Patent Publication Number: US-6905297-B2

Title: Locking nut, bolt and clip systems and assemblies

Description:
The present application is a is a divisional patent application based upon and claiming priority from patent application Ser. No. 09/850,273, filed May 7, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,663, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/389,946 filed Sep. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,411, which was a divisional patent application based upon and claiming priority from patent application Ser. No. 09/056,292, filed Apr. 7, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,289, which continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/747,323 filed Nov. 12, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,224, which claims the priority of provisional patent applications Ser. Nos. 60/015,230 and 60/015,980, respectively filed on Apr. 10, 1996 and Apr. 15, 1996, and the present application is also based upon and claims the benefit of provisional patent applications Ser. Nos. 60/040,987 and 60/050,467, respectively filed on Apr. 2, 1997 and Jun. 23, 1997. 

   BACKGROUND ART 
   U.S. Pat. No. 307,722 to Klemroth discloses a bolt A with longitudinal channel D running through the crest of the threads. The nut has a tine extending above a flat end surface of the nut. The tine pops into and out of channel D. U.S. Pat. No. 591,062 to Smith discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel which enables a chisel to be placed in a slot in a nut block and further to stop rotation of the bolt with respect to the block. U.S. Pat. No. 1,088,892 to Foreman discloses a screw with a longitudinal channel extending through the threads of the bolt. The tine is located outside of the nut threads. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,136,310 to Burnett discloses small notches cut in the top of the crest of the bolt threads. The notches define radially aligned surfaces. A flexible tine in the interior of the nut moves in and out of the small notches. The tine is inserted in a tangential cavity in the nut. U.S. Pat. No. 1,211,194 to Lang discloses what appears to be a bolt with longitudinal channels on its threads. A sheet steel spring is wrapped around an exterior portion of the nut and a portion of the spring is generally radially inserted through the nut to lock into the bolt channels. U.S. Pat. No. 1,226,143 to Stubblefield et al. discloses a bolt with longitudinal channels having a somewhat radial surface and an angularly disposed surface. The nut has an annular groove or recess on one end face thereof. A semi-circular member fits within the groove. One end of the semi-circular member defines a tangentially oriented tine that pops into and out of the bolt channels. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,245,362 to Lynch discloses a bolt with a single, offset bolt thread crest which catches on a cut-out in the nut. U.S. Pat. No. 1,278,028 to Savory et al. discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel and tines in a nut which are mounted in an internally located groove. The internal groove has a single radial dimension. U.S. Pat. No. 1,465,148 to Rosenberg discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel through the thread crest. No nut is shown. U.S. Pat. No. 1,703,947 to Nation discloses a bolt with several longitudinal channels. A single tine is located at an interior position in the nut. The tine in the nut has a terminal end that is radially moved inward based upon the position of a locking cam. The locking cam biases the terminal end of the tine towards the notches in the bolt. The locking cam extends radially through the nut. U.S. Pat. No. 2,232,336 to Meersteiner discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel. No nut is shown. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,181 to Ilsemann discloses non-load bearing or carrying faces of most of the bolt threads which are deformed and which carry locking projections. Locking projections on a plurality of bolt threads are adapted to engage nut threads and compensate for the clearances in the assembly to align and frictionally lock the nut and bolt together. The non-load carrying faces of each bolt thread include two annular series of spaced, rounded projections. The surfaces of the projections are substantially rounded. Bolt projections force the load bearing surface of the bolt against the load bearing surfaces of the nut. U.S. Pat. No. 2,484,645 to Baumle discloses a bolt with longitudinal channels. No nut is shown. U.S. Pat. No. 2,521,257 to Sample discloses a bolt with longitudinal channels. Springy tines are mounted at one end of the nut and the tines flip in and out of channels. The tines are sheared from the threads on the nut. Accordingly, there is no space radially behind the tines when the tine is fully compressed by the crest on the bolt thread. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,390 to Stevens discloses bolts which appear to have longitudinal channels through the threads. A plurality of radially inward pointed teeth on the nut provide locking for the combination. U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,746 to Walton discloses that each crest of each thread on the bolt has a gouged out portion. These portions, when aligned, are similar to a longitudinal channel. No nut is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,717 to Orlomoski discloses threads on a bolt which include two outwardly directed prongs. The prongs flex inward when the bolt is screwed onto a nut. The sliced away wedge or prongs do not have a narrow mouth and a deep throat. No nut is disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,757 to Wright discloses a nut with a bore having a triangular cross-sectional dimension. U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,575 to Ollis et al. discloses a thread on each bolt with a plurality of ridges forming wedge surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,899 to Stewart discloses a top of each crest of the bolt thread having a slice and a prong protruding therefrom. The prong fits within a cut-out depression in the root of the nut thread. The cut-outs at the root of the threads do not appear to be radially aligned. U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,731 to Taber discloses a root of the nut with a cut-out and the bolt having a plurality of wedges which fit within the nut cut-out. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,703 to Wing discloses a nut with a bore with an imperfect, non-symmetrical cross-sectional aspect. U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,208 to Kaiser et al. discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel through the threads. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,342 to Stencel discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel into which snaps inwardly biased wings from a nut insert. The nut insert has a radially extending top flange (similar to a hat ring) and is formed as an elongated cylinder which fits within a cylindrical end bore in the nut. The wings from the insert protrude inwardly at an angle, tangentially inward towards the bolt&#39;s axial centerline. The wings are pressed inward from the elongated cylinder of the nut insert. The terminal end of the wings lock into axial or longitudinal grooves running through the bolt thread. The nut insert is keyed to a certain position on the nut by a key-tab and a complementary lockway. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,468 to DiStasio discloses a bolt having one or more longitudinal channels through the bolt threads. The nut has one or more tines which cooperate with the channels to prevent counter-rotation of the bolt with respect to the nut. The tine or tines define a narrow mouth leading to a wider throat behind the tine such that the mouth and throat enable the tine to flex therein while the bolt threads radially move the tine back and forth during one-way rotation of the bolt with respect to the nut. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,208,210 to Purcell discloses a locking nut with tangential slot within which is disposed a spring pawl. The terminal end of the pawl interacts with a spiral groove through the bolt thread. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 827,289 to Bowers discloses a generally circular insert having a key end, fitted into a radial keyway in the nut, and a tine terminal end which cooperates with a longitudinal or axial groove on the bolt thread. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 589,599 to Hardy discloses a semi-circular nut insert with a generally radially aligned tine. The tine locks into a longitudinal groove in the bolt thread. A space is provided radially behind the tine to permit the tine to flex inboard and outboard as the tine moves into and out of the longitudinal groove on the bolt thread. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,378 to Van Der Drift discloses a nut insert which is flat punched to define a series of circumferential tines. The insert has a cut-out region radially behind each tine. The terminal end of each tine falls into a recess at the bottom of the root of the bolt thread. The nut insert is captured in a recess at an end face of the nut. 
   U.K. Patent Publication No. 142,748 to Thibert discloses a semi-circular nut insert having a tangentially oriented locking tine. The tine moves tangentially, not radially, when the tine drops into and moves out of the longitudinal groove in the bolt thread. 
   U.K. Patent Publication No. 662,298 to Simmonds a swagged nut insert. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide locking nut and bolt systems with one or more compressible tines carried by nut inserts or formed on U, S and J-shaped clips. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking nut and bolt system with a latch mechanism which places the compressible tine into a locking position or a closed position. 
   It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a locking nut and bolt system wherein the bolt head carries notches thereon and the compressible tine or tines block counter-rotational movement by interacting with the notches on the bolt head. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide locking nut and bolt systems which utilize bolts having a longitudinal aligned locking channel in the same plane as the bolt&#39;s axial centerline and bolts having a locking channel forming a spiral about the axial centerline. 
   It is an additional object to provide for removal tools for the locking nut and bolt combination. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The locking nut and bolt system utilizes a bolt with an axial centerline and a bolt thread having one or a plurality of notches generally longitudinally spaced in a predetermined pattern with proximal notches being longitudinally adjacent each other on the bolt thread. Each notch has a lock face and an opposing slope. The nut, with complementary threads, includes a recess on an end face. The recess has a central region, a recessional mouth open to the internal nut thread passage and a tangential cavity tangentially disposed with respect to the nut thread. An elongated tine has a planar tine body, a distal tine end offset from the planar tine body and proximal tine end formed as a loop. The loop has a shape complementary to the tangential cavity shape. The tine loop may be U-shaped with a respective leg exerting radially directed or tangentially directed opposing spring forces against the nut walls forming the tangential cavity or may be a solid planar element sized to fit within the tangential cavity. 
   In another embodiment, the recess on the end face of the nut defines a circumferential recess about the nut&#39;s axial centerline and includes a shoulder. A nut insert is placed in the recess on the shoulder. The nut insert has a planar body defined as a peripheral ring and at least one tine depends from the planar body in a substantially tangential plane with respect to the axial centerline of the bolt. 
   In both embodiments, the tine has a distal tine end adapted to latch onto the lock face of the notch on the bolt and, when the distal tine end is not disposed in one or more notches, the tine end moves on the bolt thread crest. When the distal tine end is in the notch or notches, the lock face of the notch prevents counter-rotational movement of the bolt with respect to the nut when the distal tine end abuts the lock face. 
   Preferably, the nut insert includes a plurality of tines circumferentially disposed about the planar peripheral ring of the nut insert. In a further embodiment, the nut insert includes planar support plates extending radially inward toward the axial centerline thereby creating radial free space for the radial movement of the tine beneath the planar support plates and the planar peripheral ring of the nut insert. 
   In a further embodiment, locking is provided by an elongated locking unit formed as a cylinder. This locking unit cylinder is mounted in the nut recess with an axially rearward ring member disposed in the circumferential nut recess. The cylindrical locking unit axially extends outbound from the nut coaxial with the axial centerline of the bolt. The cylindrical locking unit includes at least one tine, and preferably a plurality of tines, tangentially and radially extending inward toward the axial centerline. In a further embodiment, each tine is disposed adjacent a respective arcuate cut-out on the cylinder. The axial disposition of the cylindrical locking unit with respect to the nut and the cut-out permits the user to visibly identify whether the bolt is locked with respect to the nut because the user can see the disposition of the distal tine ends in and out of the notches. When the distal tine ends are in one or more notches, abutting one or more lock faces, counter-rotational movement is prevented. When the distal tine ends are riding on the bolt thread crest, the nut is not locked with respect to the bolt. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention utilizes a locking element captured at the end face of a nut by the disposition of a rearward ring member of locking element in the nut recess. The locking element has a plurality of axially protruding legs and each leg has a respective tine protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the bolt. Each tine has a distal tine end adapted to latch onto the lock face of the notch and either ride on the bolt thread crest or prevent counter-rotational movement when the distal tine end abuts the lock face. 
   The one way locking features of the present invention are carried forward into U, J and S-shaped locking nut and bolt assemblies. As explained later in detail, these locking assembly clips are utilized in conjunction with bolts having an axially aligned locking channel formed by a plurality of notches or a spiral locking channel formed by a plurality of notches in a predetermined pattern about a longitudinal and axial centerline of the bolt. In one embodiment, an elongated cylindrical locking unit is formed on one of the legs of the U, J or S-shaped clip as a cylindrical locking unit. A nut is formed on the other clip leg. The cylindrical axis of the locking unit is perpendicular to the plane of the clip leg and has at least one tine, and preferably a plurality of tines, protruding tangentially and radially toward the cylindrical axis. The distal tine end of each tine is adapted to latch onto the lock face of the bolt notch or notches. The tines are disposed on the cylindrical locking unit at corresponding cut-outs. A nut is formed on another leg of the clip. When the clip is placed on a bored panel such that the axial centerline of the nut, the panel bore and the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical locking unit are substantially coaxially aligned, the notched bolt can be inserted along this common axis, and threaded onto the nut while the distal tine ends either move in one or more notches prohibiting counter-rotational movement when the distal tine end abuts the locking face of one or more notches or ride atop the bolt thread crest. The user can visually see whether the bolt has locked onto the lock clip assembly because of the tines in the cut-outs. This is particularly helpful when the bolt carries only a small segment of either longitudinally aligned or spirally disposed notches. 
   In another embodiment, the U, J or S-shaped locking nut and bolt assembly includes a nut formed on one of the clip legs and a locking element formed on another clip leg. The locking element has a locking element bore and a plurality of axially protruding legs perpendicular to the plane of the clip leg. Each locking element leg has a respective tine which protrudes tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the locking element bore which is coaxial with the axial centerline of the nut on the other clip leg. When the locking element bore and the nut and the bore through the panel are coaxial, and the specially configured bolt is placed through the panel bore and the nut and the locking element bore, the position of the distal tine ends are visible thereby enabling the user to determine whether locking has been achieved by the locking nut and bolt clip assembly. 
   In another embodiment, a U-shaped locking nut clip assembly includes a U-shaped clip member, a single thread nut having an arc less than 360° formed on one of the clip legs and a locking element having a locking element bore formed on the other clip leg. The locking element bore is coaxial with the axial centerline of the single thread nut. The locking element includes a plurality of axially protruding legs and each leg has a tine extending tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline. When the U-shaped clips is placed on the bored panel and the axial centerline of the nut is coaxial with the bore through the panel and the specially configured bolt is placed thereat, the position of the distal tine ends of the locking element are visible to the user enabling visible confirmation of locking action by the distal tine ends into one or more notches and abutment of the tine ends on the locking faces of the notches on the bolt. 
   In a further embodiment, the U-shaped locking nut assembly includes a U-shaped member, a single thread nut having an arc less than 360° formed on a first clip leg and an elongated, cylindrical locking unit formed on the other clip leg. One tine, and preferably a plurality of tines, protrude tangentially and radially inward toward the cylindrical axis which is coaxial with the axial centerline of the single thread nut. When the clip is placed in a position on the bored panel with the axial centerline of the single thread nut coaxially with the bore and the specially configured bolt placed thereat, the user can determine whether the tines have locked onto the bolt because the position of the distal tine ends are visible. Visibility is enhanced because of cut-outs in the cylindrical locking unit at each tine. 
   In another embodiment, the U-shaped locking nut assembly includes a U-shaped clip member, a single thread nut having an arc less than 360° formed on one clip leg, and a locking element formed on the same clip leg beyond the arc of the nut thread. The locking element has an axially protruding leg perpendicular to the plane of the clip leg. The axially protruding leg also has a tine protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline defined by the single thread nut. When the U-shaped clip is placed on a bored panel and the axial centerline of the single thread nut is coaxial with the bore through the panel and the specially configured bolt is placed thereat, the distal tine end from the locking element prohibits counter-rotational movement when the tine end falls within the notch on the bolt and abuts the lock face. Otherwise, the bolt can be threaded on the single thread nut since the distal tine end rides atop the bolt thread crest. 
   In a further embodiment, a U-shaped locking nut clip assembly includes a U-shaped clip member, a nut formed on one clip leg, and an elongated locking unit formed as a cylinder on an outboard axial end of the nut. The locking unit has one tine and preferably a plurality of tines protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of both the nut and the cylindrical locking unit. When the U-shaped clip is placed on the bored panel and the axial centerline of the nut is coaxial with the bore through the panel and the specially configured bolt is placed thereat, the user can determine whether the bolt has locked to the U-shaped clip because the position of the distal tine ends are visible. When the distal end falls into the notches and abuts the lock faces on the bolt, counter-rotational movement is prohibited. When the distal tine ends ride atop the bolt thread crest, the bolt can be rotated with respect to the U-shaped clip. 
   In another embodiment, the U-shaped locking nut clip assembly includes a U-shaped clip, a nut formed as an elongated thin walled cylinder on one of the clip legs and a locking unit formed on an interior region of the nut. The locking unit includes a tine protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline. When the U-shaped member is placed on a bored panel and the axial centerline of the nut is coaxial with the bore through the panel and the specially configured bolt is placed thereat, the locking unit on the U-shaped clip prohibits counter-rotational movement when the distal tine end falls within one or more notches and abuts respective locking faces on the specially configured bolt. Otherwise, the bolt can be rotated with respect to the U-shaped clip since the distal tine ends ride atop the bolt thread crest. 
   In a further embodiment, the locking nut and bolt system includes a latch closure. In this embodiment, the nut has a recess on an end face thereof and an elongated locking unit having a peripheral wall shaped complementary to the recess is disposed in the recess. A latch is moveably disposed on the peripheral wall of the locking unit. The locking unit has at least one tine, and preferably a plurality of tines, protruding tangentially and radially inward away from the peripheral wall toward the axial centerline defined by the nut thread. The latch is moveably disposed on the peripheral wall adjacent the tine and captures the tine between the latch and the peripheral wall in a closed position and, when it moves, fully exposes the tine in a locking position. In a locking position, the distal tine end falls within one or more notches on the specially configured bolt thereby preventing counter-rotational movement when the tine end abuts one or more locking faces. When the distal tine end has not fallen into one or more notches, the tine end rides atop the bolt thread crest. When the latch is in a closed position, the distal tine end is captured between the latch and the locking unit peripheral wall. In one embodiment, the locking unit has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and in another configuration, the locking unit has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
   In a further enhancement, the locking nut and bolt assembly with a latch can be used in conjunction with a ratchet tool when the latch is formed as a complementary cylinder to a cylindrical locking unit. In this configuration, the latch has a radially extending user actuatable control surface which enables the latch to rotate thereby placing the tines in a closed position enabling the ratchet tool to move the specially configured bolt in both a rotational and counter-rotational manner or to place the tines on the locking unit in a fully exposed position or a locking position thereby permitting the ratchet tool to move the bolt only in a single rotational direction. 
