Patent ID: 6609288
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B23B,B25D,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of fastening a first member and a second member by using a taper implant having a threaded hole therein comprising the steps of:providing said taper implant which includes: an outer surface, at least a portion of which is a taper portion being frusto-conical in shape whereby said taper portion has a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end and is smooth and uniform on its surface; a projecting portion connected to said larger diameter end and projecting outwardly with respect to said taper portion; and an axially extending hole in said taper portion, said hole having a female thread formed on an inside wall thereof; providing said first member which includes: a first wall portion having a passing-through hole therein, at least a portion of said passing-through hole being tapered to form a frusto-conical shape whereby said taper portion of said passing-through hole has a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end, and said passing-through hole having a counterbored portion adjacent the larger diameter end thereof, said counterbored portion being cylindrical in shape and having a larger diameter than said larger diameter end of said passing-through hole and said projecting portion of said taper implant is received in said counterbored portion, and said first wall portion having a step portion with a surface perpendicular to an axis of said passing-through hole, and said counterbored portion terminating at said step portion and said larger diameter end of said taper portion of said passing-through hole being open on said step portion, and a surface of said first wall portion is smooth and uniform; and wherein a taper rate of said taper portion of said passing-through hole is the same as a taper rate of said taper portion of said taper implant, and said larger diameter end of said taper portion of said passing-through hole has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of said larger diameter end of said taper portion of said taper implant, and a tight-fit allowance when said taper implant is inserted into said passing-through hole is 2-20% of a diameter of said larger diameter end of said taper implant; inserting said taper implant into said passing-through hole of said first member; fixing said taper implant in said passing-through hole of said first member by an outer surface of said taper portion of said taper implant being in contact with a surface of said first wall portion of said taper portion of said hole and a bottom surface of said projecting portion of said taper implant being in contact with said surface of said step portion of said first wall portion by applying a force to said taper implant, whereby a friction force is generated between said taper portion and said first wall portion; providing said second member which includes: a second wall portion having a passing-through hole therein; positioning said second member in contact with said first member on a side of said first member having said smaller diameter end of said taper portion of said passing-through hole in said first member; providing a fastening member having a male thread; and fastening said first member and said second member by inserting said fastening member into said hole of said taper implant from said smaller diameter end of said taper portion of said taper implant and engaging said male thread of said fastening member with said female thread of said hole in said taper portion of said taper implant.