Wedge based fastener
View Patent ↗A fastener that includes a shaft and a sleeve is provided. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis that passes through a central portion, e.g., the centroid of a head of the shaft. The sleeve is wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve has a gap that separates first and second circumferential extents thereof, a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent, and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different form the first rotational position. The longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions.
1. A fastener, comprising:
a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis passing through a cross-sectional centroid of the shaft; and
a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft, the sleeve comprising an inner surface adjacent the shaft, an outer surface, an upper extent, a lower extent, a first circumferential extent, a second circumferential extent, and a gap extending longitudinally from the upper extent to the lower extent and separating the first circumferential extent from the second circumferential extent,
the sleeve having a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent, the first thickness being less than the second thickness;
wherein the sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different from the first rotational position,
wherein the longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions, and
further comprising at least one rib extending about the shaft,
wherein the at least one rib comprises a helical rib having a pitch angle of 5 degrees or less.
2. A fastener, comprising:
a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis passing through a cross-sectional centroid of the shaft; and
a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft, the sleeve comprising an inner surface adjacent the shaft, an outer surface, an upper extent, a lower extent, a first circumferential extent, a second circumferential extent, and a gap extending longitudinally from the upper extent to the lower extent and separating the first circumferential extent from the second circumferential extent,
the sleeve having a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent, the first thickness being less than the second thickness;
wherein the sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different from the first rotational position,
wherein the longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions, and
wherein the sleeve has an angle between the inside surface and the outside surface of about 8 degrees or less, the angle being defined between a tangent to the inside surface and a tangent to the outside surface.
3. A fastener, comprising:
a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis passing through a cross-sectional centroid of the shaft; and
a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft, the sleeve comprising an inner surface adjacent the shaft, an outer surface, an upper extent, a lower extent, a first circumferential extent, a second circumferential extent, and a gap extending longitudinally from the upper extent to the lower extent and separating the first circumferential extent from the second circumferential extent,
the sleeve having a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent, the first thickness being less than the second thickness;
wherein the sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different from the first rotational position,
wherein the longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions, and
wherein the sleeve comprises an inner diameter and increases in thickness by about 0.3 times the inner diameter or less per radian between the second extent and the first extent.