   In another embodiment, the locking nut and bolt system is utilized in conjunction with a bolt having a plurality of notches defined on the bolt head. A female threaded unit has a nut thread complementary to the bolt thread and also has a recess defined below an end surface of the female threaded unit. Also, the locking unit may be surface mounted on the nut. A locking unit has a peripheral wall complementary to the recess and at least one tine, and preferably a plurality of tines, protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the central axis formed by the female threads on the female threaded unit. The distal tine ends of the locking unit prohibit counter-rotational movement when the tine ends fall within the notches on the bolt head and abut the locking faces. Otherwise, the tines are disposed beyond the notches on the bolt head and permit rotational movement. 
   In a further embodiment, the locking nut and bolt is operable with a removal tool. The removal tool includes axially outboard and biased legs which are interposed between the proximal tine body and the bolt thread. When rotated, the interposed depending leg withdraws the distal tine end from the notches on the bolt thereby permitting removal of the locking nut from the bolt. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detail description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates a bolt having a longitudinal locking channel formed thereon; 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates the notch or recess on the bolt thread; 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a spiral locking channel on the bolt; 
       FIGS. 2   b  and  2   c  diagrammatically illustrate a partial, axial side view of a notched or grooved bolt thread and a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the bolt over a thread line  2   b ′- 2   b ″, respectively. 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate a tine having an offset proximal end loop; 
       FIG. 4  diagrammatically illustrates the tine placed in a recess in a nut and the tine acting on the bolt threaded onto the nut; 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  b  illustrate a tine having a proximal end loop disposed in parallel planes with respect to the tine body; 
       FIG. 6   a  diagrammatically illustrates the tine disposed in the recess in a nut and the bolt threaded onto the nut; 
       FIGS. 6   b - 6   e  illustrate bolts carrying notches or bolt heads carrying lock face notches (for blind hole applications) and  FIGS. 6   f  and  6   g  illustrate locking protrusions; 
       FIG. 6   h  graphically illustrates the geometry of the angle of engagement; 
       FIGS. 6   i - 6   q  diagrammatically illustrate engagement or locking face wall designs; 
       FIGS. 7   a, b, c  and  d  diagrammatically illustrate a tine with a proximal end loop formed as a solid planar element and the tine body twisted and the depending normally from the solid body proximal end loop plane; 
       FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates the tine disposed in the nut recess and the nut threaded on the bolt; 
       FIG. 9  diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional plan view of the tine with the solid planar element from the perspective of section line a′-a″ in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  diagrammatically illustrates another shape for the proximal end loop as a solid planar element in a recess in a nut wherein the bolt is threaded onto the nut; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the nut having an arcuate recess on an end face; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a nut having a nut insert disposed in a circumferential recess and a bolt threaded into the nut; 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the nut insert at various production stages before and after the tines have been twisted from the plane defined by the peripheral ring body of the nut insert; 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a partial, cut-away view of the nut insert and particularly shows the shoulder in the recess and the displacement of the distal tine end and a portion of the tine body in a radial space defined beneath the nut insert; 
       FIG. 16  shows a nut insert mounted to a nut and a bolt threaded on the nut; 
       FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b  show the nut insert in various stages of manufacture with the tines in the plane of the peripheral ring and the tines depending below the plane; 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a nut insert having planar support plates for the tines with a bolt threaded onto the nut; 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate partial, cross-sectional views of the nut insert and nut from the perspective of section lines a′-a″ and b′-b″ in  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIGS. 21 and 22  illustrate various stages of manufacture of a nut insert before and after the tines have been rotated or twisted from the nut insert plane; 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a perspective view of a cylindrical locking unit affixed to the nut via a rearward ring member disposed in a recess on the nut end face; 
       FIG. 24  diagrammatically illustrates the notches on the bolt; 
       FIGS. 25   a  and  25   b  provide perspective views of bolts respectively having (a) a longitudinal locking channel wherein the notches fall in the same plane as the axial centerline of the bolt and (b) a spiral locking channel wherein the lock notches are longitudinally adjacent but fall in a spiral, predetermined pattern about the axial centerline of the bolt; 
       FIG. 26  diagrammatically illustrates the locking action provided by the tines falling into one or more notches on the bolt; 
       FIGS. 27   a  and  27   b  illustrate the cylindrical locking units respectively having circumferentially disposed tines and circumferentially and axially disposed tines sometimes called the “railroad design”; 
       FIG. 28  diagrammatically illustrates a bolt having a longitudinal locking channel and a nut carrying the cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of the cylindrical locking unit mounted in the recess on the end face of the nut; 
       FIG. 30   a  diagrammatically illustrates the bolt locked onto two panels with a nut and the cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIGS. 30   b - 30   e  diagrammatically illustrate the top hat design which includes a single, radial end plate above a cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIG. 30   f  diagrammatically illustrates the top hap design or insert mounted in a nut; 
       FIGS. 30   g - 30   i  diagrammatically illustrate axially stacked locking units or inserts; 
       FIG. 31  provides a perspective view of a nut carrying a locking element having a plurality of axially protruding legs and a corresponding plurality of tines; 
       FIG. 32  illustrates the locking action provided by the tines on the locking element, on the nut and on the specially configured bolt; 
       FIGS. 33   a  and  33   b  illustrate various stages of manufacture of the locking element with the axially protruding legs and tines; 
       FIG. 34  illustrates a specially configured bolt and a nut carrying the locking element with the axially protruding legs; 
       FIG. 35   a  shows the nut carrying the locking unit threaded onto the special bolt; 
       FIGS. 35   b - 35   e  diagrammatically illustrate radial rim locking features on and about nut faces to affix the locking inserts or locking units into the nut; 
       FIGS. 35   f - 35   oo  diagrammatically illustrate stamped (and partially extruded) locking nuts or fastener clips; 
       FIGS. 35   pp - 35   ss  diagrammatically illustrate a locking drawn barrel fastener; 
       FIGS. 35   tt - 35   xx  diagrammatically illustrate pipe or bolt end locking systems; 
       FIGS. 36 and 37  diagrammatically illustrate an S-shaped locking nut and bolt clip assembly wherein one of the clip legs carries a cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIGS. 38   a  and  38   b  diagrammatically illustrate an S-shaped locking nut and bolt clip assembly wherein one of the clip legs carries a locking element having a plurality of axially protruding legs and diagrammatically shows a manufacturing stage for the locking element; 
       FIG. 39  diagrammatically illustrates the S-shaped clip utilized in conjunction with a bolt having a longitudinal locking channel and a bolt having a spiral locking channel and a panel having a bore; 
       FIG. 40  diagrammatically illustrates an S-shaped clip having a locking element with a plurality of axially protruding legs formed on one clip leg; 
       FIGS. 41   a  and  41   b  diagrammatically illustrate stages of manufacture for the locking element; 
       FIGS. 42 and 43  diagrammatically illustrate an S-shaped clip and locking nut and bolt assembly wherein one clip leg carries a cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIGS. 44 ,  45   a ,  45   b  and  46   a  diagrammatically illustrate an S-shaped clip wherein one clip leg carries a locking element having a plurality of axially protruding legs, diagrammatically shows various stages of manufacture of the locking element and diagrammatically shows a side view of the S-shaped clip with the bored panel; 
       FIGS. 46   b - 46   g  diagrammatically illustrate various clip locks, clip fasteners or nuts which may be configured as separate locking nuts or fasteners (see  FIGS. 46   f  and  46   h ) or may be disposed on a leg of a U, J or S-shaped clip; 
       FIGS. 46   h - 46   j  diagrammatically illustrate a locking mechanism with the threaded nut barrel disposed on a axial end of a cylindrical, tine carrying locking unit or structure; 
       FIG. 47  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip or locking nut assembly wherein one of the clip legs carries a single thread nut and the other clip leg carries a locking element with a plurality of axially protruding legs; 
       FIG. 48  diagrammatically illustrates a partial view of the single thread nut; 
       FIG. 49  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip with a single thread nut on one clip leg and a cylindrical locking unit on the other clip leg; 
       FIG. 50  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip with a single thread nut used in connection with either the special bolt with a longitudinal locking channel or the special bolt with a spiral locking channel; 
       FIG. 51  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped locking nut clip assembly having a single thread nut and a locking element formed beyond the arc of the nut thread; 
       FIGS. 52   a  and  52   b  illustrate a side view of the U-shaped and J-shaped clip; 
       FIGS. 53   a  and  53   b  illustrate bolts having longitudinal locking channels and spiral locking channels; 
       FIGS. 54   a  and  54   b  diagrammatically illustrate various stages of manufacture of the clip leg carrying the single thread nut and locking element; 
       FIG. 55  diagrammatically illustrates a J-shaped clip having a single thread nut and a locking element formed beyond the arc of the nut thread; 
       FIG. 56   a  diagrammatically illustrates a clip having a segmented single thread nut with a plurality of locking element legs between each segment; 
       FIGS. 56   b - 56   h  diagrammatically illustrate clip fasteners with a single nut thread on a clip leg (the clips may be U, J or S-shaped); 
       FIGS. 57 and 58  diagrammatically illustrate clips having a nut on one clip leg and a cylindrical locking unit formed on the outboard axial end of the nut; 
       FIG. 59  illustrates a detailed view of the nut and cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIG. 60  diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cross-sectional, broken away side view of the nut with the cylindrical locking unit formed on an axial outboard end; 
       FIGS. 61   a  and  61   b  diagrammatically illustrate the tines from the perspective of section lines a′-a″ and b′-b″ in  FIG. 60 ; 
       FIG. 62  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a U-shaped locking nut clip assembly with a thin walled nut and a locking unit formed an interior region of the nut; 
       FIGS. 63   a-h  diagrammatically illustrate plan side views and end views of the nut and locking unit at various stages of manufacture (with the axial view from the perspective of corresponding section lines in  FIGS. 63   a, c, e  and  g ); 
       FIG. 64   a  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the thin walled nut and intermediate locking unit; 
       FIG. 64   b  graphically illustrates the spacial flex zone and locking zone for the locking fasteners illustrated in  FIGS. 64   a  and  67 ; 
       FIG. 65  illustrates a side view of a locking nut clip assembly (a truncated U-shaped clip or a J-shaped clip) wherein the locking unit is on an interior of the nut adjacent one axial end of the nut; 
       FIGS. 66   a, b, c  and  d  diagrammatically illustrate various stages of manufacture of the locking unit formed on the interior of the nut at one axially end; 
       FIG. 67  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the thin walled cylindrical nut and the locking unit on an interior portion of the nut adjacent one axial end; 
       FIGS. 68   a  and  68   b  illustrate a bolt having a longitudinal locking channel and a spiral locking channel, respectively; 
       FIG. 69  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of a locking unit having a peripheral wall with a plurality of tines protruding tangentially and radially inward; 
       FIG. 70  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the locking unit carrying two latches which are moveably disposed on the peripheral wall carrying the locking tines; 
       FIGS. 71   a  and  71   b  diagrammatically illustrate side views from the perspective of section line a′-a″ in FIG.  70  and from the perspective of section line b′-b″ in  FIG. 70 ; 
       FIG. 72  illustrates a side view of a nut carrying the locking unit; 
       FIGS. 73   a, b  and  c  and  74   a, b  and  c  diagrammatically illustrate top views of the locking unit in a locking position; an intermediate position and a closed position ( FIG. 73   c ) and the locking unit disposed in a nut with a bolt threaded on the nut in a locking position, an intermediate position and a closed position ( FIG. 74   c ); 
       FIGS. 75   a  and  75   b  diagrammatically illustrate a perspective view of the locking unit formed as a cylindrical locking unit before and after the formation of channel members; 
       FIG. 76  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of a latch formed as a complementary cylinder; 
       FIG. 77  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the cylindrical locking unit with the cylindrical latch inserted therein; 
       FIG. 78  illustrates a top view of the cylindrical locking unit, the cylindrical latch mounted on and in a recess on the end face of a nut; 
       FIG. 79  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of a cylindrical latch (without an axial end cap); 
       FIG. 80  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of a cylindrical latch mounted into a cylindrical locking unit; 
       FIGS. 81 and 82  illustrate a side view of a cylindrical locking unit and a cylindrical latch and a side view of that same system mounted into a recess in an end face of a nut; 
       FIG. 83  illustrates a side view of the nut carrying a cylindrical locking unit and a cylindrical latch about to be threaded onto a bolt thread having a longitudinal locking channel; 
       FIG. 84  illustrates a side view of the locking nut and bolt assembly locking two panels together; 
       FIGS. 85 and 86  illustrate a bolt carrying a longitudinal locking channel and a spiral locking channel, respectively; 
       FIGS. 87   a  and  87   b  diagrammatically illustrate a perspective view of a cylindrical locking unit before and after a channel member has been defined on the peripheral wall carrying the locking tines; 
       FIG. 88  diagrammatically illustrates a cylindrical latch having a user actuatable control surface extending radially from one axial end thereof; 
       FIG. 89  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of a cylindrical locking unit and a complementary cylindrical latch mounted therein; 
       FIG. 90  illustrates an end view of the cylindrical locking unit and cylindrical latch mounted into the recess on an end face of a nut; 
       FIG. 91  diagrammatically illustrates a socket with a cylindrical latch having a user actuatable control surface extending from the socket (i.e., a removal tool) which is about to be mounted on a receptacle on a rachet tool; 
       FIG. 92  diagrammatically illustrates a plan view of the socket and the cylindrical latch with a user actuatable radial control surface; 
       FIG. 93  diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional plan view of the socket and the cylindrical latch; 
       FIGS. 94   a  and  94   b  diagrammatically illustrate a female threaded unit in various stages of manufacture; 
       FIGS. 95   a  and  95   b  diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a locking unit with a peripheral wall carrying a plurality of tines; 
       FIG. 96  diagrammatically illustrates the locking unit mounted in the recess of the female threaded unit; 
       FIGS. 97   a, b  and  c  illustrate a side view, an end view (from the section line b′-b″) and a perspective view of the bolt having a notched bolt head; 
       FIGS. 98   a  and  98   b  diagrammatically illustrate a perspective view and an end view of the notched bolt head threaded into the female unit wherein the tines lock onto the notches on the bolt head; 
       FIG. 99  diagrammatically illustrates a removal tool about to be placed atop the locking nut and associated bolt; 
       FIGS. 100 ,  101  and  102  respectively diagram the user actuable control surface; the depending leg interposed between the locking body carried by the nut; and the depending leg lifting the distal tine end away from the notch on the bolt after rotation; 
       FIG. 103   a  diagrammatically illustrates a partial, detail end view of a nut carrying the locking body with an interspace identified for insertion of a depending leg; and, 
       FIGS. 103   b - 115  diagrammatically illustrate blind hole one-way locking fasteners or nut and bolt combination. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention relates to a locking nut and bolt and fastener system and clips forming a locking nut assembly, a locking nut and bolt system having a latch, and a removal tool for such locking systems. 
     FIG. 1   a  illustrates bolt  20  having a longitudinal locking channel  28  through bolt threads  26 . Bolt threads  26  are formed on bolt stem  24 . Bolt  20  includes bolt head  22 . Bolt  20  includes an axial centerline C-C′ numerically identified as centerline  60  in the figure. A nut  40  has been threaded onto bolt thread  26 . It should be noted that the longitudinal locking channel  28  may extend the entire length of bolt thread  26  or may occupy a segment or a portion of thread  26 . As described later, nut  40  has some type of locking mechanism disposed thereon or therein which generally includes a compressible tine which moves into the notch formed on each bolt thread and out of the notch and rides atop the crest of the bolt thread. As used herein, the term “compressible” refers to a tine that moves generally radially into a locking notch or groove.  FIG. 1   b  diagrammatically illustrates a partial view of the bolt. Bolt thread  26  includes bolt thread crest  30  and a trough  32 . Notch  34  may be deeper than trough  32  or may be a shallow notch on crest  30 . The longitudinal channel  28  in FIG.  1   a  is formed by a plurality of notches shown in  FIG. 1   b  as notch  34 . Notch  34  includes a locking face  36  and an opposing slope  38 . Other notch designs are illustrated in  FIGS. 2   c  and  6   b . When the distal tine end falls into notch  34 , locking action occurs prohibiting counter-rotational movement when the tine end abuts lock face  36 . When the distal tine end is circumferentially beyond notch  34 , the tine end rides atop bolt thread crest  30 . Dependent upon the axial dimension of the distal tine end and the axial distance between circumferentially aligned segments of bolt thread crest  30 , the distal tine end may interact with a single notch or may interact with a plurality of notches. 
     FIG. 1   a  illustrates a bolt having a longitudinal locking channel formed as a predetermined pattern with proximal notches being longitudinally adjacent each other.  FIG. 2   a  illustrates bolt  41  having a spiral locking channel  43 . Spiral locking channel  43  is formed of a plurality of notches, similar to notch  34  in  FIG. 1   b , however these notches when placed adjacent longitudinally each other form a spiral  43  about the axial centerline D′-D″ in  FIG. 2   a . The spiral locking channel  43  also consists of a plurality of notches generally longitudinally formed on the bolt thread  45  in a predetermined spiral pattern with proximal notches being longitudinally adjacent each other on the bolt thread. In other words, each notch on adjacent circumferential segments of the bolt thread  45  are generally longitudinally adjacent. However, a group of notches form a spiral pattern about the bolt. This notch pattern accommodates the axial dimension of the compressible distal tine end. However, when a plurality of notches is defined on bolt thread  45 , the plurality of notches forms a predetermined spiral pattern about axial centerline D′-D″. Bolt heads  22 ,  41  may be hexagonal and may include a recess for an allen wrench or slots for screwdrivers. Further details of the specially configured bolts and other features of the operation of the locking nut and bolt assembly can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,468 to DiStasio which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. Also, additional details of the locking nut and bolt assembly, the compressible tine and features of the specially configured bolts and the locking nut and bolt assembly consisting of clips can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/747,323, filed Nov. 12, 1996, by Robert DiStasio and the contents of that patent application are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     FIG. 2   b  diagrammatically illustrates a partial, axial side view of bolt  1003  having bolt thread  1005 , root  1006  and a plurality of notches or cut-outs  1008 ,  1009 ,  1010 ,  1012  forming an axial channel or groove.  FIG. 2   c  illustrates a diagrammatic cross-section of bolt  1003  along the crest of bolt thread  1005 . Bolt  1003  is designed to operate as a locking ratchet. The teeth  1013  (beyond cut-out or notch  1012 ) are equally spaced apart. The following table provides exemplary dimensions. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               Bolt Thread Groove Table 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
               Outside diameter 
               y 
                0.385″ 
             
