Wedge based fastener
View Patent ↗A fastener comprises a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve comprises 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 has a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent that is less than a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. A cross-sectional centroid of the shaft between the upper extent and the lower extent is in substantially the same location, with the sleeve in different first and second rotational positions.
1. A fastener, comprising:
a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis; 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 first circumferential extent and the second circumferential extent each being adjacent the gap,
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 a cross-sectional centroid of the shaft between the upper extent and the lower extent is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions; and
wherein the shaft comprises a shaft outer surface between the upper extent and the lower extent that includes a raised helix.
2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the shaft further comprises a shoulder that extends between a first end of the helix and a second end of the helix, the shoulder extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
3. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the first extent of the sleeve is positioned a first distance from the shoulder in the first rotational position and a second distance from the shoulder in the second rotational position, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
4. A fastener, comprising:
a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis; 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 first circumferential extent and the second circumferential extent each being adjacent the gap,
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 a cross-sectional centroid of the shaft between the upper extent and the lower extent is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions; and
wherein the second thickness is a maximum thickness of the sleeve, and is at a location adjacent to the second circumferential extent.