The present invention relates to a fastening element.

In particular, the present invention finds use in the different fields of industry and manufacturing in which there is a need to mutually connect a plurality of bodies, for example sheets, to each other.

In accordance with the prior art, the coupling between multiple bodies is realized by means of devices such as rivets and bolts.

Unlike rivets, bolts allow the connected elements to be released thanks to the reversible threaded coupling between a screw and the respective nut.

In the case of bolt coupling, the screw is inserted in a special opening obtained in the fastening support, for example a metal sheet, so that the head of the screw is arranged on one part of the fastening support and a threaded portion at least partially exits from the opposite part of the support.

Subsequently, a nut is applied to the threaded portion until it reaches the predetermined tightening torque so as to make the coupling secure.

Such a process may generally also include a painting step to confer the predetermined colouring to the support.

In particular, the painting takes place after the application of the screws to the fastening support and before the coupling of the screws with the respective tightening nuts.

Unfortunately, during the painting, paint settles on the screws, particularly between the ridges of the threaded portion.

In other words, the painting covers the threaded portion of the screw, making it difficult to slide the tightening nut during screwing.

In particular, the difficulty of the relative motion between the screw and the nut can lead to the breakage of the threaded portions or to the realization of inefficient or precarious couplings.

To overcome this drawback, the prior art provides for covering the pins with special cover elements. That is, a generally polymeric sheath is manually applied to the threaded portion of each screw so as to prevent paint from settling between the ridges of the thread.

In addition, after the painting the cover elements are manually removed from the threaded portions so as to perform the coupling with the respective nuts.

Unfortunately, the time required for these operations is particularly high, slowing down the production cycle and increasing the related costs.

These costs are also further increased by the costs for the cover elements. The technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide a fastening element which is able to overcome the drawbacks arising from the prior art.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a fastening element which allows to increase the efficiency of the production cycle.

The mentioned technical task and the stated object are substantially achieved by a fastening element comprising the features set out in one or more of the claims.

The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a exemplary, but not exclusive, and therefore non-limiting preferred embodiment of a fastening element.

Such description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings given only for illustrative and, therefore, non limiting purpose, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a fastening element according to the present invention;

- figure 2 is a side view of the fastening element of figure 1 ;

- figure 3a is a perspective view of a fastening element according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention; - figure 4 is a side view of the fastening element according to the embodiment shown in figure 3.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a fastening element according to the inventive concept of the present invention.

The fastening element 1 is configured to be inserted in an opening of a fastening support to enable it to be coupled between the fastening support and further outer supports.

In particular, the fastening element 1 may be coupled to a respective counter-shaped element to realize a stable fastening of a plurality of outer supports.

For example, the fastening element may be used to mutually connect a plurality of sheets.

In accordance with a possible embodiment and as illustrated in the attached figures, the fastening element 1 is a screw and the respective counter-shaped element is a tightening nut.

That is, the fastening element 1 may be coupled to a respective tightening nut to realize a fastening device, for example a bolt.

The fastening element 1 has a main development axis“Z” defining the insertion direction within the opening of the fastening support.

Advantageously, the fastening element 1 may be at least partially made of metallic material, for example aluminium, galvanized steel and/or stainless steel.

In this way, the fastening element may be coupled to different types of fastening supports, limiting the galvanic interactions that may arise as a result of the coupling of different types of materials.

According to possible alternative embodiments, the fastening element 1 may be made of polymeric material or of different types of materials without altering the inventive concept underlying the present invention.

As shown in the attached figures, the fastening element 1 comprises a head 2 and a stem 3. Advantageously, the head 2 and the stem 3 may be integrally made in one piece, giving high mechanical strength to the fastening element 1.

The stem 3 has a first end and a second end defining respectively a connecting portion 4 with the head 2 and an insertion portion 5 of the fastening element 1 in the opening of the fastening support.

The stem 3 has a threaded outer surface 6 which allows coupling with the aforementioned counter-shaped element.

Advantageously, the threaded outer surface 6 may have a helical groove 7 with variable gradation along the main development axis“Z”.

Preferably, the stem 3 has a substantially cylindrical conformation developing along the main development axis“Z”.

In accordance with a possible alternative embodiment not illustrated in the attached figures, the stem 3 may have a three-lobed conformation which allows to create a thread, preferably metric, in the fastening support.

That is, the conformation of the stem 3 and the threaded outer surface 6 may make the fastening element 1 self-tapping.

