Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Threaded fastener locked to a discreet structure – Member preassembled with substructure at through-passage or...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-01-19
2001-02-06
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3628)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Threaded fastener locked to a discreet structure
Member preassembled with substructure at through-passage or...
C411S112000, C411S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183180
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to wall nut assemblies composed of a nut and structure for connecting the nut to a wall at the location of a bolt receiving opening in the wall. More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of improved structures for holding the nut and connecting it to the wall, and to the provision of a clip-on nut. The invention also relates to the provision of structures for holding a bolt and connecting it to a wall, and to the provision of a clip-on bolt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The background of what may be termed “the nut plate technology” is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,349, granted Mar. 17, 1992, to Michael A. Landy, et. al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,743, granted Sep. 21, 1993 to Michael Landy, et. al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,136, granted Jan. 10, 1995, to Charles M. Copple et. al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,228, granted Apr. 11, 1995, to Leonard F. Reid, et. al, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,104, granted Nov. 21, 1995, to Leonard F. Reid, et. al. These patents disclose nut mounting structures characterized by a tubular stem that fits into an opening in a wall where a bolt is to be located. The tubular stem is radially expanded within the opening to connect the nut mounting structure to the wall. The tooling and methods disclosed in the above patents for expanding the tubular stem are to be considered a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosures of the above-referenced patents are hereby incorporated herein by this specific reference to them.
There is a need for a nut mounting structure that is adapted for easy and quick placement and retention of the nut following connection of the nut mounting structure to the wall. There is also a need for a nut mounting structure for use with a sealed nut that will hold the sealed nut in a sealed position when no bolt is connected to the nut for pulling the nut into a sealed position. It is believed that the wall nut and wall nut mounting structures of this invention will fulfill these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The nut mounts of this invention are basically characterized by a tubular stem, a collar at one end of the stem, and a nut receptor that is endwise outwardly of the collar. The nut receptor includes a nut receiving base. This base has diametrically opposite edge portions that radially overhang the collar. When the tubular stem is within a circular opening in a wall, and an end surface of the collar is in contact with the wall, about the opening in the wall, the edge portions of the nut receptor overhang the collar and are spaced axially outwardly from the wall.
The wall nut of the present invention is a clip-on nut. It is basically characterized by a nut-element retainer having a base and a pair of side clips that extend axially downwardly from the base at diametrically opposite locations on the retainer. Each side clip includes a radially inwardly projecting catch. The catches are spaced axially from the underneath surface of the nut-element retainer base by a distance substantially equal to the axial dimension of the edge portions of the nut receptor. The clip-on nut further includes a nut-element on the nut-element retainer. The nut-element is secured to the nut-element retainer in a manner that allows it to float in position radially a limited amount. The nut-element retainer, with the nut-element attached to it, are moved axially towards the nut receptor, with the side clips generally aligned with the overhanging edge portions of the base of the nut receptor. The nut-element retainer and the nut-element are then moved axially to place the base of the nut-element retainer onto the base of the nut receptor. Further axial movement of the nut-element retainer against the nut receptor causes the side clips to spread apart until the base of the nut-element retainer is on the nut receptor. At that time, the side clips snap inwardly to place the catches below the overhanging edge portions of the receptor.
In a preferred embodiment, the clip-on nut is a sealed nut. The nut retainer includes a sealed housing that extends axially from the base, in a direction opposite from the side clips. The nut-element is within the sealed housing. The base of the nut retainer includes an annular seal disposed on the underneath side of such base, between the two side clips. When the clip-on nut is installed on the nut mount, the annular seal is compressed, causing it to seal against liquid leakage between the base of the nut receptor of the nut mount and the base of the nut-element retainer of the clip-on nut.
The wall nut assembly of the present invention is also adapted for use with a nut that is not sealed.
According to an aspect of the invention, the end surface of the collar that contacts the wall about the opening in the wall is a convex surface. This enables it to fit tight against either a flat wall surface or a concave wall surface.
According to the invention, the mounting system of the invention can be used to mount the bolt rather than the nut. The bolt is secured to the wall or workpiece and then the nut is added.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described in greater detail, as a part of the description of the best mode and the alternative embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4311319 (1982-01-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 4576533 (1986-03-01), Chartier
patent: 4582462 (1986-04-01), Thiel
patent: 4863327 (1989-09-01), Poupiter
patent: 4964594 (1990-10-01), Webb
patent: 5096349 (1992-03-01), Landy et al.
patent: 5137406 (1992-08-01), Cosenza
patent: 5245743 (1993-09-01), Landy et al.
patent: 5350266 (1994-09-01), Espey et al.
patent: 5380136 (1995-01-01), Copple et al.
patent: 5405228 (1995-04-01), Reid et al.
patent: 5468104 (1995-11-01), Reid et al.
patent: 5549432 (1996-08-01), Raneau
patent: 933050 (1962-03-01), None
Copple Charles M.
Reid Leonard F.
Barnard Delbert J.
Conley Fredrick
Dayoan B.
Fatigue Technology Inc.
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