ZipNut's® Products

Currently referred to as the "Fullerton Nut™"

Who are using the ZipNut's® ?

The original Fullerton Design™ ZipNut's® are being used all over the world and even in space.     Some of the biggest companies in the world are using them and other companies are making plans to use them.     Here is a partial list and how many companies use them currently: (in alphabetical order)

NOTICE

On May 29 1983, Robert L Fullerton filed United States Patent number 4,378,187 for a "Quick Acting Fastener "(nut).

    Mr. Fullerton would later file five following United States Patents cumulating with United States Patent number 5,733,084.     All of these patents were covering various concepts of a "quick applying nut" That Mr. Fullerton "coined" Zip Nut.     Mr. Fullerton would then go on to trade mark the name "Zip Nut" on May 18 1993.

Mr. Fullerton no longer has any interest or ownership in ANY these patents or of the copyright trade mark, any inference otherwise is incorrect and in error.

ALL of the patents mentioned above are now expired and in the public domain.     The copyright/trade mark is, at this time (the last listed owner) GEORGE A. STURDEVANT, INC.DBA FASTORQ, Corporation Texas 18914 East Industrial Parkway, New Caney, Texas 77357.

Any reference to ZipNut in this document, or others, is purely historical and not meant to convey any ownership or commercial interest.


  • AGA, Airgas, Inc.\, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. , and BOC all use them in their production facilities to refill high-pressure gas cylinders.

  • Boeing - Boeing, the prime contractor for the International Space Station, is integratingZipNut's®in a number of their contributions:

    Main Truss Structural Joints Robotic Assembly
    Deployment of UHF Antenna Booms EVA Soft/Hard Dock
    Universal Trunnion Attachment System EVA Soft/Hard Dock
    Airlock Orbital Replacement Units EVA Soft/Hard Dock

  • Carolina Power & Light  - CP&L usesZipNut's® during scheduled nuclear outages to seal the heat exchanger to prevent reactor water from entering.

  • Curtiss Wright - Curtiss Wright Flight Systems usesZipNut's® in their PowerHawk   rescue tool line for auto extrication and building collapse.

  • DOE  - The US Department of Energy usedZipNut's®in their Savannah River Project to permanently attach circulation fans.

  • Florida Power & Light  - FPL usedZipNut's® to attach ducting during a nuclear outage.

  • FMC  - FMC usesZipNut's® on a deep-water pipe laying machine.

  • Goodyear  - Goodyear usesZipNut's® to attach molds to tire-manufacturing machines.

  • Holox  - Holox usesZipNut's® to refill gas cylinders in their facilities.

  • Honeywell  - Honeywell Satellite usesZipNut's® in the Alpha & Beta Solar Panel Gimbals on the International Space station.

  • Nellcor Puritan Bennett  - Nellcor Puritan Bennett has incorporatedZipNut's® into some of their medical equipment.

  • Rocketdyne  - Rocketdyne has incorporatedZipNut's® in their Solar Array Mast Canister on the International Space Station.

  • Sonsub  - Sonsub uses them on their new deepwater pipeline laying remote operated vehicle, "BRUTUS".

  • Swales Aerospace  - Swales has incorporated the original Fullerton Design™ ZipNut's® into its work on Shuttle Repair mission parts.     The original Fullerton Design™ ZipNut's® have been used on all three Shuttle Repair missions.     They are used in Extra Vehicular Activity handling of telescope parts and replacement parts during the repair in space.     In fact, on the first repair mission, the original Fullerton Design™ ZipNut's® were the only part on the mission that did not have a backup contingency part or plan - and worked, as originally designed, meeting the mission requirement specifications!

    • ZipNut's® were also used on:


    • 1993 Repair and Servicing Mission:
      • Wide Field and Planetary Camera.
    • 1997 Servicing Mission:
      • * Fine Guidance Sensor.
      • * Solar Array Drive.
      • * Data Interface Unit.
    • 1999 Servicing Mission:
      • * Fine Guidance Sensor
      • * S-Band Single Access Transmitter

    • Tennessee Valley Authority  - TVA is also using ZipNut's® during scheduled nuclear outages to seal the heat exchanger to prevent reactor water from entering.

    As you can see,ZipNut's® cover a variety of differing applications!

    Who is using the "ZipNut®" ?