Abstract:
The instant invention relates to a fastener element of a fastening system, a tool for fastening, disengaging and testing the fastener element and a method for providing a fastening system with a closure seal and/or a torque indication. The fastener element of a fastening system, in particular a bolt or nut includes a tool engagement surface that is engageable by a tool, in particular a standard tool for at least partial form locking contact with the tool for fastening or disengaging the fastening system, wherein the tool engagement surface includes at least one weak spot. The fastener element is operable with standard tools and optionally reusable using special tools. Thus, manipulations by unauthorized persons are easily detectable and it is easily determinable whether a predetermined torque has been applied correctly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Patent Application PCT/EP2014/002065 filed on Jul. 29, 2014, claiming priority from German patent application 10 2013 012 577.4 filed on Jul. 30, 2013, both of which are incorporated in their entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The instant invention relates to a fastener element of a fastening system according to the preamble of claim  1 , a tool for connecting, disengaging and testing the fastener element according to the preamble of claim  13  and a method for providing the fastening system with a closure seal and/or a torque display according to the preamble of claim  14 . 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Numerous disengageable fastening systems are Known, for example, threaded fastening systems including bolts and optionally associated nuts. For fixating and disengaging the fastening typically tools are provided that are adapted to the particular fastening system. These tools include a tool operating surface which is configured corresponding to a tool engagement surface at least at one of the fastener elements of the fastening system. On bolts the tool engagement surface forms the drive. 
         [0004]    With respect to fastening systems of the type recited supra there is a strong need to configure them so that unauthorized disengagement is directly evident or prevented entirely. 
         [0005]    For the latter variant new geometries of bolt drives were developed in the past in order to prevent that unauthorized persons are able to disengage and fixate these fastening systems at all with tools at hand. Among these are the tri-wing-drive, the Torq Set drive, the Pentalob drive and the Torx® Tamper drive. These configurations have the disadvantage that standard tools for everybody are available for these drives after a certain time period so that manipulations by unauthorized persons are thus possible without detection. 
         [0006]    Another variant is described in DE 696 33 832 T2 and US 2008/0205974 A1. They describe a fastening system with bolts and nuts in which the bolts have notches and the nuts have spring elastic prongs which slide over the notches in a fixation direction, but interlock in the notches in a disengagement direction unless appropriate tools are provided so that a disengagement without appropriate tools is impossible. This variant unfortunately has a very complicated configuration which renders operations very difficult also for authorized persons. Additionally accordingly configured standard tools are typically available also for unauthorized persons after a certain time period. 
         [0007]    In this group there are also tear off bolts which facilitate fixation but which can only be disengaged with special tools after the drive is torn off. There are one way bolts with a one way drive which can be fixated with a standard tool but can only be disengaged with a special tool. These variants in turn are cumbersome and the special tools can also be obtained by unauthorized persons. 
         [0008]    For the variant cited first bolts, nuts and similar are used which indicate a manipulation directly. Thus, for example a seal with lacquer or a sticker can be applied which has to be destroyed during disengagement. Thus, also circumferential sealing elements can be used which also have to be destroyed first in order to provide disengagement as it is known for screw tops for beverage bottles. These configurations in turn are complicated to use and on the other hand side the seal elements can only be used once. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Thus, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a fastening system which at least partially overcomes these disadvantages. In particular the fastening system shall also be operable with standard tools and usable multiple times with special tools. Thus, manipulations by unauthorized persons shall be advantageously easily detectable. 
         [0010]    The object is achieved by a fastener element of a fastening system, in particular a bolt or a nut, the fastener element including a tool engagement surface that is engageable by a tool, in particular a standard tool, for at least partial form locking contact with the tool for fastening or disengaging the fastening system, wherein the tool engagement surface includes at least one weak spot which facilitates a deformation of the weak spot and/or at least a deformation or weakening of a portion adjacent to the weak spot when a particular torque is imparted upon the tool engagement surface which indicates an unauthorized use and/or an authorized use with a sufficiently large torque. 
         [0011]    The object is also achieved by a tool for fastening, disengaging and testing the fastener element recited supra, wherein the tool includes a tool operating surface corresponding to the tool engagement surface, and wherein the tool operating surface includes at least one surface section engaging the material recess. 
         [0012]    The object is also achieved by a method for providing a fastening system with a fastening seal and/or a torque indication wherein a fastener element of the fastening system, in particular a bolt or nut, is provided with a tool engagement surface that is engageable by a tool, in particular a standard tool for at least partial form locking contact with the tool for fastening or disengaging the fastening system, wherein the tool engagement surface includes at least one weak spot which facilitates a deformation of the weak spot and/or at least a deformation or weakening of a portion adjacent to the weak spot when imparting a particular torque upon the tool engagement surface in order to indicate an unauthorized use and/or an authorized use with a sufficiently large torque. 
