Fastener anchored in honeycomb panel

Claim 2

A fastener retainer for use with honeycomb sandwich panelling including a central cellular core and opposed first and second skin sheets, the first skin sheet having an aperture therein, and the core area underlying the aperture being removed to provide a cavity, the fastener retainer comprising: a body member having a central, axial, fastener receiving opening substantially in alignment with said skin aperture and being disposed centrally within said core cavity between the first and second panel skin sheets, said body member further having generally radially and axially extending finger elements extending from the end area of the body member furthest removed from the said skin aperture and towards The under surface of the first skin sheet in the immediate area of said aperture; a cap member having a central fastener receiving opening and including axially and radially extending splines extending through the said skin aperture and radially engaging the said fingers of the said body member within the said core cavity; and a means for positively securing the said cap member from rotation relative to the panel.

Claim 3

The fastener retainer of claim 1 wherein said finger elements are flexible at least in a radial sense but capable of withstanding compressive collapsing forces along their lengths, and are normally disposed to either side of a central portion of said body member in such a manner that the diametrical spacing between opposed fingers is slightly larger than the diameter of said skin aperture, and wherein the said central portion and finger elements of said body member are proportioned to fit axially through the said skin aperture upon radial bending of the finger elements inwardly towards the central portion of said body member.

Claim 4

The fastener retainer of claim 2 wherein the cap member further includes a central, axially depending hollow portion having internal dimensions substantially corresponding to the external dimensions of said central portion of said body member, and including the said splines on the outer surface of said hollow portion, said hollow portion of the cap member extending over and closely fitting the central portion of said body member, the said hollow portion further having external dimensions corresponding substantially to the dimensions of said skin aperture whereby the hollow portion of the cap member of the retainer assembly tends to retain the assembly centered with respect to the said skin aperture.

Claim 5

The fastener retainer of claim 1 wherein said cap member further includes a laterally extending skirt portion which bridges the said skin aperture, said skirt portion further including skin piercing and engaging means constituting the said means for securing the said cap member from rotation relative to the panel.

Claim 6

The fastener retainer of claim 1 in combination with a threaded fastener, wherein the said fastener receiving opening in said body member is circular and threaded for receiving the threaded fastener, and further includes an outwardly bevelled area at its end adjacent the said skin aperture, and wherein said cap member includes a flexible, circular, depending lip portion adjacent the fastener receiving opening in said cap member, the said lip portion having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said fastener receiving opening in the said body member, said lip portion of the cap member being normally disposed partially within the said bevelled area of the fastener receiving opening of said body member; and wherein said fastener extends through the fastener receiving opening of said cap member and threadably engages the opening in said body member, said fastener also including a shoulder portion for axially engaging the edge area of the opening in said cap member when the fastener is fully received in the body member, the distal end of said cylindrical lip portion of said cap being urged radially inwardly into contact with the threaded fastener and the fastener is fully received in the body member by camming against the said bevelled area to thereby provide a frictional antirotational means between the said cap and fastener.

Claim 7

A fastener retainer for use with honeycomb sandwich panelling including a central cellular core and opposed first and second skin sheets, said honeycomb panelling including a cutout portion extending through only one side of said panelling, the fastener retainer comprising: a body member having a central, axial, fastener receiving opening being disposed centrally within said cutout portion and between the first and second panel skin sheets, said body member further having generally radially and axially extending finger elements extending from the body member and towaRds the under surface of the first skin sheet in the immediate area of said cutout portion; a cap member having a central fastener receiving opening and including axially and radially extending splines extending through the said cutout portion and radially engaging the said fingers of said body member intermediate the first and second skin sheets of the honeycomb panel; and a means for positively securing said body member from rotation relative to the panel.

Claim 8

A fastener retainer for use with honeycomb sandwich panelling including a central cellular core and opposed first and second skin sheets, said honeycomb panelling including a cutout portion extending through only one side of said panelling, the fastener retainer comprising: a body member having a central, axial, fastener receiving opening being disposed centrally within said cutout portion and between the first and second panel skin sheets, said body member further having generally radially and axially extending finger elements extending from the body member and towaRds the under surface of the first skin sheet in the immediate area of said cutout portion; a cap member having a central fastener receiving opening and including axially and radially extending splines extending through the said cutout portion and radially engaging the said fingers of said body member intermediate the first and second skin sheets of the honeycomb panel; and a means for positively securing said body member from rotation relative to the panel.

Claim 9

The fastener retainer of claim 6 wherein each finger element is generally U-shaped, with the free end of one leg of the U-shaped finger element extending from the end area of the body member nearest to the cutout portion in the honeycomb panelling, and the free end of the other leg being disposed towards the under surface of the second sheet through which the cutout portion extends.

Claim 10

The fastener retainer of claim 6 wherein the body member is integrally formed with a fastener extending from the central, axial portion thereof.

Claim 11

The fastener retainer of claim 6 wherein said cap member further includes a laterally extending skirt portion which bridges the said cutout portion, said skirt portion further including skin piercing and engaging means constituting the said means for securing the cap member from rotation relative to the panel.

Claim 12

The fastener retainer of claim 6 wherein the cap member is adhesively bonded to the honeycomb panel.