             
                 
               Thread gap 
               x 
                0.059″ 
             
             
                 
               Ratchet tooth arc 
               w 
               40 degrees 
             
             
                 
               Descending slope 1015 angle 
               v 
               55 degrees 
             
             
                 
               maximum lock face 1017 angle 
               u 
               10 degrees 
             
             
                 
               base 1019 
               t 
                0.050 
             
             
                 
               lock face 1017 height 
               s 
                0.020 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   Bolt  1003  may be used with the fastening nuts, clips and fasteners rather that bolts  20 ,  41 . 
     FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  4  illustrate an elongated tine and a nut and bolt system. These figures will be discussed concurrently herein.  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show elongated tine  50  having a generally planar tine body  51 , a distal tine end  53  angularly disposed at an offset position with respect to planar body  51  and a proximal tine end loop  55  opposite distal tine end  53 . Proximal end loop  55  is angularly offset with respect to planar body  51 . Proximal end loop  55  is generally U-shaped and has legs  57 ,  59 . 
   Elongated tine  50  is placed in recess  62  formed on end face  64  of nut  66  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 11  shows a generic example of nut  66  having a recess  67  on end face  64 . Arcuate recess  67  generally shows the shape of recess  62  in nut  66  in FIG.  4 . However, nut  66  in  FIG. 11  provides a perspective, broken away, partial view of nut  66 , nut thread  68  and the central axis E′-E″ for nut  66 . 
   Returning to  FIG. 4 , recess  62  includes a central arcuate region  70  and a recessional mouth  72  open to the internal passageway about the central axis of nut  66 . Recess  62  also includes a tangential cavity  74  which is tangentially disposed with respect to the nut thread  68 . In  FIG. 4 , the tangential aspect of tangential cavity  74  is identified by section line F′-F″. Proximal tine end loop  55  is disposed in tangential cavity  76  such that the U-shaped legs  57 ,  59  exert radially directed, opposing spring force against the nut walls forming the tangential cavity. These radially directed forces, one of which is radially directed toward the axial centerline of the nut and the bolt and the other of which is radially directed away from that coaxial centerline, lock tine  50  into recess  62 . Distal end  53  of tine  50  moves radially inward and outward dependent upon whether tine end  53  falls in one of the notches or rides atop the bolt thread crest. Recess  62  is large enough and central region  70  is large enough such that distal tine  53  moves radially into central region  70  when the tine end rides on the bolt thread crest. This is the spacial flex zone of this locking system. As an example of the distal tine end moving in the radial space of central region  70 , see  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
   When distal tine end  53  abuts the lock face of the notch, counter-rotational movement is prohibited. This occurs when the tine is in the locking zone. Rotational movement shown by arrow  77  is permitted since distal tine end  53  rides the opposing slope  38  of the notch  34  (see  FIG. 1   b ) and moves onto the bolt thread crest  30  based upon the relative position of the bolt and nut  66 . Bolt  78  is shown as including four circumferentially disposed locking channels. However, the bolt may include only a single locking channel as shown in connection with bolt  20  in  FIG. 1   a.    
   The radially directed tine locking forces affecting the nut walls adjacent U-shaped legs  57 , effectively lock tine  50  into recess  62 . Tangential cavity  74  is tangentially disposed with respect to central region  70  in that it is slightly radially beyond the nut thread crest and nut trough. See FIG.  11 . 
     FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  6  are discussed concurrently herein.  FIG. 5   a  shows an elongated tine  80  having a planar body  81 , a distal tine end  82  offset at an angle with respect to planar tine body  81  and a proximal tine end loop  83 . End loop  83  consists of a U-shaped body having legs  84 ,  85 . Legs  84 ,  85  lie either in the same plane as planar body  81  or in a plane parallel to planar body  81 . 
   Tine  80  is placed in recess  90  formed in nut  91 . Recess  90  has a central region  92 , a recessional mouth  93 , and a tangential cavity  94 . The recessional mouth is open to the axial centerline of the nut. Tangential cavity  94  is generally in the same plane as central region  92 . Legs  84 ,  85  exert opposing spring forces against the nut walls formed by tangential cavity  94 . These forces are generally tangentially disposed with respect to nut thread  95  and the axial centerline of bolt  96 . 
   Recess  90  establishes a radial free space radially behind tine  80  (the spacial flex zone) and particularly planar body  81 . This enables tine  80  to move into and out of the radial free space dependent upon the position of distal tine end  82 . When distal tine end  82  is disposed in one or more notches on bolt  96  (shown in  FIG. 6   a ), the radial free space is large. When the distal tine end  82  rides atop the bolt crest (see generally  FIGS. 8 ,  10 ), the radial free space behind tine body  81  and tine  80  is reduced. The parallel plane configuration of legs  84 ,  85  is illustrated in  FIG. 6   a . The forces exerted against the nut wall by legs  84 ,  85  are generally tangentially oriented in plane G′-G″. 
   Sometimes, reference will be made to certain terms explained below. 
   A “locking zone” is the area where a locking mechanism, such as a tine, engages a locking face, on a bolt or pipe thread, to prevent counter-rotation. In a general sense, the space making up the zone extends from one or more locking faces on the bolt thread (or the bolt head in the so-called “blind hole” locking design shown in  FIGS. 97   a , and  103   b  et al. or the blind hole nut in FIGS.  114 - 115 ), and projects out to a perimeter of the bolt or locked item. For example, in a threaded bolt manufactured with a groove or a slot, the locking zone is the volumetric space missing from a comparable threaded bolt without a groove or slot. See  FIG. 6   b . Of course, multiple grooves or slots may be formed in the bolt thread. In another embodiment, such as a protrusion on a polygonal shaped object, the locking zone extends from the outer most point of the protrusion and surrounds and mimics the perimeter of the polygon in a space determined by the height of the protrusion. In a strictly mechanical sense, the locking zone is defined as the difference between the greatest radial distance at the outer edge of the protrusion and the radially inner distance at the base of the protrusion. See  FIG. 6   g . Since the protrusion describes a circle when rotated about an axial centerline, any locking mechanism or tine in the peripheral band or locking zone will engage the protrusion and hence lock the rotating bolt or pipe against the stationary nut or fastener. 
   Also, the lockable bolt or pipe or bolt head or nut may carry a cut-out, groove or slot. The locking zone in this embodiment is the radial difference between the radially outermost portion of the slot and the root or radially innermost portion of the slot, groove or cut-out. If a tine or locking element falls into the locking zone and engages the locking face, counter-rotational movement is prohibited. 
   Any body can contain one or more locking zones 
   A “spacial flex zone” is a spacial area around the locking mechanism, (for example, a tine), once the locking device or mechanism is fully outside of the locking zone. The spacial flex zone allows the locking mechanism (i.e., tine) to operate, flex naturally and retract from the locking zone without permanent deformation. 
   The “spacial flex zone” whether in clips, nuts or blind hole clips or blind hole bolts: (a) allows tines to flex naturally with a sufficient long straight tine or variations with bent tines; (b) prevents the tine from taking a set; (c) allows variations of engagement angle; (d) allows grooves to be above, or below, the minor of the bolt; and (e) reduces resistance during installation by an end-user who may not need a wrench to spin the nut on the bolt. 
   The spacial flex zone allows a variety of different shaped tines to accomplish (a) secure engagement during locking; and (b) flexing during inbound installation; and (c) flexing during outbound removal. 
   The tine design and the spacial flex zone prevents the tine from bouncing out of the locking zone and malfunctioning following installation. For example, in one embodiment the spacial flex zone is a radial space or cavity between the bolt and the tine housing. 
   Sometimes, the term “angle of engagement” is utilized herein. In preferred embodiments, tines intersect the engagement face in a locking zone at an angle less than 90 degrees to prevent the tine from popping out under stress. See  FIG. 6   h . Keeping the tine from popping out is important. The deeper the tine drops into the slot or locking zone and abuts the locking engagement face, the easier it is to achieve a high quality angle of engagement. 
   Although a short tine can achieve an adequate angle of engagement, it generally will not flex correctly. A steep angle of engagement also exerts excessive forces on the tine, even deforming the tine should it exceed the yield point, as it flexes in and out of the grooves. 
   There are certain benefits of a longer tine. A longer tine will generally result in less wear and tear on the bolt and tine when applying the nut to a bolt. See  FIG. 64   b . A tine of sufficient length that has attained an acceptable angle of engagement will keep the tine under its “yield strength” and avoid permanent deformation when turning the nut onto a bolt. A short explanation of yield strength is set forth below. 
   The longer the tine, the smaller the radial angle of flex of the tine. This lowers the chance of the tine being permanently deformed which could result in either losing the angle of engagement or losing its designed form as it is installed. If the tine loses its “spring” it ceases to function correctly. 
   The tine can overcome this tendency to permanently deform and/or incorrectly function if there is a sufficient spacial flex zone in the locking system. For example, there should be an adequate spacial flex zone between the outer radial diameter of the bolt and the point where the tine is attached to its base mechanism. This attachment is sometimes referred to herein as the proximal end portion or region of the tine. The portion of the tine that engages the locking face in the locking zone is the distal end or terminal end of the tine. 
   In other embodiments, the distal end of the tine is juxtaposed or near the circumference of the outer diameter of the male thread. To function without distorting the tine, the spring tine must be bent away from the bolt thread when outside the locking zone and radially moved into the spacial flex zone. A second bend at the distal end of the tine moves the tine back from the bolt at an angle of engagement. See FIG.  14 . This permits the tine to be lengthened and, depending on the composition and thickness of the tine, will increase the tine&#39;s flexibility and effectiveness. 
   The issue of yield strength of the tine is important. Without the proper spacial flex zone, deformation of the tine can occur during retraction. For example, if the tine is forced into a concave shape or any other position that results in jamming or distortion of the tine body, it will not function correctly. 
   General comments regarding certain aspects of the present invention follow. 
   The stamped fasteners (e.g.  FIGS. 35   f - 35   oo ) may be considered a unique sub-group within the locking nut and bolt system. 
   When referring to a “locking position or closed position”, the term “engaged” may better explain the system. 
   The invention described herein is not limited to “fasteners” but is also relevant to threaded pipe or rod and all other objects that require locking attachments where counter-rotation is undesirable. 
   General comments regarding bolt and nut combinatory systems follow. 
   A variety of designs for tines and engagement walls attain a predetermined “angle of engagement”. 
   The system allows an end-user to visually view or inspect the locking mechanism, confirming the locking engagement. 
   The nut in the system is nearly “free spinning” during assembly. This can only be accomplished by designing the tines to reduce resistance (friction) during one-way rotation. The tines should be as long as possible and the spacial flex zone around the bolt should be large enough for the longer tine to correctly flex. 
   An important object of the invention is to establish the correct geometry to attain consistent engagements of tines in grooves at minimal and consistent degrees between engagements based on a mathematical formula. Odd number of tines off-set against an even number of grooves or an even number of tines off-set against and odd number of grooves. 
   The formula follows: 360 divided by (the number of equally spaced tines) times (the number of equally spaced grooves)=degrees between engagements. Example: 360/8×9=5 degrees represents 8 tines and 9 grooves or slots. 
   This mathematical relationship represents a vast improvement over haphazard spacing of tines, i.e., over 100, 120, 160 degrees. 
   The invention allows the locking system to be re-tightened or re-torqued when necessary. 
   Once the system is engaged it can be easily disengaged. This is provided by the removal tool and the latch. See  FIGS. 99 and 89  and  95   a.    
   In many embodiments of the invention, redundant locking features can be provided with simultaneous engagement of tines in locking zones to reduce the locking dependence on single tines and to disperse the locking stresses over multiple tines when necessary within extreme vibrational environments. 
   In many embodiments, the stamped tine can be installed on the nut without a keyway or orientation with respect to the nut other than the stamped tine and locking nut insert being upside down. 
   In many embodiments, in order to prevent rotation of the locking mechanism, ridges or striations are formed on the nut end face. The end nut face is the planar, radially aligned, circumferential wall on which the “brim” sits. A cutout on the brim of the top hat nut insert ( FIGS. 430   b - 30   e ) allows the swaged wall of the nut to fill the cutout during swaging. 
   In several embodiments, the V-shaped cutouts in the “brims” of the top hat design or the railroad design are not designed to key the clip or insert to a certain orientation on the nut since circumferential orientation of the locking insert is not necessary. This reduces assembly costs. 
   In several embodiments of the invention, incorrect installation of the nut by the end user is prevented because the nut can not be inadvertently put on backwards. Because there are no threads easily accessible from the locking tine side, the nut can only be threaded inbound from one side. 
   The invention has a minimum number of parts for ease of assembly. This makes the system easily manufacturable with a minimum number of secondary processes. 
   In order to help the end user save time during installation of the nut and bolt system, the present invention does not use cotter pins that require either expensive tools or manual instructions and bending. The present system is simply threaded together. In many embodiments, the user is able to install the locking system with ordinary tools, such as a wrench or nutrunner. 
   In several embodiments, the invention applies more accurate clamp loads to the locking system since the nut and bolt are more “free spinning” than prevailing torque nuts. Prevailing torque nuts require more torque to install the nut on the bolt which results in additional wear and tear on installation tools and guns and adds to worker fatigue during installation of the fastener systems. 
   General comments regarding fasteners, clips, formed nuts and nuts follow. 
   The clip and the tine are manufactured with varying thickness and are adapted to form a positive lock if the distal tine is altered to mate properly with grooves in a screw and the tines are long enough to allow proper flexing. 
   The distal tines can be beveled to permit an angle of engagement and/or a mating of tine “shape” with screw grooves to assure mechanical locking. 
   The radial spring arms of the tines in certain clip designs are protected from being accidentally crushed in shipment or during installation using protective structures. See, e.g.,  FIGS. 46   c ,  56   h.    
   In certain clip and tine designs, a locking clip or tine is integrated into an extension of a threaded extruded barrel which has been extruded to a wider diameter to accommodate a spacial flex zone that is not threaded.  FIGS. 46   h - 46   j . This double extrusion design serves to save material costs and space. 
   A locking clip is integrated into a lanced threaded extruded barrel that permits increased clamp load due to an increase number of threads which surround the locking mechanism. 
   Locking bolt and screw systems have the following general features. 
   The bolt has an engagement face, within a groove perpendicular or helical to the threads, that engages a locking tine mechanism at an angle, which prevents counter-rotation of the bolt or screw. 
   The “angle of engagement” between the tine or locking device and the engagement wall should be less than 90 degrees to prevent the tine from disengaging from the bolt notch. 
   The rising face of the notch, opposite the engagement face, in the three face groove design, is an innovation to increase the load carrying thread surface, allowing for increased torque tension strength within the locking zone of the fastener.  FIGS. 2   c ,  6   k ,  6   n ,  6   q.    
   A three-faced pattern for grooves is utilized to permit better “angle of engagement” for the tines.  FIGS. 6   k ,  6   n  and  6   q.    
   The three-faced pattern for grooves allows either a thicker tine to engage on the engaging wall or a variety of distal tine designs, in a variety of materials to seat properly on the engagement wall. 
   The bolt having a concave engagement wall ( FIG. 60 ) deflects the tine into the core of the groove and thereby decreases the angle of engagement at the upper portion of the engagement wall. 
   The bolt having an “overhung” engagement ( FIG. 61 ) wall deflects the tine into the core of the groove and thereby decreases the angle of engagement along the engagement wall. 
   Screw and bolt designs permit the screws or bolts to be rolled with roll dies requiring no secondary processes to make engagement grooves. 
   The screw or bolt designs have grooves in the bolt or screw limited to a zone on the bolt or screw such that the clampload of the fastener is contained on the full threads of the bolt and the locking device can fully engage in the grooves. 
   All clips that have a tine on the locking mechanism engage in a locking zone in a groove above minor. 
   The “V” cuts in the blind hole clip allow proper seating in a beveled blind hole or a funnel shaped blind hole. FIG.  106 . 
   Four (4) tines or four (4) engagement locking devices can be manufactured with an economy of material by cutting metal prior to folding in a pattern that offsets the tines. 
     FIGS. 6   b - 6   g  graphically illustrate the locking zone and spacial flex zone for certain locking bolts and locking bolt heads. Locking bolt heads are used in connection with the blind hole design (see FIG.  96 ). With respect to  FIG. 6   b , a plurality of locking zones  1101 ,  1103  are created intermediate protrusions  1105 ,  1107  and  1109 . Of course, locking zones  1101  and  1103  are sometimes referred to as grooves or slots herein. The spacial flex zone  1120  is the area around locking zones  1101 ,  1103  and graphically identifies the peripheral area in which the distal end of the locking tine travels when that portion of the locking tine has not fallen into locking zones  1101 ,  1103 . As described later, solid body  1122  may be the core or stem of the bolt or may be a bolt head. 
   With respect to  FIG. 6   c , locking zones  1101 ,  1103  have a different shape (a triangular shape) as compared with locking zones  1101 ,  1003  in  FIG. 6   b . In  FIG. 6   b , the locking zones are generally four-sided. One side is open to the outermost peripheral dimension of the body. 
     FIG. 6   d  graphically illustrates locking zone  1124  formed within a polygonal shape body  1126 . Spacial flex zone  1128  represents the area in which the distal end of the tine moves when that end has not fallen into locking zone  1124 . In a strict mechanical sense, assuming body  1126  rotates about central axis  1131 , the locking zone describes a circular band defined by the outer radial dimension of locking zone  1124  and the radially inward dimension of that zone. 
   In a like manner,  FIG. 6   e  includes locking zone  1124  and a square body  1125 . Square body  1125  rotates about axially center line  1132  and the polygonal cut-out shape describes a similar circumferential locking zone band and a spacial flex zone  1128 . The tine, when outside the polygonal cut-out, moves in the spacial flex zone. 
     FIGS. 6   f  and  6   g  show bodies  1133  having protruding elements  1135 ,  1137  which establish the outer boundary of locking zone  1138 . With respect to  FIG. 6   g , the mechanically accurate locking zone is a peripheral ring or band established by the radially outermost dimension of protrusions  1135 ,  1137  and dimension  1140  which represents the largest radial dimension of the body other than protrusion  1135 ,  1137 . Body  1133  rotates about axially center line  1141 . Spacial flex zone  1142  is graphically illustrated in  FIGS. 6   f  and  6   g . It should be noted that the locking zone and spacial flex zones shown in  FIGS. 6   b - 6   g  are only illustrative of these zones and the actual dimensions of the zones are normally smaller dependent upon the mechanical operation of the tine and the depth of the groove or the height of the protrusion from the respective rotating body. 
     FIG. 6   h  graphically illustrates the preferred angle of engagement. Rotating body  1144  rotates about axial centerline  1146 . The root or inside perimeter of the threads  1147  and the outside perimeter of the threads  1148  establish locking zone  1150 . Engagement wall  1151  includes a locking face  1152  that has a slope  1154  offset approximately 3 degrees from diametric centerline  1155 . The angle of engagement  1156  is approximately 89 degrees and the descending slope  1157  of cutout or groove  1158  has an angle of approximately 91 degrees offset from imaginary line  1160 ′- 1160 ″. That imaginary line is coextensive with locking face  1152  of the cutout or groove  1158 . 
     FIGS. 6   i ,  6   l  and  6   o  graphically illustrate a straight wall groove or cutout  1162 , and overhang cutout or groove  1164  and a concave cutout or groove  1166 . A radial line  1163  passes through the axial centerline of rotating body or bolt  1165 . Preferably, that the angle of engagement between groove or cutout  1162 ,  1164 ,  1166  and the distal tine end (not illustrated) be less than 90 degrees in order to prevent the tine from disengaging from the groove.  FIGS. 6   j ,  6   m  and  6   p  diagrammatically illustrate a flat descending wall  1167 . In contrast,  FIGS. 6   k ,  6   n  and  6   q  graphically illustrate a base wall  1168  and an angularly offset descending wall  1169 . The overhang on the walls shown in  FIGS. 6   m ,  6   n ,  6   p  and  6   q  tend to decrease the angle of engagement along locking or engaging wall  1161 . It is believed that the “three wall” groove design shown in  FIGS. 6   k ,  6   n  and  6   q  (and  FIG. 2   c ), increases the load carrying thread surface and permits increased torque tension strength within locking zone  1162 ,  1164 ,  1166 . This, as a result, results in a better angle of engagement for the distal end of the tine. Further, the three wall pattern for locking zone or groove  1162 ,  1164 ,  1166  enables the use of a thicker tine and permits the designer to select different materials (different types of steel, metal or plastic). 
