U-shaped clip nut

Claim 2

A U-shaped clip nut, for attachment to a work panel having an aperture near the edge thereof, comprising: a base leg and a nut leg integrally joined by a bight portion extending across an intermediate part of the total width of the clip nut, with two opposite edge portions of the nut leg constituting fingers joined to said nut leg only in the vicinity of the free end of the nut leg, and directed toward said base leg at their free ends, the planes of said base leg and said nut leg generally paralleling the plane of said work panel as installed so that ends of both of said legs opposite said bight portion engage the respectively opposite faces of said panel. said nut leg including a thread-engaging hole adjacent its end opposite said bight portion, said base leg including a clearance opening aligned with said thread-engaging hole and further including detent means at the side of said clearance opening closest to said bight portion and projecting toward said nut leg so that said detent means is adapted to be received in said aperture of said work panel to properly locate and hold said clip nut to said work panel.

Claim 3

A clip nut according to claim 1 wherein: said opposite edge portions occupy substantially the remaining width of said total width.

Claim 4

A clip nut according to claim 1 wherein: said base leg is substantially planar throughout its area and is uninterrupted throughout its extent, save for said clearance hole therein.

Claim 5

A clip nut according to claim 1 wherein said nut includes: said thread-engaging hole formed generally at the mouth of a frustoconical embossment in said nut leg, said embossment being located on said nut leg so that the end edge of said nut leg is closely adjacent to being tangent to a point on the periphery of the base of said embossment.

Claim 6

A U-shaped clip nut for attachment to a work panel having an aperture near the edge thereof, comprising: a base leg having a clearance opening and detent means adjacent the periphery of said opening; a nut leg having a thread-engaging hole therein adjacent its free end and in general registry with said base leg opening; a resilient bight portion integrally joining said base leg and said nut leg and tending to hold said legs in a predetermined spaced-apart relation; and said nut leg comprising an inner portion extending for substantially the length of said nut leg and having substantially its width integrally joined to said bight portion, said nut leg further comprising opposite edge leaf spring fingers integral with said inner portion in the vicinity of said thread-engaging hole and being inclined throughout their length to place their free ends closer to said base leg than the corresponding intervening portion of said nut leg, so that a material clamping effect upon said work panel is imposed between said fingers and said base leg to draw said detent means into said work panel aperture with said clip nut installed with the planes of said base leg and said nut leg generally paralleling the plane of said work panel.

Claim 7

A U-shaped clip nut for attachment to a work panel having an aperture near the edge thereof, comprising: a base leg having a clearance opening and detent means adjacent the periphery of said opening; a nut leg having a thread-engaging hole therein adjacent its free end and in general registry with said base leg opening; a resilient bight portion integrally joining said base leg and said nut leg and tending to hold said legs in a predetermined spaced-apart relation; and said nut leg comprising an inner portion extending for substantially the length of said nut leg and having substantially its width integrally joined to said bight portion, said nut leg further comprising opposite edge leaf spring fingers integral with said inner portion in the vicinity of said thread-engaging hole and being inclined throughout their length to place their free ends closer to said base leg than the corresponding intervening portion of said nut leg, so that a material clamping effect upon said work panel is imposed between said fingers and said base leg to draw said detent means into said work panel aperture with said clip nut installed with the planes of said base leg and said nut leg generally paralleling the plane of said work panel.

Claim 8

A clip nut according to claim 5 wherein: said base leg is substantially planar save for said detent means, and is uninterrupted throughout its area by means separating one portion thereof from another except for said base leg opening.

Claim 9

A clip nut according to claim 5 including: upwardly inclined lead corners at the lead edge of said nut leg.

Claim 10

A clip nut according to claim 5 wherein: the free ends of said fingers terminate short of said bight.

Claim 11

A clip nut according to claim 5 wherein: said thread-engaging hole is formed generally at the mouth of a frustoconical embossment; and said embossment is located on said inner portion so that the end edge of said nut is closely adjacent to being tangent to a point on the periphery of the base of said embossment.