Ratchet locking mechanism for threaded fastener

Abstract

A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A fastening device comprising:
 a) a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion;   b) a lock member having a lower surface with a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the lock member is coupled to the threaded body portion for axial movement but is fixed rotationally;   c) a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with the threaded body portion; and   d) at least one pawl arm coupled to the threaded lock nut, the at least one pawl arm having at least one pawl tooth for engagement with the plurality of ratchet teeth.   
     
     
         22 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of ratchet teeth are triangular, each ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth including a hypotenuse extending axially. 
     
     
         23 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 22 , wherein each ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth includes a leg extending parallel to the threaded body portion. 
     
     
         24 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one pawl tooth is triangular, the at least one pawl tooth including a hypotenuse and a leg. 
     
     
         25 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the hypotenuse of the at least one pawl tooth is arranged to slide across the ratchet teeth when the threaded lock nut is rotated in a first direction relative to the lock member, and wherein the leg of the at least one pawl tooth is arranged to engage at least one of the legs of the ratchet teeth when the threaded lock nut is rotated in a second direction relative to the lock member. 
     
     
         26 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the lock member has an axial aperture having at least one flat inner surface cooperating with the at least one longitudinally extending flat section of the threaded body portion. 
     
     
         27 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the lock member and the head portion are separate pieces. 
     
     
         28 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the threaded lock nut and the at least one pawl arm are a single piece. 
     
     
         29 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the threaded lock nut and the at least one pawl arm are separate pieces. 
     
     
         30 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one pawl arm comprises two diametrically opposed pawl arms. 
     
     
         31 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one pawl tooth comprises a plurality of pawl teeth on a distal end of the at least one pawl arm. 
     
     
         32 . A fastening device comprising:
 a) a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion;   b) a lock member having a lower surface with a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the lock member is coupleable to the threaded body portion to prevent rotation of the lock member relative to the threaded body portion; and   c) a locking structure for rotatably mating with the threaded body portion, the locking structure having an upper surface and at least one locking tooth extending from the upper surface for ratchet engagement with the plurality of ratchet teeth.   
     
     
         33 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of ratchet teeth are triangular, each ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth including a hypotenuse extending axially. 
     
     
         34 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 33 , wherein each ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth includes a leg extending parallel to the threaded body portion. 
     
     
         35 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the at least one locking tooth is triangular, the at least one locking tooth including a hypotenuse and a leg. 
     
     
         36 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the hypotenuse of the at least one locking tooth is arranged to slide across the ratchet teeth when the locking structure is rotated in a first direction relative to the lock member, and wherein the leg of the at least one locking tooth is arranged to engage at least one of the legs of the ratchet teeth when the locking structure is rotated in a second direction relative to the lock member. 
     
     
         37 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the lock member and the head portion are separate pieces. 
     
     
         38 . A fastening device as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the at least one locking tooth is on a distal end of a pawl arm. 
     
     
         39 . A fastening device comprising:
 a) a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion, the threaded body portion including at least one longitudinally extending flat section;   b) a lock washer having opposed upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface having an array of radially extending engagement teeth, wherein the lock washer defines an axial aperture for receiving the threaded body portion of the fastener, the axial aperture having at least one inner surface cooperating with the at least one longitudinally extending section of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the lock washer and threaded body portion; and   c) a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with the threaded body portion, the threaded lock nut having opposed upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of the threaded lock nut having a plurality of pawl teeth for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.   
     
     
         40 . A fastening as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of pawl teeth are on a distal end of at least one pawl arm.