IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,442,400
Granted Patent B2
US 12,442,400 · App. 18/232,197 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Screw release with force release component

Inventors: Bouziane Yebka (Apex, NC); Tin-Lup Wong (Chapel Hill, NC); Philip Jakes (Durham, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
F16B5/02F16B31/005F16B31/028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,442,400
App. No.
18/232,197
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A screw includes a screw head, a threaded shaft, and a force release component connecting the screw head to the threaded shaft. The force release component releases the screw head from the threaded shaft in response to a specified force. The specified force is substantially along a screw axis in-line with the threaded shaft.

Claims (28)

1. A screw comprising:

a screw head;

a threaded shaft; and

a force release component comprising a screw plunger connected to the screw head that is coaxial with the threaded shaft and inserted into an opening in the threaded shaft and connecting the screw head to the threaded shaft to the screw, wherein the screw plunger is bonded to the threaded shaft with an adhesive, and wherein the plunger extends into the opening shaft a distance less than a length of the threaded shaft, and wherein the screw plunger releases from the threaded shaft in response to a specified force on the screw head, the specified force is substantially along a screw axis in-line with the threaded shaft.

2. The screw of claim 1 , wherein the screw plunger is press fit into the threaded shaft.

3. The screw of claim 1 , wherein the threaded shaft is secured to a boss and wherein a bond strength between the screw head and the threaded shaft is less than a bond strength between the threaded shaft and the boss.

4. The screw of claim 1 , the screw head comprises a diameter larger than the threaded shaft, and wherein the threaded shaft is configured to be inserted through an opening in a second component such that the screw head engages to the second component to secure the second component to a first component and wherein a force in a direction to separate the second component from the first component upon reaching the specified force releases the screw head and screw plunger from the first component.

5. The screw of claim 1 , wherein the specified force is higher than a force used to secure the screw to a component.

6. The screw of claim 1 , wherein the threaded shaft is configured to be secured to a boss and the screw head is configured to secure a component to the boss.

7. The screw of claim 1 , wherein the threaded shaft is configured to be secured to a first component and the screw head is configured to secure a second component to the first component when the threaded shaft is secured to the first component and wherein the specified force is selected to be below an amount causing damage to the second component.

8. A system comprising:

a first component;

a screw comprising a screw head and a threaded shaft;

a second component secured by the screw to the first component; and

a force release component comprising a screw plunger connected to the screw head that is coaxial with the threaded shaft and inserted into an opening in the threaded shaft and connecting the screw head to the threaded shaft to the screw, wherein the screw plunger is bonded to the threaded shaft with an adhesive, and wherein the plunger extends into the opening a distance less than a length of the threaded shaft, and wherein the screw plunger releases the screw head from the first component in response to a specified force on the screw head, the specified force is substantially along a screw axis,

wherein a bond strength between the screw head and the threaded shaft is less than a bond strength between the threaded shaft and the first component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second component and the first component comprise portions of an electronic component.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second component comprises a panel and the first component is disposed on a chassis of the electronic component and the screw secures the panel to the chassis.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the panel covers a battery of the electronic component and expansion of the battery exerts a force on the panel and/or the chassis and wherein the specified force is below a damage point of the panel and/or the chassis due to the force the battery exerts on the panel and/or the chassis.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the screw plunger is press fit into the threaded shaft.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the specified force is higher than a force used to secure the screw to the first component.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first component is a boss.

15. A method comprising:

providing a first component;

providing a screw comprising a screw head and a threaded shaft;

providing a force release component comprising a screw plunger connected to the screw head that is coaxial with the threaded shaft and inserted into an opening in the threaded shaft, the screw plunger connecting the screw head to the threaded shaft to the screw, wherein the screw plunger is bonded to the threaded shaft with an adhesive, and wherein the plunger extends into the opening a distance less than a length of the threaded shaft, and wherein the screw plunger releases the screw head from the first component in response to a specified force on the screw head; and

securing a second component to the first component by securing the screw through an opening in the second component and the threaded shaft into the first component,

wherein a bond between the threaded shaft and the first component comprises a bonding strength such that, in response to the specified force, the screw head and screw plunger separates from the threaded shaft and breaks a bond between the screw plunger and the threaded shaft while the threaded shaft remains connected to the first component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2023
From: YEBKA, BOUZIANE; WONG, TIN-LUP; JAKES, PHILIP
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 064612/0705 →
Continuity (2)
Division 16951755 · Nov 18, 2020
Related Publication 20230383778A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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