A fastener cap system can include a rigid cap and a sealing member which forms a liquid barrier so moisture is impaired from entering a space under the rigid cap and/or around a fastener installed through it. The sealing member can include a central seal disposed on an upper surface of the cap, the seal extending beyond a head of a fastener, which extends through the cap and sealing member, so that moisture is impaired from entering the cap under the head. The sealing member can be above and below respective lowermost and uppermost cap surfaces so the cap system can be fed cleanly and efficiently through a cap feeder during installation via a tool. The sealing member, which can have a higher coefficient of friction than the rigid cap, thereby does not drag along a cap feeder and cause feeding issues. Related methods of manufacture and use are provided.

A selectively releasable separation nut for securing a payload and/or deployable equipment (hereafter “second body”) to a rocket, missile, or aircraft or spacecraft (hereafter “first body”) by way of a preloaded bolt, or other fastener, and releasing them on command. The separation nut may have magnetic eddy current damping components that dissipate as heat the strain energy stored in the separation nut, the bolt, and surrounding first body and second body structures during the bolt preload release. Energy not dissipated as heat during preload release may be stored as kinetic energy and dissipated as heat after the bolt mechanical release. The bolt acceleration and velocity are controlled throughout the release cycle. The bolt kinetic energy post release is less than 0.01% of the stored strain energy pre-release. Shock, impulse, and momentum transfer to the released second body are near zero.

A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis. The proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis, and the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction. The engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener is configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.

A fence panel coupler 10 comprises a first clamping member 12, a second clamping member 14 and clamping means to connect the first clamping member 12 to the second clamping member 14. The clamping means is arranged to enable the first clamping member 12 to be moved towardsor away from the second clamping member 14 in order for the fence panel coupler 10 to be releasably clamped to a fencing structure. In particular, the fence panel coupler 10 is arranged to secure a fence post (or pole) 20 of a first fence panel to an adjacent second post (or pole) 22 of a second fence panel. The present invention provides a fence panel coupler which can be operated by a single person located on one side of the perimeter fencing. The fence panel coupler 10 comprises a first clamping member 12 which is permanently attached to the second clamping member 14 such that the two clamping members 12, 14 cannot be released from each other. The fence panel coupler is therefore a self contained element with no detachable components. The fence panel coupler 10 is preassembled and the first clamping member 12 is inseparable from the second clamping member 14.

A fastening system includes a fastener having a shank with a threaded portion and a head region disposed at an end of the shank and defining a retaining cavity in an end thereof. A clip includes a base region snap fit in the retaining cavity of the fastener and an anchor region for anchoring a wire harness, hose, cable sheath or other component.

The present specification discloses a locking fastener that includes a first threaded fastener axially positioned within an axial through hole of a second threaded fastener, and captured therein by a rotating joint that permits rotation of the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener relative to one another about a common thread axis. In one or more embodiments, the first threaded fastener thread handedness is opposite to the second threaded fastener thread handedness. Additionally disclosed, is a screwdriver tool configured to simultaneously engage and oppositely rotate the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener into a mating component having a first mating thread and a second mating thread configured to receive the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener, respectively, driven at the same axial advance distance for each turn. Once tightened, the present locking fastener resists loosening and provides a tamper-resistant hold.

The present specification discloses a locking fastener that includes a first threaded fastener axially positioned within an axial through hole of a second threaded fastener, and captured therein by a rotating joint that permits rotation of the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener relative to one another about a common thread axis. In one or more embodiments, the first threaded fastener thread handedness is opposite to the second threaded fastener thread handedness. Additionally disclosed, is a screwdriver tool configured to simultaneously engage and oppositely rotate the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener into a mating component having a first mating thread and a second mating thread configured to receive the first threaded fastener and the second threaded fastener, respectively, driven at the same axial advance distance for each turn. Once tightened, the present locking fastener resists loosening and provides a tamper-resistant hold.

A grooved rotatably fastening structure includes, in top-to-bottom sequence, a head, a shaft connected to the head, and a fastening portion connected to the shaft. The fastening portion has a first groove and a second groove. The first groove is concavely disposed on a lateral surface of the fastening portion and extends upward from a bottom of the fastening portion. The second groove is concavely disposed on the lateral surface of the fastening portion and extends from the first groove transversely or obliquely. The first groove and the second groove are in communication. The rotatably fastening structure enables users to connect two objects together quickly without compromising the structural strength of the two objects and is applicable to thin objects.

A retaining feature incorporated into a mounting surface of a plasticized article which is adapted to receive and retain a fastener prior to final assembly. The retaining feature exhibits an irregular and three dimensional shaped closed profile defined along an interior perimeter configured within the mounting surface and which establishes a degree of flex or bend upon insertion of the fastener with minimal loss of material. The insertion force can be any of lesser, equal to or greater than the extraction force, in combination with providing a rated side load breaking/shearing strength of the bolt from the material defined retaining feature.

A mounting hardware and theft deterrent device includes a hand knob; a threaded screw coupled to the hand knob; a U-clip configured to replace a stock retaining clip on a motorcycle frame and for placement on the motorcycle frame to receive the threaded screw coupled to the hand knob and thereby to secure a motorcycle saddlebag to the motorcycle; and a lock washer for placement over the threaded screw coupled to the hand knob before the threaded screw is inserted into the U-clip. The hand knob, threaded screw fixedly coupled to an underside surface of the hand knob, U-clip, and lock washer collectively form the theft deterrent device. The theft deterrent device is configured for utilization to secure a motorcycle saddlebag to a motorcycle frame without a need for any additional installation tools. The theft deterrent device includes a retaining clip to hold the hand knob to the motorcycle saddlebag.