Abstract: A captive panel fastener having an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a pair of slots extending longitudinally along the outer periphery of said shank through the threads thereon. A C-shaped ring is trapped in a grommet assembly and has a pair of inwardly extending ends riding in the slots. In this manner, when the grommet assembly is installed in an aperture, such as in the skin of an aircraft panel, the fastener can be pushed between positions whereby in a first position the grommet assembly and C-ring are at one end of the shank holding the head and shank outwardly from the aircraft panel and, in a second position, the C-ring rides along the slots and abuts against the head so that the remaining threaded shaft can extend through the aperture and a nut threaded thereon securing the fastener to the panel.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism is disclosed which is adapted for transverse coupling to a keeper pin. A housing is provided for transversely receiving the keeper pin. Detent bodies associated with the housing are included for releasably coupling to the keeper pin. A sleeve is slidably associated with the housing for releasably locking the detent bodies in a coupled position with the keeper pin. A spring is included for normally biasing both the detent bodies and the sleeve to the detent locking position.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is disclosed which includes a housing in which a rotor assembly is rotatably journalled within the housing and rotatable between fully locked and unlocked positions. The rotor assembly is provided with a movable member or latching surface for latching to an eyebolt or the like. An indicator flag is slidably mounted in the rotor assembly and is restricted to common rotation with the rotor assembly. The flag is slidably movable between an extended position wherein a portion of the flag extends out of the rotor assembly and a recess position where the flag is not visible externally of the rotor assembly. The flag is biased to the extended position so that it remains extended and visible until the rotor assembly is moved to a fully locked position. The flag remains in the recessed position only when the rotor assembly is in the fully locked position.

Abstract: A panel fastener including a stud assembly and a receptacle assembly for receiving the stud assembly therein. Both the stud assembly and the receptacle assembly include mating locking teeth and a movable pin permitting the teeth to be locked together without rotation or applying torque to the teeth preventing rotation of the same and for disengaging the teeth also without rotating or applying torque to the same.

Abstract: A manually operable tool for installing blind anchor nuts by pulling an internally threaded part of the nut into a body part of the nut to expand the latter. The tool includes a body member having a bore extending therethrough, an anvil at one end of the bore for engaging the body part of an anchor nut, the anvil surrounding an aperture aligned with the bore, and a grip by means of which an operator can hold the body member to prevent rotation thereof about the bore. A mandrel, which may be changed without the need for external tooling, is positioned in the aperture in the anvil, the mandrel having an externally threaded portion extending outwardly of the anvil and a socket facing into the bore. A shaft is rotatable and reciprocable in the bore of the body member which shaft is provided at one end with a key which fits into the socket on the mandrel in driving engagement therewith, the key being interchangeable without the need for external tooling.

Abstract: A latching mechanism having a latch member and a pin assembly mounted on the latch member. The pin assembly includes a first sleeve member secured at one end to the latch member, a second sleeve member secured to the other end of the first sleeve member and having an opening therein and a third sleeve member slidably mounted on the second sleeve member and normally biased in a direction encircling the opening in the second sleeve member. A pin is slidably mounted within the first sleeve member and extends into the second sleeve member and detent means are associated with both the pin and the second sleeve member for selectively preventing the third sleeve member from moving into a position encircling the opening and for releasing the third sleeve member for movement to a position encircling the opening. A locking flange having a floating ring therein is provided for receiving the pin assembly in locking engagement therewith.

Abstract: A rotatable locking mechanism is provided for releasably securing relatively rotatable members, such as a member which is rotatably positionable with respect to a support member. A releasable ball detent locking assembly is mounted in one of the members for cooperating with selectively disposed indentations in the other member. In one of the embodiments, the detent assembly is mounted within the rotatable member and is provided with a manually actuated release mechanism for selectively positioning such member at one or more predetermined angular relationships with respect to the support member. In the locked condition, the ball detents are caused to protrude from the rotatable member and seat within the indentations formed on the support member. To free the rotatable member, the release mechanism is manually operated to retract the ball detents to a generally recessed or flush relationship with respect to a surrounding wall portion of the rotatable member.