         [0013]    The inventors have found that the object can be achieved with a surprisingly simple configuration, wherein the tool engagement surface includes at least one weak spot which causes a deformation of the weak spot and/or of a portion adjacent to the weak spot when a particular torque is imparted upon the tool engagement surface in order to indicate an unauthorized use or indicate an authorized use with a sufficiently large torque. 
         [0014]    Weak spot according to the instant invention means a weaker configuration in a corresponding standard tool engagement surface compared to the forces that are typically received from a standard tool so that forces are transmitted during opening or closing of the fastening system upon the fastener element by the standard tool adapted to the standard tool engagement surface so that at least a partial deformation or shearing of the tool engagement surface is provided due to the weak spot which safely indicates unauthorized manipulation or a sufficient torque application. 
         [0015]    The tool engagement surface according to the invention is thus derived from currently available tool engagement surfaces and does not include any of the currently used tool engagement surfaces when the weak spot is provided as material recess so that the tool engagement surface according to the invention deviates from known tool engagement surfaces at least in sections. 
         [0016]    “Defined torque” is thus either a torque of sufficient size which for example can prove application of sufficient torques during fixation of the fastening in safety relevant applications. Or the “defined torque” relates to a geometry of the torque which deviates from an authorized use of the fastening system, this means for an incomplete form locking between tool engagement surface and tool operating surface an at least partial deformation of the tool engagement surface is provided when a high torque is applied that is required for disengaging or fixating the fastening system. 
         [0017]    The “defined torques” therefor are torques with a size that is required in principle for disengaging or fixating the fastening system (closure seal against unauthorized use) or these are torques during fixation which have a size that is required for a particular degree of fixation (torque indication during authorized use). 
         [0018]    A “fastening” system does not only relate to systems for connecting additional elements like e.g. two plates forming additional elements which are connected by a bolt and a nut forming fastener elements of a fastening system but connections of the two fastener elements as such can also be provided like e.g. for a plug screw at an oil drain or similar. 
         [0019]    The fastening system is advantageously a threaded fastening system where torques need to be applied for disengaging or fixating. 
         [0020]    The fastener element according to the invention of a fastening system, in particular a bolt or nut, thus includes a tool engagement surface that is engageable by a tool, in particular a standard tool for at least partial form locking contact with the tool for fastening or disengaging the fastening system and is characterized in that the tool engagement surface includes at least one weak spot which causes a deformation of the weak spot or at least of a portion adjacent to the weak spot when imparting a particular torque upon the tool engagement surface in order to indicate unauthorized use and/or to indicate authorized use with a sufficiently large torque. 
         [0021]    In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the tool engagement surface includes plural portions, wherein at least one portion, advantageously at least half the number of the portions is provided with at least one weak spot. 
         [0022]    In this context it is useful when the weak spots are symmetrically distributed about the tool engagement surface because this facilitates even and centered utilization of the tool. 
         [0023]    Unauthorized manipulations are visible particularly easily when the weak spot is arranged at or proximal to a section of the portion where a main force is transferred from the tool to the tool engagement surface when the tool is used correctly. “Correct use” designates the normal use of a tool to transfer a torque and uses that do not deviate therefrom like e.g. impact uses or similar. 
         [0024]    When the weak spot is symmetrically arranged with reference to the symmetry of the tool engagement surface the manipulations during opening and also during fixation are rendered visible. 
         [0025]    However, when the weak spot is asymmetrically arranged with respect to the symmetry of the tool engagement surface unauthorized manipulations either during opening or during fixation can be rendered visible. 
         [0026]    Thus, the asymmetric arrangement can not only be used for rendering unauthorized manipulations visible (‘warranty seal”), but it can also be used as a “torque seal”, thus for indicating a sufficiently high torque as required for example for wheel nuts for safe operations of a motor vehicle. Then the weak spot is predetermined so that a deformation is provided starting with a predetermined size of the torque. This predetermination can be implemented by adjusting one or plural parameters from the group including: number of the weak spots, shape and dimension of the weak spots, use of various types of weak spots and dimension of a portion where a main force is transferred from the tool to the tool engagement surface when the tool is used correctly. 
         [0027]    An adjustment of these parameters can certainly also be used for symmetrically arranged weak spots. And this setting may not only be used for a torque seal but also for a warranty seal. 
         [0028]    The tool engagement surface is advantageously provided as a straight slot, cross slot, external polygon, internal polygon, external involute, internal involute, Ribe, Torx®, Tri-Wing, Torq-Set, Torx®-Tamper or Pentalob. However, also any other typical standard tool engagement surface is useable. For example also other multi sided standard tool engagement surfaces can be used instead of a Torx® (six-curvature) standard tool engagement surface. 