     FIGS. 7   a, b, c  and  d  and  FIG. 8  are discussed concurrently herein.  FIGS. 7   a-d  show various manufacturing stages for tine  101 . In  FIG. 7   a , tine  101  is formed by stamping or cutting the tine from a sheet of metal. Although the tines described herein are preferably made of metal, and particularly spring steel metal, plastic tines and plastic nuts and bolts may also be utilized. Tine  101  in  FIG. 7   a  includes a proximal end loop  103  which is formed as a solid planar element. In  FIG. 7   a , tine segment  105  includes both the planar tine body and the distal tine end. Tine segment  105  is rotated out of the plane established by solid planar element  103  by rotating segment  105  in the direction shown by arrow  107 . In  FIG. 7   b , tine  101  has a sold planar element  103  and a planar tine body  109  which is perpendicular with respect to solid planar element  103 .  FIG. 7   c  is a side view of tine  101 .  FIG. 7   d  illustrates tine  101  as having a solid planar element  103  which establishes the proximal tine end loop of tine  101 , a planar tine body  109  and a distal tine end  111  which is angularly offset with respect to planar tine body  109 . Distal tine end  111  is formed by bending a tine segment to an angle offset with respect to planar tine body  109 . 
   In  FIG. 8 , tine  101  has been mounted into arcuate recession  112  in nut  114 . Recess  112  is generally similar to recess  90  in  FIG. 6   a  and recess  62  in FIG.  4 . As such, recess  112  includes a recessional mouth open to the internal passageway of nut  114 , a central region forming a radial free space behind tine body  109  and a tangential cavity tangentially disposed with respect to nut thread  116 . The tangential cavity is generally similar to tangential cavity  94  in  FIG. 6   a . As such, the tangential cavity is generally coplanar with respect to central region  117  of recess  112 . Distal tine end  111  moves into and out of the notches formed in bolt  118 . The solid planar element  103  is sized to conform with the tangential cavity of recess  112 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , distal tine end  111  is riding atop the bolt thread crest of bolt  118 . Accordingly, the planar tine body and the distal tine end  111  are disposed in the radial free space of the recess  112  which has been diminished by the radially outward movement of the distal tine end  111 . 
     FIG. 9  diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of tine  101  from the perspective of section line a′-a″ in FIG.  8 . Distal tine end  111  and tine body  109  move within central region  117  of recess  112 . This recess is formed or cut into end face  113  of nut  114 . The solid planar element  103  is trapped in a shallow recess in nut  114 . 
     FIG. 10  shows nut  114  having a recess  119  having a slightly different shape. Also, tine  120  has a solid planar proximal tine end loop  121  which is shaped complementary to tangential cavity  122 . Tine  120  also has a tine body that is tangential with respect to the axial centerline of bolt  123  and is perpendicular to solid planar element  121  which defines the proximal end loop of tine  120 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates nut  150  carrying nut insert  152 . The nut insert is disposed in a circumferential recess on the end face of the nut. Bolt  154  is threaded onto nut  150 . Nut insert  152  includes a peripheral ring  156  and a plurality of tines one of which is tine  158 . Tine  158  includes a distal tine end  160 . In  FIG. 12 , distal tine end  160  is riding atop bolt thread crest  162 . Tine  164 , and in particular distal tine end  166 , has fallen into notch  168 . Distal tine end  166  prevents counter-rotational movement in the direction shown by arrow  169  with respect to a fixed nut position for nut  150 . 
     FIGS. 13 and 14  show various manufacturing stages for nut insert  152 . In  FIG. 13 , nut insert  152  has been stamped or cut from a planar sheet of metal, such as spring metal. Alternatively, plastic may be used. Each tine, one of which is tine  158 , includes a proximal tine portion  170 , a tine body  172  and a distal tine end segment  160 . In  FIG. 14 , tine body  172  has been rotated in direction shown by arrow  171  in  FIG. 13  such that tine body  172  is in a plane perpendicular to peripheral ring  156  of nut insert  152 . Further, the distal tine end  160  has been bent and angularly offset with respect to the generally planar tine body  172 . 
     FIG. 15  shows a partial, cross-sectional, broken away axial end view of nut  150  and nut insert  152 . Nut insert  152  is placed in a recess  174  and is specifically disposed atop a shoulder  176  in recess  174 . Recess  174  is established below the nut end face  175 . In the illustrated embodiment, nut insert  152  is formed with a complementary shape as compared with recess  174 . Since nut insert  152  is placed atop shoulder  176 , the nut insert  152  forms a radial free space there below within which tine  158  moves. Distal end  160  rides atop bolt thread crest  180 . The peripheral ring  156  of nut insert  152  is established about the crest of nut thread  182 . Although three tines are shown in  FIGS. 12 and 15 , the nut insert may operate with a single tine. When distal tine end  166  falls in notch  168  and abuts locking face  183 , counter-rotational movement of the bolt with respect to a fixed nut in the direction shown by arrow  185  is prohibited. Rotational movement opposite to direction  185  permits distal tine end  166  to move along opposing slope  185  of notch  168  and also to move atop bolt thread crest  180 . When the distal tine end rides atop the bolt thread crest, the tine body and a portion of the distal tine end flex within the radial free space defined beneath the peripheral ring  156  of nut insert  152 . As shown with respect to tine  158 , tine body  172  generally falls within a substantially tangential plane with respect to the axial centerline C of bolt  154 . 
     FIG. 16  shows nut  190  having a plurality of keys  192  which are aligned with keyways  194  on nut inserts  196 . In this manner, the nut insert can be aligned in a certain circumferential position with respect to the nut  190 . Of course, nut insert  196  could define the keys and the keyways could be defined in the recess established in nut  190 . 
   Alternatively, keyways  194  are simply cut-outs that permit the locking nut insert to be swaged and “locked” into the nut end face. No keys on the nut face are necessary. It is not necessary to orient the locking nut insert on the nut. The nut end face material, during the swaging process fills the keyway  194  thereby locking the insert on the nut. 
     FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b  show various stages of manufacture of the nut insert. In  FIG. 17   a , nut insert  196  is flat cut or punched from a sheet of steel (preferably spring steel). Keyway or cut-out  194  is clearly shown in  FIG. 17   a . A plurality of tines, one of which is tine  197 , are formed on a radially inward peripheral edge  198  of peripheral ring  199  of the nut insert  196 . In  FIG. 17   a , these tine bodies  197  have been rotated such that they depend beneath the plane established by peripheral ring  199 . Accordingly, the distal tines ends, one of which is distal tine end  193 , extend generally tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the specially configured bolt. The tines are circumferentially disposed around edge  198  of the planar peripheral ring  199  of nut insert  196 . Each tine  193  has a planar body which is generally tangentially disposed with respect to the axial centerline of bolt  191 . 
     FIG. 18  shows nut  201  having a nut insert  203  disposed in a recess below nut face  204 . Nut insert  203  includes a peripheral ring  205  and a plurality of planar support plates, one of which is support plate  207  associated with tine  209 . Tine  209  rides atop bolt thread crest  211  for bolt  210 . Bolt  210  may be similar to the bolt shown in  FIG. 1   a , that is, having a longitudinal locking channel, or may be similar to the bolt shown in  FIG. 2   a , that is, having a spiral locking channel. 
     FIGS. 19 and 20  are partial, cross-sectional views taken from the perspective of section line a′-a″ and b′-b″ in FIG.  18 .  FIG. 19  shows nut  201  having a nut face  204  and a recess  202  there below. Peripheral plate  205  of the nut insert is disposed on the first level of recess  202  or on a shoulder  206 . The recess  202  has a lower region  210 .  FIG. 20  shows that tine  209  is spaced away from the peripheral walls defining lower recess area  210 . In order to provide this radial free space, insert  205  utilizes planar support plates  207  for each tine. The free space is the spacial flex zone. 
     FIG. 19  also shows that the outer peripheral planar section of nut insert  205  has substantially the same radial dimension as the shoulder  202  in recess  206 . This permits the insert to be firmly seated in the recess. 
     FIGS. 21 and 22  show various manufacturing stages for nut insert  203 . In  FIG. 21 , nut insert  203  is pressed, stamped or cut from a single sheet of metal or plastic. Tine segments  214  extend from planar support plate  207 . Tine  209  ( FIG. 22 ) is formed when tine segment  214  is rotated in the direction shown by arrow  215  such that tine body  216  is tangentially disposed with respect to the nut thread and bolt thread. Distal tine  209  is then rotated in the direction shown by arrow  218  such that distal tine end  209  extends tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the locking unit. 
   In this configuration, the distal tine ends flex radially inward when the distal tine end is disposed in one or more notches (see  FIG. 18 , and the tine at 8 o&#39;clock) and the distal tine ends move radially outward into the radial free space ( FIG. 20 , space  210 ) when the distal tine end rides on the bolt thread crest as shown with respect to distal tine end  209  in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 23  shows nut  220  carrying an elongated locking unit  221  formed as a cylinder on nut end face  222 . Elongated locking unit  221  has a rearward ring member  223  which is disposed in a nut recess (see FIG.  29 ). The elongated locking unit  221  has a cylindrical body  225  with a plurality of tines  226 ,  228  formed thereon. Each tine has a distal tine end  227  and a proximal tine portion  229 . Proximal tine portion  229  is adjacent cylindrical body  225  of elongated locking unit  221 . Preferably, distal tine end  227  is formed by cutting out region  230  from cylindrical body  225 . A plurality of tines, in a preferred embodiment, are circumferentially disposed about cylinder  225 . Additionally, the tines may be axially disposed such that tine  228  is axially inboard with respect to tine  232 . 
     FIG. 24  shows bolt  231  having a bolt thread trough  233 , a bolt thread crest  234  and a plurality of notches, one of which is notch  235 . Each notch includes a locking face  236  and an opposing slope  237 . 
     FIGS. 25   a  and  25   b  show bolt segments  11  and  13  carrying a plurality of notches thereon. With respect to bolt segment  11  in  FIG. 25   a , the plurality of notches are longitudinally aligned to form longitudinal locking channel  9 . With respect to bolt segment  13  in  FIG. 25   b , the notches are aligned in a predetermined spiral pattern to form spiral locking channel  7 . 
     FIG. 26  shows nut  220  threaded onto bolt  231 . Locking unit  221  is locked onto nut  220 . Tine  247  is in a locked or engaged position with its distal tine end abutting a locking face in the locking channel. This is the locking zone. In contrast, distal tine end  240  is riding atop the opposing slope in the flex zone. Tine  228  is riding atop bolt thread crest  234 . 
     FIG. 27   a  shows an elongated locking unit  241  having a cylindrical body  225  with circumferentially disposed distal tine ends  226 ,  232 .  FIG. 27   b  shows locking unit  221  with distal tine ends  226 ,  228  and  232  circumferentially disposed about cylinder  225  and axially disposed about cylinder  225 . The locking mechanisms in  FIGS. 27   a  and  27   b  are sometimes referred to herein as “railroad” designs. 
     FIG. 28  illustrates bolt  1  having a plurality of longitudinal locking channels  3  about to be threaded onto nut  220  carrying elongated locking unit  221 . 
     FIG. 29  shows elongated locking unit  221  having an axially rearward ring  223  disposed in a recess  242  beneath end face  222 . One method of attaching rearward ring  223  in recess  242  is by swaging the nut face  222 . Otherwise, the ring may be snap fit into recess  242 . The ring may also be inserted via a key and rotated to block or trap the key in a keyway. The key and keyway locking is not the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 30   a  shows bolt  1  locking panels  4 ,  5  via nut  220  and locking unit  221 . The user can easily determine whether the tines  228 ,  232  have fallen into one of the locking channels  3  by viewing the position of the tine in the cut-out. For example, with reference to tine  228 , cut-out  230  enables the user to visually identify whether the tine has been placed in the locking channel. 
   Referring to  FIG. 26 , tines  228 ,  232  and  240  protrude both tangentially and radially toward the axial centerline of bolt  231 . The placement of tines  232 ,  228  and  226  ( FIG. 23 ) in respective cut-outs (for example tine  228  in cut-out  230 ) enhances the visibility of the locking action of each tine. As shown in  FIG. 26 , the rearward ring  223  of locking unit  221  has a complementary key and keyway fit in region  246 . As shown, the rearward ring defines the keyway and the nut recess or nut end surface  222  defines a complementary key. This key and keyway fit permits the circumferential alignment of locking unit  221  with respect to a certain position on nut  220 . In the railroad design, liquid will not accumulate in the locking mechanism. 
     FIG. 30   b  diagrammatically illustrates a top hat design or nut insert. Elongated locking unit  1170  is substantially similar to elongated locking unit  1171  shown in  FIG. 30   c  except that unit  1170  includes a seam  1172  whereas locking unit  1171  does not have a seam. Unit  1171  is manufactured by poking a “bubble” in a thin metal sheet, breaking through the bubble, forming a tube, lancing the tube and then creating axially forward ring plate member  1173 . In contrast, locking unit  1170  is created from a flat strip of metal (or plastic) which is cut, folded, and wrapped on a mandrill to form barrel or the cylinder. Any material which can be cut, folded and wrapped may be utilized. Seam  1172  is spot welded or is left open such that the cylinder acts a spring. Both locking units  1170 ,  1171  include a cylinder  1174 . The cylinder has a central region  1175  shown in  FIG. 30   d  and carries at least one, and preferably, a plurality of tines. The top hat design illustrated in  FIGS. 30   b - 30   e  include four tines  1176 ,  1177 ,  1178  and  1179  carried by the cylindrical lock body shown in  FIG. 30   e . These tines protrude tangentially and radially towards axial centerline  1180  of rotating bolt or body  1181 . Axially centerline  1180  is shown in  FIG. 30   f.    
   The top hat design is unique in that tines  1176 - 1179  are disposed in a central region  1175  in cylinder  1174 . This central disposition of the tines provides stability and extra strength since cylinder  1174  has a lower peripheral axial ring section  1184  shown in  FIG. 30   d  and an upper ring normal to radial top hat lip  1173 . When locking unit  1170  is placed in a recess defined on the end face of a nut (see the recess in  FIGS. 11 ,  19  and  20  for example), the locking unit is swagged onto end face  1182  of nut  1183  ( FIG. 30   f ) and the swagged portion of end face  1182  “flows up” to lock into the V formed on axially forward radial ring  1173 . Other cut-outs are useful. See  FIGS. 17   a ,  18 . V  1185  is shown on forward axial radial ring  1173  of locking unit  1170  in  FIG. 30   b . V  1185  is swagged into nut end face  1182 . 
   Since there is no reason to circumferentially orient the top hat or locking unit  1170 ,  1171 , the top hat design is easier to assemble. It is only necessary to orient the top hat design such that lower axial edge  1184  ( FIG. 30   d ) is disposed near the nut end face such that the locking nut insert drops into the recess on the nut face. Further, the present top hat or locking unit design  1170 ,  1171  is easily handled by automatic feeding units. The lower circumferential ring  1184  prevents the nut inserts from locking together and also ensures that tines  1176 - 1179  are not altered, deformed or otherwise harmed during the automatic feeding and insertion into the nut recess. If the tines become dented, the locking ability of the system is adversely effected. It is important to note that the automatic sorting and handling of these fasteners is an important feature of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 30   g - 30   i  diagrammatically illustrate axial stacking of two top hat locking units  1190  and  1191 . Locking units  1190  and  1191  are aligned such that V cutouts  1185  on each locking unit are axially aligned. Thereafter, the two top hat locking units are attached by adhesion, spot welding or otherwise to form a composite unit  1193 . The top ring of the assembled units is smaller in diameter to allow an installation tool to reach the area to be fastened. Composite unit  1193  is then inserted into nut  1194 . Lower or axially inboard locking unit  1191  is placed in the recess on the end face  1182  of nut  1194 . The upper locking unit or axially outboard locking unit  1190  extends axially outboard from nut face  1182 . Of course, the dual locking units  1190 ,  1991  are coaxial with axially centerline  1195  of nut  1194 . The dual top hat locking unit  1190 ,  1191  provides multiple, circumferentially disposed tines thereby enhancing the locking capability of the system. This peripheral and axial distribution of tines both axially and circumferentially is described above in connection with the railroad design shown in  FIG. 27   b.    
   The top hat locking unit design ( FIGS. 30   b ,  30   c ) are different from prior art designs in that the present invention is a single part and not a multiple part piece. The prior art does not have a lower circumferential ring  1184  ( FIG. 30   d ) and hence, is difficult to sort, automatically feed and assemble in a nut recess. These features are important in the present invention. 
   General comments regarding the axial end locking mechanism follow. 
   The invention relates to a cylinder extending axially from an end of a nut wherein the cylinder carries locking elements thereon. 
   The invention also relates to a locking clip or insert with tines supported in an axial manner (with respect to the axial centerline of the nut), and tines emanating from the axially disposed cylindrical body that pass through a spacial flex zone and engage grooves in a screw. 
   Since the locking mechanism is axially outboard from the nut, water or other liquid cannot pool in the locking mechanism. This reduces the possibility of corrosion of the mechanism in adverse environments or outdoors. 
   General comments regarding the “top hat” design follow. 
   A protective rim or peripheral wall axially above and below, alongside the tine (a) protects the integrity of the locking mechanism at all stages of manufacture including shipping, storage, handling and installation; (b) allows shipping of tine components in bulk, preventing entanglement prior to installation in the nut and allowing for high speed installation in any swaging process; and (c) will shield any sharp edges of the tines when protruding from the locking mechanism. This makes the locking mechanism safer to handle and reduces the risk of something catching on the locking mechanism including loose clothing. 
   General comments on the axial stacked embodiment follow. 
   In an axial stacked mode (two top hat designs stacked together), one locking insert is keyed to the second insert. This provides a maximum amount of tine engagements equally separated for either maximum engagements with the lowest possible degrees between engagements (see, for example, the earlier example of 8 tines operating on 9 grooves or slots), or the maximum engagements with a specification for multiple or duplicate simultaneous tine engagements (e.g., 8 tines in 8 grooves). 
     FIG. 31  illustrates a perspective view of nut  250  having a locking element  252  disposed in a recess on nut face  251 . The recess is similar to recess  242  in FIG.  29 . Locking element  252  includes a rearward ring member  254  and a plurality of axially protruding legs  255  extending normally therefrom. Each axially protruding leg includes a tine  256  that protrudes tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the bolt.  FIG. 32  shows an end view of nut  250  with locking element  252  attached to the end face  251  of the nut. Tine  257  is in a locked position in a notch in bolt  258 . In contrast, tine  259  is riding on top of bolt thread crest  261 . Locking element  252  is keyed to a certain position with respect to nut  250  based upon key and keyway combination  262 . As explained earlier, it is not critical whether locking element carries the key or keyway as long as the complementary key or keyway element is formed on the appropriate portion of nut end face  251 . Alternatively, the cut-outs or keyways on the locking element may be locked to the nut end face by swaging the radially extending lip of the locking unit to the nut end face. In a swaged mode, nut end face material “flows” into to keyway to lock both units together. This swaged., locking feature is discussed earlier herein. 
     FIG. 33   a  and  FIG. 33   b  show various stages of manufacture of locking element  252 . In  FIG. 33   a , locking element  252  is cut, stamped or pressed from a single sheet of steel or metal, preferably spring steel. Alternatively, plastic may be utilized. A tine segment  263  is formed by cutting, pressing or otherwise. In  FIG. 33   b , tine segment  263  has been rotated such that it is in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rearward ring member  254 . Tine segment  263  includes a proximal tine portion  265  and a distal tine end  267 . A proximal tine portion  265  is generally perpendicular to radially inward edge  266  of ring member  254 . The distal tine portion  267  protrudes tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of the bolt. This centerline is coaxial to the centerline of the nut. 
     FIG. 34  shows bolt  1  having a plurality of longitudinal locking channels  3  and nut  250  carrying locking element  252 . The axially protruding legs of the proximal tine portion  265  are clearly shown. These legs protrude normally from the ring member of the nut insert. The distal tine portion  267  is angled inward to catch one or more notches in the longitudinal locking channel  3 . Of course, a spiral locking channel  7  shown on bolt segment  13  in  FIG. 25   a  may be utilized. A plurality of tines are circumferentially spaced about locking element  252 . 
     FIG. 35   a  shows nut  250  carrying locking element  252  and locking onto bolt  1 . The user can visibly confirm whether one or more of the distal tine ends  267  have locked into locking channel  3 . Also, when the distal tine ends  267  ride atop bolt thread crest  2 , this can be visibly confirmed by the user. Locking element  252  can be swaged onto nut face  251  as shown in  FIG. 29  or snapped into the recess 
