System, apparatus, and method for securing structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10323677-B2
Application number	US-201615176965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for securing structures include a fastener that includes a threaded body and a head. The head includes a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter, and a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener. The noncircular radial portion has a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter. The noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a fastener comprising:
a threaded body; and
a head comprising:
a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter; and
a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener, the noncircular radial portion having a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter, wherein the noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion;

a first structure comprising an opening in which the threaded body of the fastener is secured, wherein the threaded body extends completely through the first structure; and
a second structure disposed adjacent to the first structure, wherein the second structure comprises a concave portion positioned around the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener to facilitate positioning of the first structure relative to the second structure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener comprises a substantially rounded conical shape.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the noncircular radial portion of the head of the fastener comprises a circular shape having radial notches.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the noncircular radial portion of the head of the fastener comprises a hexagonal shape.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an information handling device comprising the fastener, the first structure, and the second structure.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a smart phone comprising the fastener, the first structure, and the second structure.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second structure is magnetically held to the first structure.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the concave portion of the second structure abuts the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener to block movement of the rounded axial protrusion relative to the concave portion of the second structure in a plurality of directions parallel to adjacent surfaces of the first and second structures.

9. A method comprising:
securing a threaded body of a fastener into an opening in a first structure, wherein the threaded body extends completely through the first structure, and the fastener comprises:
the threaded body; and
a head comprising:
a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter; and
a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener, the noncircular radial portion having a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter, wherein the noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion; and

magnetically securing a second structure to the first structure, wherein the second structure comprises a concave portion positioned around the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener to facilitate positioning of the first structure relative to the second structure.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the concave portion of the second structure abuts the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener to block movement of the rounded axial protrusion relative to the concave portion of the second structure in a plurality of directions parallel to adjacent surfaces of the first and second structures.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the noncircular radial portion of the head of the fastener comprises a circular shape having radial notches.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rounded axial protrusion of the head of the fastener comprises a substantially rounded conical shape.

13. A fastener system comprising:
a fastener comprising:
a threaded body; and
a head comprising:
a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter; and
a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener, the noncircular radial portion having a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter, wherein the noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion;

a retainer comprising a ring and a first opening through which the threaded body is inserted; and
a first structure comprising a second opening, wherein the threaded body extends completely through the first structure, the retainer is secured to the threaded body such that the ring of the retainer abuts a first side of the first structure and the head of the fastener abuts a second side of the first structure opposite the first side, and a portion of the retainer extends into the second opening of the first structure.

14. The fastener system of claim 13 , wherein the rounded axial protrusion of the head comprises a substantially rounded conical shape.

15. The fastener system of claim 13 , wherein the noncircular radial portion of the head comprises a circular shape having radial notches.

16. The fastener system of claim 13 , wherein the noncircular radial portion of the head comprises a hexagonal shape.

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc

Inventors

• Lim David K
• Fordham Paul
• Jannick Mark Daniel
• Kutchery Eric J
• Sirimamilla Pavana Abhiram

Classifications

• F16B39/282 Primary

  Locking by means of special shape of work-engaging surfaces, e.g. notched or toothed nuts · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• F16B5/0024

  the sheets, plates or panels having holes, e.g. for dowel- type connections · CPC title

• F16B5/025

  specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play · CPC title