Resilient fastener

Claim 1

A fastening device adapted for assembly with two structural members so as to reduce transmission of noise and mechanical vibrations at the interface of said members, said fastening device comprising a resilient sleeve for insertion into an aperture in one of said members, said sleeve having an interior surface defining a longitudinally extending bore, an exterior flange on said sleeve for engagement with said one member, and a screw-retaining means disposed within and secured to said sleeve for engagement by a screw inserted into said sleeve through an aperture in the other of said structural members, whereby rotation of said screw in said screw-retaining means will draw said members together and cause said sleeve to shorten and bulge outwardly into tight engagement with said one member, said sleeve being made of an elastomer and said screw-retaining means comprising a helical wire coil disposed coaxially with said bore and having a multiplicity of turns with the diameters of said turns increasing from one end of said coil to the opposite end of said coil, each of said turns comprising an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, at least some of said turns having their outer peripheral portions embedded in and bonded to the body of said sleeve and their inner peripheral portions exposed and projecting into said bore, said exposed inner peripheral portions forming a screw thread for engagement by said screw.