         [0029]    Particularly advantageously the weak spot is configured as a material recess and/or as a material variation. 
         [0030]    A material recess with respect to the standard tool engagement surface can thus be configured as a uniform recess with respect to a particular portion of the standard tool engagement surface or as plural recesses like a slot or similar, thus it is a particular shape variation compared to a standard tool engagement surface. 
         [0031]    Material variations can be provided for example in the form of fillings of the material recesses for example with a plastic material or by providing a porosity or similar so that the standard tool engagement surface as a whole has not been changed but the material compared to a force impact of a standard tool in the weak spot is not as strong as the surrounding material. This has the advantage that unauthorized persons do not immediately see the weak spot of the fastener element. Thus, the material variation uses a material that is less strong than the surrounding material. 
         [0032]    Deformations caused by unauthorized use are optically directly detectable with an eye or suitable measuring tools are used for detecting minor deformations. 
         [0033]    When the weak spot is a material variation, then an unauthorized use of the fastening system can be checked for by a person skilled in the art using a tool which has a tool operating surface that is configured corresponding to the tool engagement surface. This tool operating surface is thus used as a measuring tool to determine whether an unauthorized use has taken place. This is determined in that a deformation in the portion of the weak spot has occurred due to the unauthorized use which is directly indicated by the tool operating surface acting as a measuring tool. The tool engagement surface and thus the tool operating surface can be standard surfaces in this case of the material variation, wherein the standard surfaces are provided for example in the form of typical drives. 
         [0034]    The weak spot should advantageously have an extension with respect to a length of the tool engagement surface (for example an edge length) so that a ratio of the extension to the length is advantageously provided in a range of 0.1-0.9, advantageously in a range of 0.2-0.6, in particular in a range of 0.25-0.5. 
         [0035]    Advantageously the length of the weak spot over the tool engagement surface is at least equal to the length of an adjacent portion of the tool engagement surface because a tilting of tool operating surface about a point of the tool engagement surface is then provided so that no deformation of the tool engagement surface is caused in this portion. Then the weak spot configured as a recess shall have a shape so that a shearing or deformation is provided in the recess through the tool operating surface. For example a rounded recess would be provided in an internal hexagon because the tool operating surface then causes a deformation of this rounded surface. 
         [0036]    Particularly advantageously two types of weak spots are provided. Thus, on the one hand side an adaptation to low tightening torques can be provided during disengagement and fixation of smaller fastener elements. On the other hand side an indication of unauthorized use or sufficient torques can be implemented in a particularly simple manner. Thus, a first type of weak spot is configured so that it represents a recess for the tool operating surface during disengagement and/or fixating, wherein the tool operating surface penetrates the recess during disengagement and/or fixation, whereas the second type of weak spot is configured so that it provides a resistance for the penetration of the tool operating surface into the recess provided by the first type of weak spot during disengagement or fixation of the fastening. During disengagement or fixation of the fastening this resistance is then overcome which provides a deformation of the second type of weak spot which provides an indication of unauthorized use or sufficient torque. 
         [0037]    Particularly advantageously the second type of weak spot is provided as an undercut so that the resistance is formed by a protrusion which forms a rated fracture area or a rated deformation area. 
         [0038]    Both types of deformations, however, can also be used independently from each other. 
         [0039]    Instead of recesses, however, also in this case material variations can be provided wherein the first type of weak spot has a material variation which has a smaller resistance compared to the second type of weak spot. 
         [0040]    The first type of weak spot thus provides a first resistance to the tool operating surface during disengagement or fixation and the second type of weak spot provides a second resistance to the tool engagement surface during disengagement or fixation wherein the sum of the first resistances is less than the sum of the second resistances. 
         [0041]    The tool according to the invention for connecting, disengaging and testing the fastener element with a weak spot configured as a material recess in the tool engagement surface for which independent patent protection is requested is characterized in that a tool operating surface is provided that corresponds to the tool engagement surface wherein the tool operating surface includes at least one surface section that engages the material recess. Also this provides a measuring tool through which a person skilled in the art can directly determine the deformation that is caused by unauthorized use. Simultaneously connecting and disengaging the connecting element is provided with this tool safely and without any deformation since the tool operating surface is configured corresponding to the tool engagement surface. 