     FIGS. 35   b - 35   e  diagrammatically illustrate various mechanisms to swage or attach or affix the axially disposed radially extending rim or lip of various locking units or nut inserts. For example, rim  1173  in  FIG. 30   b ; plate  156  in  FIG. 13 ; plate  205  in  FIGS. 18 ,  19 ; plate  223  in  FIG. 29 ; among others.  FIG. 35   b  diagrammatically shows nut  1202  having primary nut recess  1204  and radial wall or ledge  1206 . In addition, nut end face  1208  includes an axial protrusion  1210 . In  FIG. 35   c , locking unit or nut insert  1213  has been disposed in nut recess  1204 . Locking unit  1213  includes at an axial end, a radial plate  1215 . In order to secure locking unit  1213  in nut recess  1204 , axial protrusion  1210  has been flattened or deformed as shown as deformation  1211  to cover a reasonable portion of radial end plate  1215 . This mechanism effectively locks the locking unit  1213  or nut insert into nut recess  1204 . 
   In  FIGS. 35   d - 35   e , radial ledge  1206  of nut  1202  includes a striation or slight radially aligned, axial protrusion or ridge  1216 . When nut insert  1213  is placed in nut recess  1204  and radial ring or plate  1215  is placed thereon, upon deformation of axial ridge  1210  to form deformation  1211 , the bump or striation  1216  provides a sturdy anti-rotation lock between deformation  1211  and ridge  1216 . This anti-rotation lock results in a similar deformation of radial ring  1215  on nut insert  1213 . 
     FIGS. 35   h - 35   oo  relate to fasteners, clips or nuts formed from essentially sheet metal. Similar numerals designate similar items in this group of figures. In the industry, these structures may alternatively be called locking fasteners, locking nuts or locking clips. Further, it should be noted that these locking fastener structures may be mounted on a clip leg established by a U, J or S-shaped clip. The fastener on a U-shaped clip is shown in  FIG. 46   c . The fastener on a clip leg on a J-shaped clip is shown in  FIG. 46   k . S-shaped clips are shown in  FIGS. 37 and 38   a . Generally, U, J or S-shaped fastener designs are interchangeable, i.e., it does not matter whether the fastener is mounted on a U, J or S-shaped clip body. 
     FIGS. 35   f - 35   i  ultimately form nut, clip or fastener  1220 .  FIG. 35   h  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of fastener  1220  and  FIG. 35   i  diagrammatically illustrates a prospective view of the fastener. In  FIG. 35   f , the fastener is shown at an early manufacturing stage wherein sheet metal plate  1222  has been partially extruded to form thread barrel  1224  and cylindrical body  1225 . The extrusion has been threaded. Tines  1226  have been punched or tooled into a medial portion  1227  of cylinder  1225 . The dashed lines  1228  in  FIG. 35   f  identify hinge or bend regions for partially manufactured sheet plate  1222 . Dashed lines  1228  in this group of  FIGS. 35   f - 35   oo  indicate bend lines. 
   To partially manufacture sheet metal plate  1222 , a bubble is created to form thread barrel  1224 . The bubble is then lanced or cutoff to form axial edge  1223 . In a similar manner, a bubble is formed on plate  1222  in order to form locking cylindrical body  1225 . That bubble is cut or lanced to form edge  1229 . Thereafter, cylinder  1225  is put on a mandrel or other properly shaped tool or dye and a radial stamp tool is radially inserted at medial region  1227  to form tine  1226 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 35   g , thread barrel  1224  and cylindrical body  1225  extend above sheet plate  1222 . Tines  1226  extend tangentially and radially inward towards the axial centerline. 
   In order to form fastener  1220  shown in  FIGS. 35   h  and  35   i , plate section  1330  is bent at bend planes  1228  shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 35   g . Intermediate section  1331  becomes a side wall for fastener  1220 . Cylindrical locking body  1225  carried by plate section  1332  is axially disposed, in a coaxial manner along axial centerline  1335 . The axial centerline of threaded barrel  1224  and the axial centerline of cylindrical locking unit  1225  is coaxial. Plate section  1333  is bent to form another side of fastener  1220 . The completed product is shown in perspective in  FIG. 35   i  wherein tines  1226  extend radially and tangentially towards the axial centerline  1335  and threads  1221  are visible on thread barrel portion  1224 . 
   Although sheet metal is currently used to make these fasteners, other composite materials or plastic may be used. 
     FIGS. 35   j  and  35   k  show an initial manufactured phase and a final manufactured phase for fastener  1340 . Partially manufactured sheet plate  1342  in  FIG. 35   j  has an extruded threaded barrel  1344  and an extruded locking cylinder  1346 . A plurality of tines  1348  extends radially and tangentially in the axial centerline  1350  of locking cylinder  1346 . Partially manufactured sheet plate  1342  is bent as shown in  FIG. 35   j . Additionally, nut or fastener end plate  1352  has extending therefrom face plates  1354 ,  1355 ,  1356  and  1357 . Prior to or subsequent to axially alignment of axial centerline  1350  and axial centerline  1354  (related to threaded barrel  1344 ), side faces  1354 - 1357  are bent to enclose fastener  1340 . Plate sections  1331  and  1333  enclose the other sides of fastener  1340 . The completed fastener is shown in  FIG. 35   k . Plate sections  1331 ,  1333  protect the tines from damage during shipping etc., and provide axial stability and support for the clip fastener. 
   With respect to  FIGS. 35   l - 35   q , similar numerals designate similar items. Only significant differences in the structures will be discussed herein.  FIGS. 35   l - 35   o  diagrammatically illustrate the partially manufactured and finished version of fastener  1370 . In  FIG. 35   l , extruded threaded bore  1372  has been partially cut to form cutout  1374 . Before or after establishing cutout  1374 , cylinder  1372  is threaded. Partially manufactured plate  1373  is bent at lines  1228  such that axial centerline  1345  of threaded bore  1372  is coaxial with axial centerline  1350  of locking cylinder  1346 . Further, tines  1348  are disposed in cutouts  1374 . This is shown in perspective in  FIG. 35   o . As a result, fastener  1370  has a compact shape and threaded bore  1372  carries a greater number of threads thereby enhancing the fastening capability of fastener  1370 . 
   In  FIGS. 35   p  and  35   q , the same concept is carried forward. Partially manufactured sheet plate  1380  has a threaded bore  1372  with cutouts  1374 . The cutouts accommodate tines  1348 . In a final manufactured stage, fastener  1385  includes one or more tines  1348  which are disposed in cutouts  1374  in threaded bore  1372 . The side plates protect the tines and add axial stability to the locking system. 
     FIGS. 35   r - 35   u  diagrammatically illustrate partial and final manufactured versions of fastener  1390 . In  FIG. 35   r  threaded bore  1372  includes a cutout  1374 . However, rather than a cylindrical locking body as shown in  FIG. 35   o , a rectangular locking body  1391  carries at least one, and a preferably a plurality of tines  1348 . In  FIG. 35   s , tine  1348  includes tine body  1392  and distal tine end  1393 . Tine body  1392  is rotated with respect to the sheet plate along the dashed bend line and distal tine end section  1393  is bent along the dashed bend line. Distal tine end  1393  is positioned in cutout  1374  when the axial centerline  1345  of threaded barrel  1372  is coaxial with axial centerline  1350  of rectangular locking body  1391 . 
   With respect to  FIGS. 35   v  and  35   w , those figures diagrammatically illustrate fastener  1395 . Similar numerals designate similar items in  FIGS. 35   r - 35   w . Fastener  1395  includes tine  1393  mounted on rectangular locking body or structure  1391 . In its fully manufactured state shown in  FIG. 35   w , tine  1393  is disposed in cutout  1374  of threaded barrel  1372 . 
     FIGS. 35   x - 35   aa  diagrammatically illustrate fastener  1401  having a single thread  1403  on plate section  1404 . Single thread  1403  in  FIG. 35   y  has a center point  1405 . When the axial centerline  1350  of locking cylinder  1346  is place coaxial with respect to center point  1405  of single thread  1403 , the finished fastener  1401  is created as shown in  FIG. 35   aa .  FIG. 35   z  shows that single thread  1403  rises above the planar plate surface  1406 . This enables the single thread to travel on the inclined plane of the threaded bolt operating on fastener  1401 . 
     FIGS. 35   bb  and  35   cc  show a partial manufactured view and a final manufactured view of fastener  1410 . When center point  1405  is made coaxial with respect to axial centerline  1350  of cylindrical locking cylinder  1346 , tines  1378  protrude radially and tangentially into the axial centerline of fastener  1410 . The operation of single thread  1403  is discussed in greater detail later in connection with  FIGS. 47-50 , among others. 
     FIGS. 35   dd - 35   gg  diagrammatically illustrate partial manufactured views and final manufactured views of fastener  1420 . Fastener  1420  includes a single thread  1403  and a rectangular locking body or structure  1391  carrying at least one and preferably a plurality of tines  1393 . Tines  1393  are distal end sections protruding from tine body  1348  and particular main tine body  1392 . When center point  1405  of single thread  1403  is made coaxial with respect to axial centerline  1350 , tines  1393  protrude radially and tangentially into the axial centerline of the entire fastener  1420 . 
     FIGS. 35   hh  and  35   ii  also utilize a single thread  1430  and a rectangular tine carrying structure  1391  which supports a plurality of tine  1348 . Particularly, distal tine end section  1393  projects tangentially and radially inwards towards the axial centerline of the entire fastener  1425 . As discussed earlier, the channeled bolt moves longitudinally along the axial centerline. 
     FIGS. 35   jj - 35   mm  diagrammatically illustrate various stages of manufacture and the final version of fastener  1430 . Fastener  1430  includes a single thread  1403  which cooperates with the bolt thread. Plate sections  1331  and  1333  are stamped out and tines  1431 ,  1432  are formed in those plate sections. Plate section  1332  includes a through bore or hole  1436 . Bore  1436  includes a center point  1437 . When center point  1405  of single thread  1403  is coaxial with center point  1437  of bore  1436 , the fastener  1430  has an axial centerline of  1435 . Tines  1431  and  1432  extend tangentially and radially towards axial centerline  1435  of fastener  1430 . The channeled bolt travels along the axial centerline of the fastener. 
   Fastener  1440  is diagrammatically illustrated in  FIGS. 35   nn  and  35   oo . In  FIG. 35   nn , plate section  1442  includes a through bore  1436 . Bore  1436  includes a center point  1437 . Further, side panels  1354  and  1356  have been punched out, stamped or tooled to create tines  1442 ,  1444 . When fastener  1440  is bent along bend plane lines  1228  (perforated lines) and side faces  1354 ,  1355 ,  1356  and  1357  are placed perpendicular to end plate  1352 , tines  1442 ,  1444  protrude radially and tangentially through and towards the axial centerline of fastener  1440 . The axial centerline of fastener  1440  passes through center point  1405  of single thread  1403  and center point  1437  of through bore  1436 . 
     FIGS. 35   pp - 35   ss  diagrammatically illustrate a locking drawn barrel  1500 . Locking drawn barrel  1500  in  FIG. 35   qq  includes an axially inboard radial lip  1502 . In contrast, the thread carrying cylinder  1504  for locking barrel  1500  in  FIG. 35  pp does not include an axially inboard, radial lip. Both drawn barrels include a cylindrical locking structure  1506  from which tangentially and radially extends tine  1510 . A plurality of tines may be utilized to increase the clamping factor of the fastener system. 
     FIG. 35   rr  shows locking barrel  1500  mounted in a recess in nut  1511 . Tines  1510  are shown extending tangentially and radially toward the axial centerline of the composite locking barrel  1500  and nut  1511 . The term “composite” refers to the insert and nut combination. Threads  1512  are disposed axially inboard on thread barrel  1504 . 
     FIG. 35   ss  shows thread barrel cylinder  1504 , locking cylindrical structure  1506  and tine  1510 . 
   Lip  1502  in  FIG. 35   qq  helps lock the extrusion into a plastic or composite nut body. This locking feature is an important feature of the present design because the locking drawn barrel  1500  can be mass assembled. Further, this feature may enable a composite nut/locking structure to be cheaply manufactured while maintaining the strength of the locking structure in the nut insert and the lightness of the system by using a plastic nut body. Hence, the term “composite” is appropriate for a plastic nut and a metal nut insert as described in  FIGS. 35   pp - 35   ss.    
     FIGS. 35   tt - 35   xx  diagrammatically illustrate a double reverse extrusion ( FIG. 35   tt ) which can be further utilized as a pipe lock ( FIGS. 35   tt - 35   xx ). The locking nut or fastener may be utilized in conjunction with a threaded pipe or rod in order to provide a locking mechanism for the pipe or rod. If the outside of a flanged female pipe (or possibly a standard female pipe) is threaded, the lock of the present invention can be threaded onto the pipe and the locking engagements may drop into axial grooves on the outside of the male end of the pipe. Threads may not be necessary under the grooves on the male side of the pipe. 
     FIG. 35   tt  shows a cylindrical body  1520  carrying, in an internal region, a threaded bore  1522 . Threaded bore  1522  includes a cutout  1524  through which protrudes a tine  1526 . The tine may be supported by a further internal body in body  1520 . 
     FIG. 35   uu  shows a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of cylindrical structure  1520 . Structure  1520  has an open end  1530  into which pipe  1531  is inserted. Pipe  1531  includes threads  1533  and axial grooves  1535 . Threads  1533  are complementary to female threads  1532  disposed on the interior of cylindrical structure  1520 . Threaded bore  1532  has a cutout  1524  and a tine  1526  extends there through. If cylindrical structure  1520  were truncated at face  1540 , the structure would define a smaller cylindrical structure and operate to lock on to and cap pipe  1531 . Of course, rather than utilizing a pipe  1531  any type of cylindrical item or rod carrying threads  1533  and axial grooves  1531  could be locked onto cylindrical structure  1520 . 
   In the absence of a truncation at face  1540 , the locking joint shown in  FIG. 35   uu  includes a second set of female threads  1542  which is complimentary to male threads  1544  on pipe  1546 . Further, pipe end  1548  includes internal female threads  1550 . Internal female threads  1550  enable male threads  1533  on pipe  1531  to be fully inserted and ride not only on female threads  1532  of cylindrical unit  1520  but also on pipe  1546 . 
   The structure illustrated in  FIG. 35   uu  enables the user to lock on the cylindrical unit  1520  while being able to disassemble or withdraw pipe  1546  from lock unit  1520 . 
   Similar numerals designate similar items and are carried forward into  FIGS. 35   ww ,  35   vv  and  35   xx.    
     FIG. 35   ww  diagrammatically illustrates pipe lock or coupler  1560 .  FIG. 35   vv  diagrammatically illustrates the outside appearance of pipe lock  1560 . Pipe lock  1560  includes, on its left hand side, a similar pipe lock as described above in connection with  FIG. 35   uu . On the right hand side, pipe lock  1560  includes female threads  1542  which are complimentary to male threads  1544  on pipe  1562 . Pipe  1562  includes axial grooves or cutouts  1564 . Pipe  1562  also may include internal female threads  1550  in a manner similar to the pipe lock shown in  FIG. 35   uu . Further, pipe lock  1560  includes a larger diameter section  1566 . The internal wall  1568  of larger diameter section  1566  includes a cutout  1570 . A tine  1572  extends through the cutout and coacts with axial grooves  1564  of pipe  1562 . Accordingly, the user may lock pipe  1531  on the left hand side of coupler  1560 . The user may subsequently lock pipe  1562  on the right hand side of pipe lock  1560 . 
     FIG. 35   xx  shows a modified pipe lock  1580  disposed at a terminal end of pipe  1582 . Female threads  1532  have been moved axially inboard away from tine  1526 . Accordingly, male threads  1533  of pipe  1531  can be mounted on female threaded coupling  1532 . Accordingly, tine  1526  pops into and out of the grooves  1535  on pipe  1531  thereby locking the pipe onto the terminal end of pipe  1582 . 
     FIG. 36  diagrammatically illustrates an S-shaped locking nut and bolt assembly  270 . All illustrations of the clips are expanded to better show the critical features of the invention. The S-shaped member includes legs  271 ,  272  and  273 . It is important to remember that leg  271  may be truncated at any location above line  274  thereby eliminating the leg portion toward terminal end  275 . As used herein, “S-shaped” refers to the S-shape shown in  FIG. 36  or a truncated S-shape which eliminates all or a portion of the segment from line  274  to terminal end  275  of leg  271 . 
   Leg  272  includes a nut formed as cylindrical unit  276 . On leg  273 , an elongated locking unit  277  is formed. In view of the length of leg  271 , that leg also has a bore  278 . The axial centerline through bore  278  and nut  276  and cylindrical locking unit  277  is coaxial. As shown in  FIG. 37 , panel  280  includes a panel bore  282 . The panel bore is coaxial with clip leg bore  278 , nut  276  and cylindrical locking unit  277 . A bolt similar to that described above in connection with  FIGS. 25   a  and  25   b  is inserted through bore  278 ,  282  and threaded through nut  276  and ultimately locking onto cylindrical locking unit  277 . 
   Cylindrical locking unit  277  includes at least one, and in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of tines, one of which is tine  282 . In a preferred embodiment, tine  282  is established by cutting out a region  283  from the cylindrical locking unit  277 . As discussed earlier, tine  282  has a distal tine end which tangentially and radially protrudes inward toward the cylindrical axis of the specially configured bolt. When the tine end abuts a locking face (for example, locking face  236  in  FIG. 24  for bolt  231 ), the tine and the locking face prevent counter-rotational movement of the bolt with respect to the locking nut and bolt clip assembly  270 . Otherwise, when the bolt is moved in a rotational manner, the distal tine end rides on opposing slope  237  and bolt thread crest  234  and further rotational movement is permitted. 
   Cylindrical locking unit  277  has a cylindrical axis perpendicular to the plane of leg  273 . As shown with respect to  FIG. 42 , cylindrical locking unit  277  maybe disposed on intermediate leg  272  and nut  276  may be disposed on laterally distant leg  273 . 
     FIG. 37  shows that bored panel  280  is placed between clip leg  271  and clip leg  272  of S-shaped clip  270  such that bore  278  is coaxial with panel bore  282  and the nut thread  285  of nut  276 . Cylindrical locking unit  277  is also coaxial with this bolt passageway. The locking action of tine  282  is visibly confirmed since tine  282  is disposed in cut-out  283 . 
     FIG. 38   a  shows an S-shaped locking nut and bolt clip assembly having an S-shaped clip  290  and clip legs  291 ,  292  and  293 . Clip leg  291  includes bore  294  since the terminal end  295  of that leg extends above nut thread  296  of nut  297 . S-shaped clip  290  is adapted to be slid or placed, as shown by arrow  298 , onto panel  299 . Panel  299  includes bore  301 . Bore  301  is placed coaxially with respect to bore  294  and nut thread  296  of nut  297 . 
   A locking element is configured or formed on leg  293 . This locking element includes a plurality of perpendicular panels  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306 . These panels are perpendicular to the generally planar surface of clip leg  293 . More importantly, these panels  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306  define axially protruding legs which are perpendicular to clip leg  293  and, more importantly, are tangentially disposed with respect to an axial centerline passing through bore  294  and nut  297 . As such, the locking element forms a locking element bore  307  through which protrudes the specially configured bolt. See  FIGS. 25   a ,  25   b . Each axially protruding leg  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306  also includes a respective tine  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  314 . These tines protrude tangentially and radially toward the axial centerline defined by bore  294 , nut thread  296  and locking element bore  307 . As discussed in detail earlier, each tine has a distal tine end adapted to latch onto a lock face of one or more notches in a specially configured bolt. See bolt segment  11 ,  13  in  FIGS. 25   a ,  25   b , and particularly longitudinal locking channel  9  and spiral locking channel  7 . Each tine also includes a proximal tine portion attached to the corresponding axially protruding leg  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306 . When the specially configured bolt is inserted through bore  294 , bore  282  in panel  280  (FIG.  37 ), and threaded onto nut thread  296  of nut  297 , and further when the locking channels pass tines  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  314 , the position of each distal tine end is visible to the user. This visibility is provided not only by the cut-outs defined adjacent each tine  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  314  but also because of the tangential orientation of the small axially protruding leg segments  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306 . 
     FIG. 38   b  shows a manufacturing stage for the locking element formed by the plurality of axially protruding legs  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306  in  FIG. 38   a . In  FIG. 38   b , clip leg segment  293  is generally planar and locking leg segments  303 ′,  304 ′,  305 ′ and  306 ′ have been formed by stamping, cutting or otherwise forming leg segments on clip leg segment  293 . Each axially protruding leg segment clearly defines the distal tine end and proximal tine portion. For example, with respect to locking leg segment  303 ′, distal tine end  310 ′ is identified. Proximal tine portion  316  is immediately adjacent protruding leg segment  303 ′. Accordingly, in order to form axially protruding legs  303 ,  304 ,  305  and  306  as shown in  FIG. 38   a , leg segments  303 ′,  304 ′,  305 ′ and  306 ′ are rotated out of the plane formed by clip leg segment  293 . Thereafter, the distal tine portions  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  314  are pressed radially inward toward the axial centerline running through bore  294  and nut thread  296 . 
     FIG. 39  diagrammatically illustrates that S-shaped clip  270  can be utilized in conjunction with bolt  14  carrying longitudinal locking channel  9  on bolt thread segment  111  or bolt  15 , carrying spiral locking channel  7  on bolt thread segment  13 . Either one of these specially configured bolts can be threaded through bore  278  after S-shaped clip  270  is placed onto panel  280  such that bore  278  is coaxial with panel bore  282 . Bolts  14 ,  15  threaded through bores  278 ,  282  and threaded onto nut  276  ultimately engage cylindrical locking unit  277 . Distal tine ends  282  visibly engage locking channels  7 ,  9  due to the tine&#39;s position in cut-out  283 . Also, the axially extending nature of the locking unit enhances visibility. 
