Patent ID: 6227782
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: F16B,Y10S

Abstract:
The combination of a self-locking threaded male fastener and a mating female component, comprising:a self-locking threaded male fastener having a threaded shaft at a lower end thereof, and a locking element provided on said male fastener having one or more flexible fingers extending radially outwardly from said male fastener; anda female component having an axial bore for receiving said threaded shaft, a cavity being provided at an upper end of said bore, said cavity having walls formed as a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly to define one or more notches between pairs of said teeth, said notches engaging said one or more fingers of said male fastener to limit counter-rotation of said male fastener in said female component axial bore;said flexible fingers of said locking element having a resilience permitting said fingers to deflect when a sufficient counter-rotational force is applied to the male fastener in a direction opposite to a fastening rotational direction, said flexible fingers having a sufficient resilience to retain their original configuration upon removal of said male fastener from said mating female component.