Directional fastener assembly

• US 5,188,441 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward R. Rubel
• Original Assignee: Edward R. Rubel
• Inventors: Rubel, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US07/723,331
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 305/24, 305/35 R, 305/35 EB, 305/54, 305/39, 411/185, 411/186, 411/187, 411/189, 411/155, 411/156, 411/160, 411/544
• US Class Current: 305/180
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/26 Ground engaging parts or elements tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/048 Non-releasable devices F16B37/044, F16B37/045 and F16B37/06 take precedence

Abstract

A directional backing plate and threaded nut for securing the traction device relative to a flexible rotatable track. The backing plate and nut define noncircular curvilinear peripheries defined by a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the major axis is greater than the minor axis. The backing plate and threaded nut cooperatively engage the stud relative to the track, such that the major axis is substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the track, and the minor axis is substantially parallel to the direction of rotation.

Claims

1. A directional fastener assembly for securing a threaded stud to a rotatable flexible track, comprising:

(a) a directional backing plate having a non-circular periphery defined by a major axis for alignment perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the track and a perpendicular minor axis for alignment parallel to the direction of rotation of the track, wherein the minor axis is shorter than the major axis, the backing plate including an aperture sized to receive a portion of the stud;

(b) a directional threaded T-nut having a non-circular periphery defined by a major axis and a perpendicular minor axis, wherein the minor axis is shorter than the major axis, the nut including a threaded aperture sized to cooperatively engage a portion of the threaded stud such that upon securing the stud to the track, the track is between the backing plate and the nut;

(c) engaging means for engaging the directional threaded T-nut with the track, the engaging means including a pair of prongs depending from the directional threaded T-nut and substantially aligned colinear with the major axis.

2. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate is obround and the periphery of the directional T-nut is obround.

3. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate is substantially equal to the periphery of the directional T-nut.

4. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate and directional T-nut is defined by a pair of substantially parallel sides interconnected by arcuate ends.

5. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the directional backing plate includes a substantially peripheral rib.

6. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the length of the minor axis to the length of the major axis is from approximately 4:

5 to 19;

20.

7. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the directional backing plate includes a concave surface defined by a spherical radius between approximately 4" and 10".

8. The directional fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the directional T-nut includes a pair of depending prongs disposed at opposing ends of the major axis.

9. A directional fastener assembly for securing a traction device to a rotatable flexible track having a given direction of rotation, an inner surface and an outer surface, the fastener assembly comprising:

(a) a directional backing plate having a contact surface for contacting the outer surface of the track, such that upon operable engagement of the backing plate and the outer surface of the track, the length of contact between the contact surface and the outer surface of the track in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation is greater than the length of contact in the direction parallel to the direction of rotation; and

(b) a directional T-nut for cooperatively engaging the traction device and for contacting the inner surface of the track such that the track is disposed between the backing plate and the nut upon securing the traction device to the track, and the length of contact between the T-nut and the track in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation is greater than the length of contact in the direction parallel to the direction of rotation;

(c) engaging means for engaging the directional threaded T-nut with the track, the engaging means including a pair of prongs depending from the directional threaded T-nut and substantially aligned colinear with the major axis.

10. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate is obround and the periphery of the directional T-nut is obround.

11. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate is substantially equal to the periphery of the directional T-nut.

12. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the periphery of the directional backing plate and directional T-nut is defined by a pair of substantially parallel sides interconnected by arcuate ends.

13. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the directional backing plate includes a substantially peripheral rib.

14. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the ratio of the length of the minor axis to the length of the major axis is between approximately 4:

5 and 19;

20.

15. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the directional backing plate includes a concave surface defined by a spherical radius of approximately 4-10".

16. The directional fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the directional T-nut includes a pair of depending prongs disposed at opposing ends of the major axis.

17. A method for securing a threaded stud relative to a rotatable, flexible track having a given thickness, the method comprising:

(a) passing a portion of the threaded stud through a directional back plate and through the thickness of the track, the directional backing plate having a non-circular periphery defined by a major axis and a perpendicular minor axis;

wherein the minor axis is shorter than the major axis;

(b) aligning the major axis of the back plate substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation to the track;

(c) engaging a threaded directional T-nut with the stud extending through the thickness of the track, the directional T-nut having non-circular periphery defined by a major axis and a perpendicular minor axis, wherein the minor axis is shorter than the major axis; and

(d) aligning the major axis of the directional T-nut substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the track.

18. A fastener assembly for securing a stud to a rotating flexible track comprising first and second oval plates adapted to engage a portion of the track therebetween, one of the oval plates including means for securing the stud to the oval plate, wherein the plates are aligned on the track with a first dimension in the direction of rotation of the track and a second, longer dimension perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the track for reducing stress on the track as the track rotates.