A fastening assembly includes a panel defining an aperture, a fastener having a head, a shaft portion extending from the head, and a recess formed in the head, and a sacrificial primary anode insert disposed in the recess. The sacrificial primary anode insert is configured to corrode at a rate faster than a corrosion rate of the fastener.

An insert may include an outer sleeve that includes a first tubular portion and a first disk portion perpendicular to the first tubular portion at an end of the first tubular portion. An inner sleeve includes a second tubular portion and a second disk portion perpendicular to the second tubular portion at an end of the second tubular portion. The second tubular portion of the inner sleeve may be configured to be inserted in the first tubular portion of the outer sleeve. The first disk portion of the outer sleeve may include a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface includes a recess configured to accommodate the second disk portion of the inner sleeve when the second tubular portion is inserted in the first tubular portion.

An insert may include an outer sleeve that includes a first tubular portion and a first disk portion perpendicular to the first tubular portion at an end of the first tubular portion. An inner sleeve includes a second tubular portion and a second disk portion perpendicular to the second tubular portion at an end of the second tubular portion. The second tubular portion of the inner sleeve may be configured to be inserted in the first tubular portion of the outer sleeve. The first disk portion of the outer sleeve may include a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface includes a recess configured to accommodate the second disk portion of the inner sleeve when the second tubular portion is inserted in the first tubular portion.

A method of installing a fastener into a surface without defacement of the surface utilizes an annular washer of a viscoelastic material placed about the shank of the fastener such that, upon driving the fastener into the surface via a driving tool, the fastener head clamps against the washer to cause it to viscoelastically expand radially outwardly from the fastener shank until the inner opening of the washer expands to approximately the diametric dimension of the enlarged head of the fastener, whereupon the washer can be removed from the fastener. The interposition of the washer between the driving tool and the surface protects the surface against defacement.

A method of installing a fastener into a surface without defacement of the surface utilizes an annular washer of a viscoelastic material placed about the shank of the fastener such that, upon driving the fastener into the surface via a driving tool, the fastener head clamps against the washer to cause it to viscoelastically expand radially outwardly from the fastener shank until the inner opening of the washer expands to approximately the diametric dimension of the enlarged head of the fastener, whereupon the washer can be removed from the fastener. The interposition of the washer between the driving tool and the surface protects the surface against defacement.

A fastening assembly includes a panel, a fastener and a primary anode insert. The panel defines an aperture and the fastener includes a shaft portion disposed within the aperture. The primary anode insert may be disposed adjacent to a reaction region of the fastener. Alternatively, the fastening assembly may include a fastener and a primary anode insert. The fastener includes a shaft portion which is configured to be disposed within at least two aligned component apertures. The primary anode insert may be also be disposed adjacent to a reaction region of the fastener.

A fastener assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The fastener assembly comprises a fastener configured to couple a first component to a second component of the motor vehicle, the fastener comprising a shank configured to be received within a bore of the first component; and a retaining member, the retaining member being couplable to the fastener and the first component, the retaining member comprising an opening configured to receive the fastener shank and to provide a resistance against the removal of the fastener shank from the bore of the first component, wherein the retaining member comprises a deformable portion configured to deform from a first state to a second state by virtue of the operating environment of the first component such that the fastener may be removed from the bore when the deformable portion is in the second state following operation of the motor vehicle.

A blind rivet for establishing a screw connection between a support component and a fastening part has an elastic outer body and a metal bushing arranged therein. The outer body is at least partially surrounded by a fixing sleeve which fixes the outer body on an end portion in the metal bushing.

A fastener system is provided that includes a spindle bolt having a threaded section and a tooling interface at a head, a bolt body at least partially mated with the spindle bolt, including an anti-rotation slot and an outer surface, a nut including an interior threaded portion and an anti-rotation extension, and an expandable ring mated with the nut and including a lower clamping surface. In a clamping configuration of the fastener system, the lower clamping surface extends beyond the outer surface of the bolt body, the interior threaded portion of the nut is threadingly engaged with the threaded section of the spindle bolt, and the anti-rotation extension mates with the anti-rotation slot. In an installation configuration of the fastener system, a diameter of the lower clamping surface is less than a diameter of the lower clamping surface in the clamping configuration.

A mounting system using a force indicator is disclosed. A screw is used to mount a bracket to a structure. While the screw is being threaded into the structure, the force indicator deforms to provides a visual indication when the screw is tight enough to secure the bracket to the structure without damaging the structure or mounting components. Additionally, a washer may be used with the mounting system. The force indicator can be cylinder shaped with a hole for the screw to pass through. The force indicator can extrude radially as it deforms in order to provide the visual indication.