Fastener

Claim 1

A self-retaining fastener for lockingly engaging, upon rotational tightening, a longitudinally, non-rotationally inserted screw, and for preventing longitudinal, non-rotational removal thereof, the (A) a retaining portion adapted to be non-rotationally positioned proximate the end opposite that end from which the screw is to be inserted of a clearance bore adapted to receive said screw, said retaining portion comprising a retaining arm resiliently attached to said locking portion and forming an acute included angle therewith, said retaining arm including a spring tab extending outward from one side of said retaining arm; and (B) a generally flat locking portion resiliently cantilever carried by said retaining portion and having formed therethrough a generally circular aperture sized to accept the major diameter of said screw, said locking portion having a relaxed position wherein said locking portion is disposed in an angular relationship relative to the axis of the clearance bore such that the axis of said aperture describes an acute angle with the axis of the clearance bore, said aperture when said locking portion is in the relaxed position hwaving a proportion on a plane normal to the axis of said bore which is smaller than the major diameter of said screw said locking portion being movable in response to the insertion of said screw through said clearance bore to a loaded position wherein the axis of said aperture is more nearly coincident with the axis of said clearance bore thereby allowing the ratcheting insertion of said screw; and being further movable in response to tightening engagement of the inserted screw to a locked position wherein the surfaces of the locking portion adjacent the clearance bore threadedly engage the screw.