Patent ID: 9267532
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: E03D,F16B

Claim Text:
1. A retainer comprising: a first base portion having a bottom surface in a first plane; and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly and upwardly from the first base portion and above the first plane, the plurality of fingers together defining a second base portion, and each one of the plurality of fingers having a deformable tip portion, wherein each one of the deformable tip portions includes at least one thread ridge that is configured to mate with a corresponding thread on a threaded shank, the threaded shank being elongate along a shank axis, wherein each deformable tip portion of a select one of the plurality of fingers is separated from an adjacent deformable tip portion of an adjacent one of the plurality of fingers, the deformable tip portions being disposed in a second plane located above the first plane and above the second base portion, and the deformable tip portions together defining an aperture, wherein the at least one thread ridge deflects away from the aperture when the retainer is pushed over the threaded shank in a direction that is both parallel to the shank axis and directed from the second plane toward the first plane; wherein the at least one thread ridge deflects toward the aperture when the retainer is tightened by rotationally turning the retainer over the threaded shank about the shank axis.