Description:
A bolt or screw that bends and secures, for a variety of applications. See video demo below.
Need:
In retrofit situations, a bendable fastener can eliminate extensive renovations. In robotics and medical devices, a flexible fastener opens up new applications. In seismic construction, a flexible fastener may be useful in combination with other fasteners.
Solution:
A professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo has designed a new kind of fastener that will attach any group of objects together that are non-parallel or nonaligned. Instead of having a solid metal shaft where the threads attach, the flexible fastener has multiple teeth encompassing a flexible core, made from either wire or nylon, that allows the shaft to deviate from its center axis. This deviation is what allows the flexible fastener to easily fit through mismatched holes or angled surfaces. The fastener is a simple, cost-effective solution that fits many applications.
VIEW DEMO VIDEO HERE
Applications:
- In the field of robotics where there are constantly moving members
- Seismic applications where vibrations can cause misalignment
- Surgical implants that have various degrees of freedom that mimic human movement
- Construction projects that require the use of many fasteners
- In power transportation where fasteners must carry rotational energy to another attached member of a machine
Advantages:
- Couple non-parallel objects together
- Fasten mismatched holes/members
- Inexpensive solution to a variety of applications
- Can withstand heavy weight without failing
- Easy to replace
IP Status:
US 7,249,923 issued 7/31/2007
US 6,955,513 issued 10/18/2005
Licensing Status:
Available - please contact us for more information