     FIG. 40  diagrammatically shows S-shaped clip  320  having clip legs  321 ,  322  and  323 . Clip leg  321  defines bore  324 . Clip leg  322  carries nut  325  having nut thread  326  thereon. Clip leg  323  carries a locking element formed of a plurality of axially protruding legs  327 ,  328 ,  329  and  330 . Each axially protruding leg includes a distal tine end  331 ,  332 ,  333  and  334 . Additionally, the locking element establishes a locking element bore  335 . These tines are not cut-out from the locking element legs but are simply angularly offset with respect to the legs. It should be noted that clip legs  321 ,  322 ,  323  maybe bent inward towards nut thread  326  rather than outboard away from the thread. This will protect the integrity of the tines, i.e., limit damage during shipping and installation. Also, the terminal end of clip leg  323  may include a depending spacer leg as shown in  FIG. 43 , leg  362 . 
     FIGS. 41   a  and  41   b  show various manufacturing stages for the locking element. Clip leg segment  323  in  FIG. 41   a  shows that protruding leg segments  327 ′,  328 ′,  329 ′ and  330 ′ are stamped or cut from a generally planar sheet of metal or plastic. Each protruding leg segment clearly defines a distal tine end, for example distal tine end  331  for leg  327 ′ is identified in  FIG. 41   a . Further, leg segment  327 ′ also establishes proximal tine portion  340 . In order to form the locking element shown in  FIG. 40 , protruding leg segments  327 ′,  328 ′,  329 ′ and  330 ′ are rotated out of the plane formed by clip leg segment  323 .  FIG. 41   b  shows a front view of clip leg segment  323 . Axially protruding legs  327 ,  328 ,  329  and  330  are normal to the plane established by clip leg segment  323 . Distal tine ends  331 ,  332 ,  333  and  334  protrude tangentially and radially inward toward the axially centerline C in locking element bore  335 . 
     FIG. 42  diagrammatically illustrates S-shaped clip  350  having clip legs  351 ,  352  and  353 . As shown in  FIG. 43 , S-shaped clip  350  is placed on bored panel  354  as shown by arrow  355 . Clip leg  351  includes a bore  356 . Clip leg  352  includes a cylindrical locking unit  357 . Cylindrical locking unit  357  has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart tines, one of which is distal tine end  358 . Alternatively, cylindrical locking unit  357  may include only a single tine. Distal tine end  358  has a proximal tine portion  359  adjacent cylindrical body  360  of cylindrical locking unit  357 . Clip leg  353  includes nut  360  having nut threads  361  thereat. Nut  360  is coaxial with cylindrical locking unit  357  and bore  356 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 43 , clip leg  353  includes depending spacer leg  362 .  FIG. 43  also shows that distal tine end  358  is visible during locking and unlocking due to cut-out  364 . Basically, the distal tine end  358  moves into and out of one or more notches forming longitudinal locking channel ( FIG. 25   a ) or spiral locking channel  7  ( FIG. 25   b ). The depending spacer leg  362  ensures that when the bolt segment  11 ,  13  ( FIGS. 25   a ,  25   b ) are threaded onto thread  361 , nut  360  maintains its coaxial position with respect to the axial centerline of the bolt. In other words, when the bolt pulls clip legs  351 ,  352  and  353  together, the coaxial nature of nut  360  with respect to the axial centerline of the bolt is maintained due to depending spacing leg  362 . 
     FIG. 44  diagrammatically illustrates S-shaped clip  370  having clip legs  371 ,  372 ,  373  and a fourth clip leg  374 . Clip leg  371  includes bore  375 . Clip leg  372  includes a nut  376  having a nut thread  377 . Clip leg  373  includes a locking element formed of a plurality of axially protruding legs, two of which are axially protruding legs  378 ,  379 . Each axially protruding leg includes a distal tine end  380  and  381  which extends tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline formed by bore  375 , nut thread  377  and nut  376  and the locking element bore  382 . In the illustrated embodiment, another pair of opposing axially protruding legs is formed on clip leg  373 . Clip leg  374  includes a supplemental bore  384 . Supplemental leg  374  includes a depending spacer leg  385 . 
     FIGS. 45   a  and  45   b  illustrate various manufacturing stages for the axially protruding legs. Clip leg segment  373  is stamped or pressed or cut to form a number of locking leg segments, one of which is segment  379 ′. Leg segment  379 ′ includes a distal tine end  381  and a proximal tine portion  386 . Proximal tine portion  386  is adjacent clip leg segment  373 . In  FIG. 45   b , protruding leg segment  379 ′ ( FIG. 45   a ) is rotated out of the plane formed by clip leg segment  373  to form axially protruding leg  379 . In order to form the distal tine end  381 , the tine end is pressed radially inward toward centerline C of locking element bore  392 . 
     FIG. 46   a  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of S-shaped clip  370  being placed on bored panel  390  in the direction shown by arrow  391 .  FIG. 46   a  also shows that bore  375  in clip leg  371  is coaxial with nut  376  on clip leg  372  and the locking element formed by axially protruding legs  379  and distal tine end  381 . Bore  384  on leg  374  is also coaxial with bore  375  on leg  371 . Depending leg  385  spaces supplemental leg  374  away from locking element formed by axially protruding legs  379 . In this configuration, supplemental clip leg  374  and depending spacing leg  385  protect the axially protruding nature of legs  379  and  378 . Supplemental clip leg  374  also protects the radially protruding nature of distal tine ends  381 . 
     FIGS. 46   b - 46   j  diagrammatically illustrate another embodiment of fastener clips or fastener nuts.  FIG. 46   b  shows partially manufactured plate  1600  having plate segments  1601 ,  1602 ,  1603  and  1604 . These various plate segments are bent along bend lines  1605  as shown by arrow  1606 . Plate section  1602  includes axially extending structures  1610  and  1612 . These structures carry tines  1611 . Plate section  1604  carries a threaded barrel  1615 . Threaded barrel  1615  has a cutout  1616 . The barrel is extruded or is otherwise formed on the plate. Thereafter the cylindrical shaped body is threaded. 
     FIG. 46   c  shows a U-clip  1620 . It should be noted that when the axial centerline  1613  of tine carrying structures  1610 ,  1612  is made coaxial with the axially centerline  1614  of threaded barrel  1615  (by bending and forming the structure), a single nut or fastener is created. Further, the fastener made in accordance with  FIG. 46   b  may include a U-clip, J-clip or an S-shaped clip attached to end  1619 . Hence, the fastener may be a stand alone unit or may be part of a U, J or S-shaped clip system. 
     FIG. 46   c  shows the rolled up fastener or nut. Similar numerals designate similar items in  FIGS. 46   b - 46   j . Of course, clip leg  1621  includes a through bore at region  1623  in order to permit the specially configured bolt or pipe or other rod-like structure to pass through and to activate the locking mechanism created by tines  1611 . 
     FIGS. 46   f - 46   g  diagrammatically illustrate another type of nut or fastener  1650 . In  FIG. 46   f , fastener  1650  stands alone. In  FIG. 46   g , fastener  1650  is attached to a U-shaped clip  1651 . Of course, U-clip  1651  may be a J-shaped clip or may be a S-shaped clip. 
   In  FIG. 46   d , clip  1650  is created by utilizing a sheet metal plate having sections  1652 ,  1653 ,  1654 ,  1655  and  1656 . Bend planes  1605  are shown in  FIGS. 46   d  and  46   e . Axial stability is enhanced by the axial “stacking” of these structures. 
   A threaded bore  1660  is extruded from section  1653 . A cylindrical locking structure  1662  is extruded from sections  1655  and  1656 . Tines  1664  are stamped or cut from cylindrical locking cylinders  1662 ,  1663 . The plate is bent such that axial centerline  1665  of threaded bore  1660  is coaxial with the axial centerline  1666  of cylindrical locking structure  1662 . Further, the axial centerline  1667  of cylindrical locking structure  1663  is also made coaxial with the other axial center lines  1665  and  1666 . The resulting structure for fastener or nut  1650  is illustrated in  FIG. 46   f.    
     FIG. 46   g  shows that fastener  1650  can be mounted on U, J or S-shaped clips. In  FIG. 46   g , U-shaped clip  1651  is utilized. 
   Fastener  1650  in  FIG. 46   f  is partially protected by depending end wall  1652  and the opposing joining wall  1654 . Wall  1652  provides additional axial support. Further, multiple cylindrical (or rectangular) structures may be added to additional plate sections. Rectangular tine supporting structures are discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 35   dd - 35   ii , among others. 
     FIGS. 46   h - 46   j  diagrammatically illustrate additional locking fasteners. In  FIG. 46   h , the metal plate is divided into section  1701 ,  1702  and  1703 . Bend planes  1605  are shown in dashed lines. The fastener is created by rotating plate  1701  in the direction shown by arrow  1705  such that axial centerline  1706  is coaxial with axial centerline  1707 . 
   The fastener includes a cylindrical tine carrying support  1710  and a threaded barrel  1712  at an axial end of the cylindrical support  1710 . Support  1710  has one or more tines  1711  stamped, tooled or created in its cylindrical wall. Plate section  1703  includes an extruded guide cylinder  1714 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 46   i , guide cylinder  1714  captures threaded barrel  1712  in its interior. Cylindrical locking structure  1710  provides support for locking tine  1711 . Of course, a single fastener may be created by truncating J-shaped clip  1720  at point shown by arrow  1721 . The axial capture of the thread barrel greatly enhances stability and clamping forces. 
     FIG. 46   j  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip  1730  carrying a fastener  1732  at one end thereof. Clip leg  1733  will include a through bore at region  1734 . Clip leg  1735  will include a similar through bore coaxial with through bore  1734 . Fastener  1732  includes a cylindrical or a rectangular tine carrying structure  1740  and an threaded bore  1742  adjacent thereto. Tines  1744  provide locking for fastener structure  1732 . 
     FIG. 47  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip  400  which is adapted to be placed onto a bored panel  401  as shown by arrow  402 . Panel  401  includes a bore  403  there through. U-shaped clip  400  includes clip leg  404  and clip leg  405 . Clip leg  404  has a single thread nut  406  thereon. The single thread nut  406  has an arc less than 360°. In the illustrated embodiment, the arc of single thread nut is approximately 350°. The single thread nut, shown in a partial, broken away view in  FIG. 48 , is formed by cutting or stamping a strip  407  from clip leg  404 . Strip  407  remains attached to clip leg  404  via region  410 . 
   A locking element is formed on clip leg  405 . See FIG.  47 . The locking element includes a plurality of axially protruding legs  412 ,  413 ,  414  and  415 . Each axially protruding leg includes a corresponding tine  416 ,  417 ,  418  and  419 . The distal tine ends  416 ,  417 ,  418  and  419  protrude tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline C of locking element bore  420 . Axial centerline C is coaxial with the axial centerline through single thread nut  106 . This axial centerline is also normal or perpendicular to planar clip legs  404  and  405 . As explained earlier in connection with  FIGS. 40 and 44 , the distal tine ends  416 ,  417 ,  418  and  419  latch onto the lock face  36   FIG. 1   b ) of either a longitudinal locking channel  9  in bolt segment  11  ( FIG. 25   a ) or a spiral locking channel for bolt segment  13  ( FIG. 25   b ). When the distal tine ends abut lock face  36  ( FIG. 1   b ) counter-rotational movement is prohibited. Otherwise, during rotational movement, the distal tine ends  416 ,  417 ,  418  and  419  ride on opposing slope  38  and bolt thread crest  30 . 
     FIG. 50  shows bolts  14 ,  15  carrying longitudinal locking channel  9  and spiral locking channel  7 , respectively, adapted to be fed into single thread nut  406  on clip leg  404 . Clip leg  405  is truncated since that clip leg may carry a cylindrical locking unit ( FIG. 49 ) or a locking element with axially protruding legs. 
     FIG. 49  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip  420  having clip leg  404  and a second clip leg  421 . A single thread nut  406  having an arc less than 360° is formed on clip leg  404 . On clip leg  421 , a cylindrical locking unit  422  is formed. Cylindrical locking unit  422  includes a plurality of tines extending tangentially and radially inward toward the cylindrical axis of cylindrical locking unit  422  which is coaxial to the axis of single thread nut  406 . Cylindrical locking unit  422  may utilize a single tine  423  having a proximal tine portion  424  extending from cylinder  425 . Distal tine end  423  is cut-out from cut-out  426  of cylinder  425 . Accordingly, the user can easily identify whether distal tine end  423  has fallen into spiral locking channel  7  ( FIG. 50 ) or longitudinal locking channel  9  (FIG.  50 ). In a like manner, distal tine ends  416 ,  417 ,  418  and  419  ( FIG. 47 ) can be viewed by an observer in order to determine whether the distal tine ends have fallen into spiral locking channel  7  ( FIG. 50 ) or longitudinal locking channel  9  (FIG.  50 ). 
     FIG. 51  diagrammatically illustrates U-shaped clip  430  having a clip leg  431  and clip leg  432 . A bore  433  is defined at an upper region  434  of clip leg  431 . If upper region  434  is eliminated or truncated, a J-shaped clip is provided. See FIG.  55 . 
   Clip leg  432  also defines a single thread nut  436 . Single thread nut has an arc less than 3600 and the axial centerline of single thread nut  436  is coaxial with bore  433 . A locking element  438  is defined on nut bore  437 . Locking element  438  includes an axially protruding leg  439  and a tine  440  protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline of nut bore  437  which is coaxial with bore  433 . In the illustrated embodiment, the single thread nut  436  defines an arc of about 225°. Leg  439  is disposed beyond the arc of the nut thread. 
     FIGS. 52   a  and  52   b  diagrammatically illustrate U-shaped clip  430  and J-shaped clip  450 .  FIG. 52   a  shows U-shaped clip  430  with the axial extending leg  439  of locking element  438  directed radially inward. Axially extending leg  439  is perpendicular to the plane of clip leg  432 . Tine  440  protrudes tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline generally located at imaginary line  441 . A panel  442  having a bore  443  is used in connection with U-shaped clip  430 . Clip  430  is placed on panel  442  as shown by arrow  444 . In operation, U-shaped clip  430  is placed on bored panel  442  such that the axial centerline  441  for the apertures in clip  430  is coaxial with bore  443 . Thereafter, one of the specially configured bolts shown in  FIGS. 53   a  and  53   b  can be inserted along axial centerline  441 . Bolt  14  has a longitudinal locking channel  9  along bolt thread segment  11 . Bolt  15  includes spiral locking channel  7  along bolt thread segment  13 . When tine  440  falls in one or more of the notches in bolt segments  11 ,  13 , the distal end of the tine, when it abuts the locking face of the notch (see lock face  36  in  FIG. 1   b ), prevents counter-rotational movement. Otherwise during rotational movement, the distal tine end moves on opposing slope  38  ( FIG. 1   b ) and rides atop bolt thread crest  30 . 
     FIG. 52   b  diagrammatically illustrates a J-shaped clip  450  which is placed on panel  451  as shown by arrow  452 . Panel  451  includes bore  453 . Bore  453 , when clip  450  is place thereon is coaxial with the axial centerline  454  of the locking element nut bore. 
     FIG. 55  diagrammatically illustrates J-shaped clip  450  having a first leg  455  and a second clip leg  456 . A single thread nut  457  is defined on clip leg  456 . The single thread nut  457  includes an arc less than 360° and, in the illustrated embodiment, an arc spanning approximately 225°. The single thread nut also is utilized in cooperation with a locking element  458 . Locking element  458  includes an axial protruding leg  459  and a distal tine end  460 . Axially protruding leg  459  is best illustrated in  FIG. 52   b . Leg  459  is perpendicular to clip leg  456 . Distal tine end  460  extends tangentially and radially inward toward axial centerline  454  of the nut bore. Locking element bore  461  is shown in FIG.  55 . The locking element is formed at a radially inward edge of the locking element bore. The locking element bore in this embodiment is identical to the nut bore. 
   It should be noted that although panels  442 ,  451  in the figures are shown as being made of insulated material, those panels may be wood, plastic, metal or any other type of composite panel. Also, when used herein, the term U-shaped clip also includes the J-shaped clip construction. A J-shaped clip is simply a U-shaped clip with a certain portion of a terminal end of a clip leg truncated. For example, U-shaped clip  430   FIG. 51  can be converted into a J-shaped clip simply by truncating segment  434 . 
   As in  FIG. 55 , locking element  458  is formed on nut bore  461  at a point beyond the arc of the single thread nut  457 . 
     FIGS. 54   a  and  54   b  illustrate various stages of manufacture for the locking element. Clip leg segment  456  includes a locking element segment  458 ′. Locking element segment  458 ′ shows a distal clip end segment  460 ′, a leg segment  459 ′ and a proximal tine segment  463 . In order to further relieve stress, clip leg  456  may include a stress cut or slice at a 45 degree angle on the right side of proximal tine segment  463 . Also, rather than the “squared” cut defining the right side of segment  458 ′, the cut or slice may be at a 45 degree angle. 
   In  FIG. 54   b , clip leg segment  456  has been further cut, stamped or otherwise configured to establish single thread nut  457  with the locking element  458  on the nut bore. Axially protruding leg  459  has been formed by bending leg  459  out of the plane established by clip leg  456 . Distal tine end  460  has been formed by bending the tine leg radially inward toward nut bore  461  away from the plane of axial leg  459 . 
     FIG. 56   a  shows a J-clip  470  having a truncated clip leg  471  and a second clip leg  472 . Clip leg  472  has a nut bore  473  and a single thread nut  474 . Single thread nut  474  includes nut segments  475 ,  476  and  477 . These nut thread segments define arcuate regions around the nut thread bore  473 . 
   In addition, clip leg  472  includes a locking element consisting of axially protruding legs  480  and  481 . Each axially protruding leg includes a distal tine end  482 ,  484 . Distal tine ends  482 ,  484  flex into and out of the notches in longitudinal channel  9  ( FIG. 53   a ) or spiral locking channel  7  ( FIG. 53   b ) of a specially configured bolt. Counter-rotational movement is prohibited when the distal tine ends  482 ,  484  abut the locking face of one or more notches. Rotational movement is permitted because the distal tine ends  484 ,  482  ride on the opposing slope of the notch or notches and the bolt thread crest. The operation of the distal tine ends is shown earlier herein. As shown in  FIG. 56   a , the axially protruding legs are disposed circumferentially at certain regions beyond nut thread segments  475 ,  476  and  477 . 
     FIGS. 56   b - 56   h  diagrammatically illustrate another type of locking fastener or clip. In  FIGS. 56   b - 56   d , tine support plate  1800  is bent normal to clip leg 1802. Clip leg  1802  includes a single thread bore  1804 . Support plate  1800  is punched or tooled to define tine  1806 . Side sections  1810 ,  1812  are bent normal to plate  1800  to provide additional support for the plate. See  FIG. 56   d . Axial compression of the fastener is limited by wall sections  1826 ,  1843 .  FIG. 56   c  is a head on view of the fastener clip. As shown, tine  1806  protrudes radially and tangentially towards center point  1805  of single thread  1804 . 
   With respect to  FIG. 56   e , plate  1800  carries tine  1806 . That tine cooperates with a groove or channel on the bolt secured to single thread  1804 . Support plate  1800  does not include support end sections  1810 ,  1812  shown in  FIGS. 56   b - 56   d . The structure in  FIGS. 56   b-d  is slightly more stable and less likely to twist upon application of excessive fastening torque. 
     FIGS. 56   f - 56   h  diagrammatically illustrate another type of construction for the single thread system. In  FIG. 56   f , single thread bore  1804  is carried by plate section  1820 . Plate section  1822  is divided into end panel  1824 , central panel  1826  and opposing side panel  1828 . A tine  1830  is defined in central panel section  1826 . The fastener includes a further plate section  1832  having a through bore  1834  therethrough. Through bore  1834  has a center point  1836 . Single thread bore  1804  also has a center point  1803 . The fastener further includes a trisected panel section  1840 . Panel section  1840  includes side panels  1841 ,  1842  and central panel section  1843 . A tine  1845  is defined in central panel section  1843 . To construct the fastener, center point  1836  of through bore  1834  is placed coaxial with respect to center point  1803  of single thread bore  1804 . The plate is bent accordingly.  FIG. 56   g  illustrates the completed fastener  1850 . Similar numerals designate similar items in  FIGS. 56   f - 56   h . Side panels  1824 ,  1842  provide additional support for central panel  1826 ,  1843  which carry tines  1830 ,  1845 . The side panels enhance axial compression and limit twisting of the fastener. 
     FIG. 56   h  is similar to the fastener discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 56   f  and  56   g . However, the fastener of  FIG. 56   h  does not include supporting side panels. Instead, central panels  1826 ,  1843  carry tines  1830 ,  1845 . This fastener utilizes less manufacturing steps than  FIG. 56   f.    
     FIG. 57  diagrammatically illustrates U-shaped clip  490  having clip leg  491  and clip leg  492 . A bore  493  is defined on clip leg  491 . A nut  494  is formed on clip leg  492 . Nut  494  includes nut threads  495  and a nut bore  496 . An elongated locking unit  497  is formed on an outboard axial end  498  of nut  494 . The cylindrical locking unit  497  includes at least one, and in the illustrated embodiment, several compressible tines. For example, distal tine end  500  is defined in cut-out  501  of cylindrical wall  503  of cylindrical locking unit  497 . Nut bore  496  is coaxial with respect to bore  493  on clip leg  491 . U-shaped clip  490  is adapted to be inserted onto a panel having a bore in the direction shown by arrow  454 . Examples of these bored panels are shown in panel  401  in FIG.  47  and panel  354  in  FIG. 43 , among others. 
   The clip fastener systems illustrated in  FIGS. 57 ,  58 ,  59  and  60  include a threaded, extruded barrel  495  ( FIG. 57 ) and a wider diameter extruded portion or cylinder  497  to accommodate a spacial flex zone that is not threaded. This double extrusion design saves material costs and space. 
     FIG. 58  shows a truncated U-shaped or J-shaped clip  560 . Clip  560  includes truncated clip leg  561  and clip leg  562 . A nut  563  is formed on clip leg  562 . Nut  563  includes nut threads  564  and an elongated, cylindrical locking unit  565 . J-shaped clip  560  is placed on a bored panel by moving clip  560  in the direction shown by arrow  566 . Examples of bored panels are found in  FIG. 47 , panel  401 ;  FIG. 39 , panel  280  and  FIG. 38 , panel  299 . 
     FIG. 59  diagrammatically shows a perspective view of cylindrical locking unit  497  mounted at an axial end of nut  494 . Tine  500  is formed by cutting a cut-out  501  from cylindrical wall  503  of cylindrical locking unit  497 . Additionally, tine  500  is pushed or forced radially inward toward nut bore  496 . 
