Prior art — US Patent 11885358

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited in US Patent 11885358, interpreting their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, based on the provided patent text and general understanding of blind fasteners:

Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 11885358

The following prior art documents are cited in US11885358:

JPS51101469U
- Full Citation: JPS51101469U (English translation not fully provided, likely a Japanese Utility Model)
- Priority Date: 1975-02-07
- Publication Date: 1976-08-14
- Assignee: Not explicitly provided in the patent text.
- Title: Not explicitly provided in the patent text.
- Brief Description: Without the English title or a more detailed abstract, the specific features of this utility model are unclear. However, given its classification as prior art for a blind fastener, it likely pertains to some form of blind fastening mechanism.
- Potential Anticipation: Unable to determine without further detail on its contents.
US4203346A
- Full Citation: US4203346A
- Priority Date: 1977-06-13
- Publication Date: 1980-05-20
- Assignee: Vsi Corporation
- Title: Blind bolt fastener for low bearing strength materials
- Brief Description: This patent describes a blind bolt fastener specifically designed for materials with low bearing strength. This suggests a design focused on spreading the load or creating a large blind-side footprint, common in blind fasteners for composite or soft materials.
- Potential Anticipation: Could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 related to a blind fastener comprising a sleeve and a mandrel, especially if it includes an enlarged portion on the mandrel and a pull region. It might also anticipate aspects of Claim 16 regarding the method of installation if it involves deforming the sleeve on one side and forming a blind head. The specific axial length limitation of the pull region (no greater than 4 times shank diameter) and the absence of a breakneck groove in US11885358 are distinguishing features that might not be anticipated.
US4376604A
- Full Citation: US4376604A
- Priority Date: 1981-01-29
- Publication Date: 1983-03-15
- Assignee: Monogram Industries, Inc.
- Title: Blind fastener for composite materials
- Brief Description: This patent describes a blind fastener adapted for use with composite materials, similar to US4203346A but specifically for composites. Such fasteners often incorporate features to prevent delamination or provide improved bearing stress distribution.
- Potential Anticipation: Similar to US4203346A, it could anticipate the general concept of a blind fastener with a sleeve and mandrel (Claim 1) and a method of installation involving deformation (Claim 16). The specific limitations of US11885358 regarding the pull region's axial length and the non-frangible mandrel would be key differentiating factors.
JPS6135214U
- Full Citation: JPS6135214U (English translation not fully provided, likely a Japanese Utility Model)
- Priority Date: 1984-08-03
- Publication Date: 1986-03-04
- Assignee: 若井産業株式会社 (Wakai Sangyo Co., Ltd.)
- Title: Auxiliary fittings for screwing into thin plates
- Brief Description: This utility model appears to describe auxiliary fittings for screwing into thin plates. While it relates to fastening, the "screwing" aspect might differentiate it from the pull-type blind fastener of US11885358.
- Potential Anticipation: Less likely to anticipate the core claims of US11885358 directly, especially Claim 1 concerning a pull-type mandrel and sleeve deformation. Its relevance might be limited to the general field of fastening in thin structures.
US4907922A
- Full Citation: US4907922A
- Priority Date: 1988-07-14
- Publication Date: 1990-03-13
- Assignee: Avdel Systems Limited
- Title: Self-plugging blind fastener
- Brief Description: This patent describes a self-plugging blind fastener. Self-plugging fasteners typically involve a mandrel that breaks off but leaves a portion to plug the sleeve, providing improved shear strength and environmental sealing.
- Potential Anticipation: Could anticipate the overall structure of a blind fastener with a sleeve and mandrel (Claim 1) and its installation method (Claim 16). However, a key distinction of US11885358 is the absence of a breakneck groove (Claim 5) and the mandrel remaining intact, which US4907922A's "self-plugging" nature, implying a breaking mandrel, would likely not anticipate.
JPH0360608U
- Full Citation: JPH0360608U (English translation not fully provided, likely a Japanese Utility Model)
- Priority Date: 1989-10-18
- Publication Date: 1991-06-14
- Assignee: Not explicitly provided in the patent text.
- Title: Not explicitly provided in the patent text.
