Patent ID: 8579572

Claim:
A load relief washer assembly for associated fasteners, comprising: a first body having a substantially annular shape with a through hole for an associated bolt or stud or threaded fastener to pass, and having a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the top surface has a plurality of stepped features or castellated features which form mating surfaces and a plurality of sliding planes; a second body having a substantially annular shape with a through hole for the associated bolt or stud or threaded fastener to pass, and having a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has a plurality of stepped features or castellated features which form mating surfaces and a plurality of sliding planes; wherein the stepped features or castellated features and the sliding planes of the first body and second body are complementary to one another; and wherein when the load relief washer is assembled with the associated bolt, stud, or threaded fastener, the first body may be rotated relative to the second body along the sliding planes, the stepped features or castellated features of the first body and the second body align allowing the first body and the second body to move toward one another which reduces an overall height of the load relief washer assembly; thereby reducing a tensile load to the associated bolt, stud, or threaded fastener.