     FIG. 60  shows a partial, broken away, plan view of cylindrical locking unit  497  mounted at an axial end of nut  494 . Nut  494  has an axial end  498 . Cylindrical locking unit  497  includes a frusto-conical member  505  which leads to a larger diameter cylindrical member of cylindrical wall  503 . Cylindrical wall  503  has a larger diameter as compared with frusto-conical member  504  and nut  494 . The user can clearly see whether tine  507  is locked into one or more of the notches in longitudinal locking channel  9  ( FIG. 53   a ) or spiral locking channel  7  ( FIG. 53   b ) of the bolt. This is due to the fact that distal tine  507  is positioned in cut-out  508 . Tine  507  has a proximal tine portion  509  that is adjacent cylindrical wall  503 . 
     FIGS. 61   a  and  61   b  diagrammatically illustrates plan views from the perspective of section line a′-a″ in FIG.  60  and section line b′-b″ in FIG.  60 . In  FIG. 61   a , the axially outboard edge  510  of cylindrical locking unit  497  is shown as is the axial outboard end  511  of the frusto-conical section  505  (FIG.  60 ). A plurality of tines  500 ,  512 ,  509  and  513  protrude tangentially and radially inward toward nut bore  496  which establishes the axial centerline of the nut. In  FIG. 61   b , the axially inward edge  514  of nut  494  is illustrated. The radially large outer edge  515  of frusto-conical member  505  ( FIG. 60 ) is also shown in  FIG. 61   b . The distal tine ends  500 ,  512 ,  509  and  513  are also illustrated. 
   As discussed earlier, U-shaped clips  490 ,  560  are placed on a bored panel such that the axial centerline  496  of nuts  494 ,  563 , are coaxial with the bore through the panel. Thereafter, a specially configured nut such as the nut shown in  FIGS. 53   a  and  53   b  and bolts  14 ,  15  are threaded through the bores and onto nut threads  495 ,  564 . Distal tine ends  500 ,  509 ,  512  and  513  pop into and out of one or more notches formed in longitudinal channel  9  of bolt thread segment  11  ( FIG. 53   a ) or spiral locking channel  7  of bolt thread segment  13  on bolt  15  ( FIG. 53   b ). Counter-rotational movement is prohibited when the distal tine end abuts the locking face  36  of the notch. Rotational movement is permitted when the bolt moves respect to the nut thread and the distal tine end rides on opposing slope  38  ( FIG. 1   b ) and bolt thread crest  30 . The user can determine whether the distal tine end is locked by viewing the tines in the cut-outs. The user can determine whether the cylindrical locking unit is locking on the specially configured bolt because the position of the distal tine end is visible due to the cut-outs. See cut-out  501  in  FIG. 57  for tine  500  and cut-out  508  for tine  507  in FIG.  60 . 
     FIG. 62  shows U-shaped clip  520  having clip leg  521  with a bore  522  there through. Clip  520  also includes clip leg  523 . Clip  520  is placed on a panel  524  having a bore  525  there through. Clip  520  is placed on panel  524  by moving the clip in the direction shown by arrow  526 . Clip leg  523  carries a nut and locking unit  527  thereon. 
     FIGS. 63   a, b, c, d, e, f, g  and  h  show various manufacturing stages and axial end views of the nut and locking unit  527 . A perspective plan view of nut and locking unit  527  is shown in  FIG. 64   a . In  FIG. 64   a , the nut and locking unit is a cylindrical system having cylinder walls  528 . The interior of cylinder wall  528  includes a nut thread  529 . A locking unit  530  is formed on an interior of said nut. Locking unit  530  includes a distal tine end  540  protruding tangentially and radially inward toward the axially centerline of the nut and locking unit. The axial centerline  541  of the nut is shown in  FIG. 63   h . In the illustrated environment, nut and locking unit  527  includes a second distal tine end  542 . The distal tine ends  540 ,  542  extend from tine bodies  543 ,  544 . These tine bodies and distal tine ends are cutaway from cylinder nut wall  528 . 
   In  FIGS. 63   a  and  63   b , cylinder body  528  of nut and locking unit  527  is mounted or formed on clip leg segment  523 . As shown in  FIG. 63   b , which provides a view of cylinder  528  from the perspective of section lines b′-b″ in  FIG. 63   a , cylinder  528  is an elongated, thin walled cylinder. 
   In  FIGS. 63   c  and  63   d , a tine body or locking unit body  530  has been cut or stamped out of cylindrical wall  528 . 
   In  FIGS. 63   e  and  63   f , locking unit segment  530  has been forced radially outward.  FIG. 63   f  shows locking unit segment  530  and locking unit segment  550 . 
   In  FIGS. 63   g  and  63   h , locking unit segment  530  has been modified by bending distal tine end  540  radially inward to form the generally tangential and radially inward distal tine end. Tine body  543  provides added flexibility to the tine and proximal tine portion  551  adjoins tine body  543  with cylindrical wall  528 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 63   h , distal tine ends  540 ,  542  protrude tangentially and radially inward toward axial centerline  541 . Tine bodies  543 ,  544  protrude slightly radially outward beyond the radial dimension of cylinder wall  528 . 
   Of course, cylinder wall  528  would have to be thick enough to accommodate and carry the nut threads  529  on its interior wall surface. Threads are formed after formation of the compressible tines. 
   Since the locking units  530 ,  550 , are formed in cut-outs on the cylindrical wall  528 , the user can visually determine whether distal tine ends  540 ,  542  have fallen into longitudinal locking channel  9  or spiral locking channel  7  in bolt  14 ,  15  shown in  FIGS. 68   a ,  68   b.    
   The “punctured barrel” clip or fastener locks shown in  FIG. 64   a  (and the associated U &amp; J-shaped clips,  FIGS. 62 and 65 ) utilize a spacial flex zone that radially extends outside the barrel  528 . This extended flex zone increases tine length and, when combined with a distal tine bend  540 ,  542 , results in a predetermined angle of engagement. 
     FIG. 64   b  graphically illustrates the locking zone  1900  for the punctured barrel clip locks shown in  FIGS. 64   a  and  67  (discussed later). The spacial flex zone  1902  for tine  1904  is outside the threaded barrel  1906 . Of course, threaded barrel  1906  also provides the cylindrical support for tine  1904 . The use of spacial flex zone  1902  outside of threaded barrel  1906  enables an increase in tine length  1904 . When this increase length is combined with secondary bend  1905  at the distal end of tine  1904 , a larger angle of engagement is achieved on the specially configured bolt ( FIGS. 68   a ,  68   b  and  2   b ). This increases the fastening or clamping ability. 
     FIG. 65  diagrammatically shows a J-shaped clip  570 . Of course, as explained earlier, clip  570  is a U-clip with a truncated clip leg  571 . Clip  570  includes clip leg  572  on which is mounted, attached or formed a nut and locking unit  573 . This nut locking unit  573  is described in detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 66   a-d  and  67 . When clip  570  is placed on bored panel  574  by moving the clip in the direction shown by arrow  575  and bore  576  of nut and locking unit  573  is coaxial with bore  577  on panel  574 , one of the specially configured bolts  14 ,  15  ( FIGS. 68   a ,  68   b ) maybe utilized to lock the bolt on the locking nut clip assembly and particularly clip  570 . 
   Nut and locking unit  573  is generally similar to the nut and locking unit  527  discussed earlier. However, the locking unit element is moved from an intermediate position on the nut threads to an axially outboard position near axial end  578  of nut  573 . 
     FIGS. 66   a-d  diagrammatically illustrate various stages of manufacture of the nut and locking unit  573 . In  FIG. 66   a , a thin wall cylinder  580  is formed, mounted or attached to clip leg segment  572 . In  FIG. 66   b , a locking unit segment  581  is cut or formed from thin walled cylinder  580 . In  FIG. 66   c , tine segment  581  is moved radially outward as shown by arrow  583  away from nut bore  576 . In such a configuration, tine segment  581  operates substantially the same as tine segment  530  in  FIG. 63   f . In  FIG. 66 , the tine segment has been further divided into tine body  585  and distal tine end  586 . 
   In  FIG. 67 , the nut and locking unit  573  is shown as having tine body  585 , tangential and radially inwardly disposed distal tine end  586  and tine body  587  with a distal tine end  588 . Thin walled cylinder  580  has a nut thread  590  formed thereon. In this manner, when one of the specially configured bolts  14 ,  15  ( FIGS. 68   a ,  68   b ) are coaxially disposed through panel bore  577  ( FIG. 65 ) and the bolts are threaded on nut thread  590 , locking is achieved when distal tine ends  586 ,  588  fall within and abut one or more of the locking faces in longitudinal locking channel  9  or spiral locking channel  7  of bolts  14 ,  15 . Otherwise, the bolt moves rotatably with respect to the nut and locking unit assembly  573  because the distal tine end rides on opposing slope  38  ( FIG. 1   b ) or atop bolt thread crest  30 . The user can visually confirm whether the distal tine ends have locked onto the locking channels because the distal tine ends move in and out appropriate cut-outs in the thin walled cylinder  580 . Visibility is enhanced due to these cut-outs. 
   Bolts  14 ,  15  illustrated in  FIGS. 68   a ,  68   b  are described in detail earlier herein. 
     FIG. 69  illustrates a perspective view of locking unit  600  which, when utilized in connection with a latch, enables the user to close the tines thereby enabling full rotational and counter-rotational movement and, alternatively, unlatch and fully exposing the tines and providing a locking nut and bolt system in a locking position. Elongated locking unit  600  illustrated in  FIG. 69  includes a peripheral wall  601  which includes planar wall segments  603 ,  604 ,  605  and  606  as well as adjoining wall segments  607 ,  608 ,  609  and  610 . As described later in connection with the elongated locking unit shown in  FIG. 75   a , peripheral wall  601  may be cylindrically formed. Peripheral wall  601  is elongated in that it has a reasonable axial dimension. The axial dimension of peripheral wall  601  is shown as dimension  612  in  FIG. 71   a.    
   Planar wall segments  603 ,  605  include cut-outs  613 ,  615  which enable the formation of distal tine ends  616 ,  617 . Peripheral wall segments  603 ,  605  also include radially extending lips  618 ,  619 . In order to provide stops for the slidable latch (described later in conjunction with FIG.  70 ), a stop button or control surface  620 ,  621  is provided on lips  618 ,  619 . The other planar walls  604 ,  606  also include radially extending lips. Wall segments  607 ,  608 ,  609  and  610  also include radially extending lips along respective axially outboard edges. 
   In  FIG. 70 , latches  630 ,  631  are moveably disposed on peripheral wall segments  603 ,  605 . As shown in  FIG. 70 , the latches  630 ,  631  fully expose tines  616 ,  617 . The latches are shaped complementary to the peripheral wall. By fully exposing tines  616 ,  617 , the tines and the latches are in a locking position. The locking position is shown in  FIG. 74   a . In order to provide a moveable latch  630 ,  631 , the axially outboard edges of peripheral wall segments  603 ,  605  form either channels or channel members. Latches  630 ,  631  form complementary channel members or complementary channels. In the illustrated embodiment, the radially outwardly extending lips  618 ,  619  of peripheral wall segments  603 ,  605  establish channel members. The channel is formed on the latch by an axially outboard and radially extending surface  635  and a tangentially extending surface  636 . See  FIG. 71   a . In other words, each latch  630 ,  631  includes an axially extending latch wall  640 ,  641  (see  FIG. 71   a ) and, that latch wall, in conjunction with radial surface  635 , and tangential depending surface  636 , forms an inverted L-shaped channel at an axially outboard position of the latch. The radial lip  618  of peripheral wall segment  603  forms the channel member which is trapped within the channel formed by latch wall  640 , radial latch wall  625  and tangential latch wall  636 . 
     FIG. 71   a  diagrammatically illustrates the channel formed by the latch. In addition, a lower radially inward extending channel defining latch member  645  is provided. 
     FIG. 71   b  shows latch  630  in a locking position fully exposing tine  616 . The latch is moved far away from the stop. As discussed in detail earlier, tine  616  is formed in a cut-out  613  in peripheral wall segment  603 . The tine prevents counter-rotational movement when co-acting with one or more notches on the bolt. 
     FIG. 72  shows elongated locking unit  600  disposed in a recess below nut end face  650  of nut  651 . This recess is similar to other recesses discussed herein. See, for example, FIG.  15 . 
     FIGS. 73   a, b  and  c  diagrammatically illustrate the closing action of latch  630  with respect to distal tine end  616 . In  FIG. 73   a , latch  630  fully exposes distal tine end  616  thereby enabling the tine to lock onto one or more notches in longitudinal locking channel  9  shown on bolt  14  in  FIG. 68   a  or spiral locking channel  7  shown on bolt  15  in  FIG. 68   b.    
   In  FIG. 73   b  latch  630  has been moved in the direction shown by arrow  655  which is near the capture or closed position for distal tine end  616 . In  FIG. 73   c , latch  630  is completely capturing tine  616  thereby placing the tine in a closed position. When the tine is in a closed position, the bolt may move in a rotational and a counter-rotational with respect to the nut thread. Of course, in order to fully place the elongated locking unit  600  in a fully closed position, latch  631  must be moved in the direction shown by arrow  656  to capture distal tine end  617 . 
     FIGS. 74   a, b  and  c  diagrammatically show bolt  657  threaded onto nut  651 . In  FIG. 74   a , latch  630  fully exposes distal tine end  616  and that tine has dropped into a notch in bolt thread  658 . Distal tine end  617  is also fully exposed in a locking position due to the position of latch  631 . 
   In  FIG. 74   b , latch  630  is in an intermediate position between locking position ( FIG. 74   a ) and the closed position ( FIG. 74   c ). Distal tine end  616  is only partially removed from notch  660  on bolt thread  658 . In  FIG. 67   c , latch  630  has completely captured the associated distal tine end thereby permitting bolt  657  to rotate in either rotational or counter-rotational movement. Of course, when distal tine end  617  falls within one or more notches, counter-rotational movement is prohibited.  FIG. 74   c  also shows that latch  630  has been moved in the direction shown by arrow  660  such that the latch abuts stop  620 . Various types of stops such as buttons, walls, etc. can be utilized. 
   As a further enhancement of the latch, the axially inboard portion of the latch may require the formation of a channel within which the axially inboard edge  659  ( FIG. 71   a ) acts as a channel member. The channel is formed by an axially inboard lip region of the peripheral wall. 
     FIGS. 75   a  and  75   b  show a perspective view of a cylindrical locking unit  662 . Cylindrical locking unit  662  includes a cylindrical peripheral wall  663  which has cut-outs  664 ,  665  within which are disposed distal tine ends  666 ,  667 . Elongated locking unit  662  also includes a radial lip  668 . 
     FIG. 75   b  shows that radial lip  668  has been segmented and rolled radially inward to form radially inward lip segments  669  and  670 . As discussed later, these radially inward lip segments  669 ,  670  operate as channel members in order to guide the latch. These channel members  669 ,  670  inter-fit with certain defined channels in the latch. 
     FIG. 76  shows a cylindrical latch  671  having a cylindrical wall  672  which is complementary to cylindrical peripheral wall  663 . In other words, cylindrical latch  672  is adapted to be inserted and inter-fit into cylindrical wall  663 . Cylindrical latch  671  includes a corresponding cut-out  673 ,  674  for each distal tine end  666 ,  667 . Latch wall  672  also includes channels defined as cut-outs  675 ,  676 . Radially inward lip channel members  669 ,  670  ( FIG. 75   b ) of the cylindrical locking unit are placed within channels  675 ,  676  of the latch. Cylindrical latch  671  includes an axial end cap  678 . Axial end cap  678  includes a slot  679  thereon. This slot enables the user to turn the cylindrical latch with a screwdriver or other thin tool. 
     FIG. 77  shows elongated locking unit  662  carrying cylindrical latch  671 . Distal tine end  666  is fully exposed in cut-out  664 . This reveals that cylindrical latch  671  is in a locking position. 
     FIG. 78  shows cylindrical locking unit  662  mounted in a recess in nut  680 . Cylindrical latch  671  is mounted within cylindrical locking unit  662 . The nut with a recess is described earlier. 
     FIG. 79  shows a perspective view of cylindrical latch  671  without axial end cap  678 . Similar numerals designate similar items in  FIGS. 76 ,  77  and  79 . 
   In  FIG. 80 , cylindrical latch  671  has been placed in cylindrical locking unit  662 . As shown in  FIG. 80 , radially inward lips  669 ,  670  form channel members on the locking unit which cooperate with the respective channels  675 ,  676  on the latch. As shown in  FIG. 80 , the cylindrical latch  671  fully exposes distal tine ends  666 ,  667  thereby providing a locking position of the latch and locking unit  662 . When the latch is rotated in the direction shown by arrow  683 , distal tine ends  666 ,  667  are trapped by latch cylindrical wall  672  and are in a closed position. 
     FIG. 81  shows cylindrical latch  671  mounted within cylindrical locking unit  662 .  FIG. 82  shows cylindrical locking unit  662  mounted in a recess in nut  680 . Cylindrical latch  671  extends axially outboard of end face  681  of nut  680 . Of course, the distal tine ends  666 ,  667  extend tangentially and radially inward toward axial centerline  685 . 
     FIG. 83  shows a specially configured bolt  1  with longitudinal locking channels  3  thereon. Nut  680  will be threaded onto the bolt threads of bolt  1 . Nut  680  carries cylindrical locking unit  662  and cylindrical latch  671 . 
   In  FIG. 84 , bolt  1  has been threaded onto nut  680  and captures panels  687 ,  688 , 
     FIGS. 85 and 86  show bolts  14 ,  15  having a longitudinal locking channel  9  and a spiral locking channel  7 , respectively. Longitudinal locking channel  9  is disposed on bolt thread segment  11 . Spiral locking channel  7  is disposed on bolt thread segment  13 . Rather than using bolt  1  with longitudinal locking channels  3 , this system described as the cylindrical locking unit  662  and the cylindrical latch  671  can be used with bolt  15  having the spiral locking channel  7 . 
     FIGS. 87   a  and  87   b  show a cylindrical locking unit  662  similar to the cylindrical locking unit shown in connection with  FIGS. 75   a  and  75   b  above. Distal tine ends  666 ,  667  extend tangentially and radially inward toward the axial centerline  701  of cylindrical locking unit  662 . Radially inward channel members  669 ,  670  are formed from a portion of radially outward extending lip  668 . 
     FIG. 88  diagrammatically illustrates a cylindrical latch  702  having a peripheral, cylindrical wall  703 . Peripheral wall  703  includes cut-outs  704 ,  705 . In additional, peripheral wall  703  includes radially extending, user actuatable control surfaces  707 ,  708 . Control surfaces  707 ,  708  extend radially beyond the axial centerline  710  of cylindrical latch unit  702 . In additional, peripheral wall  703  includes a channel cut-out  711 . Channel cut-out  711  cooperates with channel member  669  in  FIG. 87   b  in order to provide guidance for the rotation of cylindrical latch  702  with respect to cylindrical locking unit  662 . Basically, the latch stops at either end of channel  711  based upon the size of channel  711  and the size of radially inward channel members  669 . Another channel would be formed on the opposing portion of peripheral wall  703  to accommodate radially inward channel member  670 . Alternatively, these channels and channel members may be deleted in favor of radial stops provided by the user actuatable control surfaces. 
     FIG. 89  shows a perspective view of cylindrical latch  702  inserted into cylindrical locking unit  662 . Radially extending control surfaces  707 ,  708  enable the user to rotate cylindrical latch  702  within cylindrical locking unit  662 . As an alternative embodiment, radially inward lips  669 ,  670  can be wrapped around the axial edge  712  of cylindrical latch  702 . In this manner additional guide channels are provided for the latch. As shown in  FIG. 89 , cylindrical latch  702  fully exposes distal tine ends  666 ,  667 , thereby providing a locking position for the cylindrical locking unit  662  and the cylindrical latch  702 . When the cylindrical latch  702  is moved in the direction shown by arrow  713 , the peripheral wall  703  of latch  702  captures distal tines  666 ,  667  and prohibits the distal tine ends from locking onto the locking surfaces of a longitudinal locking channel  9  ( FIG. 85 ) or a spiral locking channel  7  (FIG.  86 ). 
     FIG. 90  illustrates an end view of bolt  720  which carries in a recess on bolt end face  721  the cylindrical locking unit  662 . Cylindrical latch  702  is disposed within the interior of cylindrical locking unit  662 . The user actuatable control surfaces  707 ,  708  are available for use. A bolt  722  is threaded into nut  720 . Distal tine ends  667  have fallen into the appropriate notch and the distal tine end  667  abuts the locking face thereby preventing counter-rotational movement of bolt  772  in direction  723  with respect to nut  720 . 
     FIG. 91  diagrammatically illustrates a socket  730  having a female socket fitting  731 . Female socket fitting  731  is sized to mate with male rachet fitting  732 . Male fitting  732  is attached to a rachet  733 . Rachet  733  is a conventional tool.  FIG. 91  also shows a user actuatable control surface  735  which is functionally equivalent to control surfaces  707 ,  708  for cylindrical latch  702 . By moving control surface  735  in the direction shown by arrow  736 , the user can place the elongated locking unit and the cylindrical latch in a closed position, thereby enabling the user to move the bolt in a clockwise rotational movement and a counterclockwise rotational movement via rachet tool  733 . 
     FIG. 92  illustrates a plan view of the socket. Socket  703  and female fitting  731  are diagrammatically illustrated in FIG.  92 . The cylindrical latch  777  having a user actuatable control surface  735 ,  737  is also shown. The cylindrical latch has axially extending legs  738 ,  739  that operate in the same manner as peripheral latch wall  703  in cylindrical latch  702 . In other words, when axial latch panels  738 ,  739  trap distal tine ends  666 ,  667 , the tool is in a closed position and the user can operate rachet tool  733  in either a clockwise or counterclockwise manner. The distal tine ends do not abut the locking face of the specially configured bolt thereby permitting counter rotational movement. When the axial legs  738 ,  739  of cylindrical latch  777  are circumferentially disposed away from distal tine ends  666 ,  667 , the system is in a locking position and the user may only rotate the bolt with respect to the nut in a clockwise or single rotational direction. 
     FIG. 93  diagrammatically shows the latch system. Socket  730  is shown in cross section and user actuatable control surfaces  735 ,  737  are visible. Cylindrical latch  777  has axially depending legs  738 ,  739  and  740 . 
     FIGS. 94   a  and  94   b  diagrammatically illustrate a female threaded unit  750 . Female threaded unit  750  includes a bore  752  carrying a female thread  753 . Female thread  753  is complementary to a bolt. In  FIG. 94   b , surface  754  of female threaded unit  750  has a recess  755  formed therein. 
