Locking fastener assembly
First Claim
1. A locking fastener assembly, comprising:
- a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer rotatable relative to each other about a common axis;
b) a washer contacting surface on said fastener nut and a nut contacting surface on said fastener washer, both the washer contacting surface and the nut contacting surface being configured to resist rotating relative to each other;
c) both the washer contacting surface and the nut contacting surface include a plurality of inclined faces oriented about the common axis;
d) said fastener nut includes a nut body that is provided with a skirt extending from one end of said nut body;
e) said fastener washer including a washer body with an aperture extending through the washer body;
f) said skirt extending into said aperture when said fastener nut and fastener washer are assembled;
g) at least some portion of said skirt being deformed outwardly after said fastener nut and fastener washer are assembled so as to loosely hold said fastener washer on said fastener nut;
h) said nut body is internally threaded so that the nut body can be turned onto an externally threaded member; and
i) said washer body including an element formed in said aperture for preventing said fastener washer from rotating when said fastener nut is turned onto said threaded member.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A locking fastener assembly comprising a nut and a washer. The nut and washer each have opposed load bearing surfaces which include a series of annularly extending, slightly inclined faces forming shallow undulations around each surface. The load bearing surface on the nut is generally spherically convex and the load bearing surface on the washer is generally spherically concave. The nut rotates as it is installed while the washer is prevented from rotating so that the undulating bearing surface on the nut slides over the undulating bearing surface on the washer against ever increasing resistance until the assembly is properly seated and the nut is effectively prevented from counter-rotating by interference between opposed, inclined faces. A concave clamping surface is formed on the outer end of the washer on a radially extending flange. The flange flexes when the assembly is installed and resiliently urges the washer against the nut.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A locking fastener assembly, comprising:
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a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer rotatable relative to each other about a common axis; b) a washer contacting surface on said fastener nut and a nut contacting surface on said fastener washer, both the washer contacting surface and the nut contacting surface being configured to resist rotating relative to each other; c) both the washer contacting surface and the nut contacting surface include a plurality of inclined faces oriented about the common axis; d) said fastener nut includes a nut body that is provided with a skirt extending from one end of said nut body; e) said fastener washer including a washer body with an aperture extending through the washer body; f) said skirt extending into said aperture when said fastener nut and fastener washer are assembled; g) at least some portion of said skirt being deformed outwardly after said fastener nut and fastener washer are assembled so as to loosely hold said fastener washer on said fastener nut; h) said nut body is internally threaded so that the nut body can be turned onto an externally threaded member; and i) said washer body including an element formed in said aperture for preventing said fastener washer from rotating when said fastener nut is turned onto said threaded member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A locking fastener assembly, comprising:
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a) an internally threaded fastener nut, including a nut body with an annular skirt depending from the nut body; b) a fastener washer including an annular washer body with an aperture and a flange extending radially outwardly from the annular washer body; c) said annular skirt extending loosely into said fastener washer whereby said internally threaded fastener nut is freely rotatable relative to said fastener washer before said locking fastener assembly is mounted; d) a washer contacting surface on said nut body and a nut contacting surface on said annular washer body; e) said washer contacting surface on said nut body including a series of peaks and valleys extending around said nut body so as to create a plurality of inclined bearing faces; f) said nut contacting surface on said annular washer body includes a series of peaks and valleys extending around said annular washer body so as to create a plurality of inclined bearing faces; g) said annular inclined bearing faces seat in locking relationship against each other; h) said nut body is internally threaded so that the nut body can be turned onto an externally threaded member; and i) said washer body including an element formed in said aperture for preventing said fastener washer from rotating when said fastener nut is turned onto said threaded member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A locking fastener assembly, comprising:
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a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer connected to each other in such a manner that the fastener nut and the fastener washer can be rotate relative to each other about a common axis; b) the fastener nut including a nut body and an annular skirt depending from the nut body; c) the fastener washer including an annular washer body with an aperture; d) said annular skirt extending loosely into said aperture whereby said fastener nut is freely rotatable to said fastener washer before said locking fastener assembly is mounted; e) a washer contacting surface on said fastener nut and a nut contacting surface on said fastener washer, said washer contacting surface being positioned opposite the nut contacting surface; f) each of said washer contacting surface and the nut contacting surface includes a plurality of inclined faces arranged about the common axis of the fastener assembly; and g) said washer body including an element formed in said aperture for preventing said fastener washer from rotating when said fastener nut is turned onto said threaded member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification