WO2020012197A1 - Improvements in fasteners - Google Patents

Improvements in fasteners Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020012197A1
WO2020012197A1 PCT/GB2019/051965 GB2019051965W WO2020012197A1 WO 2020012197 A1 WO2020012197 A1 WO 2020012197A1 GB 2019051965 W GB2019051965 W GB 2019051965W WO 2020012197 A1 WO2020012197 A1 WO 2020012197A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fastener
driver
recess
engagement portion
head
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2019/051965
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Geoffrey BUDD
Enrico De Angelis
Keith GIBB
Original Assignee
Trifast Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Trifast Plc filed Critical Trifast Plc
Publication of WO2020012197A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020012197A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B23/00—Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool
    • F16B23/0007—Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B15/00—Screwdrivers
    • B25B15/001—Screwdrivers characterised by material or shape of the tool bit
    • B25B15/004—Screwdrivers characterised by material or shape of the tool bit characterised by cross-section
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/02—Arrangements for handling screws or nuts
    • B25B23/08—Arrangements for handling screws or nuts for holding or positioning screw or nut prior to or during its rotation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B23/00—Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool
    • F16B23/0007—Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool
    • F16B23/0038—Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool substantially prismatic with up to six edges, e.g. triangular, square, pentagonal, Allen-type cross-sections
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B41/00—Measures against loss of bolts, nuts, or pins; Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins
    • F16B41/005—Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Connection Of Plates (AREA)
  • Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)

Abstract

A fastener comprising a head portion (102) and an externally threaded shaft portion (104) extending from a first end (106) of the head portion (102), wherein the head portion (102) comprises a non- circular recess (110) formed in a second end (112) of the head portion (102) that is the opposite end to the first end (106), the recess (110) having a cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved.

