Security washer for security paneling system

• US 5,401,133 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wildeck, Inc. (Holden Industries Incorporated), Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wildeck, Inc. (Holden Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kuchler, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Neill R.
• Application Number:
  US08/122,392
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 411/368, 411/402, 411/403, 411/405, 411/910, 411/919, 411/410
• US Class Current: 411/402
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/245 by means of screws, bolts or clamping strips held against the underside of the supporting construction E04B9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/00 Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool detachable ornamental heads for screws A47G3/00; screwdrivers, wrenches B25B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/91 Antitamper means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/919 Screw having driving contacts

Abstract

Panels of a security paneling system are secured to a support member with a plurality of security fastening assemblies consisting of a security fastener and a security washer. The security fastener includes a shank connected to a slotless head including a peripheral edge portion having a special shape. The security fastener is rotatable for installation and removal with a special driving tool including a driver head which has a cavity with an internal shape corresponding to the shape of the peripheral edge portion of the security fastener head and is adapted to fit over and drivingly engage the peripheral edge portion. The security washer includes a central aperture through which the shank of the security fastener extends and a recess concentric with the aperture for receiving the head of the security fastener. The recess has a bottom wall on which the head of the security fastener rests, a depth at least about as deep as the height of the peripheral edge portion of the security fastener, and a minimum inside dimension approximating but slightly greater than the maximum outside dimension of the tool driver head to permit the cavity of the tool to fit over the head and drivingly engage the peripheral edge portion, thereby minimizing access to the head of the security fastener with a tool other than the special driving tool.

Claims

1. A security fastening assembly for removably securing panels of a security panel system to a support member comprising

a security fastener including a shank connected to a slotless head having a peripheral edge portion with a height and a smooth, generally, oblong peripheral shape and being rotatable for installation and removal with a special driving tool, the tool having a driver head including an outer periphery having a maximum outside dimension and a cavity having an internal shape corresponding to the shape of the peripheral edge portion of said security fastener head and being adapted to fit over and drivingly engage said peripheral edge portion;

and

a security washer having a circular outer periphery, a smooth, generally convex outer surface, a central aperture through which the shank of said security fastener extends, and a recess concentric with said aperture for receiving the head of said security fastener, said recess having a bottom wall on which the head of said security fastener rests, a depth at least about as deep as the height of the peripheral edge portion of said security fastener, and a minimum inside dimension approximating but slightly greater than the maximum outside dimension of the tool driver head to permit the cavity of the tool to fit over the head of said security fastener and drivingly engage the peripheral edge portion thereof, thereby minimizing access to the head said security fastener with a tool other than the special driving tool.

2. A security fastening assembly according to claim 1 wherein said recess is generally circular.

3. A security fastening assembly according to claim 1 wherein the minimum inside dimension of said recess provides a clearance of about 0.046 inch to about 0.078 inch from the maximum outside dimension of the special tool driver head.

4. A security fastening assembly according to claim 1 wherein the minimum inside dimension of said recess provides a clearance of about 0.046 inch to about 0.062 inch from the maximum outside dimension of the special tool driver head.

5. A security washer for use with a removable security fastener to tamper-resistant secure a first member to a second member, the security fastener having a shank connected to a slotless head having a peripheral edge portion with a height and a smooth, generally oblong peripheral shape and being rotatable for installation and removal with a special driving tool, the tool having a driver head including an outer periphery having a maximum outside dimension and a cavity having an internal shape corresponding to the shape of the peripheral edge portion of the security fastener head and being adapted to fit over and drivingly engage the peripheral edge portion, said security washer comprising:

a body having a circular outer periphery, a smooth, generally convex outer surface and a central aperture through which the shank of the security fastener extends; and

a recess in said body and concentric with said aperture for receiving the head of the security fastener, said recess having a bottom wall on which the peripheral edge portion the security fastener rests, a depth at least about as deep as the height of the peripheral edge portion, and a minimum inside dimension approximating but slightly greater than the maximum outside dimension of the tool driver head to permit the cavity of the tool to fit over the head of the security fastener and drivingly engage the peripheral edge portion thereof for rotating the security fastener, thereby minimizing access to the head of the security fastener with a tool other than the special driving tool.

6. A security washer according to claim 5 wherein said recess is generally circular.

7. A security washer according to claim 5 wherein the minimum inside dimension of said recess provides a clearance of about 0.046 inch to about 0.078 inch from the maximum outside dimension of the special tool driver head.

8. A security washer according to claim 5 wherein the minimum inside dimension of said recess provides a clearance of about 0.042 inch to about 0.062 inch from the maximum outside dimension of the special tool driver head.