Self-locking fastener

Claim 2

A process for making a self-locking fastener comprising: a. providing a metal fastener having a threaded portion; b. selecting a metallic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the metal fastener; and c. spraying the metallic material in a molten state on a selected area of the circumference of the threads of the fastener to produce a resiliently deformable patch having an effective locking area extending circumferentially substantially less than 360* of the circumference of the fastener whereby the patch will bias the threads not covered by the effective locking area of the patch and diametrically opposed from the circumferential midpoint of the patch into direct engagement with threads of a complementary threaded element when the fastener is in threaded engagement with the complementary element.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein: d. the provided metal fastener is steel; and e. the selected metallic material is brass.

Claim 4

atomizing the molten metallic material; and

Claim 5

atomizing the molten metallic material; and

Claim 6

that gradually diminishes from the midway point as the material approaches the radial planes in order that the exposed surface of the material forms only a small angle to a tangent to the surface of the threads at the radial planes, and

Claim 7

that gradually diminishes from the midway point as the material approaches the radial planes in order that the exposed surface of the material forms only a small angle to a tangent to the surface of the threads at the radial planes, and

Claim 8

that gradually diminishes from the midway point as the material approaches the radial planes in order that the exposed surface of the material forms only a small angle to a tangent to the surface of the threads at the radial planes, and

Claim 9

that gradually diminishes from the midway point as the material approaches the radial planes in order that the exposed surface of the material forms only a small angle to a tangent to the surface of the threads at the radial planes, and

Claim 10

that is greater in the valleys than on the crests adjacent the valleys throughout the patch.

Claim 11

that is greater in the valleys than on the crests adjacent the valleys throughout the patch.

Claim 12

that is greater in the valleys than on the crests adjacent the valleys throughout the patch.

Claim 13

that is greater in the valleys than on the crests adjacent the valleys throughout the patch.

Claim 14

projecting the atomized molten metallic material onto the threads of the fastener.

Claim 15

projecting the atomized molten metallic material onto the threads of the fastener.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 1 wherein the metallic material comprises a copper alloy containing about 90 percent copper and about 10 percent zinc.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 1 wherein the metallic material has a modulus of elasticity from 10 X 106 to 50 X 106.

Claim 18

A process for imparting a self-locking characteristic to a threaded metal fastener whose threads are intended for mating engagement with threads of a complementary element comprising: a. selecting a metallic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener and the threads of the intended complementary element; and b. spraying the metallic material in a molten state on a selected area of the circumference of the threads of the fastener to produce a patch having an effective locking area extending circumferentially substantially less than 360* of the circumference of the fastener for resilient engagement with the threads of the intended complementary element to bias the threads of the fastener not covered by the effective locking area of the patch and diametrically opposed from the circumferential midpoint of the patch into direct engagement with threads of the intended complementary element when the fastener and the intended complementary element are in threaded engagement.

Claim 19

A process for imparting a self-locking characteristic to a threaded metal fastener whose threads are intended for mating engagement with threads of a complementary element comprising: a. selecting a metallic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener and the threads of the intended complementary element; and b. spraying the metallic material in a molten state on a selected area of the circumference of the threads of the fastener to produce a patch having an effective locking area extending circumferentially substantially less than 360* of the circumference of the fastener for resilient engagement with the threads of the intended complementary element to bias the threads of the fastener not covered by the effective locking area of the patch and diametrically opposed from the circumferential midpoint of the patch into direct engagement with threads of the intended complementary element when the fastener and the intended complementary element are in threaded engagement.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 5 wherein the selected metallic material is brass.

Claim 21

A process for imparting a self-locking characteristic to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener comprising: a. selecting a metallic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener; and b. spraying the metallic material in a molten state on a selected area of the threads of the fastener that is no more than 180* of the circumference of the threads to cover at least two adjacent crests and fill in the valley between adjacent covered crests, the metallic material in the valley being substantially thicker than the metallic material on the adjacent crests throughout the patch.

Claim 22

A process for imparting a self-locking characteristic to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener comprising: a. selecting a metallic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener; and b. spraying the metallic material in a molten state on a selected area of the threads of the fastener that is no more than 180* of the circumference of the threads to cover at least two adjacent crests and fill in the valley between adjacent covered crests, the metallic material in the valley being substantially thicker than the metallic material on the adjacent crests throughout the patch.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 7 wherein The spraying step comprises:

Claim 24

A process for imparting a self-locking metallic patch to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener, the metallic patch having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener, comprising: a. atomizing the metallic material in a molten state, and b. projecting the atomized metallic material onto a selected area of the threads of the fastener to form a substantially continuous convex curve of material between two radial planes having an included angle greater than 90* and not more than 180*, the convex curve of material having a radial thickness,

Claim 25

A process for imparting a self-locking metallic patch to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener, the metallic patch having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener, comprising: a. atomizing the metallic material in a molten state, and b. projecting the atomized metallic material onto a selected area of the threads of the fastener to form a substantially continuous convex curve of material between two radial planes having an included angle greater than 90* and not more than 180*, the convex curve of material having a radial thickness,

Claim 26

A process for imparting a self-locking metallic patch to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener, the patched threads being intended for mating engagement with threads of a complementary element, the metallic patch having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener and the mating threads of the intended complementary element, comprising: a. atomizing the metallic material, and b. projecting the atomized metallic material in a molten state onto a selected area of the threads of the fastener to form a substantially continuous convex curve of material between two radial planes having an included angle greater than 90* and not more than 180*, the convex curve of material having a radial thickness,

Claim 27

A process for imparting a self-locking metallic patch to the crests and valleys of the threads of a metal fastener, the patched threads being intended for mating engagement with threads of a complementary element, the metallic patch having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the threads of the fastener and the mating threads of the intended complementary element, comprising: a. atomizing the metallic material, and b. projecting the atomized metallic material in a molten state onto a selected area of the threads of the fastener to form a substantially continuous convex curve of material between two radial planes having an included angle greater than 90* and not more than 180*, the convex curve of material having a radial thickness,