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A simplified captive panel fastener including a head, shank, a threaded outer end, and a centrally threaded opening at the outer end. Longitudinal slots extend along the outer end of the fastener to receive a retention washer with inwardly extending prongs. The method of mounting the fastener to it

A simplified captive panel fastener including a head, shank, a threaded outer end, and a centrally threaded opening at the outer end. Longitudinal slots extend along the outer end of the fastener to receive a retention washer with inwardly extending prongs. The method of mounting the fastener to its desired location and locking a retention washer and fastener in place is easily performed by employing a tool which disposes the threaded mating part, for example, a screw or bolt, into the central threaded opening of the outer end of the fastener. The head of the screw or bolt has radial extent sufficient to block the slots and prevent loss of the retention washer. Only a common screwdriver is used to mount the retention screw or bolt in the end of the fastener.

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I claim: 1. A captive panel fastener assembly comprising: a) a fastener having a head at a proximal end, a shank extending distally from the head, and an externally threaded portion extending distally from said shank, said externally threaded portion having external threads and having a distal unth

I claim: 1. A captive panel fastener assembly comprising: a) a fastener having a head at a proximal end, a shank extending distally from the head, and an externally threaded portion extending distally from said shank, said externally threaded portion having external threads and having a distal unthreaded end portion; b) the shank having an outer diameter comparable to or greater than the outer diameter of the threaded portion of the fastener; c) the distal end of the fastener having a central opening, the opening having inwardly extending threads; d) the shank of the fastener and the threaded portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots each having a radially inner bottom and an open distal end; e) a first washer having radially inwardly extending prongs for fitting into the longitudinally extending slots, the first washer being relatively inflexible; f) a retention mating screw or bolt having a head at a proximal end and a threaded portion extending distally from the head threadably mounted into the threaded central opening, the head of the retention mating screw or bolt having a diameter substantially less than a radially outer diameter of the external threads of the fastener; and g) a small second washer having an outer diameter greater than a diameter formed by the bottom of the slots, the small second washer being retained on the distal unthreaded end portion of the fastener by the head of the retention mating screw or bolt between the open distal ends of the slots and the head of the retention mating screw or bolt, wherein the head of the retention mating screw or bolt removably blocks the open distal ends of the slots indirectly by holding the small second washer in place, and removably retains the first washer onto the fastener by preventing the prongs of the first washer from sliding off the distal unthreaded end of the fastener, to thereby hold the fastener captive in a desired location. 2. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the shank has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the first washer. 3. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the fastener has only two slots and wherein the first washer has two corresponding radially inwardly directed prongs. 4. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the depth of the threaded central opening has a length that is equal or greater than the length of the threaded portion of the retention mating screw or bolt mounted into the central opening. 5. A captive panel fastener assembly comprising: a) a fastener having a head at a proximal end, a shank extending distally from the head, the shank including a threaded portion with external threads and an unthreaded reduced diameter distal end portion, and a central inwardly directed opening at a distal end portion; b) the shank having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots extending through the threads on the threaded portion of the fastener, each of the slots having a radially inner bottom and an open distal end; c) a retention washer having radially inwardly extending prongs for fitting into the longitudinally extending slots; d) a retention screw or bolt having a head at a proximal end and a threaded portion extending distally from the head threadably mounted into the central opening; and e) a small washer having an outer diameter greater than a diameter formed by the bottom of the slots, the small washer being retained on the distal unthreaded reduced diameter end portion of the threaded portion of the shank by the head of the retention screw or bolt between the open distal ends of the slots and the head of the retention screw or bolt, wherein the head of the retention screw or bolt removably blocks the open distal ends of the slots indirectly by holding the small washer in place, and removably retains the retention washer onto the fastener by preventing the retention washer prongs from sliding off the unthreaded distal end portion of the shank, to thereby hold the fastener captive in a desired location. 6. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 5 wherein the shank has a diameter comparable to or greater than the outer diameter of the external threads of the fastener. 7. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 5 wherein the fastener has only two slots and wherein the retention washer has two correspondingly radially inwardly directed prongs. 8. The captive panel fastener as defined in claim 5 wherein clearance is provided at the distal end of the fastener, whereby the retention washer may readily slide over the distal end of the fastener into the slots, prior to mounting of the retention screw or bolt into the threaded central opening. 9. A method for providing a captive panel fastener in place comprising the steps of: a) fabricating a fastener having a head at a proximal end and a threaded portion extending distally from the head, the threaded portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots each having a radially inner bottom end and an open distal end, the threaded portion of the fastener having a distal unthreaded end portion and a central threaded opening; b) mounting the fastener in a desired captive location; c) sliding a retention washer having radially inwardly extending prongs to fit closely into the longitudinally extending slots with the retention washer extending around the fastener; d) assembling a small washer onto the distal unthreaded end portion of the fastener to block the open distal ends of the slots; and e) threadably mounting a retention screw or bolt into the central threaded opening of the fastener, the retention screw or bolt having a head and external threads, the head having a diameter or outward extent to block the slots, but not interfere with threading a nut onto the fastener, whereby threadably mounting the retention screw or bolt removably blocks the ends of the slots indirectly by holding the small washer in place. 10. The method of providing a captive panel fastener in place as defined in claim 9 wherein the diameter of the head of the retention screw or bolt is substantially greater than a diameter formed by the bottom of the slots. 11. The method of providing a captive panel fastener in place as defined in claim 9 comprising the additional step of threading a nut onto the threaded portion of the fastener.