Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bolt retainer for use as a component of an access panel fastener. The retainer comprises a grommet having an axial end and an aperture in open communication therewith. The grommet has a radial shoulder surface facing away from the end of the grommet which also has an internal surface extending toward the end of the grommet from the radially inner edge of the radial shoulder surface. The disclosed retainer has only two discrete retaining jaws in the aperture adjacent the radial shoulder surface and spring means biasing the jaws toward the axis. Each jaw is C-shaped and is substantially 180.degree. in circumferential extent. Each jaw also includes a boss adapted to enter the cylindrical surface of the grommet to limit jaw opening and the jaws present to the bolt a configuration of greater axial length than the pitch of the bolt thread.

Abstract: A self-sealing, self-locking nut in which the nut body includes an annular recess within which there is located an annular member of resilient sealing and locking material, such as a fluoroplastic, and compression-retention means integral with the nut body and including a radially inward extension of the clamping surface of the nut body, the extension being located beneath the annular member of resilient sealing and locking material and below the clamping surface such that upon engaging the fastener with a complementary threaded element and tightening the clamping surface extension against a workpiece, axial clamping forces tend to move the extension upwardly toward the remainder of the clamping surface, thereby essentially completely confining the annular member within the nut body and compressing the annular member axially while contracting the inside diameter of the annular member to establish a seal along the complementary threaded element and a prevailing-torque lock between the nut body and the compleme

Abstract: An expansion clamp for use with a resilient tubular gasket to provide a leakproof joint in a piping system including a substantially C-shaped circumferentially-extending member having end portions cooperating with one another and further including means for locking the end portions with respect to each other so as to maintain the expansion clamp, the gasket, the inner circumferential surface of the pipe in mutual compressive relation. One end of the C-shaped member is also provided with means to prevent axial and radial displacement of the other end portion.