Description

Improvements in Fasteners
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fasteners, for example screws.
Background of the Invention
Fasteners are used in a variety of applications to mechanically join or affix two objects or materials together. A screw is a type of fastener that usually has a head and a shaft, with a helical ridge or thread extending around the shaft. Screws and other fasteners (e.g. bolts) are commonly used to fasten materials such as wood, metal and plastic.
One type of screw is a“Baldy Screw” that was manufactured and sold by the The Australian Screw Company. The Baldy Screw is shown in Figure 1. The Baldy Screw is a screw 1 with an elliptical head 2. The elliptical external shape of the screw head 2 improves the tamper resistance of the screw 1 , and the fact that it externally appears visually like a circle enhances the tamper resistant properties of the screw 1. Flowever, the external elliptical head shape 2 means that it can only be installed using a driver 3 having a female recess 4 with the same profile as the screw 1 , and the driver 3 must surround the head 2 of the screw 1 to key with the head 2. This limits the functionality of the screw.
Most other screws comprise an internal recess in the head (e.g. Pozi, Torx) that can be matingly engaged by a complimentarily-shaped driver. Such typical screws e.g. with a“cross”-shaped or “star”-shaped internal recess are often susceptible to tampering.
There is therefore a need for a fastener that addresses these problems.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener comprising:
a head portion; and
an externally threaded shaft portion extending from a first end of the head portion, wherein the head portion comprises a non-circular recess formed in a second end of the head portion that is the opposite end to the first end, the recess having a cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved.
The first end of the head portion may be the distal end of the head portion and the other end of the head portion (in which the recess is located) may be the proximal end of the head portion.
The cross-sectional shape of the recess may be a closed curve. For example, the recess may have an oval cross-section or an elliptical cross-section. Alternatively, the recess may have other rounded shapes with one or more vertices, such as a pear-shaped cross-section, a teardrop shaped cross-section, a pointed oval cross-section or a pointed ellipse cross-section.
Providing a recess that is rounded (and, for example, appears visually like a circle) improves the tamper resistant properties of the fastener because the recess cannot be engaged using commonly-available tools and a potential tamperer may not appreciate that the recess is not circular (which would mean that it could not be keyed). Additionally, providing a recess having a shape according to the invention, rather than converse i.e. providing a head having a rounded shape, has the advantage that the fastener can be installed in a recessed hole or a countersunk hole because a driver is be received in the recess rather than having to surround the head of the fastener. This means that there is no access to the sides of the head of the fastener for removal (e.g. using pliers or mole grips). Therefore, the tamper resistance of the fastener is further improved.
The ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the recess (i.e. dmax/dmin where dmax is the maximum diameter of the recess and dmin is the minimum diameter of the recess) is a
consideration when designing the fastener. The ratio should not be too high or too low. A value of 1 would describe a circle, so the higher this value the further from a circle the recess is (i.e. the more “squashed” the circle is). The ratio should be high enough to allow the recess to receive the necessary torque to drive (e.g. screw) the fastener into a hole or insert without slipping whilst not being so high that it makes unscrewing possible with common tools meaning that the tamper resistance of the fastener is lost. The recess may have a ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1 .05 and 1 .20.
The wall of the recess may be tapered e.g. so that the open end of the recess (the proximal end of the recess) has a greater cross-sectional area than the end of the recess that is embedded in the head of the fastener (the distal end of the recess) i.e. an“outward taper”. This facilitates the extraction of a driver that is received in the recess during application of the fastener. However, if the recess is too tapered there is a risk that a driver received within the recess during application of the fastener could be released from the recess during application. In other words, the keying relationship between the recess and a driver could be lost i.e. the engagement portion of the driver could slip within the recess of the fastener. The angle of the taper may be between 0.5° and 10°. The angle of the taper may be constant from the distal end of the recess to the proximal end of the recess. In other words, the slope of the wall of the recess may be constant from the distal end of the recess to the proximal end of the recess.
Alternatively, the recess may have a constant or uniform cross-sectional shape. Further alternatively, the recess may have walls with a non-uniform taper or slope.
The recess may be configured to receive a driver having a complimentary profile to the recess. The head portion may be a cylindrical head, a countersunk head or a pan head. The external thread may protrude from the shaft portion and extend along at least a portion of the length of the shaft portion. The external thread may extend along substantially the entire length of the shaft portion or along the entire length of the shaft portion.
The fastener may be constructed from tool steel, carbon steel (e.g. class 8.8 or higher, case hardened and tempered), or stainless steel. Any other suitable materials could also be used.
There is also provided a driver for applying a fastener as hereinbefore described, at least a portion of the driver comprising an engagement portion shaped to matingly engage with the recess of the fastener.
The engagement portion and the recess may be complimentarily shaped. For example, the engagement portion may be configured to key with the recess. The driver may be constructed from tool steel, carbon steel (e.g. class 8.8 or higher, case hardened and tempered), or stainless steel. Any other suitable materials could also be used. The driver may comprise a body portion and the engagement portion may protrude from the body portion.
There is also provided a kit comprising the fastener and the driver as hereinbefore described.
There is also provided a driver for applying a fastener, the driver comprising an engagement portion for engaging a recess in a fastener,
the engagement portion having a non-circular cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved. The cross-sectional shape of the engagement portion may be a closed curve. For example, the engagement portion may have an oval cross-section or an elliptical cross-section. Alternatively, the engagement portion may have other rounded shapes with one or more vertices, such as a pear- shaped cross-section, a teardrop-shaped cross-section, a pointed oval cross-section or a pointed ellipse cross-section.
