Stressed panel fastener

Claim 2

A fastener comprising a member having a head at one end, and a shank projecting from said head, said shank including a first portion of relatively large outside diameter adjacent said head, and a second portion of relatively small diameter remote from said head, said second portion having a thread thereon, a sleeve having an inside diameter greater than that of said second portion of said shank and less than that of said first portion of said shank, said sleeve being received on said second portion of said shank and being axially movable relative thereto, a collar circumscribing said shank, said collar including means for attachment to a workpiece, said collar having an inside diameter greater than that of the outside diameter of said sleeve and the outside diameter of said second portion of said shank, whereby said collar can move relative to said shank and to said sleeve so that either said second portion of said shank or said sleeve is received in said collar, and retainer means for limiting said relative movement so that said collar cannot move off of said sleeve in the direction of the outer end of said shank, and cannot move off of said first portion of said shank in the direction of said head.

Claim 3

A device as recited in claim 1 in which the outside diameter of said sleeve is substantially the same as the diameter of said first portion of said shank.

Claim 4

A device as recited in claim 1 in which said shank defines a shoulder between said first and second portions thereof, said shoulder being engageable by said sleeve for limiting the movement of said sleeve relative to said shank in the direction of said head.

Claim 5

A device as recited in claim 3 in which said shoulder tapers toward the outer end of said shank.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 3 including means for limiting the movement of said sleeve relative to shank in the direction of the outer end of said shank.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 5 in which said second portion of said shank is longer than said first portion of said shank.

Claim 8

A device as recited in claim 1 in which said thread has a first portion having a first major diameter adjacent the outer end of said shank, and a second portion having a second major diameter inwardly thereof, said first major diameter being greater than the inside diameter of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve can be moved relative to said shank inwardly of said outer end of said shank.

Claim 9

A device as recited in claim 7 in which said second portion of said thread is longer than said first portion of said thread.

Claim 10

A device as recited in claim 8 in which said first portion of said thread extends for no more than two turns.

Claim 11

A device as recited in claim 8 in which said sleeve at the end portion thereof adjacent the outer end of said shank has slot means therein for providing said end of said sleeve with resilience to permit expansion thereof and the entry of said first portion of said thread into said end portion of said sleeve.

Claim 12

A device as recited in claim 10 in which said sleeve inwardly of said end thereof includes an internal annular groove for receiving said first portion of said thread upon entry of said first portion of said thread into said outer end portion of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve can return to its free diameter upon such entry of said first portion of said thread therein.

Claim 13

A device as recited in claim 11 in which the length of said first portion of said thread relative to the length of said sleeve between said inner annular groove and said outer end thereof is such that when said first portion of said thread is so received in said internal annular groove, said outer end of said shank is entirely received within said sleeve.

Claim 14

A device as recited in claim 10 in which for said slot means said sleeve has axial slots extending inwardly from said outer end.

Claim 15

A device as recited in claim 12 in which said retainer means includes a resilient element, said collar having an internal annular groove receiving portions of said resilient element, said sleeve having an exterior annular groove adapted to receive other portions of said resilient element, said exterior annular groove being radially outwardly of said internal annular groove of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve has a relatively thin deflectable wall between said internal and exterior grooves thereof.

Claim 16

A device as recited in claim 1 in which said retainer means includes a split resilient ring, said collar having an internal annular groove receiving outside portions of said ring, said sleeve having an exterior annular groove receiving inside portions of said ring, said groove of said sleeve having a substantially radial wall adjacent one end thereof for retaining said ring and having an outwardly inclined wall at the opposite end thereof for permitting said ring to be expanded into said groove in said collar when forced out of said groove in said sleeve.

