US3862458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pre-assembled terminal screw and washers and method of manufacture
Assignee: Textron Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-15
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1994-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A threaded screw terminal for electrical connections and the like is provided which includes a screw member and at least two washers carried upon an upper portion of the screw member shank. When oriented in an upright position, the top washer is prohibited from dropping down the screw shank by a protuding ridge rolled into the shank. The bottom washer, however, is permitted to drop a limited distance away from the top washer and against the threads rolled into the lower portion of the screw member. The spacing thus created between the washers facilitates the attachment of an electrical wire, spade connector, or other connector to the terminal. The bottom washer can be urged into abutment against the connector (or against the top washer itself if no connector is present) by turning the screw member into an adjacent workpiece, thereby snugging the washers against one another, against any connector inserted between the workers, and against the screw head. In addition, a novel method of forming the fastener and the washer-retaining ridge on the screw member shank is described. A groove is formed in the shank, and the shank material displaced from the groove forms two adjacent ridges. The lower ridge is thereafter rolled back into the shank to permit the bottom washer to be snugged against the top washer.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter P Stanaitis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:48
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21H; B21H3/00; B21H3/02; B21H3/06; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/08; H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/30; H01R4/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of making a pre-assembled terminal element of the type including a threaded fastener having at least two captive, freely rotatable washers thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a screw member blank with a relatively upper head portion and a relatively lower shank portion; assembling on said shank a first washer having a pre-determined inner diameter; forming a ridge around said shank below the first washer to a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said first washer; assembling a second washer having a pre-determined inner diameter on the screw member blank below said first washer; forming a helical thread on said shank, said thread having a major diameter larger than the inner diameter of said second washer, said thread commencing at a location on said shank spaced from said ridge a distance greater than the thickness of said second washer, thereby providing a pre-assembled terminal element having two washers permanently assembled thereon, which element when oriented in a vertical position will have said first washer resting upon said ridge and said second washer engaged against said screw thread in spaced relation relative to said first washer, whereby an electrically condUctive means may be readily affixed to said shank intermediate said first and second washers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of making a pre-assembled terminal element of the type including a threaded fastener having at least two captive, freely rotatable washers thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a screw member blank with a relatively upper head portion and a relatively lower shank portion; assembling on said shank a first washer having a pre-determined inner diameter; forming a ridge around said shank below the first washer to a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said first washer; assembling a second washer having a pre-determined inner diameter on the screw member blank below said first washer; forming a helical thread on said shank, said thread having a major diameter larger than the inner diameter of said second washer, said thread commencing at a location on said shank spaced from said ridge a distance greater than the thickness of said second washer, thereby providing a pre-assembled terminal element having two washers permanently assembled thereon, which element when oriented in a vertical position will have said first washer resting upon said ridge and said second washer engaged against said screw thread in spaced relation relative to said first washer, whereby an electrically condUctive means may be readily affixed to said shank intermediate said first and second washers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of forming a pre-assembled screw and washer terminal according to claim 1 including the step of forming said ridge around said screw shank to a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said second washer, thereby permitting second washer to be snugged into abutment against said first washer by turning said screw member into an adjacent workpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 including the steps of die rolling said ridge around said shank at a location relatively below said first washer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 3 including the steps of rolling two ridges upon said shank by die rolling a groove into said shank thereby forming two ridges extending radially outwardly at said shank immediately above and below said groove, and removing the lower ridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 4 including the step of removing said lower ridge by rolling said screw blank between rolling dies, thereby compressing the material forming said lower ridge back into said shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said groove is rolled into said screw shank, said ridges are formed on said shank, and said lower ridge is removed all in a single pass of said rolling dies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of rolling threads on said lower shank portion after said second washer has been assembled over said shank portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of making a pre-assembled terminal element of the type including a threaded fastener having at least two captive, freely rotatable washers thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a screw member blank with a relatively upper head portion and a relatively lower shank portion; assembling on said shank a freely rotatable first washer having a central, circular aperture of a pre-determined diameter; forming first ridge means on said shank below the first washer to a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said first washer; assembling a second freely rotatable washer having a central, circular aperture of a pre-determined diameter on the screw member shank below said first washer; forming second ridge means on said shank having a major diameter larger than the inner diameter of said second washer, said second ridge means commencing at a location on said shank spaced from said first ridge means a distance greater than the thickness of said second washer, thereby providing a pre-assembled terminal element having two washers permanently assembled thereon, which element when oriented in a vertical position will have said first washer resting upon said first ridge means and said second washer engaged against said second ridge means in spaced relation relative to said first washer, whereby an electrically conductive means may be readily affixed to said shank intermediate said first and second washers.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of making a pre-assembled terminal element of the type including a threaded fastener having at least two captive, freely rotatable washers thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a screw member blank with a relatively upper head portion and a relatively lower shank portion; assembling on said shank a freely rotatable first washer having a central, circular aperture of a pre-determined diameter; forming first ridge means on said shank below the first washer to a diameter larger than the inner diameter of said first washer; assembling a second freely rotatable washer having a central, circular aperture of a pre-determined diameter on the screw member shank below said first washer; forming second ridge means on said shank having a major diameter larger than the inner diameter of said second washer, said second ridge means commencing at a location on said shank spaced from said first ridge means a distance greater than the thickness of said second washer, thereby providing a pre-assembled terminal element having two washers permanently assembled thereon, which element when oriented in a vertical position will have said first washer resting upon said first ridge means and said second washer engaged against said second ridge means in spaced relation relative to said first washer, whereby an electrically conductive means may be readily affixed to said shank intermediate said first and second washers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein said step of forming said second ridge means, includes the step of forming a helical thread on said shank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |