Abstract: This invention provides a tool for attaching fasteners to a workpiece that includes a slide within a body and a rod threaded into the slide. The outer end of the rod threads into the floating nut of a fastener assembly with an enlargement on the rod centering the nut and the fastener sleeve. The tool includes a die through which the rod extends. A segmented spacer fits around the die to support the workpiece around the opening through it, while the rod, pulled by the slide, draws the fastener sleeve into the opening. The segments of the spacer then are separated and retracted, exposing the die. Further actuation forces the die against the end of the fastener sleeve to flare it outwardly and form a flange for retaining the fastener to the workpiece.

Abstract: This invention provides a captive fastener in which a nut is held to a workpiece by a retainer ring held in a two-piece grommet attached to the workpiece, the retainer ring being flat and split, with its grain perpendicular to a diameter bisecting the split, and its inner and outer edges having alternate elongated recesses to increase the effective ring width without increasing spring force. The stud assembly includes a cage secured to the other workpiece, with side flanges removably and floatingly retaining a housing in which is a stud and spring biased ratchet washer. The notched outer end of the housing is bent over the head of the stud to secure the stud. The ratchet washer has tabs fitting in the housing wall, and ratchet teeth to engage teeth on the end of the nut. A cover fits over the housing.

Abstract: This invention provides a captive fastener in which a nut is held to a workpiece by a retainer ring held in a two-piece grommet attached to the workpiece, the retainer ring being flat and split, with its grain perpendicular to a diameter bisecting the split, and its inner and outer edges having alternate elongated recesses to increase the effective ring width without increasing spring force. The stud assembly includes a cage secured to the other workpiece, with side flanges removably and floatingly retaining a housing in which is a stud and spring biased ratchet washer. The notched outer end of the housing is bent over the head of the stud to secure the stud. The ratchet washer has tabs fitting in the housing wall, and ratchet teeth to engage teeth on the end of the nut. A cover fits over the housing.

Abstract: This invention provides improved fatigue life for a fastener having a sleeve associated with a basket and extending through an opening in a workpiece. The sleeve has curved lobes that penetrate the workpiece to prevent rotation, the lobes having inclined leading edges, and inclined abutment surfaces at the inner ends of their roots that compress the displaced material of the workpiece around the entrance to the opening.

Abstract: This invention provides a locking fastener in which a nut is provided with symmetrical axial slots extending inwardly from one end, a sleeve surrounds the nut and has ribs in the slots for engaging the thread of a threaded shank received in the nut, and a tubular member extends around the sleeve for pressing the sleeve into an annular groove in the nut for retaining the sleeve on the nut. The ends of a tubular member are bent inwardly adjacent the ends of the sleeve for holding the tubular member on the sleeve.

Abstract: This invention provides a captive screw and a nut, the captive screw including a collar having an opening receiving the shank of a screw, the opening having a portion of wide diameter and a portion of narrow diameter. The screw has a full-depth thread at its outer end, and a truncated thread inwardly thereof, the truncated thread being dimensioned to pass through the narrow part of the opening in the collar while the full-depth thread cannot so that the screw is retained by the collar yet the end of the screw can be entirely retracted within the collar. The nut assembly includes a sleeve with an external shoulder, a straight knurl, and a flarable end, internally having a hexagonal portion in its bore. The nut has a hexagonal portion which extends into the sleeve and is smaller in lateral dimension than that of the opening to permit lateral floating movement, and longer axially than the hexagonal portion of the bore, to permit relative axial movement of the nut relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: The push fastener of this invention includes a plastic receptacle held by a metal member to a workpiece, the receptacle having four leaf springs for improved alignment and load carrying ability. Two inclined inner surfaces are provided on the receptacle, one for engagement by the end of the plunger and the other for engagement by the release collar. A lip at the ends of the leaf springs is received within the interior of a washer on the end of the plunger when the fastener is secured, resisting outward displacement of the ends of the leaf springs.

Abstract: This invention provides a shear resistant panel fastener that includes a bolt having a head and a shank with a first relatively large diameter portion adjacent the head and a second smaller diameter threaded portion, a sleeve on the second portion of the shank, a collar around the sleeve and movable to a position around the first portion of the shank, the collar including a means for attachment to a workpiece, and a retainer means for prohibiting movement of the collar off of the sleeve in one direction. The smaller outer end of the shank is adapted to enter a clearance opening in a part for engagement with a floating nut at the opposite end of the opening, while the larger portion of the shank is drawn into the opening and the fastener is tightened. The smaller portion of the shank permits the fastener to be mated when the openings are misaligned while the larger portion of the shank provides shear resistance when the fastener is mated.

Abstract: This invention provides an installation tool for a fastener that includes a nut and a tubular portion having an external knurl, the tool including an internally and externally threaded sleeve, a screw extending through the sleeve and engageable with the nut of the fastener, and an internally threaded element engaging the external threads of the sleeve and having an abutment surface at one end. Advancement of the internally threaded element causes the screw to move the fastener axially, forcing its tubular portion into an opening in a workpiece. The sleeve has a die surface at one end and is then advanced to engage the end of the tubular portion of the fastener for bending it outwardly to form a flange.

Abstract: This invention provides a self-retracting and self-locking bolt assembly for fixed attachment to a workpiece to removably secure the workpiece to a second workpiece containing a mating internally threaded fastening device. A bolt has a shank with rolled threads on its outer end and an exterior shank shoulder, adjacent the head, which faces the threaded section. A collar circumscribes the shank and is slidably retained on the shank, by the rolled threads, between the shoulder and the rolled threads. The head is axially spring-biased away from the collar. The collar is in turn slidably and nonrotatably retained coaxially within the longitudinal passage through a cylindrical ferrule. The collar is also axially spring-biased, within the ferrule, towards the shank shoulder with a force greater than the head-biasing force.

Abstract: This invention provides a sealed fastener that includes a housing and a nut assembly, the housing having a base and a receptacle extending beyond the base on one side, an annular seal being positioned on the opposite side of the base and engaged by a flange of the receptacle which holds the receptacle to the base. The nut assembly includes a threaded member within the receptacle and a sleeve extending through an opening into the base and beyond the opposite side of the base. The sleeve is bendable outwardly to form a flange to cooperate with the base in holding the fastener to a workpiece, the seal including a bead which will engage such a workpiece and prevent leakage when the flange on the sleeve is so formed.