Tamper-proof locking fastener
OwnerBruce A. Bennettinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Locking fastener consisting of a threaded fastener having a head of noncircular contour, a lock plate having an opening in which the head of the fastener is received and constrained from rotating, and a retaining screw threadedly attached to the head of the fastener to retain the lock plate in position on the head. In the disclosed embodiments, the retaining screw is a tamper-proof security screw that requires a special tool or key for installation and removal. The fastener is particularly suitable for use in securing covers to utility boxes, and an adapter is included for use on existing boxes.
Claims19
A tamper-proof locking fastener, comprising a threaded fastener having an externally threaded body and a head of noncircular contour and greater diameter than the body, a lock plate having an opening in which the head of the threaded fastener is received and constrained from rotating, and a retaining screw with a tamper-proof head that requires a key for removal, the retaining screw being threadedly attached to the head of the threaded fastener to retain the lock plate in position on the head of the threaded fastener.
A tamper-proof locking fastener installed on an enclosure having a removable cover with a counterbored opening, comprising a threaded fastener having a head of noncircular contour that is disposed in a counterbore at the outer end of the opening and a shank that extends through the remainder of the opening and is threadedly received in the enclosure, a lock plate positioned about the head of the threaded fastener to prevent rotation of the threaded fastener within the opening, and a retaining screw with a tamper-proof head that requires a key for removal, the retaining screw being threadedly attached to the head of the threaded fastener to retain the lock plate in position on the head of the threaded fastener.
A locking fastener, comprising a threaded fastener having an externally threaded body and a head of noncircular contour and greater diameter than the body with a threaded bore opening through the upper side of the head, a lock plate having an opening in which the head is received and constrained from rotating, and a retaining screw threaded into the bore to retain the lock plate on the head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.