FIELD

The present invention relates to fasteners, and more particularly to a locking thumb nut for a threaded screw.

BACKGROUND

Locking nuts utilizing a nylon or polymer insert are well known. However, such nuts are configured for use with a wrench or tool to turn them. It is not possible for one to easily turn them with one's fingers. Plus, such nuts wear out when subjected to repeated tightening and loosening operations. Once worn, they do not hold securely anymore and must be replaced. Thus, there is a need to provide a locking nut that addresses the shortcomings noted above.

SUMMARY

Provided is a locking thumb nut that includes a thumb nut base and a lock plate. The lock plate can be fastened to the thumb nut base with fasteners so that the lock plate can be removed from the thumb nut base and replaced with a new lock plate when the lock plate becomes worn. The thumb nut base is elongated to provide for ease of grip by the user's fingers to turn the nut and tighten it along a threaded shank of a screw. The lock plate engages the threads of the screw to prevent unintentional backing out of the thumb nut.

The disclosure includes a locking thumb nut. The locking thumb nut may comprise a thumb nut base and a lock plate. The thumb nut base may have an elongated body defining a proximal side and a distal side with the distal side opposing the proximal side. The lock plate is removably-secured to the distal side of the thumb nut base. The lock plate comprises a non-metal material or a metal material that is softer than the thumb nut base. An aperture is defined through the thumb nut base and the lock plate from the proximal side through the distal side and the lock plate.

The lock plate can be removably-secured to the distal side of the thumb nut base with a mechanical fastener such as one or more threaded screws.

The thumb nut base can have a longitudinal length dimension that is at least twice its lateral width dimension. A height dimension between the proximal side and the distal side of the thumb nut base can be the same as the width dimension. A perimeter of the lock plate can be coextensive with a perimeter of the thumb nut base. The thumb nut base and the lock plate can each be a rectangular shape. A perimeter of the lock plate is coextensive with a perimeter of the thumb nut base.

The lock plate can be formed of a nylon material and the thumb nut base can be formed of a metal material.

The thumb nut base can include a cylindrical extension extending from the proximal side of the thumb nut base.

The thumb nut base can define a first flat surface between the proximal side and the distal side and a second flat surface, opposite the first flat surface, between the proximal side and the distal side.

The disclosure also includes a fastener system. The system can include a thumb nut base comprising an elongated body defining a proximal side and a distal side. The distal side opposes the proximal side. A replaceable lock plate is secured to the distal side of the thumb nut base with a mechanical fastener. The lock plate comprises a non-metal material or a metal material that is softer than the thumb nut base. An aperture is defined through the thumb nut base and the lock plate from the proximal side through the distal side and the lock plate. The mechanical fastener extends through the lock plate and into the thumb nut base. The mechanical fastener can be a threaded screw.

The thumb nut base further comprises a cylindrical extension extending from the proximal side of the thumb nut base.

A screw, such as a thumb screw, can be threaded into the aperture of the thumb nut base and lock plate from a proximal side of the thumb nut base. If the screw is a thumb screw, it can comprise a thumb wheel coupled to a threaded shank.

The disclosure further includes a method of replacing a lock plate of a locking thumb nut. The method can comprise unfastening a mechanical fastener that secures the lock plate to a thumb nut base, placing a replacement lock plate against a side of the thumb nut base such that an aperture in the lock plate is centered on an aperture defined through the thumb nut base; and fastening with the mechanical fastener the replacement lock plate to the thumb nut base. The step of fastening with the mechanical fastener can comprise threading a screw through the replacement lock plate and into the thumb nut base. The method can further comprise grasping opposing sides of the thumb nut base with a thumb and a forefinger of a user.

The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

