Moldable self-adhering fastener cover and installation method

• US 5,755,908 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herbert Rayburn, Susan Rayburn
• Original Assignee: Herbert Rayburn, Susan Rayburn
• Inventors: Rayburn, Susan, Rayburn, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): STEMMER, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/604,405
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 156/475, 156/493, 156/579, 156/71, 156/212, 156/224, 411/373, 411/377, 411/430, 411/431, 411/910
• US Class Current: 156/224
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/00 Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers bolt tensioners B25B29/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/02 in which the locking takes place after screwing down F16B39/01 takes precedence; split-pins, circlips, or the like for preventing relative axial movement only F16B21/10; fastening nuts by welding or riveting F16B37/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1048 to form dished or receptacle-like product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

A pliable flat disk of laminated construction having a thin top layer of deformable material bonded to a relatively thicker intermediate layer of pliable adhesive sealant material and a removable bottom layer of release paper covering the exposed surface of the sealant material is deformed during installation to cover and seal the head of a fastener protruding from a surface. The disk is installed by a tool having an end adapted to hold the flat disk. The end of the tool has a recess slightly deeper than the height of the head of the fastener and an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the head of the fastener. The flat disk is releasably attached on the end of the tool and covers the recess. The release paper is removed to expose the adhesive sealant material and the tool with the flat disk held thereon is generally centered on the fastener head and pressed downwardly with a twisting motion to deform the flat disk such that it encompasses and conforms to the shape of the head of the fastener and covers a surface radially surrounding the fastener head and adheres to the fastener head and adheres the fastener head to the radially surrounding surface and provides an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head and radially surrounding area and prevents relative movement therebetween. It will also cover and seal a washer if one is used with the fastener.

Claims

1. In combination, an installation tool and a pliable flat disk for covering and sealing the head of a fastener protruding from a surface:

said pliable flat disk being of laminated construction having a thin top layer of deformable material bonded to a relatively thicker intermediate layer of pliable adhesive sealant material and a removable bottom layer of release paper covering the exposed surface of said sealant material;

said installation tool having disk holding means at one end for releasably holding said flat disk thereon, said end having a recess slightly deeper than the height of the head of the fastener and said recess having an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the head of the fastener;

said disk holding means holding said flat disk on said end of said tool in a position covering said recess with said release paper layer facing outwardly from said end; and

said flat disk being installed on the head of the fastener by removing said release paper to expose said adhesive sealant material and placing said tool with said flat disk held on said end in a position generally centered on the fastener head and pressing said tool downwardly to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and cover a surface radially surrounding the fastener head and adhere to the fastener head and adhere the fastener head to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head and radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said flat disk is installed on the head of the fastener by removing said release paper to expose said adhesive sealant material and placing said tool with said flat disk held on said end in a position generally centered on the fastener head and pressing said tool downward and twisting said tool to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and cover a surface radially surrounding the fastener head and adhere to the fastener head and adhere the fastener head to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head and radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said fastener has a washer disposed between said surface and the head of the fastener;

said installation tool recess has a counterbore slightly deeper than the height of the washer and an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the washer; and

said flat disk is installed on the head of the fastener and the washer by removing said release paper to expose said adhesive sealant material and placing said tool with said flat disk held on said end in a position generally centered on the fastener head and pressing said tool downwardly to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and the washer and cover a surface radially surrounding the washer and adhere to the fastener head and washer and adhere the fastener head to the washer and the washer to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head, the washer, and the radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein

said flat disk is installed on the head of the fastener and the washer by removing said release paper to expose said adhesive sealant material and placing said tool with said flat disk held on said end in a position generally centered on the fastener head and pressing said tool downward and twisting said tool to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and the washer and cover a surface radially surrounding the washer and adhere to the fastener head and washer and adhere the fastener head to the washer and the washer to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head, the washer, and the radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said installation tool is a generally cylindrical member of rigid material having a flat end;

and

said disk holding means comprises a circumferential resilient lip surrounding said flat end and extending a short distance beyond said flat end to releasably grip the periphery of said flat disk and releasably hold said flat disk on said flat end.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said installation tool is a generally cylindrical member of rigid material having a flat end;

and

said disk holding means comprises a thin tubular sleeve of resilient material on the exterior of said cylindrical member and having one end extending a short distance beyond said flat end to define a circumferential resilient lip to releasably grip the periphery of said flat disk and releasably hold said flat disk on said flat end.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said flat disk has a polyethylene film layer bonded between said top layer of deformable material and said intermediate layer of pliable adhesive sealant material.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said top layer of deformable material material is a light-reflective and heat reflective material.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said top layer of deformable material is a metallic material.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein

said metallic material is aluminum.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein

said flat disk has a thin top layer of aluminum material,

a polyethylene film layer bonded to said top layer of aluminum material, and

an intermediate layer of pliable bitumen adhesive sealant material bonded to said polyethylene film layer.

12. A method for covering and sealing the head of a fastener protruding from a surface utilizing an installation tool and a pliable flat disk, comprising the steps of;

providing a pliable flat disk of laminated construction having a thin top layer of deformable material bonded to a relatively thicker intermediate layer of pliable adhesive sealant material and a removable bottom layer of release paper covering the exposed surface of said sealant material;

providing an installation tool having disk holding means at one end for releasably holding said flat disk thereon, said end having a recess slightly deeper than the height of the head of the fastener and said recess having an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the head of the fastener;

placing said flat disk in said disk holding means on said end of said tool in a position to cover said recess with said release paper layer facing outwardly from said end;

removing said release paper to expose said adhesive sealant material and placing said tool with said flat disk held on said end in a position generally centered on the fastener head; and

pressing said tool downwardly to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and cover a surface radially surrounding the fastener head and adhere to the fastener head and adhere the fastener head to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head and radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein

said step of pressing said tool downward includes twisting said tool to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and cover a surface radially surrounding the fastener head and adhere to the fastener head and adhere the fastener head to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head and radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein

said fastener has a washer disposed between said surface and the head of the fastener, said installation tool recess has a counterbore slightly deeper than the height of the washer and an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the washer;

and

said step of pressing said tool downwardly includes deforming said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and the washer and cover a surface radially surrounding the washer and adhere to the fastener head and washer and adhere the fastener head to the washer and the washer to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head, the washer, and the radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein

said step of pressing said tool downward includes twisting said tool to deform said flat disk to encompass and conform substantially to the shape of the head of the fastener and the washer and cover a surface radially surrounding the washer and adhere to the fastener head and washer and adhere the fastener head to the washer and the washer to the radially surrounding surface and provide an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the fastener head, the washer, and the radially surrounding area and prevent relative movement therebetween.