Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Headed fastener element with nut – washer – securing means or cap – Metallic resilient securing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2001-10-30
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Headed fastener element with nut, washer, securing means or cap
Metallic resilient securing means
C411S107000, C411S535000, C411S999000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309158
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fasteners and, more particularly, to a fastener which is secured to a panel and is adapted to mount the panel to an underlying chassis.
Captive panel fasteners are used on a wide variety of products. Commercially available captive panel fasteners typically come in standard, pre-specified lengths which are dictated by the manufacturer and the demand for the product. Typically, the manufacturer stocks a number of fasteners which usually differ by length and thread code. This forces the manufacturer to stock many different types of fasteners, thereby increasing inventory costs. Also, when a non-standard length is required for a specific application, no product is available to address the application. It would therefore be desirable to have an adjustable length captive panel fastener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a captive panel fastener has a telescopically adjustable two-part sleeve which provides a mechanism whereby the length of the fastener is selectively adjustable.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable length captive panel fastener which comprises a cylindrical sleeve member having an internal axial through-bore. The sleeve member is formed with attachment structure at one end to secure the fastener to a panel. An adjustment member is axially movable within the sleeve member from the end opposite the one end, and has an internal axial through-bore which is stepped so as to provide first and second spaced ledges. A headed screw is adapted to extend through the internal through-bores of the sleeve member and the adjustment member so as to be rotatable and axially movable therein. The head of the screw is dimensioned so as not to pass the first ledge. A coil spring surrounds the screw within the through-bore of the adjustment member. A first end of the spring abuts the head of the screw and the second end of the spring abuts the second ledge.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the sleeve member is formed with internal threads in its through-bore and the adjustment member is formed with external threads adapted to mate with the internal threads of the sleeve member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4387497 (1983-06-01), Gulistan
patent: 4396327 (1983-08-01), Menke
patent: 5288191 (1994-02-01), Ruckert et al.
patent: 5340258 (1994-08-01), Simon
Bellinghausen Carl P.
Povilaitis Patrick M.
Davis David L.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Wilson Neill
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