US3783922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Blind mounting fastener
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A caged nut or bolt for assembly and retention preferably in a round mounting hole in a blind panel. The retainer is formed integrally from a flat blank and has a base with central aperture for bolt clearance and a pair of integral leg portions extending outwardly from the base in cupped arrangement. The free ends of the legs have transverse portions formed in semicircular configuration with the edges flanged radially outwardly. Each of the transverse portions has a pair of integral lugs extending therefrom toward the base with the ends of the lugs flared outwardly. Integral outwardly extending tabs are provided on the base in cupped arrangement for retaining a nut or bolt head centrally between the tab and leg portions. Portions of the tabs and legs are chamfered or sized near the base portion to permit insertion of the retainer, with a nut or bolt head therein, in a panel mounting hole of a diameter substantially that of a circle including the nut points. Where a nut is caged, a bolt is inserted through the mounting hole, threaded into the nut, and tightened to draw the nut away from the base portion toward the panel undersurface. As the bolt is tightened, the leg and lug portions of the retainer are wedged between the edge faces of the nut and the wall of the mounting hole, and the nut is thereby secured in the mounting hole. Where a bolt is used, the head of the bolt is received between the leg portions and the shank extends outwardly of the retainer between the radially flanged portion. A nut is threaded over the bolt to draw the bolt head away from the base portion toward the panel undersurface wedging the leg portion between the wall of the mounting hole and the bolt head.
Inventors
- 👤 S Petrus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B37/00; F16B37/04; F16B37/044; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A retainer for blind-hole assembly of a nut comprising: a. a base portion having an aperture therein for clearing a bolt; b. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; c. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free end thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from said base; and d. a plurality of tabs formed integral with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, said tabs being adapted for retaining a flat sided nut centrally between said leg portions and said tabs, such that when the base and leg portions, with said nut therein, are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said nut but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said nut is threadedly engaged by a bolt through said mounting hole and drawn away from said base portion by tightening the bolt, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said nut and the wall of the mounting hole and said nut is secured therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A retainer for blind-hole assembly of a nut comprising: a. a base portion having an aperture therein for clearing a bolt; b. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; c. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free end thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from said base; and d. a plurality of tabs formed integral with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, said tabs being adapted for retaining a flat sided nut centrally between said leg portions and said tabs, such that when the base and leg portions, with said nut therein, are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said nut but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said nut is threadedly engaged by a bolt through said mounting hole and drawn away from said base portion by tightening the bolt, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said nut and the wall of the mounting hole and said nut is secured therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein a. each of said leg portions has the longitudinal edges thereof chamfered on the outer surface thereof in the region adjacent said base; and, b. each of said tab portions has the longitudinal edges thereof chamfered on the outer surfaces thereof in the region adjacent the free end thereof and said leg and tab portions each have a thickness not exceeding the difference between the radius of a circle containing the points of said nut and the radius of a circle inscribed in and tangent to the sides of said nut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein a. said retainer has two leg portions disposed in diametrically opposite relationships about said base; b. said transverse portions, and said radially extending flange are each formed in semicircular arcs; c. said retainer has two lug portions extending from each of said transverse portions with the lug portions disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent leg portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein said retainer has a pair of said tabs disposed in diametrically opposed relationship about said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein each of said lug portions is disposed in spaced substantially longitudinally parallel relation with the adjacent leg portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein said lug portions are biased inwardly of said leg portions for preventing inadvertent removal of a nut assembled in said retainer prior to installation of the retainer into a mounting hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The nut retainer defined in claim 1, wherein said leg and lug portions have a thickness substantially that of the difference between the radius of a circle containing the points of the nut to be installed and the radius of a circle inscribed tangent to the sides of said nut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
234 words
A blind mounting fastener comprising: a. a flat sided nut; b. a base portion having an aperture therein for clearing a bolt; c. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; d. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free End thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from said base; and e. a plurality of tabs formed integral with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, wherein said nut is received centrally between said leg portions and said tabs and in contact with said base portion, such that when the base and leg portions are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said nut, but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said nut is threadedly engaged by a bolt through said mounting hole and drawn away from said base portion by tightening the bolt, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said nut and the wall of the mounting hole and said nut is secured partially in said hole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
234 words
A blind mounting fastener comprising: a. a flat sided nut; b. a base portion having an aperture therein for clearing a bolt; c. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; d. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free End thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from said base; and e. a plurality of tabs formed integral with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, wherein said nut is received centrally between said leg portions and said tabs and in contact with said base portion, such that when the base and leg portions are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said nut, but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said nut is threadedly engaged by a bolt through said mounting hole and drawn away from said base portion by tightening the bolt, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said nut and the wall of the mounting hole and said nut is secured partially in said hole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
A blind mounting fastener comprising: a. a machine bolt having a flat sided head; b. a base portion; c. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; d. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free end thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from the base; and, e. a plurality of tabs formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, wherein the head of said bolt is received centrally between said leg portions and said tabs and in contact with said base portion with the threaded shank of said bolt extending away from said base and beyond said radial flanges, such that when the base and leg portions are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said head, but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said bolt is threadedly engaged by a nut and the head thereof drawn away from said base by tightening said nut, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said bolt head and the wall of the mounting hole and said bolt is secured therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
246 words
A blind mounting fastener comprising: a. a machine bolt having a flat sided head; b. a base portion; c. at least two leg portions integral with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said base in peripherally equally spaced cupped arrangement, each leg having a transverse portion formed at the free end thereof, with each of said transverse portions formed in arcuate configuration with the free edge thereof flanged radially outwardly; d. at least one lug portion integral with each of said transverse portions extending therefrom toward said base, with each of said lug portions having the free end thereof bent outwardly in a direction away from the base; and, e. a plurality of tabs formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said base in cupped arrangement, wherein the head of said bolt is received centrally between said leg portions and said tabs and in contact with said base portion with the threaded shank of said bolt extending away from said base and beyond said radial flanges, such that when the base and leg portions are received in a mounting hole sufficient for clearing the points of said head, but insufficient for clearing said radial flanges and said bolt is threadedly engaged by a nut and the head thereof drawn away from said base by tightening said nut, said lug and leg portions are wedged intermediate the sides of said bolt head and the wall of the mounting hole and said bolt is secured therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |