Lock washer assembly having wedge lock action

Claim 1

A lock washer assembly adapted for disposition between a flat workpiece surface and an opposed flat surface on a threaded fastener element; said lock washer assembly comprising two similarly configured individual annular lock washers; each individual lock washer having a first flat annular face, and a second annular serrated face; each serrated face comprising a plural number of circumferentially-spaced cam surfaces extending at acute angles to the plane of the associated flat annular face, and shoulder surfaces interconnecting said cam surfaces; said individual lock washers being arranged with their cam surfaces and shoulder surfaces in facial engagement, and with their flat faces in facial engagement with the aforementioned opposed surfaces on the workpiece and fastener element; the flat annular face on each lock washer being continuous and devoid of projections or discontinuities, whereby rotary motion of the fastener element in the loosening direction causes the cam surfaces to slide against each other toward a mutually wedged position.