Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Kenneth R Levey

Eric G Parker

Franco A Cisternino

Cheryl L Panasik

Jason D Holt

Robert R Schaser

Frank W Bechtel, Jr

Jeffrey L Trzaskus

Kirk J Bush

Steven L Bivens

David A Doornbos

Lawrence S Shelton

Lawrence W Johnson

Donald E Bergstrom

Jeffrey D Anderson

Robert K Dutzi

Joseph J Bella

David R Nowak

Anthony M Versino

John D Fischer

Daniel A Dechant

Thomas S King

John Stephen Bubulka

Robert B Fischer

Michael P Glynn

Jamison J Anton

David B Speer

Ned J Gruca

Joel M Thomas

Kavithas Ponnampalam

Bo Yang

David C Hempfling

Michael J Marchese Iii

Michael J Iii Marchese

Phillip C Johnson

A die for roll forming threads on a cylindrical blank includes a planar die body having a longitudinally elongate working face of sufficient length for the blank to make multiple revolutions across the face. A plurality of thread forming elements on the face. The thread forming elements are spaced apart longitudinally of the die working face an ever increasing distance, based on the actual rolling diameter of the blank with the spacing between the thread forming elements at the start end equal to the diameter of the blank and the spacing between the thread forming elements at the finish end equal to eighty-five percent of the final diameter of the thread formed on the blank. The thread forming elements on the working face of the die are equally spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the working face.

Thread forming die and method

An external surface for a fastener insert to be embedded in a component includes a plurality of spaced rings surrounding a embeddable shank of the insert. The rings define a plurality of waves. The ring height can be increased progressively from a distal end of the insert to the rings nearest the head of the insert, thereby providing a generally tapered outer configuration for the insert.

Embeddable assembly

An external surface for a fastener insert to be embedded in a component includes ridges extending along an outer surface of the portion to be embedded. The ridges include end-to-end projections that vary in width and height from one end of a projection to an opposite end of a projection. Wedges are formed in the surface between adjacent ridges.

Spire insert with ring-shank nicking

A threaded fastener includes a shank having a tip and a head configured for engagement by an associated driving tool. The fastener is configured for use with an associated threaded opening. The head is disposed on the shank opposite the tip. The shank has a helical thread formed thereon. The thread extends from about the tip to about the head and defines a plurality of zones. Each zone has a plurality of individual threads extending 360 degrees about the shank. A leading thread in each zone is formed with a wave-form profile having an amplitude that is greater than the amplitude of each prior leading thread. In one embodiment, threads other than the leading thread in each zone do not have an amplitude as great as their respective leading threads. A fastening assembly is also disclosed.

Fastener with zoned, varying wave-form thread

A molded hinge assembly is provided. The molded hinge assembly includes a male portion, a female portion formed unitarily with the male portion, a swivel shaft formed unitarily with the male portion, the swivel shaft including a plurality of channels defined along a rotational axis thereof. The molded hinge assembly also includes a plurality of molding gates formed at an intersection between each respective channel and the female portion, the female portion being subsequently rotatable with respect to the male portion after the molding gates are broken. During operation, the swivel shaft is friction fit within the female portion after the subsequent rotation of the female portion to break the molding gates.

In-mold hinge assembly and method of fabricating the same

A nail has a head, a penetrating tip and a shank extending from the head to the penetrating tip. The shank has a circumference and a longitudinal axis. A plurality of rows of deformations formed as teeth are formed in the shank extending outwardly of the shank. The rows are formed in a spiral pattern along the length of the shank from about the head to about the penetrating tip. The rows of teeth are formed parallel to one another and formed at an angle of at least 50 degrees relative to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nail.

Deformed shank fastener

A push/push latch designed to operate in high and low g-force situations, which may be mounted horizontally or vertically. The latch includes a latch body, a track, a housing surrounding the track and latch body, a follower with a pin that moves in the track to actuate the push/push latch. The invention also includes a hammer that repositions when a g-force is applied to the latch to stop the movement of the track body thus preventing the latch from opening during a g-force situation such as a vehicle crash. The hammer may be connected to the housing or to the latch body.

Push/push latch

A shut-off valve assembly includes a one-piece housing having an inlet and an outlet. During manufacture, the housing is formed with an inlet end plate and a fully open end opposite the end plate. A valve door assembly including a flapper door is secured in the housing, and includes a seal between the flapper door and the housing. The open end is then reformed to provide an outlet from the housing. In a fuel system, a cover assembly is releasably secured to the housing.

Fuel shut-off valve assembly with associated components and methods of making and assembling the same

A new and improved threaded fastener comprises a first, primary thread lead, and a pair of second, auxiliary thread leads alternatively interposed between successive threads of the first, primary thread lead. As a result of the provision of the pair of second, auxiliary thread leads being interposed between successive ones of the threads of the first, primary thread lead, the formation of the first, primary threaded lead, upon the threaded fastener, is facilitated.

Threaded fastener with dual reinforcing leads for facilitating manufacture of the fastener, thread rolling die for forming the threaded fastener, and method of manufacturing the threaded fastener

A threaded fastener includes a curved-line path thread provided in a helical pattern along a shank of the fastener. The curved-line path can be provided on either side of the standard straight-line path or on opposite sides of the straight-line path. The curved-line path and can be provided on all or a portion of the thread from near the tip end thereof to near the head end thereof.

Interactive fit screw thread

Fuel door

A threaded fastener comprises a first, primary thread lead, and a pair of second, auxiliary thread leads alternatively interposed between successive threads of the first, primary thread lead, except within the vicinity of the tip portion of the fastener so as to define space for accommodating debris generated during the self-tapping of the fastener into a workpiece. The fastener also comprises lobe members formed upon the primary thread lead so as to predeterminedly affect torque insertion and pull-out resistance values.

Die for, method of making, and fastener with lobed primary thread lead and interposed dual auxiliary thread lead with improved substrate entry end portion

A new and improved thread rolling die, for forming a new and improved threaded fastener, comprises a plurality of first, primary thread rolling die threads, and a plurality of sets of second, auxiliary thread rolling die threads alternatively interposed between successive threads of the first, primary thread rolling die threads, so as to render the manufacturing process more cost effective by reducing the the number of revolutions, through which a blank member must be rotated in order to complete the formation of the thread leads upon the blank member, to be accordingly reduced which, in turn, permits the axial length of the thread rolling dies, and the thread rolling machines, to be reduced in size.

A damper includes a housing, a cover, a rotor and a valve relatively rotatable with respect to the rotor. When rotated in one direction, a space between the valve and the rotor is opened to increase damper fluid flow and reduce damper resistance. When rotated in an opposite direction, the space between the valve and the rotor is closed to decrease damper fluid flow and increase damper resistance. A shaped flange on the rotor provides a changing space between the rotor and ribs in the housing when the rotor is rotated. The cover is self-centering on the housing.

Growing community of inventors

West Chicago, IL, United States of America

Kenneth R Levey