Fastener module

A fastener module includes a washer having an upper portion with a first passage defined therein and a lower portion with a second passage defined therein and communicating with the first passage. A head is mounted on the upper portion of the washer and has a shank extending downwardly from a lower portion thereof and mounted in the first passage. An annular groove is defined around a periphery of the shank and communicates with the second passage. A snapping ring is mounted in the annular groove and received in the second passage and is abutted against the upper portion of the washer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a fastener module, and more particularly 
to a nut module, bolt module or the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A conventional fastener module is shown in FIG. 23, however, there still 
remain shortcomings therein. 
There will be a complete illustration in the detailed description of the 
preferred embodiments, concerning the conventional fastener module. 
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate disadvantages 
of the conventional fastener module. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
fastener module comprising a washer including an upper portion having a 
first passage defined therein and a lower portion having a second passage 
defined therein and communicating with the first passage, thereby forming 
a through passage. The second passage has a diameter greater than that of 
the first passage. 
A head is mounted on the upper portion of the washer and has a shank 
extending downwardly from a lower portion thereof and mounted in the first 
passage. An annular groove is defined around a periphery of the shank and 
communicates with the second passage. A snapping ring is mounted in the 
annular groove and received in the second passage and is abutted against 
the upper portion of the washer. 
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from a 
careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with 
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to 
FIG. 23, illustrating a conventional fastener module. The fastener module 
can be adapted to be a nut module 70 which includes a hexagonal head 71 
having a hole 72 threadedly and vertically defined therethrough and a 
flange 73 laterally protruding from a lower portion thereof. A washer 74 
is mounted on an underside of the head 71 and has a hook 740 encompassing 
the flange 73 of the head 71. A passage 741 is vertically defined through 
the washer 74 and communicates with the hole 72. However, the hook 740 of 
the washer 74 is not easily made to precisely mate with the flange 73 of 
the head 71, thereby greatly increasing the price of manufacturing the 
washer 74. 
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fastener 
module in accordance with the present invention is adapted to function as 
a nut module 10 as shown in FIG. 1 or a bolt module 30 as shown in FIG. 2. 
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the nut module 10 comprises a washer 20 
including an upper portion 21 having a first passage 210 defined therein 
and a lower portion having a second passage 22 defined therein and 
communicating with the first passage 210, thereby forming a through 
passage. Preferably, the second passage 22 has a diameter greater than 
that of the first passage 210. 
A hexagonal head 11 is mounted on the upper portion 21 of the washer 20 and 
has a shank 13 extending downwardly from a lower portion thereof and 
mounted in the first passage 210. A hole 12 is threadedly defined through 
the head 11 vertically and an annular groove 130 is defined along an outer 
periphery of the shank 13 and communicates with the second passage 22. A 
snapping ring 50 is mounted in the annular groove 130 and received in the 
second passage 22 and is stopped by the upper portion 21 of the washer 20. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the washer 20 has preferably a corrugated surface 202 
formed on the underside thereof for increasing the friction thereof. 
Referring to FIG. 6, in accordance with another embodiment of the present 
invention, a plate gasket 42 is mounted around the shank 13 of the head 11 
and is urged between the lower portion of the head 11 and the upper 
portion 21 of the washer 20. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in accordance with a further embodiment of the 
present invention, the head 11 has a recess 14 defined in the lower 
portion thereof. A depression 23 is defined in the upper portion 21 of the 
washer 20 and is located above and communicates with the first passage 
210. Preferably, the depression 23 has a diameter greater than that of the 
first passage 210. An elastic member such as a waveform gasket 40 is 
mounted around the shank 13 and disposed between the recess 14 and the 
depression 23 and is urged between the lower portion of the head 11 and 
the upper portion 21 of the washer 20. 
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in accordance with a further embodiment of the 
present invention, the head 11 has a recess 14 defined in the lower 
portion thereof. An annular flange 24 is formed on and extends upwardly 
from the upper portion 21 of the washer 20 and is disposed in the recess 
14. 
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, in accordance with a further embodiment of 
the present invention, the head 11 also has the recess 14 defined in the 
lower portion thereof. An annular flange 24 is formed on and extends 
upwardly from the upper portion 21 of the washer 20 and is disposed in the 
recess 14. A depression 240 is defined in the annular flange 24 and is 
located above and communicates with the first passage 210. Preferably, the 
depression 240 has a diameter greater than that of the first passage 210. 
A waveform gasket 40 is mounted around the shank 13 and disposed between 
the recess 14 and the depression 240 and is urged between the lower 
portion of the head 11 and the upper portion 21 of the washer 20. 
Referring to FIGS. 13-21, the fastener module is adapted to function as a 
bolt module 30 which has a hexagonal head 31, a shank 32 with an annular 
groove 320 defined therein, and a recess 33 defined in an underside 
thereof. The structure and feature of the bolt module 30 are similar to 
that of the nut module 10 and will not be further described in detail. 
Referring to FIG. 22, the nut module 10 is employed to fasten articles to a 
bed of a milling machine during a milling process. 
Accordingly, by such an arrangement, the fastener module in accordance with 
the present invention is easily produced, thereby greatly decreasing cost 
in manufacturing. In addition, the waveform gasket 40 can be adapted to 
absorb shock or vibration created in a working process, thereby preventing 
the fastener module from becoming loosened. Further, the flange 24 can be 
provided to prevent dust or iron chips produced during the working process 
from entering into the space defined between the head and the washer 20. 
It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments of 
the present invention may be made without departing from the scope and 
spirit of the present invention.