Abstract: A fastening element (10; 40) having a bracket (11; 41) and a receiving fixture (20; 50) for a nut body (33), the bracket (11; 41) having at least one bearing surface (16, 17; 46) for the receiving fixture (20; 50) and at least one holding element (14, 15; 43,44, 45) reaching over the receiving fixture (20; 50), and the receiving fixture (20; 50) being held by the bracket (11; 41) with play. The fastening element (10; 40) serves as a cage nut for connecting structural parts.

Abstract: A fastening assembly includes a threaded fastening member, a slidable member, and a resilient member. The threaded fastening member has a threaded portion. The slidable member is slidably sleeved on the threaded fastening member. The slidable member forms a resisting portion defining a threaded hole. The threaded hole is engagable with the threaded portion. The resilient member resists the threaded fastening member and the slidable member. The threaded portion of the threaded fastening member extends through the threaded hole.

Abstract: A nutmount apparatus includes a sleeve, a bushing insertable into the sleeve and a nut. The nutmount apparatus may further include a nut retainer for holding an internally threaded nut. The nutmount apparatus may be used, in conjunction with a threaded screw or bolt, to secure a first structure, such as an aircraft wall or cover panel, to a second structure, such as an aircraft frame.

Abstract: Provided is a system for mounting signs, the system having: a mounting block with a sign interfacing boss configured to be received into an aperture in a fence having an anterior surface and posterior rim; the anterior surface being configured to be attached to a sign; and a flange disposed about the posterior rim.

Abstract: An improved cage nut assembly is comprised of a cage, a pair of slots, a nut, a flange and a strip. The cage has four walls which form a four sided enclosure. Each of a pair of opposing walls contains a slot. The flange extends from the nut such that its planar surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nut. The flange and the nut have a common opening for receiving a bolt. The strip is attached to the nut and the flange. The strip is inserted into the slots to suspend the nut within the cage. The walls and the flange are shaped to limit rotation of the flange. The nut floats in two dimensions. The nut and the flange may be removed through the bottom of the cage.

Abstract: A captive structural fastener includes an integral hold-out feature. The fastener includes a stud assembly including a stud, a retaining ring including two oppositely disposed tabs protruding toward the center of the retaining ring, a first sleeve that is mainly engageable with a second sleeve, the second sleeve including an inwardly disposed channel for receiving the retaining ring; and a receptacle assembly, the receptacle assembly including a bracket constructed and arranged to be secured to a panel, an internally threaded nut, a retaining clamp for securing the nut in the bracket, and a grommet assembly having a bore for receiving the stud therethrough.

Abstract: A vehicle floating nut assembly is part of a body mounting fixture that couples a vehicle body onto a vehicle frame. The floating nut assembly has a nut element that floats with in a nut retainer assembly. At least one of the sliding surfaces located between the nut element and the retainer assembly is coated with a coating resistant material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Thus, the nut retainer assembly is arranged so that the nut element is slideable relative to the planar surface of the retainer assembly within a predetermined range of movement. Several floating nut assemblies are utilized to fixedly couple the vehicle body to the vehicle frame in which one of the vehicle floating nut assemblies includes is arranged to only allow limited movement of the nut element in one linear direction.

Abstract: A mounting system for a component to be mounted to a vehicle frame is provided utilizing keyhole features in the component, and fasteners having sacrificial spacers in the vehicle frame. The sacrificial spacers upon the fasteners prevent them from being pushed into the vehicle frame when the component having keyhole features is placed over them. Once the keyhole features have been placed over the fasteners having sacrificial spacers, the fasteners having sacrificial spacers may be fully tightened, thereby fully contributing to the integrity of the resulting joint. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening assembly for fixing an object to a profiled element with flanges which bound a longitudinal slot between them. The fastening assembly comprises a metal washer element, which has a bearing face that is arranged for resting against the outside of the profiled element, and also an elongated metal anchoring member, which is situated on the underside of the bearing face of the washer element and has axial end parts. The assembly furthermore comprises a support for the anchoring member, which support is connected to the washer element, possibly detachably, and which support bears the anchoring member. The fastening assembly with its anchoring member can be aligned with the longitudinal slot, and the anchoring member can be inserted through the longitudinal slot into the profiled element.