         [0042]    Last not least independent patent protection is claimed for the method according to the invention for providing a fastening system with a closure seal and/or a torque indicator, wherein a fastener element of the fastening system, in particular a bolt or a nut is provided with a tool engagement surface that is engageable by a tool, in particular a standard tool for at least partial form locking engagement with the tool for fastening or disengaging the fastening system which is characterized in that the tool engagement surface is provided with at least one weak spot which causes a deformation of the weak spot and/or at least of a portion adjacent to the weak spot when imparting a particular torque upon the tool engagement surface in order to indicate unauthorized use or to indicate unauthorized use with a sufficiently large torque. 
         [0043]    Independent patent protection is also claimed for the method according to the invention for indicating unauthorized used and/or a sufficient torque for a fastener element of a fastening system, wherein portions of the tool engagement surface of the fastener element are provided which are deformed or sheared off by engaging portions of the tool operating surface. 
         [0044]    Advantageously the fastener element according to the invention is used in this method and/or the tool according to the invention is used for connecting, disengaging or testing of the fastener element. 
         [0045]    Within the scope of the current invention features of the fastener element and/or of the tool can be used as features of the method and features of the method can also be used as features of the fastener element or of the tool unless stated differently. 
         [0046]    Furthermore unless stated differently all features can be combined with each other at will. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0047]    Additional features and advantages of the invention are described based on embodiments with reference to appended drawing figures, wherein identical and equivalent components are designated with identical reference numerals, wherein: 
           [0048]      FIGS. 1A, 1B  illustrate a first advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0049]      FIGS. 2A, 2B  illustrate a first advantageous embodiment of the tool according to the invention and the combination of this tool with the fastener element according to  FIGS. 1A, 1B ; 
           [0050]      FIGS. 3A, 3B  illustrate a first standard tool and the combination of the fastener element according to  FIG. 1A   1 B with the first standard tool; 
           [0051]      FIGS. 4A, 4B  illustrate a second standard tool and the combination of the fastener element according to  FIGS. 1A, 1B  with the second standard tool; 
           [0052]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  illustrate a second advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0053]      FIGS. 6A, 6B  illustrate a second advantageous embodiment of the tool according to the invention; 
           [0054]      FIGS. 7A, 7B  illustrate a third advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0055]      FIGS. 8A, 8B  illustrate a fourth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0056]      FIGS. 9A, 9B  illustrate a fifth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 10  illustrates a combination of the fastener element according to  FIGS. 9A, 9B  with a third standard tool; 
           [0058]      FIGS. 11A, 11B  illustrate a sixth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 12  illustrates a combination of the fastener element according to the invention according to  FIG. 10 a , 10 b    with a third standard tool; 
           [0060]      FIG. 13A, 13B  illustrates a seventh advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0061]      FIG. 14  illustrates an eighth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0062]      FIGS. 15, 16  illustrate a ninth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0063]      FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C  illustrate a tenth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
           [0064]      FIG. 18  illustrates an eleventh advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; and 
           [0065]      FIG. 19  illustrates a twelfth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element according to the invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0066]      FIGS. 1A, 1B, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 11A, 11B, 13A, 13B and 14-19  schematically illustrate fastener elements according to the invention wherein  FIGS. 1A, 5A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 11A, 13A and 14-19  respectively illustrate top views of the drive and  FIGS. 1B, 5B, 7B, 8B, 9B, 11B and 13B  illustrate the associated perspective views. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 10 and 12  respectively illustrate combinations of fastener elements according to the invention with tools and thus in inserted condition of the tools into the respective fastener elements. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 1A, 1B  illustrate a first fastener element according to the invention configured as a bolt  1  whose drive  3  has a tool engagement surface  5  which is configured as a hexagonal which includes a weak spot configured as a circular segment shaped material recess  9  in each of the six edges  7 . This material recess  9  has an extension b of approximately 0.5 with respect to an edge length a, this means b/a is approximately 0.5. Thus, singular points  11  are formed which are loaded when using the drive  3  with a hexagonal wrench, wherein the loading is performed relative to the drive base element  13  with respect to shearing along a shearing line  15 . 
         [0069]    The dimension of the weak spots formed as material recesses  9  and thus the dimension of the points  11  is thus selected so that the torques that are required for a disengaging or fixating a fastening provided by the screw  1  leads to a deformation or shearing in a portion of the points  11  or the transition between the points  11  and recesses  9  when a hexagonal Allen assembly wrench is used and not an assembly wrench whose tool operating surface provides full surface form locking along the tool engagement surface. 
         [0070]    A tool  17  according to the invention that is illustrated in top view in  FIG. 2A  for authorized use of the fastener element  1  includes a tool engagement surface  19  which exactly corresponds with the tool engagement surface  5  that is provided with the material recesses  9 . This means when actuating the drive  3  with the tool  17  a full surface form locking contact is established between the tool operating surface  19  and the tool engagement surface  5  so that points  11  cannot be sheared off. During an authorized use of this type no deformation of the drive will occur (c.f.  FIG. 2B ). 
