Patent US1931922A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4764066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light gauge self-tapping sheet metal screw
Assignee: FARLEY METALS Inc A DE CORP
•
Filing: 1985-04-22
•
Granted: 1988-08-16
•
Expires: 2005-04-22
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure concerns a light gauge self-tapping sheet metal screw having a threaded shank and cap-type head, which head has a tool-engaging surface. Between the cupped recess of the head and the shank are a plurality of pyramidal ribs that extend partway around the shank for deforming the edge of the holes in the sheet metal up against the recessed surface of the cup of the head to increase the stripping and backout torque of the screw.
Inventors
- 👤 Ollney B. Terrell
- 👤 Larry J. Arnold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B39/00; F16B39/22; F16B39/28; F16B35/00; F16B35/04; F16B35/041; F16B35/048; F16B25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A screw for fastening two adjacent light gauge metal sheets together through aligned apertures in said sheets comprising: (A) a cylindrical shank with self-cutting helical threads therealong, and (B) a head with an annular peripheral flange extending concentric to the axis of said shank to form a recessed portion under said head, whereby said threads crimp said sheets into said recessed portion, the improvement comprising: (C) a plurality of identical tetrahedral reaming ribs extending only partly around said shank and the rest of said shank is unobstructed, said ribs extending from a point along said shank away from said head angularly and radially outwardly from said shank to the recessed portion under said head for about half the diameter of said recessed portion of said head, said ribs bridging the right angle between said shank and said recessed portion of said head whereby a sharp outer edge of said ribs extends radially outwardly from said shank diagonally across said right angle to said recessed portion of said head for partly reaming the aperture in the metal sheet adjacent said head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A screw for fastening two adjacent light gauge metal sheets together through aligned apertures in said sheets comprising: (A) a cylindrical shank with self-cutting helical threads therealong, and (B) a head with an annular peripheral flange extending concentric to the axis of said shank to form a recessed portion under said head, whereby said threads crimp said sheets into said recessed portion, the improvement comprising: (C) a plurality of identical tetrahedral reaming ribs extending only partly around said shank and the rest of said shank is unobstructed, said ribs extending from a point along said shank away from said head angularly and radially outwardly from said shank to the recessed portion under said head for about half the diameter of said recessed portion of said head, said ribs bridging the right angle between said shank and said recessed portion of said head whereby a sharp outer edge of said ribs extends radially outwardly from said shank diagonally across said right angle to said recessed portion of said head for partly reaming the aperture in the metal sheet adjacent said head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said head has a tool-engaging configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said head has a hexagonal circumferential surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said head has a diametrical slot opposite said shank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said ribs extend for more than about half and less than about three-quarters of the circumference of said shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said ribs extend from between about 200° and about 270° around said shank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A screw according to claim 6 wherein said ribs extend about 216° around said shank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A screw according to claim 1 wherein said screw fastens two parallel light gauge sheets of metal with concentric adjacent holes by crimping the edges of both of said holes into said recess of said head to increase the backout torque of said screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
A self-tapping screw for fastening two adjacent light gauge metal sheets together through aligned apertures in said sheets comprising: a threaded shank, and a tool-engaging head with a recessed portion adjacent said shank, whereby said threads crimp said sheets into said recessed portion, the improvement comprising: a plurality of identical tetrahedral reaming ribs extending only partly around said shank and the rest of said shank is unobstructed, said ribs extending from a point along said shank away from said head angularly and radially outwardly from said shank to the recessed portion under said head for about half the diameter of said recessed portion of said head, said ribs bridging the right angle between said shank and said recessed portion of said head whereby a sharp outer edge of said ribs extends radially outwardly from said shank diagonally across said right angle to said recessed portion of said head for partly reaming the aperture in the metal sheet adjacent said head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
A self-tapping screw for fastening two adjacent light gauge metal sheets together through aligned apertures in said sheets comprising: a threaded shank, and a tool-engaging head with a recessed portion adjacent said shank, whereby said threads crimp said sheets into said recessed portion, the improvement comprising: a plurality of identical tetrahedral reaming ribs extending only partly around said shank and the rest of said shank is unobstructed, said ribs extending from a point along said shank away from said head angularly and radially outwardly from said shank to the recessed portion under said head for about half the diameter of said recessed portion of said head, said ribs bridging the right angle between said shank and said recessed portion of said head whereby a sharp outer edge of said ribs extends radially outwardly from said shank diagonally across said right angle to said recessed portion of said head for partly reaming the aperture in the metal sheet adjacent said head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A screw according to claim 9 wherein said head has a peripheral cylindrical flange coaxial with and extending longitudinally of the shank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A screw according to claim 9 wherein said ribs are tetrahedral in shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US213551A
Cited
US240387A
Cited
US388000A
Cited
US430236A
Cited
US465101A
Cited
US1114135A
Cited
US1151861A
Cited
US1175665A
Cited
US1411184A
Cited
US1680015A
Cited
US1855447A
Cited
US1887616A
Cited
US2016610A
Cited
US2217951A
Cited
US2229892A
Cited
US2391308A
Cited
US2342170A
Cited
US2562032A
Cited
GB640046A
Cited
US3073207A
Cited
US2982166A
Cited
US3255797A
Cited
US3434521A
Cited
US3640326A
Cited
US3750525A
Cited
US3903784A
Cited
US4294300A
Cited
US4293256A
Cited
US4310272A
Cited
US4516893A
Cited
US4518294A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-02-15 | 1992-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-16 | 1996-02-15 | 1996-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-16 | 2000-02-15 | 2000-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |