Fastener attachment system and methods of use

Abstract

A system for engaging fasteners includes a socket assembly and a fastener jig. The socket assembly having a socket body and a spring blade assembly, which includes a blade retaining ring and a plurality of resiliently deformable retaining blades that are movable with respect to a blade guide, between releasing and securing positions that selectively enclose and expose the socket body opening. The fastener jig includes a jig frame and at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws, which are movable between a releasing position and a securing position. The fastener jig may include a pair of opposing mounting jaws movable between a releasing position and a securing position. The socket assembly and fastener jig are configured to be operated at the distal ends of elongated tool arms, such as lineman hot-sticks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for engaging fasteners, the system comprising:
 a socket body having a longitudinal axis that extends between an open first end portion, which is in communication with an open interior portion of the socket body, and a second end portion; the open interior portion being at least partially defined by one or more sidewalls of the socket body;   a spring blade assembly, having a blade retaining ring and a plurality of resiliently deformable retaining blades; the blade retaining ring having an open interior through which the socket body is disposed such that the socket body and the blade retaining ring are coaxially aligned and the blade retaining ring may move toward and away from the open first end portion of the socket body, along a length of the socket body; the retaining blades having opposite first and second end portions, wherein the first end portions are secured with the blade retaining ring so that the second end portions of the retaining blades extend freely and outwardly from the blade retaining ring and the open first end portion of the socket body; the second end portions of the retaining blades having tips that are angled inwardly toward the long axis of the socket body; and   a blade guide having an open interior through which the socket body is disposed such that the socket body and the blade retaining ring are coaxially aligned; the blade retaining guide being secured to the socket body such that longitudinal movement of the blade guide along the socket body length is substantially limited; one or more open pathways existing between the blade guide and the socket body; the plurality of retaining blades being disposed within the one or more open pathways, which are sized to permit sliding movement of the retaining blades.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a compression spring, having a longitudinal axis, coaxially disposed within the open interior portion of the socket body; a first end portion of the compression spring being coupled with an interior wall of the socket body and a second end portion of the compression spring positioned adjacent the open first end portion of the socket body. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the compression spring is an elongated coil spring; the second end portion of the compression spring including a plug that closes the second end portion of the compression spring. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first end portion of the compression spring including a plug that closes the first end portion of the compression spring; the first end portion of the compression spring being disposed within an opening in the interior wall of the socket body; the plug providing a secure, friction-fit, engagement between the first end portion of the compression spring and the opening in the interior wall. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 each of the plurality of retaining blades include one or more bends, adjacent the blade retaining ring such that the retaining blades are slightly biased away from the socket body; the second end portions of the retaining blades angling away from the open first end portion of the socket body when the retaining ring is moved to a releasing position, adjacent the blade guide; 
 the second end portions of the retaining blades extending generally parallel with the socket body and the tips of the retaining blades substantially covering the open first end portion of the socket body when the blade retaining ring is moved to a securing position, away from the blade guide. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fastener jig, comprising:
 a jig frame; 
 at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws operatively coupled with the jig frame; 
 
