Illinois Tool Works Inc.

David P Wagner

Eric G Parker

Paul C Briggs

Donald J Broomfield

Gerald D Barth

Gary Martin Curtis

Daniel Joseph Herkes

A fastener and a workpiece assembly comprises a fastener composed of a relatively strong, inflexible material and having a shank portion. Wings are disposed upon the shank, and the workpiece has portions thereof composed of a relatively flexible, resilient material. An aperture having a predetermined diameter is located within each one of the workpiece portions. The wings define an outer diameter substantially greater than the diameter of each aperture. The wings are capable of swaging the apertures, thereby increasing the diameters thereof, so as to allow for passage of the wings therethrough. The relatively flexible, resilient material has sufficient elastic memory so that the diameter of each aperture will become smaller than the outer diameter defined by means of the wings after being swaged by means of the passage of the wings therethrough.

Captivating a fastener to a workpiece

A threaded fastener assembly which includes a threaded fastener about which is securely disposed an axially movable washer with a resilient grommet fitted thereover. The threaded fastener assembly is adapted to be preassembled within a first apertured work piece such as, for example, a rocker arm cover which is to be mounted upon a second apertured work piece such as, for example, an engine block. The threaded fastener assembly is retainable within the first apertured work piece while holding the fastener in a freely axially movable configuration which permits the fastener to be moved into an elevated position relative to the washer and grommet so as to prevent the fastener from projecting through the bottom surface of the first work piece, thus preventing interference with other surfaces or the second workpieces, and the structure provides seals for preventing fluid from leaking through the apertures of the workpieces.

Fastener assembly with sealing grommet

Method and apparatus for the coating of a substrate wherein the following chronologically takes place under vacuum conditions: (i) non-oxidized plating material is deposited on the substrate via ion vapor deposition; and (ii) a coating material is chemically bonded with the non-oxidized plating material. The coating material may comprise a primer, which chemically bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the primer-prepared plating material. Said polymer may also chemically bond with the primer. Alternatively, the coating material may comprise an epoxy which forms an organo-metallic bond with the plating material. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating material may comprise boron trifluoride, which chemcially bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the boron trifluoride-prepared plating material. Alternatively, the coating material may comprise calcium, silicon, and oxygen which chemically bonds with the plating material. The coating material may be bifunctional, in that it not only chemically bonds with the plating material but also bonds with a second coating material, yielding a chemically bonded uniform coating with desired results.

Method for plating and coating articles

A fastener assembly adapted for use in connection with a first and second apertured workpiece, said fastener assembly comprising a fastener, washer and rubber grommet, said fastener having a head, and a shank; said shank including an upper shank portion, a lower threaded shank portion and a pair of wings spaced between said upper unthreaded shank portion and lower threaded shank portion; said washer and rubber grommet being telescopically associated with said fastener.

Fastener assembly with axial play

Method and apparatus for the coating of a substrate wherein the following chronologically takes place under vacuum conditions: (i) non-oxidized plating material is deposited on the substrate via ion vapor deposition; and (ii) a coating material is chemically bonded with the non-oxidized plating material. The coating material may comprise a primer, which chemically bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the primer-prepared plating material. Said polymer may also chemically bond with the primer. Alternatively, the coating material may comprise an epoxy which forms an organo-metallic bond with the plating material. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating material may comprise boron trifluoride, which chemically bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the boron trifluoride-prepared plating material. Alternatively, the coating material may comprise calcium, silicon, and oxygen which chemically bonds with the plating material. The coating material may be bifunctional, in that it not only chemically bonds with the plating material but also bonds with a second coating material, yielding a chemically bonded uniform coating with desired results.

Apparatus for plating and coating

Ferrous article layered with ion vapor deposited non-oxidized aluminum

A screw for soft material having an assymetrical thread form which includes an upper flank comprised of a plurality of continuous helical surfaces. The upper flank surfaces are configured such that a helical protrusion is formed on the upper flank which causes increased friction between the screw and the workpiece only after seating of the screw head has occurred.