Advantageously, the threaded outer surface 6 of the stem 3 has at least one notch 8 extending at least partially along the main development axis

The notch 8, as illustrated in the attached figures, interrupts at least one pitch of the thread of the stem 3.

That is, the notch 8 defines at least one interruption in the thread of the threaded outer surface 6.

Preferably, the notch 8 extends along the threaded outer surface 6 of the stem 3 from the first to the second end.

Advantageously, the notch 8 is configured to promote an outflow of various kinds of material from the threaded outer surface 6.

In particular, the relative motion between the stem 3 and the respective counter-shaped element conveys the material present between the ridges of the thread towards the notch 8 from which it can outflow, freeing the threaded outer surface 6. Therefore, the notch 8 allows an outflow of paint residues deposited on the stem, especially between the ridges of the thread, by screwing the respective counter-shaped element to the stem 3 after the painting step. Then, the fastening element 1 allows to avoid breakages and jams induced by the presence of paint on the threaded portion of the stem 3, overcoming the need to apply 3 external cover elements to the stem.

In this way, the fastening element 1 determines a reduction in the timing of the production cycle by eliminating the application and removal steps of the cover elements for painting.

In accordance with a possible embodiment and as illustrated in the attached figures, the fastening element 1 comprises a plurality of notches 8 angularly equally spaced on the threaded outer surface 6 of the stem 3. As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the notches 8 may have a helical development around the main development axis“Z”.

In accordance with further possible embodiments, the notches 8 may have a different development, for example parallel to the main development axis “Z” (as illustrated in figures 3 and 4), without altering the inventive concept underlying the present invention.

Advantageously, the insertion portion 5 of the stem 3 and/or the head 2 may have a flared conformation to favour the insertion into the opening.

By way of example and not of limitation, the head 2 may have different types of conformations, for example cylindrical, button, round, half round or flat flared, and different types of graft, for example cut, cross, Allen or other.

The head 2 may have a backing portion 9 configured to abut on a portion of the fastening support.

In particular, the abutment portion 9 is connected to the connecting portion 4 of the stem 3.

Advantageously, the head 2 can be connected to a support plate defining an increase in the backing portion 9 of the head 2 so as to allow a coupling of the fastening element 1 to a support by means of processes such as plastic moulding, pressure, screwing or the like.

As shown in the attached figures, the head 2 has at least one protuberance 10 configured to achieve a stable constraint with the fastening support.

That is, the fastening element 1 may be constrained to the fastening support by the protuberance 10 arranged on the head 2, preferably on the backing portion 9.

In particular, the protuberance 10 may plastically deform the fastening support so as to define an irreversible coupling between the fastening element 1 and the fastening support itself.

Furthermore, the protuberance 10 is configured to fasten the head 2 to the fastening support by interacting with a surface at the perimeter of the opening and, preferably, developing on a plane perpendicular to the main development axis“Z”.

That is, the fastening element 1 may have a self-hooking head 2.

Advantageously, the head 2 may have a plurality of circumferentially distributed protuberances 10 on the head 2 itself to realize a stable mechanical coupling of high efficiency between the fastening element 1 and the fastening support.

In accordance with a possible embodiment and as illustrated in the attached figures, the protuberances 10 are circumferentially equally spaced on the backing portion 9.

Furthermore, the protuberances 10 may develop radially from the stem 3. Preferably, moreover, the protuberances 10 have a substantially wedge- shaped conformation.

In accordance with further embodiments not illustrated in the attached figures, the protuberancesl O may have a different conformation, for example truncated conical or trapezoidal, without altering the inventive concept underlying the present invention.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a fastening device comprising a fastening element 1 and a fastening nut.

In particular, the fastening nut can be coupled to the stem 3 of the fastening element 1 by a threaded coupling to realize the fastening of a support.

In particular, the head 2 of the fastening element 1 and the nut are arranged on opposite sides of the fastening support during a configuration for inserting the fastening element in the opening of the fastening support.

It is therefore noted that the present invention achieves the proposed purpose by means of a fastening element which allows to increase the efficiency of the production process thanks to the presence of at least one notch transverse to the thread.

In particular, the notch allows an outflow of the paint which settles between the ridges of the thread during the painting steps of the production process.

Advantageously, the fastening element limits breakages and jams induced by the presence of paint on the threaded portion, overcoming the need to apply outer cover elements to the stem.

Therefore, the fastening element also allows to speed up the production cycle by eliminating the application and removal step of the external cover elements.