US 11,732,744 B2
Straight shank end screw for foreign-object-debris (FOD) reduction
John C. Osborne, Bothell, WA (US); and Terrence C. Seet, Mill Creek, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 13, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/274,836.
Prior Publication US 2020/0256375 A1, Aug. 13, 2020
Int. Cl. F16B 25/00 (2006.01); F16B 39/284 (2006.01); F16B 5/02 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)
CPC F16B 39/284 (2013.01) [F16B 5/0258 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fastener assembly, comprising:
a fastener including a head and a shaft extending from the head;
wherein the shaft includes a first portion that presents threads, a second portion that extends from the first portion and tapers inwardly as the second portion extends away from the first portion, and a third portion that extends away from the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion;
an e-nut including an inner wall that defines a boundary of a hole, wherein the inner wall of the e-nut presents threads, and the e-nut includes at least one tine;
wherein the threads of the first portion of the shaft and the threads of the e-nut engage each other to attach the fastener and the e-nut together as a sub-assembly in an initial position;
an insert defining an opening extending between a first end and a second end of the insert, and the opening of the insert is configured to receive the sub-assembly in the initial position, wherein the insert includes an internal wall surrounding the opening to define a boundary of the opening, and the insert includes a ledge extending outwardly from the internal wall into the opening of the insert, and a portion of the e-nut abuts the ledge when the sub-assembly is disposed inside of the opening in the initial position; and
wherein the sub-assembly is movable from the initial position to a final position within the insert to attach the sub-assembly to the insert by rotating the fastener relative to the e-nut in which the threads of the first portion of the shaft advance along the threads of the e-nut such that the shaft engages the inner wall of the e-nut which pushes the at least one tine outwardly away from the shaft to the final position.