A facial alignment system that includes a first mask portion and a rear portion. The rear portion includes a tightening mechanism mounted thereon that includes first and second tightening members that extend from the rear portion to the mask portion. The first and second tightening members are configured to exert a tightening force on the first mask portion.

A self-locking nut includes a main-nut body and a deformable-nut body. The main-nut body has a recess leading into an interior threaded bore forming x turns of an internal thread therein. The deformable-nut body has an outer flange and an interior threaded bore forming y turns of an internal thread therein. The outer flange of the deformable-nut body is fixed to the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between the deformable-nut body and the recess. A ratio of x:y is about 2:1.

A self-locking nut includes a main-nut body and a deformable-nut body. The main-nut body has a recess leading into an interior threaded bore forming x turns of an internal thread therein. The deformable-nut body has an outer flange and an interior threaded bore forming y turns of an internal thread therein. The outer flange of the deformable-nut body is fixed to the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between the deformable-nut body and the recess. A ratio of x:y is about 2:1.

A method of delivering a collar between a fastener and a swager is provided. The method comprises steps of: (i) advancing the collar from a collar source to a collar feeder, where the collar source is operatively coupled to the collar feeder via a collar-supply tube, (ii) presenting the collar at an outlet of the collar feeder concentrically in line with a central axis of the fastener and with a working axis of the swager, and (iii) retaining the collar at the outlet of the collar feeder using at least one resilient flexure of the collar feeder.

A floating anchor nut configured to receive a bolt is described. The floating anchor nut comprises a plate having a bolt aperture and retention features for retaining a nut. The floating anchor nut additionally comprises the nut that itself comprises an internally threaded body and a flange extending from an outer surface of the body, the nut being retained through interaction of the flange with the retention features, the retention features allow limited parallel displacement with respect to a plane of the plate. The flange is positioned along the body so that at least a portion of the body is counter-sunk into the bolt aperture of the plate.

A self-locking nut is formed with a rear nut body with internal threading and a front nut body having circumferentially arranged, crush-locking lips provided on a forward contact face of the front nut body and being spaced from the internal threading of the rear nut body by an internal relief cut for accommodating deformation of the crush-locking lips therein. When the nut is tightened down on an object on a fastener bolt, the crush-locking lips are forced inwardly and deformed on the threaded shaft of the fastener bolt into the space of the internal relief cut in order to form a permanent lock on the fastener bolt. In another preferred embodiment, the self-locking nut has a front flying saucer shaped part configured to work like a jam nut portion, and a rear nut body part having a front indentation space configured to work like an inner relief cut. The two parts are joined together by circumferential welding and flattening of the flying saucer part into the inner relief cut space of the nut body part while leaving a small gap between the parts.

An apparatus (100) for delivering a collar (140) concentrically in line with a central axis (A) of a fastener (142) and a working axis (B) of a swager (114) is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a collar feeder (102), comprising a first end (104), a second end (106), an inlet (105), an outlet (107), and a through cavity (109) in communication with the inlet (105) and the outlet (107). The apparatus (100) also comprises a contact element (112), a cam surface (116) configured to be stationary relative to the swager (114), and a slider (122) pivotally coupled to the collar feeder 102. The apparatus (100) further comprises a means for biasing (126) the slider (122) relative to the swager (114) along the working axis (B) of the swager (114), and at least one resilient flexure (128) coupled to the collar feeder (102) at the outlet (107).

An apparatus for delivering a collar concentrically in line with a central axis of a fastener and a working axis of a swager is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a collar feeder, comprising a first end, a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a through cavity in communication with the inlet and the outlet. The apparatus also comprises a contact element, a cam surface configured to be stationary relative to the swager, and a slider pivotally coupled to the collar feeder. The apparatus further comprises a means for biasing the slider relative to the swager along the working axis of the swager, and at least one resilient flexure coupled to the collar feeder at the outlet.

A fastener including a pin member having a shank portion, a threaded portion having a thread, a lock portion having at least one lock groove, and a pull portion located having at least one pull groove. The threaded portion is adapted to be engaged threadedly with a threaded hole of a workpiece to install the pin member therein. The fastener includes a swage collar adapted to be installed into the at least one lock groove of the lock portion to secure a plurality of workpieces. The pull portion is adapted to break off when the fastener is installed.

An apparatus and its method of use enables a thermoplastically deformable fastener assembly to be deformed to hold an installation preload torque after the fastener has been torqued to a predetermined value.