Abstract: A vibration-decoupling coupling element made of an elastically deformable female part and a male part is described. The female part has a fastening area, a decoupling area and a receiving area. The decoupling area is made up of a wall portion expanding away from the fastening area and shaped on the fastening area, a sleeve-shaped wall portion shaped on the receiving area and an annular shoulder wall portion connecting both these wall portions together. The male part has a fastening area and an insertion area. The insertion area is adjusted for the receiving area of the female part in order to form a plug-in connection in the assembled state of the coupling element.

Abstract: An arrangement for connecting a tubular first component to a second component, in particular for connecting a tensioning tube to an A-pillar of a vehicle body, has a first structural element which forms a receptacle for a screw element and is arranged at an end of the first component that faces the second component, and a second structural element which is secured in such a manner at that end of the first component which faces the second component that the first structural element is held between the first component and the second structural element, and the screw element is held by the second structural element in the first structural element in loss-proof fashion, the screw element being movable in the first structural element, at least in a direction transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first component, for compensation of tolerances in the connection of the first component to the second component. Furthermore, a method for producing an arrangement of this type is described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a cage nut assembly that includes a cage and a securing body, which may be part of a structure that is to be secured to another structure. The cage includes a base and lateral walls folded over an internal chamber. The base includes a plurality of fastener openings formed therethrough.

Abstract: Accordingly, this invention provides a fastener system which is weldable to a substructure that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the fasteners of the prior art. Generally, a weldable fastener is disclosed that has a coating applied to at least one surface of the fastener. The coating functions to prevent the deposit of a further coating, particularly an electrodeposition coating, upon further processing.

Abstract: A body comprising a nut retaining apparatus mounted thereon for fastening a bolt to the body. The bolt is inserted into a bolt insertion hole at an end surface of the body from a direction inclined with respect to a direction tangent to the body. The nut retaining apparatus comprises a nut retainer and a nut holder, the nut retainer positioned at an insertion end of the bolt insertion hole in the body and against which a nut member having a threaded hole abuts, and the nut holder mounted on the body for supporting the nut member in the inclined direction. The nut member is retained and supported in the inclined direction at a position between the nut retainer and nut holder and continuous with the bolt insertion hole.

Abstract: An attachment device for attaching a substrate to a support structure includes a housing having a space defined by facing wall portions. The space captures a rotatable push nut with flexible teeth. The housing is attached to the substrate using a flange positioned opposite one of the wall portions, the substrate being crimped between the flange and the wall portion. The device may be pushed onto a threaded stud to rapidly affix the substrate to the support structure. The push nut may be rotated within the housing to disengage it from the stud and thereby remove the substrate from the support structure.

Abstract: A fixing clamp for anchoring a component within a hole in a support plate includes an anchoring part having two side walls and a transverse wall, a generally planar locating strip projecting outwardly, an expanding tab projecting upwardly that defines a window in the side wall, and an inwardly bent edge strip on an end of the expanding tab. The fixing clamp also includes a movable threaded plate initially supported by the edge strip. The fixing clamp further includes a holding plate for the component and a fixing screw, and the fixing screw is threaded onto the threaded casing of the threaded plate, such that tightening of the fixing screw displaces the threaded plate downwardly along a longitudinal axis of the threaded portion of the fixing screw while deforming the expanding tabs outwardly until the expanding tabs are clampingly engaged with the support plate.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly is disclosed having a body defining a through bore. The cage is disposed about at least a portion of the body. The body is hexagonal in shape, while the cage defines a seam configured to be placed adjacent the coupling surface of the cage and base material.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly includes a nut and a cage wrapped therearound. The nut and/or the cage are provided with a number of stand-offs. The stand-offs reduce the amount of bearing surface interface between the cage and the nut thus reducing the possibility that the two parts will stick to each other after a bath is applied to the mating surface, and thus to the cage nut assembly, as the cage is welded to the mating surface. The stand-offs can be configured such that the cage nut assembly can move through the bath in a horizontal position, an upside down position, or a sideways position, substantially without the cage and nut sticking to one another.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly has a nut and a cage. The cage has a base having an aperture therethrough and a pair of flexible arm portions which are capable of supporting the nut off of the base. The cage nut assembly is welded to a workpiece. The workpiece is sent through an e-coat or ELPO bath. As the flexible arm portions of the cage support the nut off of the base, the possibility of the nut being stuck to the cage is reduced. A fastener is inserted through an aperture of the workpiece, through the aperture of the base and is threadedly engaged with the nut. As the fastener is torqued down, a force is applied to the nut such that the arm portions of the cage flex and allow the nut to come into contact and be secured against the base.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: A nut assembly includes a base plate and a nut. The base plate includes a bearing surface with bore for the passage of a bolt or the like therethrough. The nut includes a bearing surface engaged with the bearing surface of the base plate. The said nut includes a bore engageable with a bolt or the like passing through the bore of the base plate. The base plate may include foot members disposed around the bore of the base plate.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly includes a nut having a cylindrical portion extending from a plate portion. The nut is encaged in a cage such that the cylindrical portion extends through an aperture in the cage. The cylindrical portion of the nut is collapsible such that the nut collapses and provides a plurality of flanges upon an application of force. The flanges are folded or curved/mushroomed such that the plate portion of the nut is suspended within the cage so that the nut will not, or will minimally, stick to the cage or workpiece when coated with e-coat or ELPO. Upon torqueing a fastener into place, the flanges are bent up to allow the plate portion to interface with the cage or a workpiece to provide a solid joint.