The driver is configured to matingly engage with and drive a fastener having a recess that is rounded (and, for example, appears visually like a circle). As described above, a fastener having such a recess improves the tamper resistant properties of the fastener. Additionally, providing a recess having a shape according to the invention, rather than a head having a rounded shape, has the advantage that the fastener can be installed in a recessed hole or a countersunk hole because a driver is be received in the recess rather than having to surround the head of the fastener. This means that there is no access to the sides of the head of the fastener for removal (e.g. using pliers or mole grips). Therefore, the tamper resistance of the fastener is further improved. The driver of the invention is intended for use with such a fastener.
As noted above, the ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of a recess of a fastener (i.e. dmax/dmin where dmax is the maximum diameter of the recess and dmin is the minimum diameter of the recess) is a consideration when designing the fastener. The ratio should not be too high or too low. A value of 1 would describe a circle, so the higher this value the further from a circle the recess is (i.e. the more“squashed” the circle is). The ratio should be high enough to allow the recess to receive the necessary torque to drive (e.g. screw) the fastener into a hole or insert without slipping whilst not being so high that it makes unscrewing possible with common tools meaning that the tamper resistance of the fastener is lost. The same is true of the driver. The engagement portion of the driver is configured to be received by the recess of a fastener and to transmit torque to the fastener by keying with the recess of the fastener. Therefore, the ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the engagement portion is also a consideration when designing the driver. The engagement portion may have a ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1 .05 and 1 .20.
The wall of the engagement portion may be tapered e.g. so that the end of the engagement portion that is inserted into the recess (the distal end of the engagement portion) has a smaller cross- sectional area than the base of the engagement portion (the proximal end of the engagement portion) i.e. an“inward taper”. The engagement portion is intended to be complimentarily-shaped to a tapered recess in a head portion of a fastener. This facilitates the extraction of the driver from a recess of a head of a fastener during application of the fastener by the driver. However, if the recess and the engagement portion are too tapered there is a risk that the driver received within the recess during application of the fastener could be released from the recess during application. In other words, the keying relationship between the recess and a driver could be lost i.e. the engagement portion of the driver could slip within the recess of the fastener. The angle of the taper may be between 0.5° and 10 °. The angle of the taper may be constant from the proximal end of the engagement portion to the distal end of the engagement portion. In other words, the slope of the wall of the recess may be constant from the proximal end of the engagement portion to the distal end of the engagement portion.
Alternatively, the engagement portion may have a constant or uniform cross-sectional shape.
Further alternatively, the engagement portion may have walls with a non-uniform taper or slope.
The engagement portion of the driver may be configured to be received by a recess of a fastener having a complimentary profile to the engagement portion. The driver may itself be the
engagement portion, or the driver may comprise a handle and the engagement portion may protrude from the handle.
The driver may be constructed from tool steel, carbon steel (e.g. class 8.8 or higher, case hardened and tempered), or stainless steel. Any other suitable materials could also be used.
In any or all embodiments, the fastener may be a screw. Alternatively, the fastener may be a bolt or any other suitable fastener.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a known Baldy Screw;
Figure 2 shows a top view of a pan head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a side view of a pan head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a pan head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows perspective views of a pan head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a top view of a countersunk head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 shows a side view of a countersunk head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a countersunk head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 shows perspective views of a countersunk head fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10 shows a top view of a driver according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 1 1 shows a side view of a driver according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 12 shows perspective views of a driver according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 shows a pear shape;
Figure 14 shows a teardrop shape;
Figure 15 shows a pointed oval shape; and Figure 16 shows a pointed ellipse shape.
Detailed Description
Figures 2 to 5 depict a pan head fastener 100 (e.g. pan head screw) according to the present invention and Figures 6 to 9 depict a countersunk head fastener 200 (e.g. countersunk head screw) according to the present invention. The principles of the invention apply to pan head fasteners and countersunk head fasteners, as well as other suitable fasteners/screws, and Figures 2 to 9 will therefore be described together with corresponding reference numerals designating corresponding features.
Figures 2 to 9 show a fastener 100, 200, such as a screw. The fastener 100, 200 comprises a head portion 102, 202 and a shaft portion 104, 204 extending from a first end 106, 206 (i.e. the distal end) of the head portion 102, 202. The shaft portion 104, 204 comprises an external thread 108, 208 protruding from the shaft portion 104, 204.
The head portion 102, 202 comprises a non-circular recess 1 10, 210 formed in a second end 1 12, 212 (the proximal end) of the head portion 102, 202 that is the opposite end to the first end 106, 206. The recess 1 10, 210 has a cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved. In Figures 2 to 9, the cross-sectional shape of the recess 1 10, 210 is elliptical.
Providing a recess that is rounded (and, for example, appears visually like a circle), such as the elliptical recess 1 10, 210 shown in Figures 2 to 9, improves the tamper resistant properties of the fastener 100, 200. Additionally, providing a recess 1 10, 210 having a shape according to the invention, rather than a head having a rounded shape, has the advantage that the fastener 100,
200 can be installed in a recessed hole or a countersunk hole because a driver is be received in the recess 1 10, 210 rather than having to surround the head portion 102, 202 of the fastener 100, 200. This means that there is no access to the sides of the head portion 102, 202 of the fastener 100, 200 for removal (e.g. using pliers or mole grips). Therefore, the tamper resistance of the fastener 100, 200 is further improved.
The ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the recess 1 10, 210 (i.e. dmax/dmin where dmax is the maximum diameter of the recess 1 10, 210 and dmin is the minimum diameter of the recess 1 10, 210) is a consideration when designing the fastener 100, 200. The ratio should not be too high or too low. A value of 1 would describe a circle, so the higher this value the further from a circle the recess is (i.e. the more“squashed” the circle is). The ratio should be high enough to allow the recess to receive the necessary torque to drive (e.g. screw) the fastener into a hole or insert without slipping whilst not being so high that it makes unscrewing possible with common tools meaning that the tamper resistance of the fastener is lost. The recess typically has a ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1 .05 and 1 .20.
In Figures 2 to 9, the wall of the recess 1 10, 210 is tapered e.g. so that the open end of the recess (the proximal end of the recess) has a greater cross-sectional area that the end of the recess that is embedded in the head of the fastener (the distal end of the recess) i.e. an“outward taper”. This facilitates the extraction of a driver that is received in the recess 1 10, 210 during application of the fastener 100, 200. However, if the recess is too tapered there is a risk that a driver received within the recess during application of the fastener could be released from the recess during application. In other words, the keying relationship between the recess and a driver could be lost i.e. the engagement portion of the driver could slip within the recess of the fastener. The angle a of the taper of the recess 1 10, 210 is typically between 0.5° and 10°. In the embodiment shown, the angle of the taper is constant from the distal end of the recess to the proximal end of the recess. In other words, the slope of the wall of the recess is constant from the distal end of the recess to the proximal end of the recess.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the recess may have a constant or uniform cross- sectional shape. Further alternatively (not shown), the recess may have walls with a non-uniform taper or slope.
The recess 1 10, 210 is configured to receive a driver having a complimentary profile to the recess 1 10, 210. Although Figures 2 to 5 show head portions 102 that are pan heads and Figures 6 to 9 show head portions 202 that are countersunk heads, other suitable head shapes may be used.
Figures 10 to 12 show a driver 300 for applying the fasteners 100, 200 shown in Figures 2 to 9.
The driver 300 comprises an engagement portion 310 that is configured to engage the recess 1 10, 210 in the fastener 100, 200. In Figures 10 to 12, the engagement portion 310 protrudes or extends from a handle 31 1 . In other embodiments (not shown), the driver may itself be the engagement portion.
The engagement portion 310 has a cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved. In Figures 10 to 12, the engagement portion 310 has an elliptical cross-section.
The driver 300 is configured to matingly engage with and drive the fasteners 100, 200 having recesses 1 10, 210 that are rounded (and, for example, appears visually like a circle). As described above, providing a recess that is rounded (and, for example, appears visually like a circle), such as the elliptical recess 1 10, 210 shown in Figures 2 to 9, improves the tamper resistant properties of the fastener 100, 200. Additionally, providing a recess 1 10, 210 having a shape according to the invention, rather than a head having a rounded shape, has the advantage that the fastener 100, 200 can be installed in a recessed hole or a countersunk hole because the driver is be received in the recess 1 10, 210 rather than having to surround the head portion 102, 202 of the fastener 100, 200. This means that there is no access to the sides of the head portion 102, 202 of the fastener 100, 200 for removal (e.g. using pliers or mole grips). Therefore, the tamper resistance of the fastener 100, 200 is further improved. For these reasons, it is also advantageous to provide a driver 300 having a complimentarily-shaped engagement portion 310 so that it the driver 300 can be used effectively to apply the fasteners 100, 200 effectively and obtain the advantages that have been described.
As noted above, the ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the recesses 1 10, 210 of the fasteners 100, 200 (i.e. dmax/dmin where dmax is the maximum diameter of the recess and dmin is the minimum diameter of the recess) is a consideration when designing the fasteners 100, 200.
The same is true of the ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the engagement portion 310 of the driver 300 (i.e. dmax/dmin where dmax is the maximum diameter of the recess and dmin is the minimum diameter of the recess) because the engagement portion 310 needs to key with the recess 1 10, 210. As with the recesses, the ratio for the engagement portion 310 should not be too high or too low. A value of 1 would describe a circle, so the higher this value the further from a circle the recess is (i.e. the more“squashed” the circle is). The ratio should be high enough to allow the engagement portion to provide the necessary torque to the recess to drive (e.g. screw) the fastener into a hole or insert without slipping whilst not being so high that it makes unscrewing possible with common tools meaning that the tamper resistance of the fastener is lost. The engagement portion of the driver is configured to be received by the recess of a fastener and to transmit torque to the fastener by keying with the recess of the fastener. Therefore, the ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter of the engagement portion is also a consideration when designing the driver. The engagement portion typically has a ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1 .05 and 1 .20.
The wall of the engagement portion 310 is tapered e.g. so that the end of the engagement portion 310 that is inserted into the recess (the distal end 313 of the engagement portion 310) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the base of the engagement portion 310 (the proximal end 315 of the engagement portion) i.e. an“inward taper”. The engagement portion 310 is intended to be complimentarily-shaped to the tapered recess 1 10, 210 in the head portion 102, 202 of the fastener 100, 200. This facilitates the extraction of the driver 300 from the recess of the head of the fastener during application of the fastener by the driver. However, if the recess and the engagement portion are too tapered there is a risk that the driver received within the recess during application of the fastener could be released from the recess during application. In other words, the keying relationship between the recess and a driver could be lost i.e. the engagement portion of the driver could slip within the recess of the fastener. The angle b of the taper of the engagement portion 310 is typically between 0.5° and 10 °. In the embodiment shown, the angle of the taper is constant from the proximal end of the engagement portion to the distal end of the engagement portion. In other words, the slope of the wall of the recess is constant from the proximal end of the engagement portion to the distal end of the engagement portion.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the engagement may have a constant or uniform cross- sectional shape (for example if the recess also has a constant or uniform cross-sectional shape). Further alternatively (not shown), the engagement portion may have walls with a non-uniform taper or slope
