Disclosed herein is a holding means provided with a spacer capable of occupying a space between an upper horizontal part and an upper vertical part of a hanger and a nut.

Methods and apparatus for a fastener head having a dual zone socket area and a mating driver bit according to aspects of the present technology include a fastener configured with driving surfaces adapted to provide enhanced engagement between each other during use. The fastener includes a recessed socket area with a sidewall that has an upper inwardly tapering section and a lower vertical section that extends to the bottom of the recessed socket area. The upper inwardly tapering section of the sidewall may also include an offset relative to the lower vertical section to create asymmetrical driving and removal surfaces. The technology also includes a corresponding mating driver bit configured with mating surfaces to the fastener to provide enhanced engagement between the fastener and mating driver bit. The technology also allows either the fastener or the driving bit to be used with preexisting fasteners and driver bits.

A multi-piece locking fastener having an intermediate component exhibiting a plurality of interior threads arrayed in a first direction. A first fastener has a first enlarged head and a first stem exteriorly threaded in the first direction. A hollowed interior is formed in an end of the stem and exhibits a further plurality of interior threads extending in a second direction opposite the first direction. A second fastener has a second enlarged head and a second stem, upon which is configured a second exterior thread pattern extending in the second direction. The first fastener is installed through the intermediate component from a first direction, with the second fastener rotationally inter-engaging the exposed interior threads of the first fastener in the second direction until the second enlarged heads contact the intermediate component, with loosening of either of the first and second fasteners being prevented.

A screw element for the fixation of bone components and bone fragments is disclosed having a shaft with an outside screw thread and a longitudinal axis extending along the shaft and defining a distal direction and a proximal direction, and an insertion direction and an opposite removal direction, and has a tool attachment point starting radially inwards and the tool attachment point has a central opening and in the wall of this opening at least five tooth profiles directed radially outwards and mainly parallel to the screw axis directed radially outwards and mainly parallel to the screw axis are formed in the wall of this opening, and for each tooth profile an insertion wall in insertion direction and a removal wall in removal direction can be separated, and that the surface of the insertion wall is greater than the surface of the removal wall.

Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.

A fastener includes a screw head and a screw shank. The screw head has a top surface and an inner surrounding surface. The inner surrounding surface has six curved portions and six driven portions disposed in an alternating arrangement. Each of the driven portions has a curved section connected to one of two adjacent curved portions and having a direction of curvature opposite to that of the one of the two adjacent curved portions, a straight section extending along a tangent line of an end of the curved section, and an extension section connected between the straight section and the other one of the two adjacent curved portions.

A multi-piece locking fastener having an intermediate component exhibiting a plurality of interior threads arrayed in a first direction. A first fastener has a first enlarged head and a first stem exteriorly threaded in the first direction. A hollowed interior is formed in an end of the stem and exhibits a further plurality of interior threads extending in a second direction opposite the first direction. A second fastener has a second enlarged head and a second stem, upon which is configured a second exterior thread pattern extending in the second direction. The first fastener is installed through the intermediate component from a first direction, with the second fastener rotationally inter-engaging the exposed interior threads of the first fastener in the second direction until the second enlarged heads contact the intermediate component, with loosening of either of the first and second fasteners being prevented.

Methods and apparatus for a fastener head having a dual zone socket area and a mating driver bit according to aspects of the present technology include a fastener configured with driving surfaces adapted to provide enhanced engagement between each other during use. The fastener includes a recessed socket area with a sidewall that has an upper inwardly tapering section and a lower vertical section that extends to the bottom of the recessed socket area. The upper inwardly tapering section of the sidewall may also include an offset relative to the lower vertical section to create asymmetrical driving and removal surfaces. The technology also includes a corresponding mating driver bit configured with mating surfaces to the fastener to provide enhanced engagement between the fastener and mating driver bit. The technology also allows either the fastener or the driving bit to be used with preexisting fasteners and driver bits.

A nut allowing selective removal of nut material in very specific areas through the use of unusual curvatures and relationships, thereby providing enhanced durability, toughness, resilience to shock, and ability to accept elastic strain, while providing improved stress distribution, increased strength, and resistance to nut dilation. Features of the nut flange and nut transition area, specifically unique combination of radii of curvature, and the placement the curved surfaces, between the planar surfaces of tool engagement surfaces and the flange seat provide enhanced performance.

A fastener including a first recess and a second recess adjacent the first recess. The first recess includes a side surface defining a shape of the first recess and a stability surface oriented at an angle of greater than 1° and less than or equal to 89° relative to a major axis of the fastener.