Thread form for soft material

A preassembled domed washer and fastener that can be snapped together after thread rolling and heat treatment. The inner periphery of the washer is reduced in thickness to provide flexibility and the fastener is provided with an interrupted annular ledge. The flexibility of the washer's inner periphery permits it to yield as it is pushed over the ledge and to snap back into engagement. The knurling or other interrupting of the ledge insures that large slivers from the case hardened fastener which cause handling problems and may reduce the amount of interference to the point the washer can fall off, are not formed.

Fastener and washer assembly

A fastener unit for clamping plastic material having a first predetermined thickness to a relatively thin sheet metal support having a second predetermined thickness. The fastener unit includes a spacer collar having a length substantially equal to the first predetermined thickness, the plastic having a hole to receive the collar. The collar surrounds the upper portion of a threaded shank and the end abuts the sheet metal. The spacer collar has an internal diameter which forms a gap with the threads of a size approximately equal to the second predetermined thickness. As the fastener is threadingly advanced into the sheet metal, the end of the collar serves as a fulcrum about which the threads bend the material which forms the edge of the hole into the gap increasing the stripping torque of the fastener unit.

Fastener unit for clamping plastic workpieces

A preassembled bolt and washer-like device designed for use in securing an upper, plastic-like workpiece to a lower support structure so that cold flow of the plastic is minimized while applying a relatively high clamp load to the joint. The washer includes a tubular sleeve having radially inwardly directed protuberances at the upper region of the inner wall designed to snap onto the shank of the bolt and be axially retained and free spinning therein. The upper extremity of the shank of the bolt includes a radial outward protuberance cooperating with the protuberance on the sleeve. The threaded region of the shank extends within the confines of the sleeve so the thread runout at the upper extremity of the shank will not prevent the sleeve from clampingly engaging the lower support structure.

Preassembled fastener unit for clamping plastic workpieces

A one-piece sheet metal nut particularly adapted to be clamped against a plastic workpiece to accommodate any cold flow of the plastic under the clamping force without appreciably reducing the tension in the joint thus created. The nut incorporates an inner internally threaded body integrally connected by an upper top wall to an outer body. The lower region of the outer body is frustoconical and adapted to engage a mating frustoconical surface in the plastic with the uppermost extremities of the nut incorporating an axially compressible spring means permitting portions of the sheet metal nut to move longitudinally relative to one another, which, in conjunction with the broad surface contact between frustoconical surfaces, overcomes any cold flow effect.

Sheet metal nut

A threaded fastener with a low profile head designed to prohibit unauthorized removal. The upper surface of the head is configured to include a very short cylindrical boss, coaxial of the fastener and a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly therefrom formed on an otherwise flat, circular flange. The ribs include a perpendicularly disposed driving surface of low height extending from the flat surface and an angled camming surface intersecting with the driving surface.

Tamperproof fastener

A multipiece, preassembled washer unit incorporating an upper washer and a lower conical washer with a ring gauge interposed between the outer marginal surfaces of the washers so that the gauge is clamped between the superimposed washers upon compression of the unit to a predetermined amount. The clamping of the gauge being indicative of a predetermined accurate tension level in the joint. The ring gauge including means to accurately size itself and thereby accommodate and/or minimize errors due to tolerances in cold headed clamping members.

Tension indicating washer unit

A method and apparatus for assembling a screw and an axially compressible washer and rolling threads on the screw blank in a single operation that results in a shank configuration immediately beneath the head of the screw that allows complete compression of the washer. The method involves assembling a washer on the blank and retaining it thereon while the washer and screw assembly are subjected to swaging forces from opposing reciprocating thread rolling dies. The washer is retained on the blank in such a manner as to allow the thread rolling dies to swage an upper section of the blank and thereafter move the washer upwardly directly adjacent the head in a single thread rolling pass.

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Geneva, IL, United States of America

David P Wagner