Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Internally threaded fastener element – e.g. – nut – etc. – Thread structure
Patent
1998-12-22
2000-04-18
Wilson, Neill
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Internally threaded fastener element, e.g., nut, etc.
Thread structure
411433, 411522, F16B 3708, F16B 3716
Patent
active
060507667
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates generally as indicated to a two part nut and more particularly to a nut which can be assembled on a threaded rod at any location therealong, and then tightened.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Threaded rod is provided in substantial lengths and is widely used to construct or hang utilities or other items. It is also used as tie-rods and has many purposes. The rod can be of substantial length such as several meters or more. To thread a conventional nut on a rod of such length requires many turns and is a dull and time consuming job. In many hanger or fastening situations, the ends of the rod may be blocked with something already installed or fixed, and to put another nut on the rod could require substantial disassembly. It would, of course, be desirable to be able to position the nut on the rod laterally at the desired position and then simply tighten it with a few turns.
Many and varied solutions to these problems have been proposed. A typical solution is that found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,376 to Slip-on Lock Nut Company of Lake Orion, Mich. U.S.A. The two C-shaped nut members are joined together for limited axial movement and relative rotation. The two parts are complex and the nut, while effective, is costly. Others are overly complex or simply don't function as a conventional nut which can be tightened after being slipped on. Others occupy too much vertical or axial space along the rod. Others simple don't have the holding power to clamp a load or may slip under load, particularly an offset load.
Examples of the wide variety of devices which have attempted to solve the problem are seen in the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,844,518, 4,473,205, 4,634,327 and 5,098,241 and European Published Application 066644A1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a two-part nut which may be installed on a threaded rod laterally and then turned to tighten against another object. One part of the nut is a sheet metal housing which, normal to the axis of the rod, is U-shape and has a non-circular exterior profile. Preferably other than the opening between the legs, the profile is in the form of a square nut. The housing is positioned on the rod so that the legs straddle the rod, and the housing has a relatively short dimension axially of the nut. The housing may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal with a progressive die.
The second part is a U-shape spring metal clip which includes a flat bight portion and parallel spring legs. The legs of the clip fit in two parallel slots in the exterior of one of the legs of the housing. The clip has two positions. One is retracted where the legs of the spring clip do not cross or interfere with the opening between the legs of the housing. The other is a fully seated position where the legs of the clip span the opening between the legs of the housing. In such fully seated position, the bight portion of the clip is flush against the exterior of the one leg of the housing between the parallel slots while the tips of the legs of the spring clip almost abut the unslotted exterior of the other leg of the housing. The spring legs of the clip are provided with inwardly struck linear thread impressions which match the threads of the rod. The respective thread impressions are a half-pitch offset.
The interior of the housing is mostly open except for certain folded flanges. Two flanges, one from each side of the housing at the center of the bight portion of the housing, back up and support the center of one leg of the clip. Flanges on the insides of the legs of the housing overlie and back up the other leg of the clip. The other leg thus has two such back-up supports, one symmetrically on each side of the threaded rod. The tips of both legs of the clip are provided with outwardly struck barbs which snap past such flanges when the clip is seated, locking the clip in place when the rod is present.
With the clip in a retracted but assembled position with respect to the housing, the housing is positioned laterally on a threaded rod with the legs of the housing stradd
REFERENCES:
patent: 2364880 (1944-12-01), Tinnerman
patent: 3844518 (1974-10-01), Long
patent: 4274323 (1981-06-01), Resnicow
patent: 4473205 (1984-09-01), Rumble
patent: 4634327 (1987-01-01), Kowalski
patent: 4802804 (1989-02-01), Hirohata
patent: 4826376 (1989-05-01), Aldridge et al.
patent: 5039266 (1991-08-01), Nagayoshi et al.
patent: 5098241 (1992-03-01), Aldridge et al.
patent: 5605424 (1997-02-01), Boville et al.
Kies Antonius M.
Van Gijsel Geradus Emanual Cornelus
Erico International Corporation
Wilson Neill
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