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:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2000
John R. Reynolds, South Dartmouth, MA (US);
Alan Pritchard, Walchwil, CH;
Conti Fasteners AG, , CH;
Abstract
A self-tapping fastener is provided. The fastener is formed from a blank having an odd number of lobes along a cross section taken perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The lobes define a relatively high out-of-round cross section along a tapered thread-forming zone, and a relatively low out-of-round cross section along the main body taken in a direction toward the drive head. Between the main body and tapered thread-forming zone is located an additional thread forming zone having an axial length of approximately one thread pitch and a cross section that conforms to the high out-of-round of the tapered zone. The maximum diameter (at the lobes) of the additional thread-forming section approximately matches that of the full-diameter main body section. A lower-diameter stabilizing section can be provided ahead of the tapered zone, adjacent the tip of the fastener.