Abstract: Accordingly, this invention provides a fastener system which is weldable to a substructure that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the fasteners of the prior art. Generally, a weldable fastener is disclosed that has a coating applied to at least one surface of the fastener. The coating functions to prevent the deposit of a further coating, particularly an electrodeposition coating, upon further processing.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly includes a nut and a cage wrapped therearound. The nut has a number of stand-offs or protrusions provided on a lower surface thereof such that the stand-offs are the only part of the nut which are in contact with the cage. The stand-offs reduce the amount of bearing surface interface between the cage and the nut thus reducing the possibility that the two parts will stick to each other after a coating is applied to the mating surface which the cage is welded to. The nut is engaged by a male threaded fastener which is torqued into place and the stand-offs push into the material of the cage causing the cage material to flow out of the way such that the stand-offs embed into the material of the cage without deforming the stand-offs to a flattened condition.

Abstract: An anchor nut device for attachment to a structure, the device defining a threaded bore for the reception therein of a corresponding member. The device includes an anchor nut which is fabricated from a first material, the nut defining the bore and a plurality of radially extending ears. A base plate is fabricated from a second material, the plate having a first and a second face, the first face cooperating with the plurality of ears. The second face of the plate defines a plurality of dimples for facilitating welding of the plate to the structure. A plurality of arms extend from the plate, such that each ear of the plurality of ears is disposed between a corresponding arm of the plurality of arms and the first face of the plate for capturing the nut relative to the plate. Also, a stop extends from the anchor nut, the stop being disposed between adjacent ears for controlling rotational movement of the anchor nut relative to the plate.

Abstract: A cage is adapted to hold the nut. The cage is formed from a sheet of material into top, bottom, and side walls. A protrusion extends between adjacent walls and is formed from repositioned material and/or an expanded portion of the sheet of material. The protrusion resists angular movement between the adjacent wall segments. The protrusion also pushes against an adjacent surface to resist angular movement. A method of manufacturing includes stamping a blank for a cage from a sheet of material. In addition, the method includes forming a protrusion on the sheet material by repositioning a corresponding area of the sheet material and bending the blank along a line passing through the protrusion and the corresponding groove. In a preferred version of this method, the stamping of the blank and the forming of the protrusion are done as part of a single stamping operation.

Abstract: A clip nut is provided having a plastic body holding captive a nut. The body includes two aligned arms projecting from an aft section, each arm defining an aperture at a forward portion of the arm. The nut includes a base and a upstanding portion extending from the base that defines an internally threaded bore. The body further includes a nut cage positioned disposed about the aperture of the first arm. The nut cage includes an upper wall spaced above the first arm that defines a slot having a narrowed inlet and a recess aligned with the apertures of the first and second arms. The body is configured to readily and securely receive the nut. To insert the nut into the cage, the nut is forced against the nut cage such that the upstanding portion presses into and past the narrowed inlet. In this manner, the cage yieldably receives the nut without undue manipulation of either piece.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly is provided which includes a nut having a cylindrical portion extending from a plate portion. The nut is encaged in a cage such that the cylindrical portion extends through an aperture in the cage. The cylindrical portion of the nut is collapsible such that the nut collapses and provides a plurality of flanges upon an application of force. The flanges are folded or curved/mushroomed such that the plate portion of the nut is suspended within the cage so that the nut will not, or will minimally, stick to the cage or workpiece when coated with e-coat or ELPO. Upon torqueing a fastener into place, the flanges are bent up to allow the plate portion to interface with the cage or a workpiece to provide a solid joint.

