초록 ▼

There is disclosed a structural joint comprising a workpiece in the form of a section of sheet material and a fastener assembly, wherein the components of said joint are constructed to retain the fastener assembly in mounted relation with respect to the sheet material and confine the fastener agains

There is disclosed a structural joint comprising a workpiece in the form of a section of sheet material and a fastener assembly, wherein the components of said joint are constructed to retain the fastener assembly in mounted relation with respect to the sheet material and confine the fastener against rotation upon the attachment of an additional fastener component thereto. The section of sheet material includes an aperture having a multi-lobular periphery. The fastener assembly includes a head portion and a shank portion extending axially therefrom. The head portion has an end cap section which is of a greater dimension than the sheet material aperture, and an intermediate section extending axially from the cap section and having a multi-lobular peripheral dimension to be received in the multi-lobular aperture formed in the section of sheet material. The end cap section also includes a third section extending axially from the intermediate section to the shank portion, which third section has a circumferential groove formed therein with a resilient split retaining ring loosely mounted in said groove. The retaining ring is caused to be reduced in dimension from its free form dimension upon engaging the sheet aperture and to be returned to its free form dimension after the head portion intermediate section is received by the aperture. As a result, the fastener is retained within the aperture with the sheet material confined between the fastener end cap and the retaining ring while the multi-lobular aperture and intermediate section peripheries co-act to prevent rotation of the fastener.

대표청구항 ▼

A joint comprising: a workpiece such as a section of sheet material, or the like, having a predetermined thickness and including an aperture formed therein, said aperture having a center and being defined by a periphery having a non-constant radial dimension from said center including a minimum radi

A joint comprising: a workpiece such as a section of sheet material, or the like, having a predetermined thickness and including an aperture formed therein, said aperture having a center and being defined by a periphery having a non-constant radial dimension from said center including a minimum radial dimension and a maximum radial dimension; and a fastener assembly mountable with said workpiece comprising a fastener member having a head portion and a shank portion extending axially therefrom, said head portion including a first enlarged head section having an outer peripheral dimension which is greater than that of said aperture, a second section extending axially from said first enlarged head section towards said shank portion and having a non-constant peripheral radial dimension corresponding in shape to said aperture dimension and receivable within said aperture, a third section intermediate said second section and said shank portion which includes a circumferential groove, said groove being spaced from said first enlarged head section by a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of said workpiece and a resilient retaining ring disposed within said circumferential groove, said shank portion and said head third section being dimensioned for passing through said aperture, said retaining ring having a free form dimension such that it is loosely carried within said circumferential groove, and with a maximum outer radial dimsneion greater than the minimum radial dimension of said aperture, and said groove having a depth which permits said ring to be contracted resiliently in a radial direction within said groove such that said ring may be received through said aperture, and due to the spacing of said groove from the enlarged head section said ring, upon returning to said free form dimension after passing through said aperture, will engage the surface of said workpiece opposite that engaged by said first enlarged head section, said ring cooperating with said first enlarged head section to retain said fastener assembly in mounted relation with respect to said apertured workpiece, thereby maintaining said head second section disposed within said aperture and the corresponding peripheral dimensions of said aperture and said head second section co-acting to prevent rotation of said fastener assembly within said aperture.