The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1987
Charles R Smith, Toluca Lake, CA (US);
Anthony E Brindisi, Riverside, CA (US);
Gerald W Tyree, Sun Valley, CA (US);
Lockheed Corporation, Calabasas, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention is a flush head fastener for joining two or more structural elements together. The structural elements have a fastener hole therein with one of the structural elements being countersunk to accommodate the head of the fastener. The fastener includes head and shank portions and a layer of material joined to the top of the head of the fastener which can readily be deformed to fill any gaps between the head and the countersink. Thereafter, the excess material can be removed leaving an aerodynamically smooth surface. The surface also will have no electrical discontinuities. The procedure for installing the fastener includes the steps of (1) providing two or more structural elements having a countersunk fastener hole therein (2) thereafter the fastener is installed in the hole (3) the layer of material is deformed so as to fill any gaps between the head of the fastener and the countersink, and (4) thereafter, excess material is removed leaving a smooth external surface. Preferably, the step of deforming includes the step of heating the layer of material to a point where it is readily deformable.