Abstract: A cage for a cage fastener includes a base and sides, with a flap integral with one side bendable to be disposed in spaced relation to the base and overlying the base. A distal edge of the flap and a distal edge of one of the sides define a cooperating locking structure whereby the position of the flap relative to the side can be secured, with a fastener positioned between the flap and the base.

Abstract: A cage is adapted to hold the nut. The cage is formed from a sheet of material into top, bottom, and side walls. A protrusion extends between adjacent walls and is formed from repositioned material and/or an expanded portion of the sheet of material. The protrusion resists angular movement between the adjacent wall segments. The protrusion also pushes against an adjacent surface to resist angular movement. A method of manufacturing includes stamping a blank for a cage from a sheet of material. In addition, the method includes forming a protrusion on the sheet material by repositioning a corresponding area of the sheet material and bending the blank along a line passing through the protrusion and the corresponding groove. In a preferred version of this method, the stamping of the blank and the forming of the protrusion are done as part of a single stamping operation.

Abstract: A cage-nut assembly includes a nut positioned within a cage structure. The cage structure is configured to provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut. The cage structure has a flat base and an at least partially open end portion. The cage structure includes a blocking member preventing the nut from moving laterally along the base through the at least partially open end portion. The blocking member is relatively structurally weak in a direction orthogonal to a torsional rotation direction of the nut. The structurally weak blocking member is bendable when less than approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied to the blocking member to open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally along the base through the end portion for removal of the nut.

Abstract: Accordingly, this invention provides a fastener system which is weldable to a substructure that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the fasteners of the prior art. Generally, a weldable fastener is disclosed that has a coating applied to at least one surface of the fastener. The coating functions to prevent the deposit of a further coating, particularly an electrodeposition coating, upon further processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: A cage-nut assembly includes a nut positioned within a cage structure. The cage structure is configured to provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut. The cage structure has a flat base and an at least partially open end portion. The cage structure includes a blocking member preventing the nut from moving laterally along the base through the at least partially open end portion. The blocking member is relatively structurally weak in a direction orthogonal to a torsional rotation direction of the nut. The structurally weak blocking member is bendable when less than approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied to the blocking member to open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally along the base through the end portion for removal of the nut.

Abstract: A cage for a cage fastener includes a base and sides, with a flap integral with one side bendable to be disposed in spaced relation to the base and overlying the base. A distal edge of the flap and a distal edge of one of the sides define a cooperating locking structure whereby the position of the flap relative to the side can be secured, with a fastener positioned between the flap and the base.

Abstract: A wall exposed to wear has a wear lining composed of a number of juxtaposed wear lining elements of an elastomeric material or of a mix of elastomeric and other wear-resistant materials. The wear lining elements are secured to a supporting surface with fastening means. Two opposite narrow faces of the wear lining elements have V-shaped recesses, which open toward the narrow faces. The fastening means have washers with V-shaped projections, the V-legs of which are inserted into and abut against the bottom wall of the recesses or into shoulders formed in the recesses, after fastening the elements.

Abstract: A substrate for chairs formed from a resilient material with molded locator pin(s) to facilitate assembly. The substrate comprises a friction seat and a curled back portion around its perimeter. The friction seat, in conjunction with the curled back surface, afford an improved surface for adhering padding and upholstery thereto. Integrally molded on the back surface of the substrate are locator pin(s) having bracing members molded throughout the circumference thereof. The locator pin(s) further comprise pre-drilled holes defined as conduits. Mounted on the front surface of the substrate are semi-spherical projections having pre-drilled holes. The pre-drilled holes of the semi-spherical projections and the conduits are axially aligned. Fastening means communicate within the conduits and the pre-drilled holes of the semi-spherical projections, thus mounting the substrate to a chair.

Abstract: A thread insert comprises an externally threaded housing with an internally threaded floating nut therein. Diametrically spaced ears on the nut are engaged in diametrically spaced grooves in the housing, respectively, to limit relative rotation between the nut and the housing yet permit radial movement of the nut relative to the housing. A single split ring locks the nut into the housing.

