Screw with anti-loosening means

• US 9,022,709 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Benzing, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): SPAHN, GAY
• Application Number:
  US14/007,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140017027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 411/119, 411/372, 411/150, 411/261, 411/929.2, 411/371.1, 411/371.2, 411/353
• US Class Current: 411/150
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/26 with spring washers fastened to the nut or bolt-head
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/9292 Distorted washer

Abstract

A screw with anti-loosening means, which includes a securing element with a ring portion and that can be inserted about a shaft of the screw under a head thereof and, with the screw in a state in which it is screwed on a base, prevents the screw from being turned back counter to a screwing-in direction. The securing element has on the ring portion, on a side facing the surface of the base, at least one projection which can be pressed into the surface when screwing in the screw. The securing element can have an outer circumferential region of the ring portion, with finger-like extensions which, with the securing element in the inserted state, extend along the circumference of the head and under spring-elastic forces of the securing element, contact a surface structure of the body that has an inhibiting action counter to the screwing-in direction. The extensions can have inwardly bent-off end portions which engage over the head, or a circumferential portion thereof protruding radially thereon, on an upper side thereof facing away from the shaft.

Claims

1. An anti-loosening screw apparatus, comprising:

a screw (1) including a head (12) with a top surface and a circumference surface that protrudes radially from the head (12), wherein at least one of the head (12) and the circumference surface includes a surface structure comprising first flanks (123) that slope in a tightening direction of the screw (1), which transition into one another by second flanks (124) that slope at a steeper angle than the first flanks (123) and in a direction opposite from the tightening direction; and

a securing element (2) including a ring section (21) positionable around a shaft (11) of the screw (1) under a head (12) of the screw and with the screw (1) screwed to a base, to prevent the screw (1) from turning back in a direction opposite the tightening direction;

at least one projection (231) extending from the ring section (21) of the securing element (2) on a side opposite the head (12) of the screw (1) and oriented toward an associated surface of the base, wherein the at least projection is pressed into a surface as the screw (1) is tightened; and

finger-like appendages (22) extending from an outer circumference region of the ring section (21) and which when the securing element (2) is in an installed position extend along a circumference of the head (12) and under spring-elastic forces of the securing element (2) contact with the surface structure of the head (12) and exerts an inhibiting action against the second flanks (124) in the direction opposite from the tightening direction, wherein the appendages (22) have end sections (223) bent inward and disposed over the top surface of the head (12), an edge region of the top surface, or a circumferential groove in the top surface and containing the surface structure oriented away from the shaft (11).

2. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the appendages (22) are spring-elastic.

3. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the appendages (22) transition into the ring section (21) via a transition section (221) that is bent outward.

4. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the securing element (2) is a stamped and bent part or a molded part of metal or a molded part of plastic.

5. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the appendages (22) are bent in the outer circumference region and/or each of the at least one projection (231) is bent in an inner circumference region of the ring section (21).

6. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a clearance between the ring section (21) and the bent end section (223) corresponds to at least a height of the head (12).

7. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the surface structure with an inhibiting action is embodied on the circumference surface of the head (12) and/or on the top surface oriented away from the shaft (11).

8. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first flanks (123) on the circumference surface of the head (12) have a cross-section that is rectilinear or convex toward the outside.

9. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a breadth of the appendages (22) in the tightening direction is at least as great as a breadth of the first flanks (123).

10. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the appendages (22) are broad in a circumference direction and are oriented to cross a circumference line in accordance with the contour of the first flanks (123) or the appendages (222) are broad in the radial direction.

11. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the at least one projection (231) is provided with a press-in tip.

12. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising having a surface structure that has an inhibiting action.

13. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the appendages (22) transition into the ring section (21) via a transition section (221) that is bent outward.

14. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the securing element (2) is a stamped and bent part or a molded part of metal or a molded part of plastic.

15. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the appendages (22) are bent in the outer circumference region and/or the at least one projection (231) each is bent in an inner circumference region of the ring section (21).

16. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a clearance between the ring section (21) and the bent end section (223) corresponds to at least a height of the head (12) or the shoulder in an axial direction of the screw (1).

17. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a breadth of the appendages (22) in the tightening direction is at least as great as a breadth of the first flanks (123).

18. The anti-loosening screw apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising more than one projection (231) each provided with a press-in tip.