Abstract: A nut having an enlarged head, one end disposed in a countersunk opening in one side of the panel, which head may be configured for anti-rotation, and either an integral threaded portion or internal floating threaded insert at the other end extending through the panel. A sleeve is locked to the body of the nut retaining the same to the underside of the panel and allowing for variation in panel thickness. The nut threadably engages a threaded member that may be mounted in a panel.

Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism comprising a pair of interconnecting members. One of the members has a cavity for receiving therein a terminal end on the other member generally configured to the cavity. The terminal end is laterally placed in the cavity and a spring biased plunger in the member having the terminal end engages the exterior wall of the cavity and moves backwardly allowing a locking sleeve on the member having the terminal end to be slid to a position surrounding the engaged terminal end in the cavity and locking the same. A frictional-held release sleeve is also provided on the member having the terminal end rearward of the locking sleeve which may be slid forwardly to release the locking sleeve from locking engagement.

Abstract: A self-locking nut having an enlarged head and an elongated shank portion insertable into a hole in a panel. The nut has an integral skirt portion adjacent the underside of the head having a predetermined skirt length, which skirt is then deformed against the underside of the panel to hold the nut in firm position with respect to the panel. The nut may be provided with an irregularly shaped head conforming to a like configured countersunk in the panel leading into the hole to prevent rotation of the nut about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt includes a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer.In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly is disclosed for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head at one end, an intermediate body portion and a nose at the other end. A groove is provided between the nose and the body portion of the bolt.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt includes a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer.In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: A hold out spring is provided on a threaded bolt. The bolt is adapted to be inserted through a hole in a panel. The hold out spring is inserted into a bore in the bolt, riding in spaced diametrically opposed internal grooves therein, the hold out spring extending out of a slot in the bolt. A washer having inwardly extending tabs is now installed on the shank of the bolt, the tabs riding in grooves extending along the outer body of the bolt and stopped in their downward movement by engagement with a stop ring mounted in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt.

Abstract: An integral hold out spring and built-in stop ring is provided on a threaded bolt. The bolt is adapted to be inserted through a hole in a panel. The hold out spring and built-in stop ring is inserted into a bore in the bolt, the hold out spring portion extending out of a slot in the bolt and the built-in stop ring portion entering a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt. In one embodiment of the invention, a washer having inwardly extending tabs is installed on the shank of the bolt prior to insertion of the built-in stop ring portion, the tabs riding in grooves extending along the outer body of the bolt and stopped in their downward movement by engagement with the built-in stop ring portion.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The head of the bolt has a countersunk opening configured to a tool for rotating the same. This opening includes a releasable plug which is moved downwardly upon insertion of the tool to permit rotation thereof, then returns to a position flush with the exterior of the head of the bolt surrounding the opening.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a terminal nose and a groove adjacent the nose. A retaining ring is trapped in a cavity in the grommet assembly. The cavity of the grommet assembly is an annular cavity defined by the inner annular peripheral vertical wall of the grommet assembly, and has an inwardly extending horizontal bottom flange. The upper wall may be formed by an upwardly and inwardly extending upper flange. The bolt may be disengaged from the receptacle assembly and retracted away from the panel but retained thereto when the panel is disengaged from the sub-structure.

Abstract: A self-retaining bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into a hole in a panel or the like for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of a subpanel. The bolt includes a detent engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panel. The hole for the detent is placed in the location on the bolt that allows maximum strength capability through both the grip area and through the thread area of the bolt. This is accomplished by the use of a locking element of detent that does not require a hole in the shear or threaded area of the bolt. A nut can then be threaded to the end of the bolt projecting through the panels.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a pair of slots extending longitudinally along the outer periphery of the shank. A C-shaped ring is trapped in the grommet assembly and has a pair of inwardly extending ends riding in the slots.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener assembly comprising a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a nose at the other end, and an intermediate body portion, a groove provided on the bolt between the nose and the body portion, a panel having the hole extending therethrough with a grommet assembly mounted therein for retaining the bolt in a first position held out from the access side of said panel and for retaining said bolt in a second position wherein the bolt is adapted to engage a receptacle assembly mounted in an adjacent sub-panel. The grommet assembly includes an annular cavity therein having a retaining ring mounted in the cavity along the body of said bolt toward said head when the bolt is inserted into the grommet assembly, then moves back along the body of the bolt and into the groove of said bolt when the bolt is moved to the first position.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel. The assembly includes a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end. The panel has a countersunk opening aligned with an opening in the sub-panel. The bolt is threaded for threaded engagement to the stud. The body of the bolt has a plurality of spaced grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the bolt body. A retainer surrounds the bolt body having spaced ears riding in the grooves and a stop ring in a groove adjacent the nose of the bolt stops the downward movement of the retainer. In this manner, the bolt may be disposed in the countersunk opening in the panel with the retainer on the blind side of the panel and the stop ring preventing movement of the retainer off of the bolt body thus retaining the bolt to the panel.

Abstract: A self-retaining positive locking bolt having a bolt body with a spindle retained within the bolt body. A detent is mounted in the bolt extending, in a first position, out of the bolt body, and, in a second position, extending internally from the bolt body. In both positions, the detent is mounted in aligned cavities in the spindle and movable between the cavities to extend between the first and second positions while retaining the orientation of the spindle with respect to the bolt body.

Abstract: An adjustable keeper assembly including a housing and an elongated keeper member disposed therein is disclosed. The keeper member has one end adapted for engaging a latch element and the other end for coupling by way of a coupling member to the housing. The coupling member is disposed within the housing wherein movement of the coupling member is restricted to rotation about its axis. Rotation of the coupling member causes lateral movement of the keeper member relative to the coupling member and housing. This lateral movement of the keeper member provides for taking up of slack between the latch element and keeper member. A plunger is included for releasably locking the coupling member to prevent inadvertent rotation of the coupling member.

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: Polyamic acid having greatly increased adhesive ability is prepared by compacting a solid aromatic dianhydride to reduct its surface area to weight ratio and reacting the compacted dianhydride with a solution of an organic diamine in an inert non-aqueous solvent.