US3698267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fastener actuator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-18
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1990-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A fastener actuator having a plurality of fastener engaging elements, each fastener engaging element being independently positionable in an engaging proximity to a fastener, the fastener engaging elements being adapted to cooperate to remove or tighten the fastener.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon R Denney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:33
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B15/00; B25B15/001; B25B13/00; B25B13/10; B25B13/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A fastener actuator for removing and tightening fasteners, comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end and a hollow portion formed therein intersecting the open end thereof; a support plate connected to the housing spaced from the open end and the closed end of the housing, having a plurality of aperture means formed therethrough; a plurality of fastener engaging elements, each fastener engaging element, having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of each fastener engaging element disposed generally near the open end of the housing, an engaging portion formed on the lower end portion and a sliding portion of a smaller crosssectional area than the engaging portion formed on the upper end portion thereby forming an upwardly facing surface between the engaging portion and the sliding portion, and stop means formed on the upper end thereof, the sliding portion of each fastener engaging element being slidingly disposed through one of the aperture means of the support plate, each stop means engaging the support plate to limit the movement of one of the fastener engaging elements in one direction and each upwardly facing surface engaging the support plate to limit the movement of one of the fastener engaging elements in one other direction, each fastener engaging element being supported in the support plate and being independently positionable in an engaging proximity to a fastener; and biasing means secured in the housing and disposed between the support plate and the closed end of the housing biasing each fastener engaging element in one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A fastener actuator for removing and tightening fasteners, comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end and a hollow portion formed therein intersecting the open end thereof; a support plate connected to the housing spaced from the open end and the closed end of the housing, having a plurality of aperture means formed therethrough; a plurality of fastener engaging elements, each fastener engaging element, having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of each fastener engaging element disposed generally near the open end of the housing, an engaging portion formed on the lower end portion and a sliding portion of a smaller crosssectional area than the engaging portion formed on the upper end portion thereby forming an upwardly facing surface between the engaging portion and the sliding portion, and stop means formed on the upper end thereof, the sliding portion of each fastener engaging element being slidingly disposed through one of the aperture means of the support plate, each stop means engaging the support plate to limit the movement of one of the fastener engaging elements in one direction and each upwardly facing surface engaging the support plate to limit the movement of one of the fastener engaging elements in one other direction, each fastener engaging element being supported in the support plate and being independently positionable in an engaging proximity to a fastener; and biasing means secured in the housing and disposed between the support plate and the closed end of the housing biasing each fastener engaging element in one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fastener actuator of claim 1 wherein the biasing means is further defined as being adapted to bias each fastener engaging element in a direction generally toward a non-operating position wherein the upper end portion of each fastener engaging element engages a portion of the support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fastener actuator of claim 2 wherein the biasing means is further defined to include a permanent magnetic supported in a portion of the housing, said magnetic being sized and disposed to repelling bias each fastener engaging element generally toward a non-operating position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The fastener actuator of claim 2 wherein the biasing means is further defined to include a plurality of springs, each spring having opposite ends, one of said opposite ends of each spring being in engagement with a portion of the housing, the other end of each spring being in engagement with the upper end of one of the fastener engaging elements, each of said springs being sized to bias one of the fastener engaging elements generally toward a non-operating position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fastener actuator of claim 1 wherein each fastener engaging element is defined further as being sized and disposed such that the engaging portion of each fastener engaging element is in close proximity to the engaging portions of the adjacent fastener engaging elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fastener actuator of claim 5 wherein the fastener engaging Elements are further defined as being sized such that the lower ends of the fastener engaging elements lie in substantially the same plane when the fastener engaging elements have been biased to the non-operating position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fastener actuator of claim 6 wherein the open end of the housing is sized to substantially encompass the fastener engaging elements and to support the fastener engaging elements in a position wherein the engaging portion of each fastener engaging element is in close proximity to the engaging portions of the adjacent fastener engaging elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
The fastener actuator of claim 7 wherein the housing includes an outer periphery, a portion of said outer periphery generally adjacent the open end thereof being threaded and tapered, a slot being formed in a portion of the outer periphery intersecting a portion of the open end of the housing; and wherein the fastener actuator is defined further to include a nut disposed about a portion of the housing, said nut being sized and disposed to threadingly engage the threaded portion of the outer periphery, such that as the nut is threaded downwardly toward the open end of the housing, the open end of the housing is closed about the fastener engaging elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The fastener actuator of claim 6 wherein the housing is defined further to include a plurality of housing elements, said housing elements being sized and disposed to substantially encompass the fastener engaging elements and to support the fastener engaging elements in a position wherein the engaging portion of each fastener engaging element is in close proximity to the engaging portions of the adjacent fastener engaging elements, each of said housing elements being adjustably supported about the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A fastener actuator for removing and tightening fasteners, comprising: support means; a plurality of fastener engaging elements, each fastener engaging element having an upper end and a lower end and an engaging portion formed on the lower end portion thereof, each fastener engaging element being supported in the support means and being independently positionable in an engaging proximity to a fastener; and a housing, having a hollow portion, the support means and the fastener engaging elements each being supported within the hollow portion of the housing, the housing comprising: a plurality of housing elements, the housing elements sized and disposed to substantially encompass the fastener engaging elements and to support the fastener engaging elements in a position wherein the engaging portion of each fastener engaging element is in close proximity to the engaging portions of the adjacent fastener engaging elements, each of the housing elements being adjustably supported about the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A fastener actuator for removing and tightening fasteners, comprising: support means; a plurality of fastener engaging elements, each fastener engaging element having an upper end and a lower end and an engaging portion formed on the lower end portion thereof, each fastener engaging element being supported in the support means and being independently positionable in an engaging proximity to a fastener; and a housing, having a hollow portion, the support means and the fastener engaging elements each being supported within the hollow portion of the housing, the housing comprising: a plurality of housing elements, the housing elements sized and disposed to substantially encompass the fastener engaging elements and to support the fastener engaging elements in a position wherein the engaging portion of each fastener engaging element is in close proximity to the engaging portions of the adjacent fastener engaging elements, each of the housing elements being adjustably supported about the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |