US Patent 8066461 Threaded fastener

A screw-type fastener includes an internal cinching mechanism that physically locks exposed threads of a screw outside a housing after a certain number of turns. The fastener may for example, be affixed to a faceplate of a printed circuit board. The exposed threads may then be rotated to threadably engage corresponding threads of a sub-rack or other enclosure in a manner that prevents movement of the faceplate relative to the enclosure as the screw engages the enclosure. When the internal cinching mechanism is locked, the physical relationship (e.g., distance) between the faceplate and the sub-rack is retained until the fastener is unscrewed.