nut for attaching two devices and method for providing the same

Abstract

A nut that includes a body having an aperture disposed within the body, threads located within the aperture of the body, and a plurality of protrusions disposed along a circumference of the body. The plurality of protrusions provides visual and tactile directional signals as to the rotational direction required to attach or detach the nut to or from a threaded member. The nut may be used for attaching a water filter system to a water faucet.

1 . A nut for attaching a first device to a second device, comprising:
 a body having a threaded aperture disposed within the body; and   a plurality of protrusions circumferentially positioned along and extending from the body, wherein each of the protrusions comprises a pressure-bearing face and a non-pressure-bearing face.   
     
     
         2 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions provides visual and tactile directional signals as to the rotational direction required to tighten the nut. 
     
     
         3 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are unidirectional. 
     
     
         4 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-bearing face has an angle of leverage α and the non-pressure-bearing face has an angle of leverage β, and wherein the angle of leverage α is less than the angle of leverage β. 
     
     
         5 . The nut according to  claim 4 , wherein the angle of leverage α is from about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees the angle of leverage β is from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions include a curvature that is defined by a finger recess depth (D) that ranges from about 0.115 inches to about 0.220 inches and a conic arc, wherein the conic arc is further defined by a RHO value of the conic arc that ranges from about 0.5 to about 0.75, an angle λ of the conic arc trailing edge that ranges from about 130 degrees to about 190 degrees, and a radius (B) of the non-pressure bearing face that ranges from about 0.3 inches to about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the nut is configured to attach a water filter system to a water faucet. 
     
     
         8 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions include at least a partially textured surface. 
     
     
         9 . The nut according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a surface comprising a low durometer plastic. 
     
     
         10 . An asymmetrical nut for attaching a water filter device to a water supply, comprising:
 a nut body having a circular aperture disposed within the body, wherein the body is asymmetrical with respect to any plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the nut body; and   a plurality of unidirectional gripping areas circumferentially positioned along a perimeter of the body.   
     
     
         11 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the gripping areas comprises a pressure-bearing face and a non-pressure-bearing face. 
     
     
         12 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of gripping areas provide visual and tactile directional signals as to the rotational direction required to tighten the nut. 
     
     
         13 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure-bearing face has an angle of leverage α and the non-pressure-bearing face has an angle of leverage β, and wherein the angle of leverage α is less than the angle of leverage β. 
     
     
         14 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 11 , wherein the angle of leverage α is from about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees and the angle of leverage β is from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 11 , wherein the gripping areas include a curvature that is defined by a finger recess depth (D) that ranges from about 0.115 inches to about 0.220 inches and a conic arc, and wherein the conic arc is further defined by a RHO value of the conic arc that ranges from about 0.5 to about 0.75, an angle λ of the conic arc trailing edge that ranges from about 130 degrees to about 190 degrees, and a radius (B) of the non-pressure bearing face that ranges from about 0.3 inches to about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The asymmetrical nut according to  claim 10 , wherein the nut is configured to attach a water filter system to a water faucet. 
     
     
         17 . The nut according to  claim 10 , wherein the gripping areas include at least a partially textured surface. 
     
     
         18 . The nut according to  claim 10 , wherein the gripping areas have a surface comprising a low durometer plastic. 
     
     
         19 . A nut for attaching a first device to a second device, comprising:
 a body having a longitudinal axis and a threaded aperture disposed within the body; and   a plurality of protrusions circumferentially positioned along and extending from the body;   wherein each of the plurality of protrusions comprises a pressure-bearing face having an angle of leverage α and a non-pressure-bearing face having an angle of leverage β;   wherein the angle of leverage α is greater than the angle of leverage β;   wherein the angle of leverage α is from about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees for the pressure bearing faces and the angle of leverage β is from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees for the non-pressure bearing faces; and   wherein the gripping areas include a curvature that is defined by a finger recess depth (D) that ranges from about 0.115 inches to about 0.220 inches and a conic arc, and wherein the conic arc is further defined by a RHO value of the conic arc that ranges from about 0.5 to about 0.75, an angle λ of the conic arc trailing edge that ranges from about 130 degrees to about 190 degrees, and a radius (B) of the non-pressure bearing face that ranges from about 0.3 inches to about 1.5 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The nut according to  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of protrusions provides visual and tactile directional signals as to the rotational direction required to attach or detach the nut to or from a threaded member.