High tolerance hole-plug for sheet metal

Claim 1

A hole-plug for closing an aperture in a sheet support member, comprising a sheet metal cup having a generally cylindrical side wall of a size and shape to be loosely received in the hole to be plugged, a bottom wall integrally joined to said side wall to form the closed end of said cup, and an external peripheral flange integrally joined to and extending radially outward from said side wall at the open end of said cup, said flange being of a width and contour to substantially overlie the margin of the hole to be plugged, and said cup having at least two, generally diametrically opposed, slots piercing the cup adjacent the juncture of said bottom and side walls; a clamp member disposed in said cup for securing it in holeplugging position in an aperture of a support member, said clamp member comprising a relatively stiff but malleable sheet metal spider having a main body portion and integrally connected leg portions radiating from said body portion and corresponding in number and circumferential orientation with said slots in said cup member so as to register therewith, said leg portions having their tips received in respective slots of said cups and making a close sliding fit therewith, said legs being arched to dispose said main body portion in elevated position in said cup member; said clamp member being adapted and arranged to cause said leg portions to expand radially through said cup slots when the central arcuate body portion of said clamp member is flatened inwardly toward the bottom wall of said cup, whereby said tips are caused to overlap and grip the margin of the hole in said support member on the face thereof opposite that engaged by said annular cup flange.