SECURITY FASTENER

• US 20130011215A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atomic22 Limited
• Original Assignee: Atomic22 Limited
• Inventors: Wells, Patrick, Mitra, Ayantika
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/402
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0007 characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool F16B23/0069 and F16B23/0076 take precedence

Abstract

A security fastener, for use with a corresponding key, having a channel in a head of the security fastener for receiving the key, the bottom of the channel being profiled wherein the depth of the channel varies along the length of the channel; a key for use with a security fastener; a combination, or a kit of parts, comprising a security fastener; a method of manufacturing a security fastener; and a method of processing an order for a security fastener.

Claims

1-55. -55. (canceled)

56. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, said fastener being formed with a key receiving channel bounded by an outer wall defining a first profile, by an inner wall defining a second profile, and by a third profile defined at the base of said outer and inner walls, said key including a male member for driving engagement with at least one of said profiles only when said male member and said fastener are in a specific relative angular position, and said profiles are configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from entering said channel to provide sufficient torque to rotate the fastener.

57. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said inner and outer walls are connected by a bottom wall defining said third profile along its length whereby the depth of the channel varies along its length.

58. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 57, in which said third profile defines at least one obstruction and the male member has a profile that will avoid such obstruction thereby enabling the male member of the specific key to fully enter the channel.

59. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 58, in which said obstruction is a substantial proportion of the depth of said channel such that a non-matching key, even if it is compatible with said first and second profiles, can not provide sufficient torque to rotate the fastener.

60. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which the cross section of said key receiving channel and the male member vary along their lengths.

61. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said inner and outer walls are substantially parallel with the rotational axis of the fastener.

62. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said inner and outer walls are substantially tapered from an outer surface of said fastener to a bottom of said key receiving channel such that the width of the channel is greater at said surface than at said bottom.

63. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said fastener is a threaded bolt formed with a head in which the key receiving channel is formed.

64. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said fastener is an internally threaded nut and said key receiving channel is formed around a face of the nut adjacent to said internal threads.

65. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which said key receiving channel is formed in an insert secured to said security fastener.

66. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, which is formed at least in part by a manufacturing technique chosen from the group comprising electron beam melting, selective laser sintering, CNC machining, forging, electrical discharge machining and casting.

67. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, in which the fastener is profiled to frustrate engagement with conventional hand tools.

71. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 56, with a structure to be fastened, including an anti-rotation member having an abutment configured to engage a surface of said structure to prevent rotation of the security fastener other than by use of said key.

72. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 71, in which said anti-rotation member is a dogged washer configured to engage said surface of said structure.

73. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 71, in which said anti-rotation member is a shroud protecting a head of said security fastener against rotation other than by said specific key.

74. A method of manufacturing a security fastener and a specific key as in claim 59, including:

generating said first, said second and said third profiles,

forming said key receiving channel in said security fastener to define said first profile on said outer wall,

forming said key receiving channel in said security fastener to define said second profile on said inner wall, and

forming said key receiving channel in said security fastener to define said third profile on said bottom wall.

75. A method, as in claim 74, further including:

associating information required to manufacture said first, said second and third profiles with the respective one of a plurality of customers,

storing said manufacturing information in a database associated with the respective customers, and

manufacturing additional security fasteners and keys for an existing customer using such stored manufacturing information for said existing customer.

68. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, said fastener being formed with a curvilinear key receiving channel bounded by an outer wall defining a first profile, by an inner wall defining a second profile, and by a third profile defined at the base of said outer and inner walls, said outer wall being generated by a cutter to create said first profile of the key receiving channel, said key including a male member for driving engagement with at least one of said profiles only when said male member and said fastener are in a specific relative angular position, and said profiles are configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from entering said channel to provide sufficient torque to rotate the fastener.

69. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, as in claim 68, said inner wall being generated by a cutter to create an island in the fastener defining the inner profile of the key receiving channel.

70. The combination of a security fastener and a specific key, said fastener being with a curvilinear key receiving channel bounded by an outer wall defining a first profile, by an inner wall defining a second profile, and by a third profile defined by a bottom wall connecting said outer and inner walls, said outer wall being generated by a cutter to create said outer profile of the key receiving channel, said inner wall being generated by a cutter to create said inner profile, said key including a male member for driving engagement with at least one of said profiles only when said male member and said fastener are in a specific relative angular position, and said profiles are configured to prevent the male member of a non-matching key from entering said channel to provide sufficient torque to rotate the fastener.