- Brief Description: Similar to JPS51101469U, without an English title or abstract, the specific nature of this utility model is difficult to ascertain. It likely relates to blind fastening.
- Potential Anticipation: Unable to determine without further detail on its contents.
WO2004102016A1
- Full Citation: WO2004102016A1
- Priority Date: 2003-05-14
- Publication Date: 2004-11-25
- Assignee: Textron Fastening Systems Limited
- Title: Blind fastener and method of removing it from a workpiece
- Brief Description: This international publication describes a blind fastener and a method of removing it. While it covers the fastener itself, the emphasis on removal suggests specific design features related to ease of disassembly, which may or may not overlap with the installation-focused innovations of US11885358.
- Potential Anticipation: It likely describes a blind fastener with a sleeve and mandrel, and a method of installation, potentially anticipating general aspects of Claims 1 and 16. The specific dimensions of the pull region and the non-frangible mandrel of US11885358 would be important distinguishing features.
KR20050037765A
- Full Citation: KR20050037765A (English translation not fully provided, likely a Korean patent application)
- Priority Date: 2003-10-20
- Publication Date: 2005-04-25
- Assignee: 현대자동차주식회사 (Hyundai Motor Company)
- Title: Frp panel assembly structure and method thereof
- Brief Description: This patent describes a structure and method for assembling FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) panels. While it pertains to fastening in a structural context, it might focus on specific assembly techniques for FRP, not necessarily the blind fastener itself or the pull region geometry.
- Potential Anticipation: Could potentially anticipate a method of fastening (Claim 16) within the context of FRP panels. However, the specific features of the blind fastener (Claim 1) as claimed in US11885358 are less likely to be directly anticipated unless the fastener itself is detailed.
US20130177365A1
- Full Citation: US20130177365A1
- Priority Date: 2010-06-08
- Publication Date: 2013-07-11
- Assignee: Stephan Schneider
- Title: Blind rivet and fastening arrangement with a blind rivet
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a blind rivet and a fastening arrangement utilizing it. It broadly covers the type of fastener and its application.
- Potential Anticipation: This is a direct type of fastener (blind rivet) and could potentially anticipate many general aspects of Claim 1 (sleeve, mandrel, enlarged portion, pull region, shank region) and Claim 16 (method of installation involving deforming and swaging). The distinguishing features of US11885358 would be the specific axial length limitation of the pull region (no greater than 4x shank diameter, or narrower ranges like 2x in dependent claims) and the explicit statement about the mandrel not comprising a breakneck groove (Claim 5). The hardness of the mandrel (Claim 6, 7) might also be a differentiator.
JP2014029210A
- Full Citation: JP2014029210A
- Priority Date: 2008-02-04
- Publication Date: 2014-02-13
- Assignee: Newfrey Llc
- Title: Variable grip blind rivet
- Brief Description: This Japanese patent application describes a "variable grip blind rivet," indicating a design that can accommodate different material thicknesses. This often involves specific sleeve and/or mandrel designs that allow for a wider range of grip lengths.
- Potential Anticipation: Could anticipate general features of a blind rivet in Claim 1 and its installation method in Claim 16. The "variable grip" aspect implies some form of sleeve deformation. Like other prior art, the specific pull region length limitation and the non-frangible mandrel of US11885358 would be key points of differentiation.
US20140271024A1
- Full Citation: US20140271024A1
- Priority Date: 2013-03-13
- Publication Date: 2014-09-18
- Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
- Title: Blind fastener
- Brief Description: This patent application, simply titled "Blind fastener," indicates a broad scope related to the type of fastener claimed in US11885358. Without further details, it's difficult to pinpoint its exact inventive concept.
- Potential Anticipation: Given the generic title, it's highly probable this document discloses a blind fastener comprising a sleeve and mandrel, with an enlarged portion and a pull region, and a method for its installation. Therefore, it could potentially anticipate the broad elements of Claims 1 and 16. The specific axial length of the pull region and the absence of a breakneck groove in US11885358 would be the primary distinctions to evaluate against this prior art.
