Quick turn fastener

• US 9,957,996 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Burton, John
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JUN S
• Application Number:
  US14/744,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20150285289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/02 in one piece with protrusions or ridges on the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/006 Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/042 locking by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/085 with at least one unthreaded portion in both the nut and the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/30 Locking exclusively by special shape of the screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49881 of separate helix [e.g., screw thread]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A fastener for use in connection with a tubular boss has a shaft with at least one rib along the length thereof and at least one thread segment extending at least partially around the shaft. The shaft is inserted into the boss in first position, and rotated to a second position wherein the at least one thread segment engages at least one column formed in the tubular boss. The shaft can be integrally formed with a first molded part to be fastened to a second molded part with an integrally formed tubular boss. Various locking features for locking the shaft in the boss are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly comprising:

a shaft having at least one rib along its length and at least one thread segment extending at least partially around the shaft from the at least one rib;

a plurality of thread forming threads extending from the at least one thread segment;

a tubular boss having a cylindrical opening with at least one column without threads disposed therein;

wherein the shaft is inserted into the tubular boss in a first position such that the column is not engaged by threads and rotated into a second position such that the at least one thread segment engages the at least one column via some of the plurality of thread forming threads to form threads in the column;

wherein the shaft is rotated in a first direction when the shaft is rotated from the first position into the second position; and

wherein when the shaft is in in the second position, the at least one rib contacts the at least one column to prevent the shaft from being further rotated in a first direction.