Claim 17

A fastener comprising a member having a head at one end, and a shank projecting from said head, said shank having a thread thereon, said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank having a first major diameter and inwardly of said outer end of said shank having a second major diameter less than said first major diameter, a sleeve having an inside diameter greater than that of said second major diameter and less than that of said first major diameter, and having a first end relatively adjacent said head of said member and a second end relatively remote from said head of said member, said shank being received in said sleeve, said shank and said sleeve being axially movable relative to each other between a first position in which said head of said member is relatively close to said first end of said sleeve and a second position in which said head of said member is relatively remote from said first end of said sleeve, releasable means for holding said sleeve and said shank in said second position thereof, a collar circumscribing said shank, said collar including means for attachment to a workpiece, and having an inside diameter greater than that of the outside diameter of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve can be received in said collar, and said sleeve and said shank can move axially relative to said collar, said sleeve being so movable relative to said collar between a first position in which said second end thereof is relatively adjacent said collar, and a second position in which said second end thereof is relatively remote from said collar, and releasable means for retaining said sleeve in said first position thereof relative to said collar.

Claim 18

A fastener comprising a member having a head at one end, and a shank projecting from said head, said shank having a thread thereon, said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank having a first major diameter and inwardly of said outer end of said shank having a second major diameter less than said first major diameter, a sleeve having an inside diameter greater than that of said second major diameter and less than that of said first major diameter, and having a first end relatively adjacent said head of said member and a second end relatively remote from said head of said member, said shank being received in said sleeve, said shank and said sleeve being axially movable relative to each other between a first position in which said head of said member is relatively close to said first end of said sleeve and a second position in which said head of said member is relatively remote from said first end of said sleeve, releasable means for holding said sleeve and said shank in said second position thereof, a collar circumscribing said shank, said collar including means for attachment to a workpiece, and having an inside diameter greater than that of the outside diameter of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve can be received in said collar, and said sleeve and said shank can move axially relative to said collar, said sleeve being so movable relative to said collar between a first position in which said second end thereof is relatively adjacent said collar, and a second position in which said second end thereof is relatively remote from said collar, and releasable means for retaining said sleeve in said first position thereof relative to said collar.

Claim 19

A device as recited in claim 16 in which the outer surface of said sleeve tapers toward the outer end of said shank for facilitating entry of said sleeve into an opening in a workpiece.

Claim 20

A device as recited in claim 16 for said means for holding said sleeve and said shank in said second position thereof, said collar has a recess therein adapted to receive said portion of said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank, said sleeve including an expansible portion for permitting said portion of said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank to enter said recess.

Claim 21

A device as recited in claim 18 wherein said thread extends from a position spaced from said head to said outer end of said shank, said shank between said head and said thread having a first diameter adjacent said thread which is substantially equal to said second major diameter, and a second diameter larger than said first diameter adjacent said head, thereby defining a shoulder between said first and second diameters of said shank, said inside diameter of said sleeve being less than said second diameter of said shank, said shoulder being engageable with said first end of said sleeve for moving said sleeve with said member.

Claim 22

A device as recited in claim 16 in which for said means for holding said sleeve and said shank in said second position said sleeve includes an internal thread engageable by said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank, but not engageable by said thread inwardly of said outer end of said shank.

Claim 23

A device as recited in claim 20 wherein said internal thread extends for less than the full length of said sleeve, and is located adjacent said second end of said sleeve.

Claim 24

A device as recited in claim 16 wherein said thread extends from a position spaced from said head to said outer end of said shank, said shank between said thread and said head being of constant diameter substantially equal to said second major diameter.

Claim 25

A device as recited in claim 22 wherein said sleeve has a head at said first end thereof engageable by said head of said member for moving said sleeve with said member.

Claim 26

A device as recited in claim 16 wherein said thread inwardly of said outer end of said shank is larger than said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank.

Claim 27

A device as recited in claim 16 wherein said thread adjacent the outer end of said shank extends for no more than two turns.

Claim 28

A device as recited in claim 16 wherein said releasable means for retaining said sleeve in said first position thereof relative to said collar includes a resilient element, said collar having an internal annular groove receiving portions of said resilient element, said sleeve having an exterior annular groove adapted to receive other portions of said resilient element.

Claim 29

A device as recited in claim 26 in which said sleeve includes slot means extending inwardly from said second end thereof and intersecting said exterior annular groove, for permitting a member to enter said slot means and force said resilient element out of said exterior annular groove and further into said internal annular groove of said collar so that said sleeve can be separated from said collar.