Abstract: A plug locking assembly for installation in an aircraft panel or the like. The plug assembly is coupled to a receptacle mounted in a recess in the panel. A spring biased detent locking mechanism is reciprocally mounted in the plug assembly movable from a first position wherein the detents of the detent locking mechanism are trapped in the plug assembly to a second position wherein the detents lock the plug assembly within a chamber in the receptacle. The upper surface of the plug assembly is flush with the upper surface of the panel and can be unlocked automatically therefrom.

Abstract: A self-retaining adjustable diameter bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into aligned holes in a pair of abutting panels for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of the panels. The bolt includes a pawl engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panels. A plurality of bushing segments are mounted on the bolt shank, the pawl extending through an opening in the segment adjacent the threaded end of the bolt shank and retained therein by engagement with a slot through the segment while simultaneously being oriented in an operative position therein. A nut, having a skirt portion, is threaded onto the threaded end driving the segments forward and filling the spacing between the holes and the bolt shank. The skirt portion of the nut overlies the pawl and protects the same.

Abstract: A self-retaining adjustable diameter bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into aligned holes in a pair of abutting panels for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of the panels. The bolt includes a pawl engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panels. A plurality of bushing segments are mounted on the bolt shank, the pawl extending through an opening in the segment adjacent the threaded end of the bolt shank. A nut, having a skirt portion, is threaded onto the threaded end driving the segments forward and filling the spacing between the holes and the bolt shank. The skirt portion of the nut overlies the pawl and protects the same. The nut can be fully torqued to cause complete radial expansion of the bushing segments in the aligned panel holes before bottoming out against the panels.

Abstract: A self-retaining adjustable diameter bolt with an adjustable nut including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into a hole in an installation for subsequent coupling to an nut assembly. The bolt includes a pawl with a plurality of bushing segments mounted on the bolt shank, the pawl extending through an opening in the bolt adapted to engage the segments to stop withdrawal from the bolt. The nut assembly has a first portion threaded onto the threaded end driving the segments forward and filling the spacing between the hole and bolt shank. The nut assembly includes a second portion rotatable on the first portion which can be tightened against the panel installation. In this manner, full radial expansion of the segments takes place before the first nut portion bottoms out against the installation and the second nut portion can be then tightened against the installation.

Abstract: A fastener assembly including a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud of a receptacle assembly. The head of the bolt has a countersunk opening configured to a tool for rotating the same. This opening includes a spring biased releasable plug which is moved downwardly upon insertion of the tool to permit rotation thereof, then returns to a position flush with the exterior of the head of the bolt surrounding the opening. An adjusting screw is threaded into a mating threaded hole in the plug for adjusting the same so that the upper surface of the plug is flush with the upper surface of the bolt head.

Abstract: A panel fastener having a bolt and a floating grommet assembly which assembly includes a grommet fixedly mounted in a hole in a panel and a spacer spaced from the grommet and swaged thereagainst and also against the bolt of the panel fastener. In this matter, the bolt may be held away from the panel, then pushed inwardly into the hole in the panel. The spacing between the grommet and the spacer allows for play between the bolt and the panel to compensate for misalignment between the bolt of the panel fastener and the receptacle to which it is to be fastened.

Abstract: A panel for assembly for closing off an irregularly configured hole in a panel. The assembly has a housing with a head at one end and a shaft at the other end extending through the hole with a plunger mounted in the housing. A spring biased plate configured to the hole is mounted on the outside of said housing. The plate is fixed to the plunger so that it moves when the plunger is moved. The plunger is indexed to the housing so that it can move first in an vertical direction to a position where the plate is spaced from the head of the housing, then be rotated to a position whereby the plate also rotates with respect to the housing. In this manner, the plate can move first from the hole in the panel to a position away from the hole in the panel.

Abstract: A nut having an enlarged head, one end disposed in a countersunk opening in one side of the panel, which head may be configured for anti-rotation, and either an integral threaded portion or internal floating threaded insert at the other end extending through the panel. A sleeve is locked to the body of the nut retaining the same to the underside of the panel and allowing for variation in panel thickness. The nut threadably engages a threaded member that may be mounted in a panel.

Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism comprising a pair of interconnecting members. One of the members has a cavity for receiving therein a terminal end on the other member generally configured to the cavity. The terminal end is laterally placed in the cavity and a spring biased plunger in the member having the terminal end engages the exterior wall of the cavity and moves backwardly allowing a locking sleeve on the member having the terminal end to be slid to a position surrounding the engaged terminal end in the cavity and locking the same. A frictional-held release sleeve is also provided on the member having the terminal end rearward of the locking sleeve which may be slid forwardly to release the locking sleeve from locking engagement.

Abstract: A self-locking nut having an enlarged head and an elongated shank portion insertable into a hole in a panel. The nut has an integral skirt portion adjacent the underside of the head having a predetermined skirt length, which skirt is then deformed against the underside of the panel to hold the nut in firm position with respect to the panel. The nut may be provided with an irregularly shaped head conforming to a like configured countersunk in the panel leading into the hole to prevent rotation of the nut about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt includes a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer.In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly is disclosed for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head at one end, an intermediate body portion and a nose at the other end. A groove is provided between the nose and the body portion of the bolt.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt includes a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer.In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: A hold out spring is provided on a threaded bolt. The bolt is adapted to be inserted through a hole in a panel. The hold out spring is inserted into a bore in the bolt, riding in spaced diametrically opposed internal grooves therein, the hold out spring extending out of a slot in the bolt. A washer having inwardly extending tabs is now installed on the shank of the bolt, the tabs riding in grooves extending along the outer body of the bolt and stopped in their downward movement by engagement with a stop ring mounted in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The head of the bolt has a countersunk opening configured to a tool for rotating the same. This opening includes a releasable plug which is moved downwardly upon insertion of the tool to permit rotation thereof, then returns to a position flush with the exterior of the head of the bolt surrounding the opening.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a terminal nose and a groove adjacent the nose. A retaining ring is trapped in a cavity in the grommet assembly. The cavity of the grommet assembly is an annular cavity defined by the inner annular peripheral vertical wall of the grommet assembly, and has an inwardly extending horizontal bottom flange. The upper wall may be formed by an upwardly and inwardly extending upper flange. The bolt may be disengaged from the receptacle assembly and retracted away from the panel but retained thereto when the panel is disengaged from the sub-structure.

Abstract: A self-retaining bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into a hole in a panel or the like for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of a subpanel. The bolt includes a detent engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panel. The hole for the detent is placed in the location on the bolt that allows maximum strength capability through both the grip area and through the thread area of the bolt. This is accomplished by the use of a locking element of detent that does not require a hole in the shear or threaded area of the bolt. A nut can then be threaded to the end of the bolt projecting through the panels.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly comprising a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a nose at the other end, and an intermediate body portion, a groove provided on the bolt between the nose and the body portion, a panel having the hole extending therethrough with a grommet assembly mounted therein for retaining the bolt in a first position held out from the access side of said panel and for retaining said bolt in a second position wherein the bolt is adapted to engage a receptacle assembly mounted in an adjacent sub-panel. The grommet assembly includes an annular cavity therein having a retaining ring mounted in the cavity along the body of said bolt toward said head when the bolt is inserted into the grommet assembly, then moves back along the body of the bolt and into the groove of said bolt when the bolt is moved to the first position.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt has a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer. In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: An adjustable keeper assembly including a housing and an elongated keeper member disposed therein is disclosed. The keeper member has one end adapted for engaging a latch element and the other end for coupling by way of a coupling member to the housing. The coupling member is disposed within the housing wherein movement of the coupling member is restricted to rotation about its axis. Rotation of the coupling member causes lateral movement of the keeper member relative to the coupling member and housing. This lateral movement of the keeper member provides for taking up of slack between the latch element and keeper member. A plunger is included for releasably locking the coupling member to prevent inadvertent rotation of the coupling member.