         [0071]    However, when one of the standard tools  21 ,  23  illustrated in  FIGS. 3A   4 A in top view is used wherein  FIG. 3A  illustrates an involute profile assembly wrench  21  and  FIG. 4A  illustrates a Torx® assembly wrench, then the drive  3  of the bolt  1  according to  FIG. 1A, 1B  has no full surface form locking with the respective tool operating surfaces  25 ,  27  so that a shearing of the points  11  occurs when using the involute profile assembly wrench  21  and a deformation of the points  11  occurs when using the Torx® assembly wrench  23 . This shearing effect would for example also be observable when using a hexagonal wrench (also designated socket) which is not illustrated. 
         [0072]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  illustrate a second fastener element according to the invention configured as a bolt  31 , whose drive  33  illustrates a tool engagement surface  35  which is configured as an internal hexagonal and which includes a weak spot configured as a circular segment shaped material recess  39  in each of the six edges  37 . This material recess  39  has an extension d of approximately 0.5 with respect to the edge length c, this means d/c is approximately 0.5. This forms singular double points  41  which are loaded with a hexagonal relative to the drive base element  43  in shearing  45  when using the drive  33 . 
         [0073]    In order to prevent a deformation of this type a form locking special wrench  51  is used for unauthorized use of the drive  33  wherein the special wrench  51  includes corresponding circular segment shaped protrusions  55  corresponding to the material recesses  39  relative to a hexagonal  53  illustrated in  FIG. 6A  in a perspective view and in  FIG. 6B  in a top view. 
         [0074]    The fastener elements  1 ,  31  described supra include symmetrically introduced material recesses  9 ,  39  with respect to the tool engagement surfaces  5 ,  35 . This would create deformations of the drive  5 ,  35  for each unauthorized use, this means during disengagement and also during fixation of the fastener element  1 ,  31 . 
         [0075]    In  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 11A and 11B  respectively 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th  and 6 th  advantageous embodiments of the fastening dement  61 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67  according to the invention are shown in a top view of the respective drive  69 ,  71 ,  73 ,  75  or in a perspective view. 
         [0076]    Thus, the bolts  61 ,  63  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B  are bolts whose drive  69 ,  71  has a tool engagement surface  71 ,  79  which is configured as an external hexagonal and which includes a weak spot configured as a material recess  85 ,  87  in each of the six edges  81 ,  83 . 
         [0077]    The bolt  61  includes a semi-circular material recess  85  which is introduced clock wise from a center of the edge  81  towards a corner  89 . With reference to the edge length e the material recess  85  has an extension f of approximately 0.25, this means f/e is approximately 0.25 Thus, symmetrical points  91  are configured which are loaded relative to the drive base element  93  in shearing when using the drive  69  counter clock wise with an Allen wrench but which are not deformed when using the drive  69  clock wise with an Allen wrench relative to the drive base element. This is caused by the fact that using the drive counter clock wise presses material of the point  91  into the material recess  85  which rounds the point  91 . 
         [0078]    The bolt  63  according to  FIG. 8A, 8B  differs from the previously described bolt  61  according to  FIG. 7A, 7B  only in that the material recesses  87  are not only introduced in a semi-circular shape  85  but with angles. The effects with respect to an unauthorized use are the same as described for the bolt  61 . 
         [0079]    The bolts  65 ,  67  illustrated in  FIGS. 9A, 9B, 11A and 11B  are bolts whose drive  73 ,  75  includes a tool engagement surface  97 ,  99  which is configured as an internal hexagonal and which includes a weak spot configured as a material recess  105 ,  107  in each of the six edges  101 ,  103 . 
         [0080]    The bolt  65  includes semi-circular material recesses  105  which are introduced clockwise from a center of the edge  101  moved towards a corner  109 . With respect to the edge length g each material recess  105  has an extension h of approximately 0.25, this means h/g is approximately 0.25. Thus, asymmetrically formed points  111  are formed which are loaded relative to the drive base element  113  in shearing  115  when using the drive  73  counter clockwise with a hexagonal (see  FIG. 10 ), however when using the drive  73  clockwise with a hexagonal they are not deformed relative to the drive base element  113 . This is caused by the fact that a counter clock wise use presses material of the point  111  into the material recess  105  which rounds the point  111 . 
         [0081]    When as illustrated in  FIG. 10  in top view the standard tool configured as an Allen wrench  117  is used for using the drive  73 , then there is no full surface form locking engagement between the tool operating surface  119  and the drive  73  of the bolt  65  according to  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B  so that a shearing or rounding of the points  11  will be provided when the drive  73  is rotated counter clockwise. However, when the rotation is performed clockwise then there is sufficient contact between the tool operating surface  119  and the drive  73  in the portions  121  so that no deformation occurs. 
