# US 9,004,836 B2 · Security fastener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,836 B2 - Document ID: US9004836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/635,175 - Filed: 2011-03-15 - Published: 2013-01-10 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-15 - Assignees: Atomic 22 Limited - Applicants: Patrick Wells; Ayantika Mitra - Inventors: Patrick Wells; Ayantika Mitra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004836B2 ## CPC - F16B 23/0007: {characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool (F16B23/0069 and F16B23/0076 take precedence)} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - 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) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A security fastener, for use with a corresponding key, having a channel in a head of the security fastener for receiving the key, the bottom of the channel being profiled wherein the depth of the channel varies along the length of the channel; a key for use with a security fastener; a combination, or a kit of parts, comprising a security fastener; a method of manufacturing a security fastener; and a method of processing an order for a security fastener. ## Claims ### Claim 1 The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key, comprising: a fastener including a key receiving channel bounded by an outer wall defining a first profile, and by an inner wall defining a second profile, said key receiving channel defining at least one further profile; and a key including a male member having a shape that permit its entry into said key receiving channel only when said male member and said fastener are in a relative angular position that allows said key to engage at least one of said profiles to rotate said fastener, said profiles being configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from providing sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said key receiving channel has a length along at least a part of which said further profile extends and the depth of the further profile varies along said length of the channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said key receiving channel has a length along at least a part of which said further profile extends and said further profile has a gradient that varies along at least part of said length of the channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 3, wherein a rate of change of said gradient varies along at least part of the length of the channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile is formed with at least one step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 5, wherein said at least one step is a substantial proportion of the depth of said channel to prevent a non-matching key from providing sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile at least in part is curved. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile at least in part is sloped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile has at least one peak or plateau that is a substantial proportion of the depth of said channel, such that a non-matching key cannot provide sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile is defined at least in part by any combination of steps, curves and slopes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile defines at least one obstruction, and said shape of said male member of said specific key is configured to avoid said obstruction, thereby enabling the male member of the specific key to fully enter the channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 11, wherein said obstruction defines at least one feature that is a substantial proportion of the depth of said channel, such that a non-matching key, even if it is compatible with said first and second profiles, cannot provide sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein cross sections of said key receiving channel and said male member vary at least in part along their lengths to define said further profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 13, wherein said further profile is configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from fully entering said channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the male member is chamfered such that a contact surface between the key and the channel is angled, whereby a non-matching key cannot apply sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the channel is chamfered along at least part of its length to define the further profile, whereby a non-matching key cannot apply sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile comprises a varying cross-section of at least one of the channel and the male member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 17, wherein said varying cross-section impedes the insertion of a nonmatching key, thereby preventing the nonmatching key from applying sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said further profile is provided by relative side gradients of the male member and of the channel, whereby a non-matching key is unable to transmit sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, further comprising a chamfer at an entry to said key receiving channel, and a complementary chamfer formed on the key, said chamfers constituting said further profile to prevent the male member of a nonmatching key from entering said channel to transmit sufficient torque to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said fastener has a rotational axis and said inner and outer walls are substantially parallel with said rotational axis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer walls are substantially tapered from an outer surface of said fastener to a bottom of said key receiving channel, such that the channel has a width which is greater at said outer surface than at said bottom. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein said key receiving channel is formed in an insert secured to said security fastener. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the key receiving channel is a curvilinear channel bounded by said outer wall to define said first profile, by said inner wall to define said second profile, and by said further profile defined at a base of said outer and inner walls, and said outer wall has been generated by a cutter to create said first profile of the key receiving channel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 24, wherein said inner wall has been generated by a cutter to create said second profile of the key receiving channel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 24, wherein said inner wall has been generated by a cutter to create an island in the fastener that defines the second profile of the key receiving channel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 24, wherein a base of the inner and outer walls has been generated by a cutter to create said further profile of the key receiving channel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the outer profile of the key receiving channel is of curvilinear form generated by a series of cylindrical bores which are joined to create a shape having sufficient drive surfaces to ensure that the specific key can transmit sufficient torque to the key receiving channel to loosen the fastener. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 28, wherein the inner profile of the key receiving channel is also of curvilinear form generated by a series of cylindrical bores which are joined to form the inner profile. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the key receiving channel is defined between two shapes defining the inner and outer walls and a shape defining the further profile at a bottom of the key receiving channel, and wherein these three shapes, their relative positions, and their relative angular orientations are matched by the specific complementary key. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in one of said walls at a specific angular position to match a surface of the specific complementary key. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the key receiving channel is not continuous. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 32, wherein an island bounded by said discontinuous channel is connected to said outer wall by at least one connecting member. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, further comprising an anti-rotation member having an abutment that is configured to engage a surface of a structure to be fastened so as to prevent rotation of the security fastener other than by use of the specific key. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 34, wherein said anti-rotation member is a dogged washer configured to engage said surface of said structure. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the security fastener is configured to fasten a bicycle component to a bicycle. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 36, wherein said key receiving channel is formed in an end of a threaded shaft or bolt constituting said rotary security fastener, and said end is shielded by said bicycle, or by part of said bicycle component, from engagement by any tool except said specific key. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 36, wherein said key receiving channel is formed in a head of a nut constituting said rotary security fastener, and said head is shielded by said bicycle, or by part of said bicycle component, from engagement by any tool except said specific key. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein the key is weakened, so that it will break if any attempt is made to unlock any other security fastener in which full engagement cannot be achieved. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The combination of a rotary security fastener and a specific key of claim 1, wherein location marks are defined on the fastener and on the key to facilitate quick engagement thereof in said specific relative angular position. ### Claim 41 A method of manufacturing a rotary security fastener for use with a specific key, said fastener being formed with a key receiving channel bounded by an outer wall defining a first profile and by an inner wall defining a second profile, said key receiving channel defining at least one further profile, said key including a male member having a complementary shape that permits its entry into said key receiving channel only when said male member and said fastener are in a relative angular position that allows said key to engage at least one of said profiles to rotate said fastener, and said profiles are configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from providing sufficient torque to loosen the fastener, said method comprising generating machining code defining said first, said second and said further profiles, and using said code to: machine said key receiving channel in said rotary security fastener to define said first profile on said outer wall; machine said key receiving channel in said rotary security fastener to define said second profile on said inner wall; and machine said key receiving channel in said rotary security fastener to define said further profile. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method as in claim 41, further comprising: storing information required to manufacture said first, said second and said further profiles in a database in association with identifying data relating to a respective one of a plurality of customers; and manufacturing at least a selected one of an additional security fastener and a key therefor for an existing customer using such stored information.