Systems and methods for providing screw bosses on a substrate. The substrate can be dimpled. The dimples can then be threaded to accept screw bosses. The dimples can be threaded using a threading die or can have threads cut by self-tapping screw bosses. An adhesive can be applied to the substrate, the bottom of the screw boss, or both. The screw bosses can include standoffs to determine the distance between the bottom of the screw boss and the substrate. The screw bosses can be threaded onto the dimples and can provide threads for attaching items to the substrate. A filler material can be applied to the reverse side of the substrate to fill-in the dimples and present a smooth surface. A decorative or protective layer can be applied over the filler material.

Mechanically attaching articles made from composites has problems due to the difference in properties of the composite in the x, y planar direction and the z perpendicular direction, this results in different properties between the composite and the attachment member such as differences in coefficients of thermal expansion which can weaken the joint further leading to differences in moisture uptake which can further reduce the strength and robustness of the joint. The invention relates to the selection of the position of a joint in order to reduce such problems and to operating the moulding process in a way that improves the provision of mechanical attachments such as bolt holes.

This disclosure relates to a wear button or pad for a telescoping boom of the type comprising at least an outer boom member comprising a threaded bore therethrough for the wear pad assembly, and an inner boom member that is slidable with respect to the outer boom member. In one form, the wear pad assembly comprises a wear pad and a base, a first of which comprises a generally cylindrical body comprising a curved external side surface comprising a screw thread via which this is threadably engageable in the threaded bore, and an internally tapered expandable collet, and the second of which comprises an externally and complementarily tapered mandrel portion, wherein in use, the externally threaded part is threadably engaged in the threaded bore and expanded therein by insertion of the externally and complementarily tapered mandrel portion in the expandable collet.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body orientated about a central axis and having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving portion having an inwardly facing annular groove orientated transverse to the central axis; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the inwardly facing annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body; the axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion of the shroud and the annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.

A fastener for thin panels has a shank with a deformable collar which works in conjunction with a configured mating panel to produce enhanced attachment forces, especially in the case of very thin panels. The mating panel is prepared with a round mounting hole with cross-cut openings or slots. The panel is stamped into a conical section in a preparatory step before installation to provide the fastener with snap-in engagement prior to final pressing. The fastener shank has an undercut located immediately below the collar which is snapped into the prepared hole. Once snapped in, a punch and flat anvil are used to press the deformable band of the fastener tightly against the prepared panel, capturing the panel rigidly between the deformable band and a base of the fastener. During pressing, the material of the fastener collar will also flow into the slots of the panel to prevent rotation.

A fastener for thin panels has a shank with a deformable collar which works in conjunction with a configured mating panel to produce enhanced attachment forces, especially in the case of very thin panels. The mating panel is prepared with a round mounting hole with cross-cut openings or slots. The panel is stamped into a conical section in a preparatory step before installation to provide the fastener with snap-in engagement prior to final pressing. The fastener shank has an undercut located immediately below the collar which is snapped into the prepared hole. Once snapped in, a punch and flat anvil are used to press the deformable band of the fastener tightly against the prepared panel, capturing the panel rigidly between the deformable band and a base of the fastener. During pressing, the material of the fastener collar will also flow into the slots of the panel to prevent rotation.

A steering stop mechanism including a fastener, a retention element disposed about the fastener, an adapter configured to receive at least a portion of the fastener therein, and a retention sleeve disposed about at least a portion of the fastener, the retention element, and the adapter. The retention sleeve is deformable and produced from a malleable material to allow the retention sleeve to conform to a shape of the retention element and the adapter during assembly of the steering stop mechanism with a working component.

A fastener includes a head and a shaft extending from a first end to a second end. The first end is attached to the head. The shaft includes an external thread proximal the second end and a nut having an internal thread and an internal diameter. The second end of the shaft has a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, an external diameter of the second end corresponds to the internal diameter of the nut such that the internal thread of the nut mates with the external thread of the shaft to attach the nut to the shaft. In the second condition, the external diameter of the second end is greater than the internal diameter of the nut such that the internal thread of the nut does not mate with the external thread of the shaft and the nut, once attached to the shaft, does not detach from the shaft.

An accessory system can be used to decorate articles with ornaments. The system includes a button-snap connector. The button-snap connector includes a male portion and a female portion. The button-snap connector allows a user to select a particular ornament to be worn on an article of clothing or the like. Likewise, the button-snap connector allows a particular ornament to be used with different articles. The system also include an accessory that can be placed around the button-snap connector to further customize and decorate the article.

An assembly of vehicle components includes first and second components abutting each other. At least one of the first and second components includes a non-metallic material. The first and second components respectively include overlapping first and second apertures. The assembly further includes a joining component extending through the first and second apertures. The joining component has a support body and an outer body at least partially encasing the support body. The outer body includes a polymeric material. The joining component clamps the first and second components between first and second flanges of the outer body, and the support body extends into at least one of the first and second apertures.