The fastener and/or the driver would typically be constructed from tool steel, carbon steel (e.g. class 8.8 or higher, case hardened and tempered), or stainless steel. Any other suitable materials could also be used. The fastener is typically made from round wire by a cold forming process. Wire is cut to the volume of the material needed and a series of punches and dies are used to create the final shape. The grade of steel used to make the fastener and/or driver (e.g. tool steel) is typically the same as the punches. Fasteners and/or drivers for development purposes can be machined. In volume, they would typically be pressed into a master die.
Although the recess of the fastener and the engagement portion of the driver have been described and shown in Figures 2 to 9 as having elliptical cross-sectional shapes, they may take the shape of any other suitable closed curve. For example, the recess may have an oval cross-section. Alternatively, the recess and the engagement portion may have other rounded shapes with one or more vertices, such as a pear-shaped cross-section 410 as shown in Figure 13, a teardrop-shaped cross-section 510 as shown in Figure 14, a pointed oval cross-section 610 as shown in Figure 15, or a pointed ellipse cross-section 710 as shown in Figure 16. Other suitable shapes that provide the advantages described herein could also be used.
The present invention has been described above in exemplary form with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a single embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that many different embodiments of the invention exist, and that these embodiments all fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims
1 . A fastener comprising:
a head portion; and
an externally threaded shaft portion extending from a first end of the head portion, wherein the head portion comprises a non-circular recess formed in a second end of the head portion that is the opposite end to the first end,
the recess having a cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved.
2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the recess is a closed curve.
3. The fastener of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess has an oval cross-section.
4. The fastener of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess has an elliptical cross-section.
5. The fastener of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess has a pear-shaped cross-section.
6. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the recess has a teardrop-shaped cross-section.
7. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recess has a ratio of
maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1.05 and 1.20.
8. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall of the recess is tapered.
9. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the angle of the taper is between 0.5° and 10°.
10. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recess is configured to
receive a driver having a complimentary profile to the recess.
1 1. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion is a cylindrical head, a countersunk head or a pan head.
12. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external thread protrudes from the shaft portion and extends along at least a portion of the length of the shaft portion.
13. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external thread extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft portion or along the entire length of the shaft portion.
14. The fastener of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener is constructed from tool steel, carbon steel or stainless steel.
15. A driver for applying a fastener of any one of the preceding claims, at least a portion of the driver comprising an engagement portion shaped to matingly engage with the recess of the fastener.
16. The driver of claim 15, wherein the engagement portion and the recess are complimentarily shaped.
17. The driver of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the engagement portion is configured to key with the recess.
18. The driver of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the driver is constructed from tool steel, carbon steel or stainless steel.
19. The driver of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the driver comprises a body portion and the engagement portion protrudes from the body portion.
20. A kit comprising the fastener of any one of claims 1 to 14 and the driver of any one of claims 15 to 19.
21. A driver for applying a fastener, the driver comprising an engagement portion for engaging a recess in a fastener,
the engagement portion having a non-circular cross-sectional shape that is a closed shape with at least a portion of the closed shape being curved.
22. The driver of claim 21 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the engagement portion is a closed curve.
23. The driver of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the engagement portion has an oval cross- section.
24. The driver of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the engagement portion has an elliptical cross- section.
25. The driver of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the engagement portion has a pear-shaped cross-section.
26. The driver of claim 21 , wherein the engagement portion has a teardrop-shaped cross- section.
27. The driver of any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the engagement portion has a ratio of maximum diameter to minimum diameter between 1.05 and 1.20.
28. The driver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall of the engagement portion is tapered.
29. The driver of claim 28, wherein the angle of the taper is between 0.5° and 10°.
30. The driver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver is configured to be
received by a recess of a fastener having a complimentary profile to the engagement portion.
31. The driver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver is constructed from tool steel, carbon steel or stainless steel.
32. A fastener substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
33. A driver substantially as hereinbefore descried and as shown in the accompanying
drawings.
34. A kit substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB2019/051965 2018-07-13 2019-07-12 Improvements in fasteners WO2020012197A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1811552.7A GB2575123B (en) 2018-07-13 2018-07-13 Improvements in fasteners
GB1811552.7 2018-07-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020012197A1 true WO2020012197A1 (en) 2020-01-16

