초록 ▼

A seal nut assembly includes a locking member, a bearing member, and a resilient member. The locking member defines a threaded aperture. The bearing member has an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion which radially circumscribes the inner annular portion. The inner annular portion com

A seal nut assembly includes a locking member, a bearing member, and a resilient member. The locking member defines a threaded aperture. The bearing member has an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion which radially circumscribes the inner annular portion. The inner annular portion comprises a first lower surface and defines an opening. The outer annular portion comprises a second lower surface which is stepped with respect to the first lower surface. The bearing member is disposed adjacent to the locking member such that the opening is aligned with the threaded aperture. The resilient member is attached to the second lower surface of the bearing member adjacent to the outer perimeter. A vehicle including a seal nut assembly and a method of manufacturing a seal nut assembly are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A seal nut assembly comprising: a locking member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced along a longitudinal axis, the locking member defining a threaded aperture extending along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end towards the distal end, the locking member bei

What is claimed is: 1. A seal nut assembly comprising: a locking member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced along a longitudinal axis, the locking member defining a threaded aperture extending along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end towards the distal end, the locking member being exteriorly provided with a grip surface; a bearing member radially bounded by an outer perimeter and comprising an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion, the outer annular portion radially circumscribing the inner annular portion and extending to the outer perimeter, the inner annular portion comprising a first lower surface for bearing against a component and a first upper surface and defining an opening, and the outer annular portion comprising a second lower surface and a second upper surface, the second lower surface being stepped with respect to the first lower surface, the second upper surface being stepped with respect to the first upper surface, wherein the bearing member is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the locking member such that the opening is aligned with the threaded aperture of the locking member; and a resilient member attached to the second lower surface of the bearing member adjacent to the outer perimeter of the bearing member; wherein the inner annular portion is generally planar and the first upper surface is in contacting engagement with the locking member; and the outer annular portion is generally planar and the generally planar inner annular portion extends radially outwardly from the opening to the step between the generally planar inner annular portion and the generally planar outer annular portion and includes a radially inward portion directly below the locking member. 2. The seal nut assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking member comprises a cap adjacent to the distal end. 3. The seal nut assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking member is separately formed from the bearing member. 4. The seal nut assembly of claim 3 wherein the locking member is attached to the bearing member. 5. The seal nut assembly of claim 4 wherein the locking member is removably attached to the bearing member. 6. The seal nut assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking member comprises a lip extending adjacent to the proximal end, and the bearing member comprises a ledge, the lip engaging the ledge such that the locking member and the bearing member are attached to one another. 7. The seal nut assembly of claim 4 wherein the locking member comprises a cap adjacent to the distal end. 8. The seal nut assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is adhesively attached to the second lower surface of the bearing member. 9. The seal nut assembly of claim 1 wherein the second lower surface is substantially parallel with the first lower surface. 10. A vehicle comprising: a first component having a first mounting aperture; a second component having a second mounting aperture; a fastener having a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft sized to be received by the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture; a seal nut assembly configured for selective engagement with the threaded shaft, the seal nut assembly comprising: a locking member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced along a longitudinal axis, the locking member defining a threaded aperture extending along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end towards the distal end, the locking member being exteriorly provided with a grip surface; a bearing member radially bounded by an outer perimeter and comprising an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion, the outer annular portion radially circumscribing the inner annular portion and extending to the outer perimeter, the inner annular portion comprising a first lower surface and a first upper surface and defining an opening, and the outer annular portion comprising a second lower surface and a second upper surface, the second lower surface being stepped with respect to the first lower surface, the second upper surface being stepped with respect to the first upper surface, wherein the bearing member is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the locking member such that the opening is aligned with the threaded aperture of the locking member; and a resilient member associated with the second lower surface adjacent to the outer perimeter; wherein the threaded shaft extends through the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture and is threadably received in the threaded aperture of the locking member such that the second component is attached to the first component, with the resilient member and the first lower surface of the bearing member in direct contact with the second component; the inner annular portion is generally planar and the first upper surface is in contacting engagement with the locking member; and the outer annular portion is generally planar and the generally planar inner annular portion extends radially outwardly from the opening to the step between the generally planar inner annular portion and the generally planar outer annular portion and includes a radially inward portion directly below the locking member. 11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first component and the second component comprises at least part of a truck bed. 12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the locking member comprises a cap adjacent to the distal end. 13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the locking member comprises a lip extending adjacent to the proximal end, and the bearing member comprises a ledge, the lip engaging the ledge such that the locking member and the bearing member are coupled together. 14. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the resilient member is adhesively attached to the second lower surface of the bearing member. 15. A seal nut assembly comprising: a cap nut defining a threaded aperture; a bearing member attached to the cap nut and comprising a generally planar inner annular portion and a generally planar outer annular portion, the generally planar inner annular portion comprising a first lower surface and defining an opening, the opening aligned with the threaded aperture of the cap nut, the generally planar outer annular portion radially circumscribing the generally planar inner annular portion and comprising a second lower surface, the second lower surface being stepped with respect to the first lower surface; and a resilient member attached to the second lower surface wherein each of the resilient member and the first lower surface are configured to directly contact a mounting structure; wherein the generally planar inner annular portion extends radially outwardly from the opening to the step between the generally planar inner annular portion and the generally planar outer annular portion and includes a radially inward portion directly below the cap nut; the generally planar inner annular portion further comprises a first upper surface; the generally planar outer annular portion further comprises a second upper surface, the second upper surface being stepped with respect to the first upper surface; the cap nut is in contacting engagement with the first upper surface and is radially inward of the second upper surface; and at least a portion of the cap nut is positioned longitudinally between the first upper surface and the second upper surface when the seal nut assembly is untightened relative to a mating threaded member. 16. The seal nut assembly of claim 15 wherein the bearing member is separately formed from the cap nut. 17. The seal nut assembly of claim 16 wherein the cap nut comprises a lip and the bearing member comprises a ledge, the lip engaging the ledge such that the locking member and the bearing member are attached to one another. 18. The seal nut assembly of claim 15 wherein the resilient member is adhesively attached to the second lower surface. 19. A seal nut assembly, comprising: a nut having an outer perimeter; a washer joined to the nut, the washer comprising a generally planar outer perimeter portion and a generally planar inner annular portion defining an opening and extending radially outwardly from the opening beyond the outer perimeter if the nut to a step between the generally planar inner annular portion and the generally planar outer perimeter portion, the generally planar inner annular portion including a radially inward portion directly below the nut, including a lower surface for bearing against an adjacent structure; and a seal bonded to a lower surface of the generally planar outer perimeter portion of the washer; wherein when the seal nut assembly is installed onto a threaded member the seal contacts a surface of the adjacent structure, thereby forming a fluid seal, and the compressive force exerted by the seal nut assembly is transmitted directly to the adjacent structure by the generally planar inner annular portion of the washer. 20. The seal nut assembly, of claim 19, wherein: the nut comprises a cap nut.