Patent ID: 6705813
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: F16B,F16F

Abstract:
A fastener, comprising: a disc elastically deflectable between an unstressed position of zero percent where a surface of the disc is bowed and a fully stressed position of a 100% where the surface is substantially flat, the disc has a thickness, an inner edge having a maximum radial point, and an outer edge having an effective outer diameter and a minimum radial point, wherein a center of gravity of the disc is at least as close to the minimum radial point as the center of gravity is close to the maximum radial point, the disc has a spring constant that is defined as a force needed to compress the disc to an intermediate position of 75% divided by a distance that the disc deflects upon moving from the unstressed position of zero percent to the intermediate position of 75%, wherein the disc has a coefficient of compliance greater than ten with the coefficient of compliance being defined as the thickness cubed divided by a product of the spring constant times the effective outer diameter squared, wherein the thickness is expressed in mils, the spring constant is expressed in pounds per inch, and the effective outer diameter is expressed in inches.