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PCT/GB2019/051965 WO2020012197A1 (en) 2018-07-13 2019-07-12 Improvements in fasteners

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GB (1) GB2575123B (en)
TW (1) TW202012798A (en)
WO (1) WO2020012197A1 (en)

Citations (4)

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DE2608892A1 (en) * 1976-03-04 1977-09-08 Udo Schade Triangular aperture screw head - fits triangular section screwdriver with curved sides centred on opposite corner of triangle
DE20303978U1 (en) * 2003-03-13 2003-05-15 Hummel Anton Verwaltung Screw element has operating section which has outer or inner elliptical contour to engage with similarly contoured operating tool
US20040218993A1 (en) * 2003-04-29 2004-11-04 Nowak Edmund A. Tamper resistant screw
DE202017104290U1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2017-08-04 Lutz Barich Screw for releasably securing publicly accessible objects and screwing tool for screwing in and out of a screw

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US4827811A (en) * 1987-12-11 1989-05-09 Southco, Inc. Tamper-resistant fastener and tool for operating same
US5598753A (en) * 1995-02-07 1997-02-04 Lee; James S. Eagle wing tips tamper-proof fastener and driver tool
US5957645A (en) * 1997-10-31 1999-09-28 Phillips Screw Company Spiral drive system for threaded fasteners
US20070266832A1 (en) * 2006-05-17 2007-11-22 Peter Polick Rotary Driving Tool for High Angular Engagement with Elliptiziodal Driving Head

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2608892A1 (en) * 1976-03-04 1977-09-08 Udo Schade Triangular aperture screw head - fits triangular section screwdriver with curved sides centred on opposite corner of triangle
DE20303978U1 (en) * 2003-03-13 2003-05-15 Hummel Anton Verwaltung Screw element has operating section which has outer or inner elliptical contour to engage with similarly contoured operating tool
US20040218993A1 (en) * 2003-04-29 2004-11-04 Nowak Edmund A. Tamper resistant screw
DE202017104290U1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2017-08-04 Lutz Barich Screw for releasably securing publicly accessible objects and screwing tool for screwing in and out of a screw

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GB2575123B (en) 2020-07-08
GB2575123A (en) 2020-01-01
GB201811552D0 (en) 2018-08-29
TW202012798A (en) 2020-04-01

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