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:
Sep. 25, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2000
Dave C. Hempfling, Chicago, IL (US);
George G. Dewey, Palatine, IL (US);
Sigismund G. Paul, Park Ridge, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A fastener system that includes a fastener with a longitudinally extending shank with a head on one end thereof, where the head has a first pattern formed thereon, and a cap that is configured and arranged to be seated upon the head, where the cap includes a second pattern formed on an interior surface thereof. This second pattern is adapted to cooperate with the first pattern, whereby rotational forces applied to the cap are transferred to the fastener via contact between the first and second patterns. Furthermore, the second pattern is defined by a closed figure that includes a plurality of outermost circumferential points located along a circle, with adjacent points being separated by a pattern distance that is greater than the length of an imaginary straight line drawn directly between the adjacent points. Several different configurations are available for the second pattern. Some examples of such configurations include generally star-shaped patterns, generally cross-shaped patterns, and other patterns also formed by a plurality of radially extending branches. Additionally, the second pattern may also be defined by a plurality of closed figures, such as a combination of generally pie-shaped components.