2. Field
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to fastener systems including fastener, driver, method of manufacture and related tooling. In particular to fasteners having spiral drive and removal surfaces that enable high seating torques to be applied.
3. Brief Description of Related Developments
Fasteners having driver engageable surfaces that are, at least in part, defined by spiral segments have been used with good results. Fastener systems of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,957,645, 6,234,914, and 6,367,358 issued to Stacy and commonly owned with this application. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. The drive surfaces of the Stacy fastener system are constructed to maximize torque transmission, during installation and removal, while spreading the driving load over a broad driver/fastener interface. The thrust of these teachings is to enlarge the area of the drive surfaces.
More recently certain applications have been found that require the application of high seating torques to the fastener. Such torques may the strength limits of the drivers used to seat the fastener. It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved driver/fastener interface to increase the available seating torque characteristic of the fastener system.
The problem to which this application is directed, therefore, is to construct a drive fastener interface that increases the strength of the driver without significantly effecting the load distribution characteristics of the spiral interface surfaces.
A fastener system is constructed having driver/fastener interface surfaces configured in the general shape of a segment of a spiral on both of the installation and removal surfaces. The recess and driver cross sectional shapes are constructed with an increased core diameter over the prior dart spiral fastener system. This is accompanied by a shortening of the radial extension of the wing of both recess and driver cross sections beyond the core diameter. The wing cross section of the driver/recess is further modified by moving the installation and removal surfaces in a parallel manner to form a truncated wing shape with a blunt tip. The blunt tip is constructed to conform to a circle, concentric with the core, with a diameter larger than the core diameter. The drive surfaces are constructed to intersect the core diameter in a transitional surface between the wings that has a concave form conforming to the core diameter.
These changes have resulted in a startling increase in driver strength and a significant rise in seating torque capability for spiral drive fastener systems. The reduction in drive surface area is offset by the improved distribution characteristics from the drive surfaces to the core. To accomplish this the wing portion of the driver/recess cross section is constructed so that the ratio of the core radius to wing tip radius is greater than 0.55 and the transition surface between the wings is a concave segment of the core circumference. The ratio of the height of the wing cross section to its width is constructed to be approximately equal to or less than 0.5.
The features of the subject matter of this application are explained in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A fastener system 1, according to the subject of this application, is shown in
The details of the recess and driver bit shape are shown in
As shown in
Instead of a deficit in performance, these changes have resulted in a startling increase in driver strength and a significant rise in seating torque capability for spiral drive fastener systems. The reduction in drive surface area is offset by the improved distribution characteristics from the drive surfaces to the core.
The increased strength of the system and the increased seating torque, may be attributed to the recess and driver being constructed with a core diameter that is increased over the prior art spiral fastener system. It would have been logical to try to maintain the area of the drive surfaces by constructing the transition surface as a convex continuation of the installation and removal surfaces 7 and 8 similar to the prior art design as shown in
This is accompanied by a shortening of the radial extension of the wing of both recess and driver cross sections beyond the core diameter. The wing cross section of the driver/recess is further modified by moving the installation and removal surfaces in a parallel manner to form a truncated wing shape with a blunt tip. The blunt tip is constructed to conform to a circle, concentric with the core, with a diameter larger than the core diameter.
To accomplish this the cross section of the wing portion of the driver 3 (and therefore also the wing portion of the recess 6) is truncated both outward from the core circumference, 12 and inward from the tip 11. In this manner, the projections 7 are constructed so that the ratio of core radius R2 to the wing tip radius R1 is greater than 0.55 and the transition surface 10 between the wings 7 is a concave segment of the core circumference. Preferably the ratio of R2/R1 is in the range of 0.65 to 0.70. In addition the width w of the wings or projections 7a,b,c,d, is enlarged while maintaining the profile of the drive surfaces to be consistent with the prior fastener system. The ratio h/w of the height h of the wing cross section to its width w is constructed to be approximately equal to or less than 0.5. In comparison, referring to.
Although the subject matter of this application is discussed with reference to a fastener system having spirally configured drive surfaces, it is believed that the construction and method is equally applicable to other cruciform style fastener systems, in particular, a hexalobular style fastener system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,177 and ISO 10664.
In this manner a new and unique fastener system is presented that provides a startling improvement in strength characteristics with respect to the driver without a deficit to the overall performance of the fastener system.
It should be understood that the above description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art with out departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall with the scope of the appended claims.
1. Related Applications This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/030,824, filed on Feb. 18, 2011 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,171.826, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/231,459, filed Sept. 3, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,274 issued Feb. 22, 2011, which claims priority from Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/999,874, filed Oct. 22, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
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4269246 | Larson et al. | May 1981 | A |
5137407 | Yamamoto | Aug 1992 | A |
5171117 | Seidl | Dec 1992 | A |
5435680 | Schuster | Jul 1995 | A |
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5957645 | Stacy | Sep 1999 | A |
6234914 | Stacy | May 2001 | B1 |
6367358 | Stacy | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6685412 | Altarac et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
7188554 | Baynham | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7255522 | Dilling | Aug 2007 | B2 |
8123524 | Anitua Aldecoa | Feb 2012 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120192685 A1 | Aug 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60999874 | Oct 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13030824 | Feb 2011 | US |
Child | 13441313 | US | |
Parent | 12231459 | Sep 2008 | US |
Child | 13030824 | US |