         [0082]    The bolt  67  according to  FIG. 11A, 11B  differs from the bolt  65  according to  FIG. 9A, 9B  described supra only in that the material recesses  107  are not introduced in a semi-circular shape  105  but with angles. The effects with reference to unauthorized use (c.f.  FIG. 12 ) are the same as described for the bolt  65 . 
         [0083]    Thus, when the standard tool configured as an Allen wrench  117  as illustrated in  FIG. 12  in top view is used for using the drive  75  then there is no full surface form locking between the drive  75  of the screw  67  according to  FIG. 11A, 11B  and the tool operating surface  119  so that a shearing or rounding of the points  123  is going to occur when the drive  75  is rotated counter clock wise. However, when a clock wise rotation is performed, then a sufficient contact between the tool operating surface  119  and the drive  75  is provided in the portions  125  so that no deformation is provided. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 13A, 13B  illustrate a 7 th  advantageous embodiment of the fastener element  131  in top view and in a perspective view. It is evident that this is a bolt  131  with a drive  133  configured as an external hexagon. Thus, the weak spots  135  are generated in that the material recesses  87  of the bolt  63  of  FIGS. 8A, 8B  were subsequently filled again with the material  137  which has less hardness than the surrounding material  131 . For example the material of the weak spot  137  is a plastic material and the remaining material is stainless steel. Then unauthorized use has the same effects as described for the screw  63  according to  FIG. 8A, 8B . 
         [0085]      FIG. 14  illustrates an 8 th  advantageous embodiment of the fastener element  140  in top view. It is easily evident that this is a bolt  140  with a drive  141  in the form of an internal hexagonal. Thus, two different types of weak spots  145 ,  147  are provided with reference to the edges  143 , namely a first type of weak spots  145  which is arranged directly at a corner of the internal hexagonal and a second type of weak spot  147  which is arranged offset from the corners of the inner hexagonal, wherein the weak spot, however, is not centrally arranged between two corners, but slightly closer towards a corner  149 . 
         [0086]    This particular embodiment with two differently configured types of weak spots  145 ,  147  is selected when only small tightening torques can be used for smaller fastener elements  140  since there is a risk of damaging the fastener element  140  otherwise. Then material deformation occurs at the point  151  upon unauthorized use. In order for this material deformation to safely occur also for lower tightening torques fewer, namely advantageously two material deformations  147  of the second type and more, namely advantageously four material deformations  145  of the first type are used. Typically certainly also fewer material deformations  147  of the second type can be used depending on which tightening torques are tolerated by the fastener element  140 . 
         [0087]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show a 9 th  advantageous embodiment of the fastener element  160  in top view. It is evident that this is a bolt  160  with a Torx drive  161 , thus also two different types of weak spots  163 ,  165  are provided, namely a first type of weak spot  163  which is arranged directly adjacent to a corner of the Torx tool engagement surface  171  and a second type of weak spot  165  is provided which is configured as an undercut with respect to the tool engagement surface  171  so that a protrusion  167  is obtained which includes the tool operating surface  169 . It is evident from  FIG. 15  that in fixation direction F the tool operating surface  169  with its sections  169   a  transmitting the main force is applied to the drive  161  with its entirety to the tool operating surface  171 . Thus, the maximum force can be transferred during fixation. 
         [0088]    It is evident from  FIG. 16  that the tool operating surface  169  transferring the main force penetrates in disengagement direction L with its sections  169   b  almost everywhere into recesses of the weak spots of the first type  163 , but contacts the surface  173  of the protrusion  167  partially. Due to the undercut  165  the protrusion  167  forms a rated fracture area or rated deformation area. When applying a force in the disengagement direction L wherein the force is required for disengaging the fastener element  160  the protrusion  167  is apparently sheared off by the tool operating surface  169  until the sections  169   b  that transmit the main force have completely penetrated into the recesses  163  or the shearing and deformation forces upon the protrusion  167  are greater than the forces used for disengagement. During disengagement the tool  175  has a propensity to penetrate the recesses of the weak spots  163  of the first type and is only prevented from doing so by the protrusion  167  forming a resistance, wherein the protrusion, however, is sheared off or at least deformed by the forces used for disengagement. The exact effect can be determined by a length and width of the protrusion  167  and by a number of the protrusions  167 . 
