a cylindrically-shaped portion between the tapered end portion and the flange wherein the tapered end portion faces toward the tapered surface of the abutting member and engages a second outer end of a second outer end portion of the expandable friction member whereby at least the first outer end portion and the second outer end portion of the expandable friction member expands when the nut component is threadably moved toward the abutting member of the pull-up bolt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising integrally forming the nut component and the tapered member as a unitary component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising forming a cylindrically-shaped portion between the tapered end portion and the flange. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising forming the tapered member with a cylindrical central portion having a stop end with a peripheral surface that is wider than the cylindrical central portion, a tapered end opposite the stop end, and a bore through the central portion that is larger than the threaded shaft of the pull-up bolt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising forming the expandable friction member that has a plurality of slots extending from each friction member end to a central continuous portion.