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. 28, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1998
Nils O Olsson, Glen Ellyn, IL (US);
Gregory David Collins, Gravenhurst, CA;
Meritor Automotive Canada, Inc., Bracebridge, CA;
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a fastener used for connecting a first link member to a second link member in a linkage assembly. The second link member includes a pair of aligned apertures and a slot located transversely between the apertures. The first link member includes an aperture at a first end that is designed to be received in the slot located in the second link member. The fastener has a centering post at a distal end and a head portion at a proximal end with a self-tapping portion located between the head portion and the centering post. The aperture in the first link member is aligned with the apertures in the second link member and the fastener is inserted through the apertures until the self-tapping portion contacts the first link member. Thereafter, rotation of the fastener in a first direction taps the self-tapping portion of the fastener through the aperture in the first link member. The fastener is rotated until the first link member is flush against the head portion of the fastener. Thus, the fastener rotatably secures the first link member to the second link member and prevents lateral free play movement between the fastener and the second link member, and between the first link member and the second link member.