Lightweight fastener design

1. A fastening device, comprising:

a shank portion having a first end and a second end disposed remote from the first end;

a head portion disposed adjacent the second end of the shank portion and including a plurality of surfaces configured to engage a standard hex-shaped socket, the head portion having a lower perimeter adjacent the second end of the shank portion, an upper perimeter disposed remote from the lower perimeter and being permanently fixed to the lower perimeter by a body portion extending between the lower perimeter and the upper perimeter;

the lower perimeter having a generally hex shape with six lower corners and six lower edge portions, wherein the lower perimeter is configured to engage the standard hex-shaped socket to facilitate tightening and loosening the fastening device; and

wherein the upper perimeter, includes less than six upper corners and less than six upper edge portions such that it has a different shape than the lower perimeter;

wherein the upper perimeter includes at least two surfaces in common with the lower perimeter and which are configured to engage the standard hex-shaped socket to facilitate tightening and loosening the fastening device.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a geometric profile and wherein the plurality of surfaces are configured to have four points of contact with a standard hex-shaped socket.

3. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of surfaces include a pair of opposing sidewalls that each serve as a single point of contact.

4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the shank portion includes one or more threads formed around an outer surface thereof.

5. The fastener of claim 1 , further comprising a flange portion disposed between the head portion and the shank portion.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein the flange portion has a generally oval shape.

7. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of surfaces include a pair of opposing sidewalls;

wherein the body portion has a first side that includes a first partial side surface that extends away from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls and toward the first partial side surface;

wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface intersect at a first lower corner; and

wherein one of the first partial side surface or the second partial side surface on the first side of the body portion serves as a third point of contact.

8. The fastener of claim 7 , wherein the body portion has a second side that opposes the first side and includes a first partial side surface that extends away from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls and toward the first partial side surface of the second side;

wherein the first and second partial side surfaces of the second side intersect at a second lower corner, which is opposite the first lower corner; and

wherein one of the first or second partial side surfaces on the second side serves as a fourth point of contact.

9. The fastener of claim 7 , wherein the first partial side surface has a first partial surface edge that begins adjacent a first upper corner to the first lower corner and wherein the second partial surface has a second partial surface edge that begins adjacent a second upper corner to the first lower corner.

10. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the first partial surface edge and the second partial surface edge each have a generally arcuate shape.

11. The fastener of claim 10 , wherein the first partial surface edge and the second partial surface edge are spaced apart over substantially all of their length and define a chamfered surface therebetween;

wherein the chamfered surface is recessed with respect to a first outer surface of the first partial side surface and a second outer surface of the second partial side surface.

12. The fastener of claim 11 , wherein the chamfered surface has a generally concave shape.

13. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the first partial surface edge begins at the first upper corner and the second partial surface edge begins at the second upper corner.

14. The fastener of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first upper edge that extends away from the first upper corner and terminates at a first distal point and wherein the first partial surface edge begins at the first distal point;

a second upper edge that extends away from the second upper corner and terminates at a second distal point and wherein the second partial surface edge begins at the second distal point.

15. A fastening device, comprising:

a shank portion having a first end and a second end disposed remote from the first end;

a head portion disposed adjacent the second end of the shank portion and including a plurality of surfaces configured to engage a standard hex-shaped socket, the head portion having a lower perimeter adjacent the second end of the shank portion, an upper perimeter disposed remote from the lower perimeter and a body portion extending between the lower perimeter and the upper perimeter;

the lower perimeter having a generally hex shape with six lower corners and six lower edge portions;

wherein the upper perimeter has a different shape than the lower perimeter;

wherein the body portion includes a geometric profile and wherein the plurality of surfaces are configured to have four points of contact with a standard hex-shaped socket;

wherein the plurality of surfaces include a pair of opposing sidewalls that each serve as a single point of contact; and

wherein the body portion has a first side that includes a first partial side surface that extends away from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls and toward the first partial side surface;

wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface intersect at a first lower corner; and

wherein one of the first partial side surface or the second partial side surface on the first side of the body portion serves as a third point of contact.

16. The fastener of claim 15 , wherein the body portion has a second side that opposes the first side and includes a first partial side surface that extends away from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls and toward the first partial side surface;

wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface intersect at a second lower corner, which is opposite the first lower corner; and

wherein one of the first partial side surface or the second partial side surface on the second side of the body portion serves as a fourth point of contact.

17. The fastener of claim 15 , wherein the first partial side surface has a first partial surface edge that begins adjacent a first upper corner to the first lower corner and wherein the second partial surface has a second partial surface edge that begins adjacent a second upper corner to the first lower corner.

18. The fastener of claim 17 , wherein the first partial surface edge and the second partial surface edge each have a generally arcuate shape.

19. The fastener of claim 18 , wherein the first partial surface edge and the second partial surface edge are spaced apart over substantially all of their length and define a chamfered surface therebetween;

wherein the chamfered surface is recessed with respect to a first outer surface of the first partial side surface and a second outer surface of the second partial side surface.

20. The fastener of claim 19 , wherein the chamfered surface has a generally concave shape.

21. The fastener of claim 17 , wherein the first partial surface edge begins at the first upper corner and the second partial surface edge begins at the second upper corner.

22. The fastener of claim 17 , further comprising:

a first upper edge that extends away from the first upper corner and terminates at a first distal point and wherein the first partial surface edge begins at the first distal point;

a second upper edge that extends away from the second upper corner and terminates at a second distal point and wherein the second partial surface edge begins at the second distal point.

23. A fastening device configured for use in an automobile for securing two structures together, comprising:

a shank portion having a first end and a second end disposed remote from the first end;

a head portion disposed adjacent the second end of the shank portion;

the head portion having a body portion configured to engage a standard hex-shape socket, the body portion having a shape that differs from a standard six point hex-shape contact for engaging the standard hex-shape socket, and wherein the head portion includes a lower perimeter between the body portion and the shank portion, the lower perimeter having a standard hex-shape including six lower corners and six lower edge portions of substantially equal length configured to receive the standard hex-shape socket to facilitate tightening and loosening the fastening device;

wherein both the upper perimeter and the lower perimeter are configured to engage the standard hex-shape during both tightening and loosening of the fastening device; and

wherein the upper perimeter includes less points of contact than the lower perimeter.

24. The fastening device of claim 23 , wherein the head portion further includes an upper perimeter having a different shape than the lower perimeter.

25. The fastening device of claim 24 , wherein the lower perimeter has a greater length than the upper perimeter.

26. The fastening device of claim 24 , wherein the body portion includes a plurality of contact engaging surfaces including a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of partial side surfaces disposed on opposing sides of the body portion.

27. The fastening device of claim 26 , wherein a first opposing side of the body portion includes a first partial side surface that extends away from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls;

wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface on the first opposing side of the body portion converge toward each other and intersect at a first lower corner.

28. The fastening device of claim 27 , where a second opposing side of the body portion includes a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls and a second partial side surface that extends away from the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls;

wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface on the second opposing side of the body portion converge toward each other and intersect at a second lower corner.

29. The fastening device of claim 26 , wherein the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface define a first chamfered surface therebetween which is recessed with respect to the first partial side surface and the second partial side surface.