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. 31, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2005
Steven L. Thompson, Girard, KS (US);
Steven L. Thompson, Girard, KS (US);
Other;
Abstract
An encapsulated fastener includes a nut adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut, except for its bore, which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.