Abstract: A tool which has the capability of removing the nut from both large and small nut plate assemblies. The tool comprises a handle having a removal nose portion at one end, the nose portion having an upper jaw portion separated from a lower jaw portion by an opening. The upper jaw portion is used to pry open the nut plate cage and the lower jaw portion pushes and lifts the nut from the cage. The space between the two jaw portions enables a pivoting action around the pried open cage wall.

Abstract: A tool which has the capability of removing the nut from both large and small nut plate assemblies, the tool also including a portion for installing a nut into the plate assembly cage. The tool comprises a handle having a removal nose portion at one end and a threaded shaft portion for receiving a reinstallation socket at the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the handle incorporating the removal nose portion is angled with respect to the remaining portion of the handle. The reinstallation socket has a threaded aperture for receiving the thread shaft portion, therefor securing the socket to the tool. The nose portion has an upper jaw portion separated from a lower jaw portion by an opening. The upper jaw portion is used to pry open the nut plate cage and the lower jaw portion pushes and lifts the nut from the cage. The space between the two jaw portions enables a pivoting action around the pried open cage wall.

Abstract: A tool for installing a retaining ring onto the threaded shank of a bolt to form a captive panel fastener. Alignment tabs formed on the retaining ring are positioned into cutout portions formed in the nose area of the tool. The tool and ring are then engaged onto the bolt from the outer end by first aligning visual markings formed on the tool jaws with longitudinal slots formed on the bolt shank. Force is then applied to the tool to crimp the ring and deform it while forcing tangs on the ring into the slots. The ring is prevented from being removed from the bolt slots while being free to move therealong.

Abstract: A method for forming a captive panel fastener assembly, the assembly comprising a bolt having head, shank and threaded outer end portions, slots extending longitudinally down through the bolt threads toward the outer end of the bolt and a retaining ring for securing the bolt to a panel. The metal retaining ring has inwardly tangs which are distanced sufficiently to allow the ring to be slipped over the outer end of the bolt and into the bolt slots. The ends of the slots terminate in abutments. The outer surface of the ring opposite corresponding tabs is provided with outwardly extending alignment tabs. Installation of the retaining ring onto the bolt to form the captive panel fastener is accomplished by first placing the ring alignment tabs into cutout portions formed in the nose area of a tool. The tool and ring are then engaged onto the bolt from the outer end by first aligning visual markings formed on the tool jaws with the slots.

Abstract: A captive screw assembly for impeding the removal of a screw from a housing or other part. The assembly includes a housing having a hole and an annular flange projecting inwardly in the hole at a location spaced from the hole's two ends. A screw encircled by a coil spring extends through the housing hole with the spring being retained between the screw head and the inwardly-projecting flange. A stopnut, which is sized to be freely received in the housing hole, is threaded to a selected location on the screw. The screw is urged longitudinally upwardly from the housing by the coil spring, to a point where the stopnut abuts against the inwardly-projecting flange. A full removal of the screw from the housing is thereby impeded.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-retracting, captive fastener assembly which allows the application of a controlled preload not requiring separate measurement during or after application. The assembly includes the use of a hold-out spring (31) which is isolated and fully retracts the assembly when the installed assembly is not engaged with a substructure. A housing (32) is provided for the hold-out spring (31) and contains the spring (31) when it is fully compressed. For the controlled preload, disc springs (40) are used. The shoulder (60) of the bolt shank portion (24) is staked so as to form protrusions (61,62,63,64) for captivating these mentioned elements upon the bolt. A removable, retaining element or stop-nut (50) is also provided for securement of the fastener to a first structure 65. The stop-nut (50) is constructed so that it must be seated against substructure (70) in order to achieve the controlled deflection of the disc springs (40) and thereby achieve the desired preload application.