Fastener assembly serving as a product, or combined with other components as a product allows automatic controlled movements in one direction and prevents movements in the opposite direction when forces are applied

• US 6,161,350 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas M. Espinosa
• Original Assignee: Thomas M. Espinosa
• Inventors: Espinosa, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US08/964,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 411/432, 411/433, 411/352, 411/353, 411/517, 411/231, 411/436, 411/437, 411/438, 411/536, 411/222, 411/223, 52/92.2, 52/93.1, 52/260, 52/285.2, 52/585, 52/DIG. 11, 52/293.3, 52/295, 52/705, 52/709, 403/105, 403/107
• US Class Current: 52/293.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2688 self adjusting, e.g. for compensation of shrinkage
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/14 against other dangerous influences, e.g. tornadoes, floods
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/16 with grooves or notches in the pin or shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/18 with circlips or like resilient retaining devices, i.e. resilient in the plane of the ring or the like; Details spring-washers for locking nuts F16B39/24; adjusting rings F16B43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/105 locking in discrete positions, e.g. in extreme extended position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2041/0646 the intermediate coupling members moving between recesses in an inner race and recesses in an outer race
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/064 the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls F16D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32434 Unidirectional movement, e.g., ratchet, etc.

Abstract

A fastener assembly 10, in respect to forces which are subsequently applied, after the installation thereof, when forces is applied in one direction, this fastener assembly 10 is self adjusting incrementally, as needed in travel or actuation; yet when a force is applied in the opposite direction, this fastener assembly 10 is not self adjusting and there is no travel or actuation.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly in combination with:

threaded tie rod;

a metal base member;

coil spring and nut, wherein the fastener assembly comprises;

a. resilient and deflectable locking member capable of being positioned to complete the securement of a first member and a second member together;

b. a first member, having a receiving volume to guide and to fully receive the resilient and deflectable locking member;

c. a second member, having a receiving volume to guide and to partially receive the resilient and deflectable locking member;

the first member and second members are closely spaced apart, and together confine the resilient and deflectable locking member; and

the first member is secured to the threaded tie rod;

the second member is secured to the metal base member;

the nut is threaded to the tie rod at a spaced distance from the first member; and

the coiled spring is positioned around the threaded tie rod and is compressibly held between the nut and the second member.

2. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, in further combination with a shear wall of a building, whereby the shear wall is restrained when the metal base member is secured to the shear wall.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in further combination with additional shear walls located along the threaded tie rod,

whereby the shear walls successively extend upwardly in a building from the foundation to the top of a wall of a building.

4. A fastener assembly in combination with:

a threaded tie rod, metal base member, coiled spring and nut, wherein the fastener assembly comprises;

a. a resilient and deflectable locking member capable of being positioned to complete the securement of a first member and a second member together;

b. a first member having a receiving volume to guide and to fully receive the said resilient and deflectable locking member;

c. a second member, having spaced receiving volumes to guide and to partially receive the said resilient and deflectable locking member, when the said resilient and deflectable locking member is moved to the location of one of the said spaced receiving volumes;

d. said the first and said secured members are closely spaced apart, and together fully confine and surround the said resilient and deflectable locking member;

e. the said first member is secured to the said threaded tie rod;

f. the said second member is secured to the said metal base member;

g. the said nut is threaded to the said tie rod at a spaced distance from the said first member; and

h. the said coiled spring is positioned around the said threaded tie rod and compressibly confined between the said nut and the said second member;

therefore, relative movement in one direction between the first and second members is prevented, and in the opposite direction relative free movement may be started between the first and second member, so only the first member is fully confining and then receiving the resilient and deflectable locking members, and the relative free movement continues until the resilient and deflectable locking member is again confined by both the first and second member, in their respective receiving volumes, in respect to another one of the spaced receiving volumes of the second member, and

therefore, with the said first member, being secured to said threaded tie rod, and the second member being secured to the said metal base member, when the relative free movement occurs, the distance along the said tie rod, between the said nut and the said second member increases, and the said coiled spring axially extends while maintaining the overall tieing force.

5. A fastener assembly in combination with:

a threaded tie rod, metal base member, coiled spring and nut, as claimed in claim 4, comprising, in addition;

a second resilient and deflectable locking member capable of being positioned to complete the securement of the said first member and second member together, when the first resilient and deflectable locking members is between the locking positions thereof, and a second receiving volume in the said first member to guide and to filly receive the said second resilient and deflectable locking member at a spaced location from the said first receiving volume of the said first member, whereby only one of the two said resilient and deflectable locking members will be in a locking position at anytime,

whereby no movements in one direction between the said first member and the said second member can occur, and in the opposite direction successive incremental movements may occur between the said first member and the said second member.

6. The combination claimed in claim 4 or 5, further combined with a shear wall of a building, whereby the shear wall is restrained when the metal base member is secured to the shear wall.

7. The combination, as claimed in claim 6, further combined with additional shear walls located along the threaded tie rod, which is necessarily extended to accommodate the additional shear walls.