         [0089]      FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17   c  illustrates a tenth advantageous embodiment of the fastener element  180  according to the invention in top view. It is evident that this is a bolt  180  with an internal hexagonal drive  181 . Thus, also two different types of weak spots  184 ,  185  are provided, namely a first type of weak spot  183  which is arranged as a recess directly adjacent to a corner  187  of the inner hexagonal tool engagement surface  189  and a second type of weak spot  185  which is configured as a recess that is arranged offset from the corner  187   a  by the distance. 
         [0090]    It is apparent from  FIG. 17B  that the portions  191  of the tool operating surface  193  of the tool  194  which transfer the main force during disengagement L contact the portions  195  of the tool engagement surface  189  with their full surface so that the force required for disengagement can be transferred and no deformation is required. 
         [0091]    It is apparent from  FIG. 17 c    that only the portion  191  out of the portions of the tool operating surface  193  which transfer the main force during fixating F contacts the protrusion  197 . Due to the recess  185  the protrusion  197  forms a rated fracture area or a rated deformation area. When applying a force in the fixation direction F which force is required for fixating the fastener element  180  the protrusion  197  is apparently sheared off when the force imparted upon the protrusion  197  by the applied torque is greater than it&#39;s shearing or deformation force. When the shearing or deformation force is adjusted so that a desired torque has to be applied in order to cause the shearing or deformation then an indication of an applied torque of a sufficient amount is provided in the sense of a torque seal. Setting the desired torque can be determined in turn by the length and width of the protrusion  197  and the shape of the recess  185  and the number of such protrusions  197 . 
         [0092]    In order to exclusively provide a shearing or deformation of the protrusion  197  and no deformation of the remaining tool engagement surface  189  a length m of the weak spot  183  of the first type on the tool engagement surface  189  is selected exactly as long as a length l of the adjacent portion of the tool engagement surface  189 . Thus, a folding of the tool operating surface  193  relative to point  199  is provided during fixation. Thus, the length m can also be selected longer for this purpose. 
         [0093]    In this embodiment the first weak spot  183  is configured rounded. Thus, it has a shape so that a shearing or deformation is provided by the tool operating surface  193  in the recess  183  (not illustrated in  FIG. 17 c   ). Thus, a deformation or shearing of the protrusion  197  is provided and also a deformation of the recess  183 . In order to prevent the latter the recess  183  would be configured corresponding to the tool operating surface  193  so that the tool operating surface  193  contacts the recess  183  fiat in a folded over condition. 
         [0094]      FIG. 18  illustrates and eleventh advantageous embodiment of the fastener element  200  in top view. It is evident that this is essentially a drive  201  with an inverted configuration compared to the fastener element  180 . Thus, a shearing or deformation of the protrusion  209  formed by the weak spot  205  of the second type is formed when the warranty seal is disengaged and the tool operating surface in turn has a propensity to penetrate the recess of the weak spot  203  of the first type. Furthermore an additional weak spot  207  of the second type is provided wherein the protrusion  209   a  formed by the weak spot  207  is slightly larger than the protrusion  209  since the length s is greater than the length r. The different protrusions facilitate to define the indicated torques more precisely in particular for torque seals, for example when particular protrusions to be fabricated are out of tolerance ranges that can be implemented through fabrication. 
         [0095]    This combination of different weak spots of the second type can also be used for torque seals for example when an inverted configuration of the drive  201  from  FIG. 18  is used. Thus the torques for warranty seals can also be defined more precisely. 
         [0096]    As a matter of principle also a combination of warranty seal and torque seal is useful, for example a torque seal according to  FIG. 17A and 17   c  is provided in fixation direction F and in disengagement direction L for example a protrusion according to  FIG. 15 . A combination of this type is provided in principle already with the bolt  31  according to  FIG. 5A, 5B , wherein the recess  39  would not be arranged symmetrically but asymmetrically in order to define tightening and disengagement torques precisely. 
         [0097]    An embodiment of this type is illustrated in  FIG. 19 . A bolt  220  with an internal hexagonal drive  221  is shown, wherein the drive  221  includes weak spots of the first type  223   a,    223   b  and weak spots of the second type  225   a,    225   b  that are respectively arranged mirror symmetrical with respect to a mirror plane S, wherein the weak spots are respectively provided in the form of recesses, wherein the weak spots of the second type  225   a,    225   b  respectively form protrusions  227   a,    227   b  which act against the tool  229 . This particular embodiment causes a penetration of the tool operating surface  231  into the weak spots of the first type  223   a  in disengagement direction L and the weak spots of the second type are  223   b  in the fixation direction, wherein the protrusions  227   b  have to be overcome as a resistance in the disengagement direction and the protrusions  227   a  have to be overcome as resistances in the fixation direction. 
         [0098]    It is appreciated that all drawn shear lines are not actual body lines but are only drawn for illustration purposes. 
