Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Threaded fastener locked to a discreet structure – Nut – and means to engage substructure on its opposite faces...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-02-06
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Threaded fastener locked to a discreet structure
Nut, and means to engage substructure on its opposite faces...
C411S180000, C411S429000, C411S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183181
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to threaded fasteners of the type known as Tee-nuts having a threaded sleeve, and in particular to such Tee-nuts in which the one end of the Tee-nut sleeve is sealed closed against the entry of foreign matter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Threaded fasteners known as Tee-nuts, are in wide use, in a variety of industries. In general, they are formed out of sheet metal. A generally tubular sleeve is extruded or stamped out of the sheet metal, leaving a flange around one end of the sleeve, with both ends of the sleeve being open. Usually the interior of the sleeve is threaded to receive a threaded fastener. In many cases, some form of anti-rotation means are provided in the form of prongs extending downwardly more or less at right angles to the plane of the flange.
Such Tee-nuts are widely used especially, for example, in the furniture industry where many such Tee-nuts may be embedded in wooden work pieces so that the pieces of furniture may be assembled and secured together. However, new uses for such Tee-nuts are constantly emerging. It is now found that such Tee-nuts can be advantageously used both in wood and in molded products. Where the embedment material or receiving material is formed of a flowable moldable material a Tee-nut has many advantages. Such moldable materials may, for example, include thermoplastics and rubber or synthetic rubber like compounds, and a variety of other such flowable moldable materials.
In these cases it is found useful to embed the Tee-nuts in the flowable material, so that after molding is complete the Tee-nuts are located in the molded article at various spaced locations.
It has been found, however, that during the molding operation, there may be a tendency for the flowable material to flow into the interior of the threaded sleeve of the Tee-nut. This will then impair the usefulness of the Tee-nut as a fastening socket to receive a fastener.
A further advantage of the invention is that the sealed end will prevent moisture and contaminants from entering the Tee-nut, whether it is used in a flowable material, or whether it is used typically in a wooden workpiece or the like.
Usually during the molding operation the flanged end of the Tee-nut will be embedded at a certain depth in the molded article, with the other end of the sleeve, ie. the end of the sleeve remote from the flange being open at the surface of the molded article to receive a threaded fastener. It has been found to be desirable to exclude the flowable material from the flange end of the sleeve in order to permit effective use of the threaded sleeve for receiving fasteners in the finished article.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to addressing these problems, the invention comprises a Tee-nut fastener device comprising a tubular threaded sleeve and a flange around one end of the sleeve and a through bore extending from one end of the sleeve to the other, and a closure sealing the flange end of the sleeve while leaving the opposite end of the sleeve open.
In one embodiment, a disk of metal is welded to the flange, in registration with the flange end of the sleeve.
In another embodiment, the flange end of the sleeve is formed with an annular well and a plug-like disk-shaped plug is received in the well and is secured by any suitable means such as welding or other fastening.
In another form of the invention, a closure panel is secured over the top of the flange completely covering the open end of the sleeve.
In order to prevent rotation of the Tee-nut in the molded article, some form of anti-rotation means are formed preferably on the flange so that the flowable material flows around the anti-rotation means and prevents rotation of the Tee-nut. Such anti-rotation means may be in the form of typical prongs. They may also be in the form simply of end tabs on the flanges. They may also be in the form of grooves or recesses stamped into the flanges on the Tee-nut. The flanges themselves may be made in irregular shapes so that the moldable material flows around them and also prevents rotation of the Tee-nut.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3280875 (1966-10-01), Fischer
patent: 3434521 (1969-03-01), Flora
patent: 5290131 (1994-03-01), Henriksen
patent: 5609351 (1997-03-01), Vermillion
patent: 5673927 (1997-10-01), Vermillion
patent: 5823729 (1998-10-01), Nagayama
Leistner Herbert E.
Stagnoli Carlo
Ohlandt, Greely Ruggerio & Perle
Sigma Tool & Machine
Wilson Neill
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