Southco, Inc.

Edward A McCormack

Thomas J Ellis

Harry L Dickerson

Lynn B Ziemer

James J Ford

William R Frame

Steven M Lubeck

Thomas V Aukzemas

Eli J Holtman

Richard E Schlack

Michael D Menta

Richard Lewis

Danin Sewalt

Jarl Mork

James Wanstall

Kyle Sareyka

A telescopic captive fastener has a knob, a ferrule, a spring, and at least one sleeve. The sleeve extends telescopically between the ferrule and the knob.

Telescopic captive fastener

Captive screw

Low profile captive screw

A captive screw including a screw and a ferrule is disclosed. One end of the ferrule is adapted for engagement to a hole in a panel to be secured by the captive screw. The screw has an annular flange that is captured within the bore of the ferrule. The screw has a shaft with a threaded portion. The threaded portion of the screw shaft can be made to extend from the ferrule to varying amounts as the screw is moved relative to the ferrule between extended and retracted positions. An optional spring may be provided in the ferrule to bias the screw toward the retracted position.

A captive screw attachable an upper panel, for attaching the upper panel to a lower surface, the lower surface having a threaded hole, the captive screw having a screw, a ferrule that attaches to the upper panel, a thin-walled, cylindrical hollow knob and protrusions integral to the outer perimeter of the head portion of the screw to rigidly secure the perimeter of the head of the screw to the inner surface of the knob, the protrusions providing a press-fit of the screw to the inner surface of the knob where the screw is pressed into the knob from the underside of the knob.

A method of making a knob and ferrule for a captive screw is disclosed, the knob integrally attached to the screw, the ferrule attachable to a panel. The method of making the knob includes providing an aluminum alloy base metal for the knob, pressing by cold-forming the base material into a generally cylindrical cup-shaped article using at least one pressing operation, the cup having a generally cylindrical side wall, removing any base material situated outside the perimeter of the cup-shaped cylindrical article, and providing a hole in the bottom of the cup, coaxial with the hollow cylindrical walls of the cup, thereby forming the knob. The method of making the ferrule includes providing a metal base material for the ferrule, pressing the base material, by cold-forming, into a cylindrical article using at least one pressing operation, the cylindrical article having a cylindrical side wall having an outer surface, cold-forming an attachment device an end of the ferrule; and removing any base material situated outside the perimeter of the cylindrical article, thereby forming the ferrule. All major parts of the captive screw, including the knob, ferrule and screw may be cold formed.

Process for manufacturing a captive screw

A locking slide latch comprises components that are easily assembled without the need for separate fasteners or adhesives. A presently preferred latch comprises a housing, a pawl received within the housing and an actuating member associated with and slidable relative to the housing for displacing the pawl from an extended position to a retracted position. These components are assembled together without the use of separate fasteners or adhesives, thereby simplifying assembly and allowing for interchangeability of parts to meet varying latch requirements. The latches are preferably manufactured from corrosion resistant materials such as plastics, composites and corrosion resistant metals, and are highly suitable for use in automotive, recreational vehicle and marine applications.

Locking slide latch

Growing community of inventors

Chadds Ford, PA, United States of America

Edward A McCormack