Patent ID: 8784027

Claim:
A fastening device comprising: a) a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion, wherein the elongated threaded body portion is substantially circular in cross-section except for at least one longitudinally extending flat section, the at least one longitudinally extending flat section being parallel to a plane tangential to the elongated threaded body portion; b) a lock member having a lower surface with a plurality of ratchet teeth, the lock member defining a central circular axial aperture with at least one planar inner surface being parallel and radially inward to a plane tangential to the central circular axial aperture, wherein the lock member couples to the body portion for axial movement but is fixed rotationally by the at least one planar inner surface cooperating with the at least one longitudinally extending flat section; and c) a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with the threaded body portion, the lock nut having an upper surface and opposing pawl arms, each pawl arm having at least one pawl tooth for engagement with the plurality of ratchet teeth and a banking surface so that when a removal force is applied to the banking surface, the pawl arm expands radially to disengage the at least one pawl tooth from the plurality of ratchet teeth and the threaded locking nut is unthreaded from the threaded body portion.