Plastic High Heat Fastener

• US 20130343829A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benedetti, Steven M., Patt, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/3
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/021 by means of a frangible part F16B31/025, F16B31/028 take precedence; break members in torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/1415
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/006 Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/08 Quickly-detachable or mountable nuts, e.g. consisting of two or more parts; Nuts movable along the bolt after tilting the nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/284 Locking by means of elastic deformation F16B39/2825, F16B39/36, F16B39/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/002 Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/002 with special provisions for reducing friction

Abstract

A polymeric fastener includes a body having multiple sides adapted to accept a tool for applying torque to the body to axially rotate the body with respect to a body longitudinal axis. A flange integrally connected to the body extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A wave-shaped washer integrally connected to the flange has multiple valleys interposed between multiple oppositely directed peaks. Multiple triangular shaped frangible connectors integrally join the flange to the wave-shaped washer. Each frangible connector is integrally connected at a first end to the flange, and is integrally connected at an opposite connecting tip to an individual one of the peaks. The connecting tip has a reduced thickness compared to the first end to induce fracture of each frangible connector at the connecting tip.

Claims

1. A polymeric fastener, comprising:

a body adapted to receive a tool induced rotational torque;

a flange integrally connected to the body;

a wave-shaped washer integrally connected to the flange, the wave-shaped washer having multiple valleys interposed between multiple oppositely directed peaks; and

multiple frangible connectors integrally connecting the flange to the wave-shaped washer, each frangible connector integrally connected at a first end to the flange, and integrally connected at an opposite connecting tip to an individual one of the peaks.

2. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein each of the frangible connectors has a triangular shape including a first side oriented substantially perpendicular to a flange lower surface facing the wave-shaped washer.

3. The polymeric fastener of claim 2, wherein each of the frangible connectors has a second side angularly oriented with respect to the first side and oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the flange lower surface.

4. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, further including multiple serrations each extending away from an outward facing surface of the wave-shaped washer.

5. The polymeric fastener of claim 4, wherein each of the serrations has a triangular shape including a free end defining a sharp corner.

6. The polymeric fastener of claim 4, wherein each of the serrations includes:

a first side oriented substantially co-axial with respect to an axis oriented substantially transverse to a plane defined by the junction of the first side of each serration with the outward facing surface; and

a second side oriented at an acute angle with respect to the axis.

7. The polymeric fastener of claim 1:

wherein each of the frangible connectors has a triangular shape including a first side and a second side angularly oriented with respect to the first side; and

wherein the second side is positioned in an orientation facing the wave-shaped washer, allowing the body to freely axially rotate with respect to the wave-shaped washer after fracture of the frangible connectors providing for sliding contact between the second side and the peaks.

8. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein each of the frangible connectors has a triangular shape including a first side and a second side angularly oriented with respect to the first side, the first side and the second side joining at the connecting tip defining a fracture line extending radially outward with respect to a body longitudinal axis.

9. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein each of the frangible connectors has a triangular shape with the connecting tip being narrower than the first end, thereby inducing fracture of the frangible connector to occur at the connecting tip upon application of the torque when rotation of the wave-shaped washer is frictionally inhibited and the body is axially rotated.

10. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein a shear force acting in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis acts against the frangible connectors when the body is axially rotated with respect to the wave-shaped washer, thereby acting to break the frangible connectors at the connecting tip.

11. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein the body is made from a high temperature resistant material having a glass temperature equal to or greater than 140°

C.

12. The polymeric fastener of claim 1, wherein the high temperature resistant material is PEEK (polyetherether ketone).

13. A polymeric fastener, comprising:

a body having multiple sides adapted to be engaged by a tool for applying torque to axially rotate the body with respect to a body longitudinal axis;

a flange integrally connected to the body and extending perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis;

a wave-shaped washer integrally connected to the flange, the wave-shaped washer having multiple valleys interposed between multiple oppositely directed peaks; and

multiple triangular shaped frangible connectors integrally joining the flange to the wave-shaped washer, each frangible connector integrally connected at a first end to the flange, and oppositely integrally connected at a connecting tip to an individual one of the peaks, the connecting tip having a reduced thickness compared to the first end to induce fracture of each frangible connector at the connecting tip.

14. The polymeric fastener of claim 13, wherein the triangular shape frangible connectors each include a first side oriented substantially perpendicular to a flange surface facing the wave-shaped washer and a second side angularly oriented with respect to the first side.

15. The polymeric fastener of claim 14, wherein the second side is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the flange surface such that the second side angularly faces one of the peaks.

16. The polymeric fastener of claim 13, wherein each of the frangible connectors includes a first side and a second side angularly oriented with respect to the first side, the first side and the second side joining at the connecting tip defining a fracture line extending radially outward and transverse with respect to a body longitudinal axis.

17. The polymeric fastener of claim 13, wherein each of the frangible connectors includes a maximum thickness where joined to the flange, and a minimum thickness at the connecting tip, thereby inducing fracture at the connecting tip.

18. The polymeric fastener of claim 13, wherein the triangular shape frangible connectors each include a first side angularly oriented and defining an acute angle with respect to a flange surface facing the wave-shaped washer and a second side angularly oriented defining an obtuse angle with respect to the flange surface.

19. A polymeric fastener, comprising:

a body having multiple sides adapted to be engaged by a tool for applying torque to axially rotate the body with respect to a body longitudinal axis;

a flange integrally connected to the body and extending perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis;

a wave-shaped washer integrally connected to the flange, the wave-shaped washer having multiple valleys interposed between multiple oppositely directed peaks; and

multiple triangular shaped frangible connectors integrally joining the flange to the wave-shaped washer, each frangible connector integrally connected at a first end having a maximum thickness to the flange, and oppositely integrally connected at a connecting tip having a minimum thickness to an individual one of the peaks, the connecting tip minimum thickness defining a fracture line extending radially outward and transverse with respect to the body longitudinal axis acting to induce fracture of each frangible connector at the connecting tip during axial rotation of the body with respect to the wave-shaped washer.

20. The polymeric fastener of claim 19, wherein the body, the flange, the wave-shaped washer, and the frangible connectors are initially integrally connected and are homogeneous in that a same material and material properties exist throughout the fastener.

21. The polymeric fastener of claim 20, wherein the material is a PEEK plastic.

22. The polymeric fastener of claim 19, wherein the connecting tips extend for an entire width of the frangible connectors connecting each frangible connector to one of the peaks of the wave-shaped washer.

23. The polymeric fastener of claim 19, wherein the peaks together define a closest point of approach of the wave-shaped washer with respect to the flange in a manufactured condition of the fastener.