IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,904,375
Granted Patent B2
US 11,904,375 · App. 17/803,230 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Fastener enabled multi-plate securement and alignment arrangement

Inventor: Richard J. Greenleaf (Manchester, MA)
B21D28/34B21D28/04B21D37/02B21D37/04B26D7/2628B26F1/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,904,375
App. No.
17/803,230
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An elongated securement member for enabling the accurate alignment and securement of a first plate and a second plate together through a configured bore arranged therebetween, the elongated securement member having a first for securement member upper end and a second or securement member lower end. The first or securement member having a longitudinal axis, the upper end of which also having a tapered or wedge inducing non-cylindrical portion, the second or securement member lower end having a threaded portion of a diameter D1 and a middle cylindrical portion of a diameter D2, and an annularly arranged channel formed at a juncture of the tapered or wedge inducing non-cylindrical portion of the securement member upper end and the middle cylindrical portion of diameter D1 of the securement member.

Claims (15)

1. An elongated fastener device for enabling the securement of a first thin plate ( 12 ) and a second thicker plate ( 14 ) together, the elongated device consisting of three portions of generally equal length, an upper portion (A), a middle portion (B) and a lower portion (C);

wherein the upper portion (A) of the elongated fastener device consists of a smooth conical side surface, which is tapered at an angle (T) of between 7° to 14° with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the elongated fastener device, the smooth conical surface having a lower end ending at a first transition perimeter ( 212 ) of a first strain relief channel ( 214 );

wherein the middle portion (B) of the elongated fastener device consists of the first strain relief channel ( 214 ), a second transition perimeter ( 216 ) of a smaller diameter than the first transition perimeter ( 212 ), the middle portion extending a length along the longitudinal axis is cylindrically shaped and has a diameter equal to the diameter of the second transition perimeter ( 216 ) of the first strain relief channel ( 214 ), and the second transition perimeter ( 216 ) extends from a juncture (J) defined by an abutting arrangement of the first thin plate and the second thicker plate and into a bore ( 42 ) of a second thicker plate ( 14 ), the middle portion (B) of the elongated fastener device distally ending at a first transition perimeter ( 238 ) of a second strain relief channel ( 232 ); and

wherein the lower portion (C) of the elongated fastener device consists of a second strain relief channel ( 232 ) defined by an uppermost first transition perimeter ( 238 ) and a lowermost second transition perimeter ( 236 ) with a threaded section ( 220 ) extending from the lowermost second perimeter to a distalmost end ( 240 ) of the elongated fastener device; and

wherein a tool receiving bore ( 142 ) extends into the threaded section of the lower third portion (C) of the elongated fastener device, and a tool receiving bore ( 222 ) extends into the first upper portion (A) of the elongated fastener device, the enable a tool driven rotational engagement with the first thin plate ( 12 ) and the second thicker plate ( 14 ).

2. The elongated fastener device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the first upper portion comprises a curvilinear surface ( 206 ) through which the tool receiving bore ( 222 ) extends.

3. The elongated fastener device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second transition perimeter ( 216 ) of the first strain relief channel ( 214 ) is arranged to lie transversely adjacent the juncture (J) of the first plate ( 12 ) and the second plate ( 14 ) and secure the first thin plate ( 12 ) to the second thicker plate ( 14 ).

4. A die plate and holding plate securement arrangement for a punch press machine assembly, the securement arrangement comprising:

an elongated fastener device ( 200 ) for enabling the securement of a the die plate ( 12 ) and a the holding plate ( 14 ) of a punch press assembly, the elongated device ( 200 ) consisting of three portions of generally equal length, a proximal or first upper portion (A), a middle portion (B) and a lower portion (C);

wherein the first upper portion (A) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ) comprises a smooth conical side surface ( 208 ), which is tapered at angle (T) of between 7° to 14° with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the elongated device ( 200 ), for smoothly compressing a corresponding conically shaped bore ( 40 ) in the die plate ( 12 ), the smooth conical surface having a lower end ending at a first transition perimeter ( 210 ) of a first strain relief channel ( 214 );

wherein the middle portion (B) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ) consists of the first strain relief channel ( 214 ), a second transition perimeter ( 216 ) of smaller diameter than the first transition perimeter ( 212 ), the middle portion (B) extending a length along the longitudinal axis is cylindrically shaped and has a diameter equal to the diameter of the first transition perimeter of the first strain relief channel and the second transition perimeter extends from a juncture defined by an abutting arrangement of the die plate and the holding plate and into a bore of the holding plate ( 14 ), the middle portion (B) of the elongated fastener device distally ending at a first transition perimeter ( 238 ) of a second strain relief channel ( 232 ); and

wherein the lower portion (C) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ) consists of the second strain relief channel ( 232 ) defined by the first transition perimeter ( 238 ) and the second strain relief channel ( 232 ) with a threaded section ( 220 ) extending distally to a distalmost end ( 240 ) of the elongated fastener device; and

wherein a tool receiving bore ( 142 ) extends into the threaded section of the distalmost end ( 240 ) of the lower portion (C) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ), and a tool receiving bore ( 222 ) extends into the first upper portion (A) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ), to enable adjustable rotational engagement within a set of die and holding plates ( 12 and 14 ) being adjustably joined, from either or both sides thereof.

5. The die plate and holding plate securement arrangement of a punch press machine assembly, as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second strain relief channel ( 232 ) is arranged between the middle portion (B) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ) and the threaded section ( 220 ) of the lower portion (C) of the elongated fastener device ( 200 ).

6. The die plate and holding plate securement arrangement of a punch press machine assembly, as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second transition perimeter ( 216 ) of the first strain relief channel ( 214 ) is in transverse alignment with the junction (J) of the die plate ( 12 ) and the holding plate ( 14 ).

Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 16602167 · Aug 20, 2019
Continuation In Part 16501026 · Feb 11, 2019
Continuation In Part 15530236 · Dec 14, 2016
Related Publication 20230294155A1 · Sep 21, 2023