         [0099]    Unless stated differently all features of the instant invention can be combined with each other freely. Also the features described in the figure description unless stated differently can be freely combined with other features of the invention. Thus, device features can also be used as method features and method features can be used as device features. 
         [0100]    It has become apparent that the instant invention renders manipulations by unauthorized persons detectable in a very simple and cost effective manner for fastener elements of a fastening system or it can be determined very easily whether a particular predetermined torque was correctly used for fastener elements of a fastening system. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS 
       [0101]      1  bolt 
         [0102]      3  drive 
         [0103]      5  tool engagement surface 
         [0104]      7  edges 
         [0105]      9  material recess 
         [0106]    a edge length 
         [0107]    b extension 
         [0108]      11  points 
         [0109]      13  drive base element 
         [0110]      15  shear off line 
         [0111]      17  tool 
         [0112]      19  tool operating surface 
         [0113]      21 ,  23  standard tools 
         [0114]      25 ,  27  tool operating surface 
         [0115]      31  bolt 
         [0116]      33  drive 
         [0117]      35  tool engagement surface 
         [0118]      37  edges 
         [0119]      39  material recess 
         [0120]    c edge length 
         [0121]    d extension 
         [0122]      41  twin points 
         [0123]      43  drive base element 
         [0124]      45  shear off line 
         [0125]      51  special wrench 
         [0126]      53  hexagonal 
         [0127]      55  protrusions 
         [0128]      61 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67  fastener element 
         [0129]      69 ,  71 ,  73 ,  75  drive 
         [0130]      77 ,  79  tool engagement surface 
         [0131]      81 ,  83  edges 
         [0132]      85 ,  87  material recess 
         [0133]      89  corner 
         [0134]    e edge length 
         [0135]    f extension 
         [0136]      91  point 
         [0137]      93  drive base element 
         [0138]      95  shear off line 
         [0139]      97 ,  99  tool engagement surface 
         [0140]      101 ,  103  edge 
         [0141]      105 ,  107  material recess 
         [0142]      109  corner 
         [0143]    g edge length 
         [0144]    h extension 
         [0145]      111  point 
         [0146]      113  drive base element 
         [0147]      115  shear off line 
         [0148]      117  Allen wrench 
         [0149]      119  tool operating surface 
         [0150]      121  portion 
         [0151]      123  point 
         [0152]      125  portion 
         [0153]      131  fastener element 
         [0154]      133  drive 
         [0155]      135  weak spot 
         [0156]      137  filling material 
         [0157]      140  fastener element 
         [0158]      141  drive 
         [0159]      143  edge 
         [0160]      145  material recess 
         [0161]      147  material recess 
         [0162]      149  corner 
         [0163]      151  point 
         [0164]      160  bolt 
         [0165]      161  Torx drive 
         [0166]      163 ,  165  weak spot 
         [0167]      167  protrusion 
         [0168]      169  tool operating surface 
         [0169]    F fixation direction 
         [0170]      169   a  main force transferring sections of tool operating surface  169   
         [0171]    L disengagement direction 
         [0172]      169   b  main force transferring section of tool operating surface  169   
         [0173]      171  Torx tool engagement surface 
         [0174]      173  surface of protrusion  167   
         [0175]      175  tool 
         [0176]      180  bolt 
         [0177]      181  internal hexagon drive 
         [0178]      183 ,  185  weak spots, recesses 
         [0179]      187  corner of inner hexagonal tool engagement surface  189   
         [0180]      187   a  corner of inner hexagonal tool engagement surface  189   
         [0181]      189  inner hexagon tool engagement surface 
         [0182]    k distance 
         [0183]    L disengagement direction 
         [0184]      191  main force transferring portions of the tool operating surface  193   
         [0185]      191   a  main force transmitting portion of the tool operating surface  193   
         [0186]      193  tool operating surface 
         [0187]      195  portions of the tool engagement surface  189   
         [0188]    F fixation direction 
         [0189]      197  protrusion 
         [0190]    l length of weak spot  183   
         [0191]    m length of adjacent portion of tool operating surface  189   
         [0192]      199  point 
         [0193]      200  bolt 
         [0194]      201  drive 
         [0195]      203 ,  205 ,  207  weak spots 
         [0196]      209 ,  209   a  protrusions 
         [0197]    r, s lengths 
         [0198]      220  bolt 
         [0199]      221  drive 
         [0200]      223   a,    223   b  weak spots, recesses 
         [0201]      225   a,    225   b  weak spots, recesses 
         [0202]      227   a,    227   b  protrusions 
         [0203]      229  tool 
         [0204]      231  tool operating surface 
         [0205]    S mirror plane