WO2015033330A1
- Full Citation: WO2015033330A1
- Priority Date: 2013-09-09
- Publication Date: 2015-03-12
- Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte Ltd
- Title: Lockbolt
- Brief Description: This international publication describes a "lockbolt." While lockbolts are often used in similar applications to blind fasteners, they typically involve a collar swaged onto a pre-tensioned pin, rather than the internal mandrel pull-and-sleeve-deformation mechanism characteristic of a blind rivet.
- Potential Anticipation: Less likely to anticipate the specific blind fastening mechanism of US11885358, particularly the deformation of the first sleeve end and the pulling of a mandrel through a sleeve to create a blind head. However, general concepts of securing components through a bore by swaging might have some overlap with Claim 16, but the specific means for achieving it would differ significantly.
WO2016028489A1
- Full Citation: WO2016028489A1
- Priority Date: 2014-08-21
- Publication Date: 2016-02-25
- Assignee: Precision Tower Products, Llc
- Title: Blind fastener
- Brief Description: Another international publication broadly titled "Blind fastener." Similar to US20140271024A1, this suggests a direct relevance to the field of US11885358.
- Potential Anticipation: Could potentially anticipate the general elements of Claim 1 (sleeve, mandrel, enlarged portion, pull region, shank region) and Claim 16 (method of installation). The defining features of US11885358, particularly the specified axial length of the pull region and the non-frangible mandrel, would need to be compared against the disclosure of this document.
US20170268556A1
- Full Citation: US20170268556A1
- Priority Date: 2016-03-18
- Publication Date: 2017-09-21
- Assignee: Monogram Aerospace Fasteners, Inc.
- Title: Blind fastener
- Brief Description: This patent application, from an assignee specializing in aerospace fasteners, also bears the broad title "Blind fastener." This suggests a strong likelihood of disclosing a blind fastener with a sleeve, mandrel, and similar installation principles.
- Potential Anticipation: Highly likely to anticipate general aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 16. The distinct features of US11885358, such as the precise axial length of the pull region (e.g., no greater than 4x or 2x shank diameter) and the mandrel designed not to fracture (Claim 5), would be crucial for establishing novelty and non-obviousness.
US20180207711A1
- Full Citation: US20180207711A1
- Priority Date: 2017-01-24
- Publication Date: 2018-07-26
- Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Title: Method of riveting involving ultrasonic pulses
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a method of riveting that incorporates ultrasonic pulses. The inventive concept appears to be in the application of ultrasonic energy during riveting, rather than the design of the blind fastener itself.
- Potential Anticipation: It could potentially anticipate the general steps of a method for fastening (Claim 16), but the specific means of installation (e.g., using ultrasonic pulses) might distinguish it. It is unlikely to anticipate the structural features of the blind fastener itself as defined in Claim 1, especially the specific geometry of the pull region or the non-frangible mandrel, unless the fastener is specifically adapted for such ultrasonic riveting. The claims of US11885358 do not mention ultrasonic pulses.

Summary of Key Differentiating Features in US11885358

Across the cited prior art, the most common points of potential distinction for US11885358 would generally revolve around:

The axial length of the pull region being no greater than 4 times (and more specifically, no greater than 3.8 or 2 times) the diameter of the shank region (Claim 1, 2, 3, 16, 17). This precise dimensional limitation may be novel.
The mandrel explicitly not comprising a breakneck groove (Claim 5, 19), implying the mandrel remains intact after installation, which contrasts with many traditional blind rivets where the mandrel fractures. This feature is tied to the stated benefits of reduced installation force and elimination of shock.
The Rockwell hardness of the mandrel (at least HRC 25, or HRC 43) (Claim 6, 7).

To definitively determine anticipation, a detailed analysis of the full text and drawings of each cited prior art document would be required. However, based on the titles and general descriptions, the novelty of US11885358 likely lies in the specific dimensional and structural characteristics of the pull region and the non-frangible nature of the mandrel during installation, which contribute to improved installation mechanics and fastener performance.