TODAY’S PATENT – LOCK NUT

TheLOCK NUT was invented by  Wadsworth W. Mount (Warren, NJ) on the 27^th  of July 1976, bearing patent number US3971085A.

This invention is concerned with an improved lock nut blank, and a method of making a lock nut from the blank, and the resulting nut. A lock nut blank and a method of making a lock nut having a portion only of its threads, and not more than three complete threads, compressed axially and not radially so as to engage a mating bolt with sufficient resilient force to provide substantial torque in opposition to turning of the nut, said torque being substantially constant over the entire range of travel of the nut along the bolt and maintaining the minimum breakaway torque as a substantial proportion of the initial tightening torque, throughout repeated operations, said force being so limited that galling of the thread, nut and screw is prevented. The initial formation and threading of the collar may be carried out on automatic machines, on which these dimensional tolerances may be readily maintained in mass production.