 at least one of the at least one pair of fastener jaws being slidably movable between a releasing position and a securing position; the fastener jaws having engagement faces that secure at least one fastener between the fastener jaws in the securing position; and
 a fastener jaw bolt operatively coupled with the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws; the fastener jaw bolt being threadably coupled with at least one of the fastener jaws, such that rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a first direction moves the at least one pair of fastener jaws toward the securing position and rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a second direction moves the at least one pair of fastener jaws toward the releasing position. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 the fastener jig further comprises:
 a pair of opposing mounting jaws that is coupled with the jig frame; at least one of the mounting jaws of the pair of mounting jaws being slidably movable between a releasing position and a securing position; the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws being positioned between the pair of mounting jaws; and 
 a mounting jaw bolt operatively coupled with the pair of mounting jaws; the mounting jaw bolt being threadably coupled with the fastener jig, such that rotation of the mounting jaw bolt in a first direction moves a first mounting jaw of the pair of mounting jaws toward a second mounting jaw of the pair of mounting jaws, into the securing position, and rotation of the mounting jaw bolt in a second direction moves the first mounting jaw away from the second mounting jaw, into the releasing position. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws comprises:
 a first pair of opposing fastener jaws and a second pair of opposing fastener jaws that are operatively coupled with the jig frame; at least one fastener jaw of each of the first and second pairs of fastener jaws each being slidably movable between a releasing position and a securing position; the first and second pairs of fastener jaws each being shaped to secure at least one fastener between the pairs of fastener jaws in their securing positions; and 
 the fastener jaw bolt operatively coupled with the first and second pairs of opposing fastener jaws; the fastener jaw bolt being threadably coupled with at least one of the fastener jaws from each of the first and second pairs of opposing fastener jaws, such that rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a first direction moves the first and second pairs of fastener jaws toward the securing position and rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a second direction moves the first and second pairs of fastener jaws toward the releasing position. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 the fastener jaw bolt includes an articulating joint at an end portion of the fastener jaw bolt. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the fastener jaw bolt and the mounting jaw bolt include open eyes at end portions of the fastener jaw bolt and mounting jaw bolt; the fastener jaw bolt and the mounting jaw bolt being coupled with the fastener jig so that they are disposed in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship with one another. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of engaging at least one fastener component with at least one fastener and one or more structures, the method comprising:
 providing a socket assembly, which comprises:
 a socket body having a longitudinal axis that extends between an open first end portion, which is in communication with an open interior portion of the socket body, and a second end portion; the open interior portion being at least partially defined by one or more sidewalls of the socket body; 
 a spring blade assembly, having a blade retaining ring and a plurality of resiliently deformable retaining blades; the blade retaining ring having an open interior through which the socket body is disposed such that the socket body and the blade retaining ring are coaxially aligned and the blade retaining ring may move toward and away from the open first end portion of the socket body, along a length of the socket body; the retaining blades having opposite first and second end portions, wherein the first end portions are secured with the blade retaining ring so that the second end portions of the retaining blades extend outwardly from the blade retaining ring and the open first end portion of the socket body; the second end portions of the retaining blades having tips that are angled inwardly toward the long axis of the socket body; and 
 a blade guide having an open interior through which the socket body is disposed, such that the socket body and the blade retaining ring are coaxially aligned; the blade retaining guide being secured to the socket body such that longitudinal movement of the entire blade guide along the socket body length is substantially limited; one or more open pathways existing between the blade guide and the socket body; the plurality of retaining blades being disposed within the one or more open pathways, which are sized to permit sliding, longitudinal movement of the retaining blades; 
   securing the at least one fastener component with the socket assembly at least partially between the retaining blades;   manipulating the socket assembly in a manner that couples the at least one fastener component with the at least one fastener; and   moving the socket assembly away from the at least one fastener component such that the at least one fastener component is extracted from between the retaining blades.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising:
 providing a fastener jig assembly, which comprises:
 a jig frame; 
 at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws operatively coupled with the jig frame; 
   at least one of the at least one pair of fastener jaws being slidably movable between a releasing position and a securing position; the fastener jaws having engagement faces that secure at least one fastener between the fastener jaws in the securing position; and
 a fastener jaw bolt operatively coupled with the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws; the fastener jaw bolt being threadably coupled with at least one of the fastener jaws, such that rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a first direction moves the at least one pair of fastener jaws toward the securing position and rotation of the fastener jaw bolt in a second direction moves the at least one pair of fastener jaws toward the releasing position; 
 positioning a fastener head of the at least one fastener between the at least one pair of fastener jaws; 
 moving the at least one pair of fastener jaws into a securing position about the fastener head; 
 prior to the step of manipulating the socket assembly in a manner that couples the at least one fastener component with the at least one fastener, positioning the fastener jig closely adjacent a first structure having one or more structure openings that penetrate the first structure such that the one or more fasteners coupled with the fastener jig pass through the one or more structure openings. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 prior to the step of manipulating the socket assembly in a manner that couples the at least one fastener component with the at least one fastener, positioning a second structure, having one or more structure openings that penetrate the second structure, closely adjacent the first structure so that the at least one fastener passes through the one or more structure openings in the second structure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , the method wherein:
 the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws comprises:
 a pair of opposing mounting jaws that is coupled with the jig frame; at least one of the mounting jaws of the pair of mounting jaws being slidably movable between a releasing position and a securing position; the at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws being positioned between the pair of mounting jaws; and 
 a mounting jaw bolt operatively coupled with the pair of mounting jaws; the mounting jaw bolt being threadably coupled with the fastener jig, such that rotation of the mounting jaw bolt in a first direction moves at least a first mounting jaw of the pair of mounting jaws toward a second mounting jaw of the pair of mounting jaws, into the securing position, and rotation of the mounting jaw bolt in a second direction moves the first mounting jaw away from the second mounting jaw, into the releasing position; 
 prior to the step of positioning a second structure closely adjacent the first, moving the pair of mounting jaws into a securing position wherein a portion of the first structure is secured between the opposing mounting jaws and movement of the fastener jig with respect to the first structure is substantially limited.