Abstract: A support device includes a nut having a neck-like retainer for a screw, wherein the neck-like retainer is provided with a radial projection. A support member having a stirrup-shaped cross section engages over the radial projection of the neck-like retainer. The neck-like retainer extends with play through an opening of the support member. A support collar is releasably mounted on the radial outer circumference of the neck-like retainer of the nut. The support collar extends over a cross-member of the support member on the side facing away from the radial projection of the neck-like retainer.

Abstract: A self-aligning fastener system incorporates a stud member fastened to a first member and a female member attached to a second panel member for fastening the first member to the panel member. The female member includes a head portion which spans an aperture of the panel and has an aperture therethrough, the head portion includes leg portions which depend from the head portion which extend through the panel aperture and are engaged by a clip on the opposite side of the panel for retaining the female fastener in the aperture. The panel aperture and leg spacing are dimensioned such that the female fastener is adapted to move along a first axis of said aperture thereby allowing the female fastener to accommodate any alignment errors between itself and the stud fastener along the first axis. The leg portions of the female fastener have a pair of linear engagement surfaces arranged perpendicular to the first axis whereby the leg portions can engage and retain the stud member anywhere along their length.

Abstract: A connecting element for a facing panel with a hole having a small depth and an undercut, includes an expanding cone insertable into the hole undercut, and thread shaft extending from the expanding cone. A roof-shaped bent expansible element is displaceable over the expanding cone for securing the connecting element in the facing panel hole. The roof-shaped bent expansible element is formed as at least approximately oval metal ring having opposite bent portions abutting the expanding cone.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a threaded device in association with an article when the article is disengaged from another. The apparatus is intended for mounting on the article and has a center section formed with a center aperture sized for receiving the threaded device. A pair of elongated arm members each extend from opposite edges of the center section and are formed over onto a surface of the center section with an inner edge thereof configured to extend into the center aperture and engage the threaded device when the threaded device is inserted into the center aperture. The elongated arms are in compressed engagement with the surface of the center section when the threaded device secures the article to another article and expand when the threaded device is disengaged from the other article to cooperate with each other in securing the threaded device to the article.

Abstract: A plastic one-piece tubular clip has a base portion embedded in the bolt mounting hole of each of the holes of an engine oil pan gasket, and a tubular shaft portion that projects through the aligned holes of an oil pan rail and an oil pan reinforcing plate, and through which the oil pan mounting bolts are inserted, the tubular portion having internal ridges or teeth to grip the shank of the bolt with its head portion butting up against the bottom of the reinforcing plate to resiliently lock all the pieces together as a subassembly so that the oil pan can be easily assembled to the engine merely by raising the oil pan up against the crankcase with one hand and then pushing each one of the bolts up into their mounting holes and tightening the same with the other hand.

Abstract: There is provided a means for fixing an object to a blind metal sheet (1) by fitting into a square hole (2) provided in this metal sheet, a cage (3) containing a threaded part (7), then by causing a complementary threaded part to coact with this part. The hole is square, the cage has the shape of an octagonal prism provided laterally with four longitudinal windows (8) and the threaded part comprises four radial tabs (9) adapted to slide jointingly in said windows (8), means being provided, such as thinned-down portions (12), for making possible a rotation through 45.degree. of said part (7) after its axial introduction with the cage into said hole (2).

Abstract: A fastener plate is provided for use in securing together structural elements. The plate includes a base plate to which is ultrasonically welded at least one fastening element which may include, for example, an externally-threaded, stud-like fastening element, or an internally-threaded fastening element. A method for fabricating said plate is further described, said method comprising the steps of locating said at least one fastening element on said base plate and then ultrasonically welding said element to said base plate using an ultrasonic welder which includes a center aperture and which is adapted to effect a weld between the annular base portion of the fastening element and the base plate. In an alternative embodiment, at least one locking ring may be used to overlay the annular base portion with the weld being effected between the ring and the base portion.

Abstract: In a screw grommet of the type composed of a head portion, a barrel portion extended downwardly from the head portion, and a continuous axial cavity through the head portion and the barrel portion and possessed of an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of screw means destined to be driven into the cavity, the barrel portion is provided thereon with angular portions which are adapted to match to the corners in a polygonal fitting hole punched in a panel for insertion of the grommet and are connected through the medium of hinges to the remaining part of the barrel portion. In the screw grommet, the force generated by the screw means being driven into the axial cavity inside the barrel portion causes the angular portions of the barrel portion to be outwardly expanded and pressed against the corners of the fitting hole without being rotated with the screw means, enabling the grommet to be secured strongly to the panel.