Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Stephen R Dohm

Kenneth Roger LeVey

James M Van Ingen

Jeffrey D Anderson

Glenn G Heavens

Frank A Bondarowicz

James D Jones

Todd L Tesky

David R Nebl

Taurris D Baskerville

Jennifer L Crumrine

A fastener has a recessed drive configuration with outlet channels extending from the recessed drive configuration to the outer surface of the fastener.

Fastener head

In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a method for making a threaded fastener. The method includes that act of forming a die-making tool having surface features that correspond to the desired crest and flank profiles of a thread of the threaded fastener. The exemplary method also includes that act of forming a roll threading die via electric discharge machining of a die blank with the formed die-making tool.

Method for making a fastener

An assembly of an internally threaded fastener and a stemmed washer is provided, such as for applications in which a standoff is desired between a washer and a mating externally threaded fastener. The stemmed washer includes a washer portion, a retaining portion and a standoff portion. The washer portion is angled relative to the standoff portion. The angle of the washer portion to the standoff portion may be varied to change the effective length of the standoff portion. The retaining portion interfaces with the internally threaded fastener to retain the fastener in the assembly. The stemmed washer may include a skirt that is plastically deformed to capture the fastener. The fastener may include a skirt which similarly plastically to mate with a retaining lip on the stemmed washer. The fastener and washer may be secured in the assembly to permit relative rotation of the fastener with respect to the washer.

Internally threaded fastener and stemmed washer assembly

A threaded fastener includes a lead having bosses separated from one another by bases along the thread crest. Two such leads may be formed such that lead-in profiles for of one lead are disposed at locations corresponding to locations of lead-out profiles for the other lead. The lead-in and lead-out profiles of the bossed, and other features of the bosses and bases may differ from one another along the fastener shank. The boss profiles may be selected to reduce insertion torque and to provide excellent resistance to pullout. The fastener may be formed by roll threading via a tool made by a plunge EDM process.

Fastner having multiple-bossed lead

A quarter turn fastener, for securing a plurality of members together, includes a blade member which has upturned corner portions defining sharp points for bitingly engaging the undersurface of the lowermost one of the plurality of members so as to prevent retrograde movement of the quarter turn fastener from the locked state back to the unlocked state. A quarter turn fastener assembly also comprises a stop member for engaging wall portions of another one of the members to be secured together such that rotation of the quarter turn fastener is limited to 90&deg; arcuate extents either from the unlocked state to the locked state or from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Quarter turn fastener

A fastener retention system having a retention member with an opening therein, a flange protruding outwardly from the retention member, a plurality of resilient work piece engagement tabs protruding outwardly from retention member, and a shank disposed in the retention member opening and engaged by a plurality of fastener engagement tabs, whereby the retention member is axially retained about the shank.

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Geneva, IL, United States of America

Stephen R Dohm