     FIGS. 95   a  and  95   b  illustrate a perspective and a side view of locking unit  760 . In the illustrated embodiment, locking unit  760  is shaped as a rectangle. However, the locking unit could be cylindrical as shown with respect to locking unit  662  in  FIG. 75   b . The shape of locking unit  760  is complementary to the shape of recess  755 . Locking unit  760  includes a plurality of distal tine ends  761 ,  762 ,  763  and  764 . These distal tine ends protrude tangentially and radially toward the axial centerline  765  formed within locking unit  760 . Locking unit  760  also includes a central bore  766 . As explained later, a specially configured bolt passes through bore  766 . If a cylindrical locking unit is utilized, bore  766  would be defined by the cylindrical locking unit body. See  FIG. 75   b . The distal tine ends  761 ,  762 ,  763  and  764  are formed by cut-outs in the locking unit wall. One cut-out  768  is associated with tine  762 . 
     FIG. 95   b  shows a side view of locking unit  760  and particularly distal tine end  764 . Distal tine end  764  is formed and operates in cut-out  770 . The view in  FIG. 95   b  is from the perspective of section line b′-b″ in  FIG. 95   a.    
     FIG. 96  diagrammatically illustrates female threaded unit  750  having locking unit  760  installed in recess  755 . As shown, distal tine ends  761 ,  762 ,  763  and  764  protrude axially toward the actual centerline of nut thread  753  in the female unit  750 . 
     FIGS. 97   a ,  97   b  and  97   c  show a specially configured bolt  772 . Bolt  772  has a bolt stem  773  with a bolt thread  774 . Bolt  772  includes a bolt head  775  defining a plurality of notches thereon, one of which is notch  776 . 
     FIG. 97   b  is a top view from the perspective of section line b′-b″ in  FIG. 97   a . In  FIG. 97   b , bolt head  775  has a plurality of notches, one of which is notch  776 . Notch  776  includes a locking face  777  and an opposing slope  778 . 
     FIG. 97   c  shows bolt  772  and notches spaced circumferentially spaced around bolt head  775 . In other words, notch  776  is spaced from notch  780  by an arc  781 . The larger the arc  781 , the less digital locking action is provided by the bolt head and the distal tine ends of the locking unit. 
     FIGS. 98   a  and  98   b  show a perspective view and an end view of the locking nut and bolt system as a “blind hole” design. In  FIG. 98   a  female threaded unit  750  has bolt  772  threaded therein. Distal tine end  761  is locking into notch  776 . Counter rotational movement in the direction shown by arrow  790  is prohibited. In other words, if bolt  772  were moved in direction  790  with respect to female threaded unit  750 , such counter rotational movement would be prohibited. Alternatively, if bolt  772  were moved in a direction opposite to direction  790 , the tine would move over the notch in the bolt head. 
     FIG. 98   b  clearly shows distal tine ends  761 ,  762 ,  763  and  764  acting in respective notches for example notch  776  in conjunction with distal tine end  761 . Since all of the distal tine ends have locked onto and abut a respective lock face  36  ( FIG. 1   b ) of the respective notch, counter rotational movement is prohibited. 
   As stated earlier, rather than a rectangular locking unit  760  a cylindrical locking unit  662  shown in  FIG. 75   b  may be utilized. The operation of a cylindrical locking unit  662  is substantially identical to the action of rectangular locking unit  760 . 
   General comments regarding the blind hole screw design follow. 
   The blind hole screw head grooves must have one or more engagement walls. 
   The angle of engagement should be less than 90 degrees to prevent the tine from disengaging from the screw head. 
   The blind screw system permits a screw to mechanically lock into a blind hole or tapped hole. 
   The blind hole screw system includes, in some embodiments, tines incorporated within recesses of any shape, polygonal or otherwise, to prevent the rotation of the entire locking mechanism. Compare  FIGS. 95   a ,  107 ,  108 ,  110   a ,  110   c  and  111   a.    
   The blind hole screw system may include tines mounted on non-recessed shapes that abut faces, shapes or other bolts to prevent the rotation of the entire locking mechanism. See  FIG. 111   a .  FIG. 95   a  shows a recessed blind hole. 
   Some embodiments of the blind screw include a tine mechanism with a seat with a hole through which a screw passes prior to insertion into the blind hole—to which is attached a myriad of optional configurations that include a locking mechanism or series of locking mechanisms to engage in the grooves of the screw head, and those locking mechanisms be housed or secured in an assortment of recess designs or in the absence of a recess, an assortment of forms, posts or objects, thereby preventing the seat from rotation around with the screw. 
   A anti-rotation protrusion on the underside of a blind hole clip may key into a recess adjacent to the blind screw hole. 
   Other screws may be used to mutually prevent locking mechanism rotation. 
   The blind screw may include a screw that uses a tapered or curvilinear surface on the underside of the screw head to deflect a locking device into the screw head or locking mechanism so as to not damage or crush the tines. A self-threading screw may be utilized. 
   In some embodiments of the blind screw, the system incorporates self tapping screw technology or any other thread form, including standard thread patterns, into the shank of the screw to permit fastening into any material. The head of the screw or bolt must carry grooves. See  FIG. 104 , for example. 
   General comments regarding blind hole screws and clips and removal tools follow. 
   In some embodiments of the blind screw, the system is enabled to remove the locking mechanism with a tool or destroy the locking mechanism of the blind or tapped screw during servicing without damaging the threaded features of the tapped hole, the threaded features of the screw itself, or the locking grooves incorporated within the head of the screw. Adhesives will actually “weld” a tapped screw in place under of high temperature conditions requiring drill taps to remove the screw. 
   The locking mechanism may be manufactured in any shape to increase the number of tines or reduce the circumference of the space taken up around the blind hole or to fit the tines into an unusual recess dictated by the tapped hole and its surrounding structures. 
   Visual inspection of the blind screw enables the user to visually inspect the locking feature of the blind hole confirming locking engagement. 
   In all embodiments of the blind screw, normal tools maybe used for installation. Drive heads in the blind hole screw can be Phillips, hexlobe, Allen, standard screw drive heads, Torx®, etc., or any other licensed proprietary drive. 
   The “V” cuts in the blind hole clip allow proper seating in a beveled blind hole or a funnel shaped blind hole. See FIG.  106 . 
   Other embodiments of the blind hole design are discussed below in connection with  FIGS. 103   b - 112   c.    
     FIG. 99  diagrammatically illustrates a removal tool  802  about to be placed atop a locking nut and bolt assembly  804 . Top end  806  of removal tool  802  includes a female socket fitting  808  into which male socket  810  is inserted as shown by arrow  812 . Male socket fitting  810  is part of the conventional ratchet  814 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, removal tool  802  includes an outer cylinder  816  and an inner cylinder or cylindrical body  818 . The outer shape of cylinder  816  may be altered. It is the inner cylindrical shape that is important since body  818  rotates within cylinder  816 . Also, the removal tool may be configured exclusively as cylindrical body  818  with the depressible legs as described herein. Cylindrical body  818  has an open end which is established by lower edge  820 . Since cylindrical body  818  is shown in a partial, broken away view, only the rearward arcuate edge  820  is illustrated in FIG.  99 . As discussed later, if the forward portion of cylindrical body  818  is rotated in the direction shown by arrow  824 , the rearward arcuate edge  820  moves in the direction shown by arrow  826 . 
   A plurality of depending legs axially extend beyond lower edge  820  of cylindrical body  818 . For example, see legs  830  and  832 . The depending legs  830 ,  832  are axially moveable within guide channels formed near lower edge  820 . In the illustrated embodiment, these guide channels are formed by lateral stops  834 ,  836  specifically illustrated in connection with depending leg  832 . In order to limit radial movement of the depending legs, a circumferential bar  838  traps the moveable depending legs between the lateral stops. Circumferential bar  838  is shown in connection with depending leg  830 . Other guides such as tongue and groove structures may be utilized. 
   Each depending leg axially moves relatively independent of the other legs. Also, each depending leg is axially biased outward, beyond edge  820 . In the illustrated embodiment, this axially outward bias is provided by a spring  840 . To provide relatively independent movement for each depending leg, spring  840  rests against one or more upper stops  842 . Of course, each depending leg could be axially biased outward on its separate spring. Also, there are many mechanisms to capture single, circumferential spring  840  while providing for independent, axially outboard biasing of depending legs  830 ,  832 . The claims appended hereto are meant to cover these and other modifications. 
   Also, the removal tool may be much smaller than illustrated herein and the proportional size of depending legs relative to the locking body (discussed later) may be different than illustrated herein. The removal tool drawings are illustrative of the concepts discussed herein. 
   In operation, lower edge  820  of cylindrical body  818  is sized to mate closely with locking body  850  and bolt thread  872 . Nut  852  carries locking body  850  in a recess  854  below the nut face. Locking body  850  includes a locking tine having a distal tine end  860  and a proximal tine body  862 . As described earlier, distal tine  860  falls into one or more of a plurality of notches  870  on bolt thread  872 . The locking body may be configured as shown in many earlier figures. 
   Locking body  850  has a radially inward edge  851  that closely follows bolt thread  872 . Other than interspace  853  between locking body edge  851  and bolt thread  872 , locking body  850  closely matches the circumferential size of bolt thread  872 . 
   Since lower edge  820  of cylindrical body  818  is complementary to bolt thread  872 , depending legs  830 ,  832  are also complementary and circumferentially disposed about the radially outer periphery of bolt thread  872 . In operation, lower edge  820  is place atop bolt thread  872  and one or more depending legs  830 ,  832  fall within the interspace  853  between locking body edge  851  and bolt thread  872 . When cylindrical body  818  is rotated as shown in the direction  826  and depending leg  831  is axially disposed in interspace  853 , the leg is forced against and radially outwardly moves proximal tine body  862 . By moving proximal tine body  862  radially outward, distal tine end  860  is moved out of notch  870 . This enables counter rotational movement of the bolt relative to the nut. This counter rotational movement can be provided, in the illustrated embodiment, by the appropriate directional movement of ratchet  814 . In summary, the removal tool unlocks the nut from the bolt. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, cylindrical body  818  is coaxial with respect to outer cylinder  816 . Rotational movement of cylindrical body  818  with respect to outer cylinder  816  is provided by moving user actuatable control surface  880 . User actuatable control surface  880  protrudes radially outward through a hole  882  in outer cylinder  816 . In the illustrated embodiment, hole  882  is a partial spiral such that when control surface  880  is moved in the direction shown by arrow  824 , cylindrical body  818  moves rotatably and axially with respect to the relatively stationary outer cylinder  816 . Also, cylindrical body  818  is moved axially outward or downward as shown by arrow  825  based upon control surface  880  moving in partial spiral  882 . Of course, hole  882  could be a circumferential arc such that removal tool moves rotatably and not axially with respect to other cylinder  816 . In this configuration, the user would place body  818  on the locked bolt an rotate the unit until one or more depending legs are forced into the interspace.  FIG. 100  diagrammatically illustrates outer cylinder  816 , inner cylindrical body  818 , user actuatable control surface  880  and hole  882 . 
     FIGS. 101 and 102  diagrammatically illustrate certain operational aspects of the depending legs. In  FIG. 101 , depending leg  902  has been axially disposed in interspace  853 . Interspace  853  is formed between radially inward edge  851  of locking body  850  and bolt thread  872 . The terminal end  903  of depending leg  904  rests on the exposed face of body  850  in a singular radial plane formed by the axial end face of locking body  850 . Terminal end  905  is also resting on the end face of locking body  850 . As illustrated, biasing spring  840  (or other biasing structure) is a exerting axially outward bias against depending legs  907  and  904 . The spring stops, one of which is stop  842 , limits axially movement of spring  840 . In contrast, the axially outward bias of spring  840  maintains the axially outboard position of depending leg  902  into interspace  853 . 
   In  FIG. 102 , the removal tool has been rotated as shown in arrow  912 . Depending leg  902  has moved proximal tine body  862  radially outward and hence has moved distal tine end  860  out of notch  870  on bolt thread  872 . Terminal ends  904  and  903  are riding atop locking body  850 . In this manner, the nut can be removed with respect to the bolt. 
     FIG. 103   a  diagrammatically illustrates interspace  920  formed between locking body  922  and bolt thread  924 . If a depending leg is placed in interspace  920  and moved in the direction shown by arrow  926 , proximal tine body  930  moves radially outward which, in turn, moves distal tine end  932  out of notch  934 . The locking nut and bolt combination shown in  FIG. 103   a  is similar to the nut configuration shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  15  and many other figures herein. 
   With respect to nuts, bolts, clips, screws and removal tools, general comments follow. 
   In several embodiments, the system facilitates servicing and removal of the nut or clip by a removal tool, whereby the nut, bolt and locking mechanism can be reused. 
   The system is enabled to remove and replace a “clip lock” during repairs or servicing while reusing the bolt or screw. 
   With respect to nuts with built-in removal tool, general comments follow. 
   A removal system is incorporated within the stamped locking mechanism that will not damage the stamped locking tines and allow reuse of the nut and locking mechanism. 
   The spacial flex zone allows access for the removal tool in all embodiments discussed herein. 
   Further, the spacial flex zone allows a removal tool to be incorporated within the locking mechanism and, as such, will not damage the locking tines and will allow the re-use of the system. 
     FIGS. 103   b - 112   c  diagrammatically illustrate various embodiments of the blind hole locking design.  FIGS. 103   b  and  103   c  diagrammatically illustrate the grooves in the blind hole bolt. The groove configuration in  FIG. 103   b  is similar to the groove in  FIG. 6   i . The groove in  FIG. 103   c  is similar to the groove  1012  in  FIG. 2   c . Locking face  2001  abuts the distal tine end (not shown). Opposing slope  2003  defines the balance of the locking zone. In  FIG. 103   c , the locking zone is defined by locking face  2001 , base wall  2008  and rising slope wall  2006 . Together, these groove faces or walls form locking zone  2005 . The interaction of the tine in these locking zones is discussed earlier. 
     FIG. 104  shows bolt head  2010  having a recess  2011  which is adapted to receive allen wrenches and various other types of tools. Additionally, bolt head  2010  has the specially configured locking zone  2012  similar to that shown in  FIG. 2   c.    
     FIG. 105  diagrammatically illustrates specially configured blind hole bolt  2014  having a plurality of notches or channels  2016  on bolt head  2018 . At the axially inboard end of each channel  2016  is a tapered or curvilinear surface  2020 . This carved out surface on the underside of bolt or screw head  2018  deflects the tine into groove  2016 . This limits or eliminates damage or crushing of the end of the tine. 
     FIG. 106  diagrammatically shows a rectilinear tine support  2025 . The base  2026  of tine carrying box  2025  includes V shaped cutouts  2028  spaced about through bore  2030 . The V shaped cutouts  2028  enable the blind hole clip  2025  to properly seat in a beveled blind hole (hole  755  in  FIG. 94   b ) or a funnel shaped blind hole. The hole may be a truncated, frustoconical shape. 
     FIGS. 107-109  diagrammatically illustrate various shapes for the blind hole, tine carrying structure. In  FIG. 108 , tine carrying structure  2040  is a polygon or a hexagon. A plurality of tines  2041  extend radially and tangentially into the interior space in which the bolt head passes. Each tine is mounted on a wall segment  2042 . 
   With respect to  FIG. 108 , tine carrying structure  2040  is a truncated geometric shape. In a similar manner to the blind hole locking system in  FIG. 107 , tine  2041  is supported and carried by wall  2042 . The tine has a spacial flex zone adequate to pass over the non-grooved portions of the bolt or screw head. 
   In  FIG. 109 , tine carrying support structure  2040  has a lower, radially disposed plate  2045  which lends additional support to the structure. The term “radial” relates to axial centerline of the bolt or screw. 
     FIGS. 110   a - 110   c  diagrammatically illustrate a blind hole locking system which is mounted atop a structure  2050 . The tine support structure  2040  supports and carries a plurality of tines  2041 . The bolt head  2051  includes a plurality of locking zones  2052 . The bolt passes within through bore  2054  defined in base  2056 . Further, tine support  2040  is further supported by base  2056 . Base  2056  includes a depending leg  2057 . The tine support  2040  and base  2056  is mounted by any reasonable fastening means (nails, screws, rivets, bolts, etc.) to underlying structure  2050 . Structure  2050  includes a bore there through  2060  in order to permit the stem of the bolt to pass through structure  2050 . 
     FIGS. 111   a - 112   c  diagrammatically illustrate other types of blind hole fastening mechanisms. In  FIG. 111   a , tine carrying wall  2040  is curved. However, wall  2040  carries a plurality of tines  2041  which interact with locking zones  2052  on bolt head  2051 . 
     FIG. 111   b  shows that tine carrying wall  2040  is connected to base  2056 . Base  2056  includes a depending leg  2071 . 
     FIG. 111   c  shows that tine carrying wall  2040  has a plurality of tines  2041  thereon. Tines  2041  each include a distal tine end  2006  which is offset at an angle with respect to tine body  2008 . 
     FIG. 111   d  shows tine carrying wall structure  2040 . 
     FIG. 111   e  shows tine carrying wall  2040  coacting with bolt head  2051 . Bolt head  2051  includes a plurality of grooves which define locking zones  2052 . 
     FIG. 111   f  shows that blind hole locking system and tine carrying structure  2040  is mounted on structure  2050 . Structure  2050  includes a truncated partial bore  2080  into which is depending disposed leg  2071 . See  FIG. 111   b . Structure  2050  also includes bore  2060  to accommodate the stem of the bolt. 
     FIG. 12   a  diagrammatically illustrates tine carrying wall  2040  with a plurality of tines  2041  coacting with locking zones  2052  on bolt head  2051 . However, in order to provide a stationary positioning of the tine carrying wall  2040 , the structure includes or co-acts with posts  2090 .  FIG. 112   b  diagrammatically shows tine carrying wall  2040  and base  2056 . 
     FIG. 112   c  shows tine carrying wall  2040  locked in place via post  2090  and opposing post  2091 . Post  2090  and  2091  arise from base  2050 . Alternatively, post  2090  and  2091  maybe separate items that are affixed to base  2050 . These items may be screws, bolts or poles. 
     FIGS. 113 and 114  and  115  diagrammatically illustrate other embodiments of the blind hole one-way locking nut and bolt system. 
   In  FIG. 113 , blind hole bolt  2200  includes a common bolt head  2202  atop an axially grooved blind hole bolt head section  2204 . Threaded bolt stem  2210  depends from blind hole bolt head section  2204 . In operation, the locking tines fall into and out of axial grooves  2203  on blind hole bolt section  2204 . Counter-rotational movement is prohibited when the locking face of the grooves engages with the tine. See  FIGS. 98   a  and  111   a . The presence of common nut, bolt or screw head  2202  atop blind hole bolt head  2204  enables the user to tighten the fastener system onto the underlying structure. Of course, common nut, bolt or screw head section may be hexagonal or allen wrench or straight or phillips screwdriver driven. These systems are covered by the appended claims. 
     FIG. 114  diagrammatically illustrates a combinatory lug or nut unit  2221  having a common nut head  2223  and grooved blind hole head  2222  with the common nut structure  2223  beneath blind hole head  2222 . Further, the blind hole head section  2222  includes an axially inboard bevel  2224 . The bevel may be omitted. The bevel facilitates the locking tine action when the blind hole locking nut is threaded onto a bolt stem. 
     FIG. 115  diagrammatically illustrates combinatory unit  2221  being threaded onto bolt stem  2306 . Internal female threads  2308  of unit  2221  are complementary to stem threads  2306 . Grooves  2203  enable the blind hole section  2222  to lock onto locking unit  2305  which carries tines  2301 . Tines  2301  extend tangentially and radially towards the axial centerline of the unit. Stop ring  2211  limits axially inboard movement of the combinatory unit  2221  inboard toward the left of FIG.  115 . Stop ring  2211  acts on axially outboard edge  2309 . Alternatively, stem  2306  may extend axially beyond edge  2309  (and possibly well beyond the locking unit wall). Also, the locking unit may be retained in a recess or may be surface mounted. Further, stop  2211  may limit axially inboard movement of a socket acting on nut surface  2221 . In the absence of a radially extending ridge or stop  2211 , the blind hole groove segment  2222  may be radially larger than nut segment  2221 . The radially larger grooved segment will stop axially inboard movement of the socket. 
   Segmenting rim  2211  acts as a stop to the common driver for the bolt or lug stem. Also the blind hole bolt head section  2204 ,  2222  has a smaller radii than the common nut, bolt or screw head. This enables the common driver to easily grasp the common drive head. The smaller size is also useful in mechanically sensing the blind hole bolt head grooves. Alternatively, the grooved section may be radially larger. 
   In another embodiment, the blind hole fastening system can be mounted on a leg of a clip. In this embodiment, the locking unit (carrying one or more tines) is mounted on a leg of a clip. The clip is placed on a generally planar, underlying structure. Somewhere, either on the underlying structure or otherwise disposed adjacent thereto, a nut or a nut thread carrying unit is disposed. The nut thread maybe located on another clip leg. The specially configured blind hole bolt (the bolt with a groove carrying head) is inserted into the axial through bore of the locking unit, inserted into the bore on the clip leg (which maybe the locking nit bore), inserted through the bore on the underlying structure and ultimately the male thread on the blind hole bolt engages the nut thread. One way rotation is permitted when the blind hole bolt head enages the tines in the locking unit. 
   The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.