초록

A self-locking panel nut fastener having a nut for being received within an opening in a panel which self-locks and upon receiving a threaded screw or bolt enhances the locking relationship with the panel.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A push-in nut fastener, comprising: a planar surface with proximal and distal ends; a sleeve extending from said planar surface, said sleeve including an axis extending through a center thereof and substantially perpendicular to said planar surface, said sleeve being su

The invention claimed is: 1. A push-in nut fastener, comprising: a planar surface with proximal and distal ends; a sleeve extending from said planar surface, said sleeve including an axis extending through a center thereof and substantially perpendicular to said planar surface, said sleeve being substantially cylindrical and adapted to receive a mating fastener therein; a cantilever integral with said planar surface and extending away from said planar surface distal end, said cantilever including a cantilever downwardly extending member integral with and extending from said distal end of said planar surface, and a cantilever horizontal member extending from said cantilever downwardly extending member in a direction away from said axis; and a retention arm integral with said planar surface, said retention arm having a proximal end near said planar surface and a distal end spaced away from said proximal end and said planar surface, said retention arm extending from said planar surface proximal end so that said retention arm is positioned at least partially beneath said sleeve, such that at least a portion of said retention arm extends across said axis, wherein upon insertion of said push-in nut fastener into an opening, said cantilever is first positioned into the opening to provide a leverage force for subsequent insertion of said retention arm into the opening, and wherein said retention arm is deflectable by the fastener inserted into said sleeve such that an end of the fastener non-threadably engages said retention arm at a first location between said proximal and distal ends of said retention arm to cause said retention arm to move in a direction away from said axis, wherein the engagement between the fastener and said retention arm prevents that portion of said retention arm engaged by the end of the fastener from at anytime moving back in a direction to again extend across said axis, such that upon complete insertion of the fastener into said sleeve, the fastener engages said retention arm at a second location which is closer to said distal end of said retention arm than said first location, wherein the end of the fastener that non-threadably engages said retention arm at said first location is in continuous engagement with said retention arm as the fastener moves from said first location to said second location. 2. The push-in nut fastener of claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises internal threads that receive a threaded fastener. 3. The push-in nut fastener of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is approximately perpendicular to said planar surface. 4. The push-in nut fastener of claim 1, wherein said push-in nut fastener is formed from sheet metal. 5. The push-in nut fastener of claim 4, wherein said sheet metal is spring steel. 6. The push-in nut fastener of claim 1, wherein said cantilever extends beyond the distal end of said planar surface. 7. A push-in nut fastener for insertion into a panel opening within a panel having upper and lower surfaces, said push-in nut comprising: a planar surface having proximal and distal ends; a sleeve extending outwardly from and beyond said planar surface, said sleeve including an axis extending through a center thereof and substantially perpendicular to said planar surface, said sleeve being substantially cylindrical and adapted to receive a mating fastener therein, such that said sleeve includes a constant, unchanging cross-dimensional shape from top to bottom thereof prior to and after receiving the mating fastener therein; a cantilever integral with said planar surface and extending away from said planar surface distal end, said cantilever including a cantilever downwardly extending member integral with and extending from said distal end of said planar surface, and a cantilever horizontal member extending from said cantilever downwardly extending member in a direction away from said axis; and a retention arm integral with said planar surface proximal end, said retention arm having a proximal end near said planar surface and a distal end spaced away from said retention arm proximal end and said planar surface, said retention arm having a flat planar member extending continuously between said proximal and distal ends of said retention arm, said retention arm extending from said planar surface proximal end at an angle so that said retention arm is positioned at least partially beneath said sleeve in such a way that said distal end of said retention arm extends across said axis, so that when said push-in nut is inserted into said panel opening, said cantilever is first positioned into said panel opening to provide a leverage force for subsequent insertion of said retention arm into said panel opening, and said retention arm engages said lower surface of said panel to secure said retention arm proximal end of said push-in nut fastener in said panel, wherein said retention arm is deflectable by the fastener inserted into said sleeve such that an end of the fastener non-threadably engages said retention arm to cause said retention arm to move in a direction away from said axis, wherein the engagement between the fastener and said retention arm prevents that portion of said retention arm engaged by the end of the fastener from at anytime moving back in a direction to again extend across said axis. 8. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said push-in nut is formed from sheet metal. 9. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said sheet metal is spring steel. 10. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said sleeve is approximately perpendicular to said planar surface. 11. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said sleeve comprises internal threads that receive a threaded fastener. 12. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said cantilever is curvilinear. 13. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein deflection of said retention arm increases the angle between said planar surface and said retention arm. 14. The push-in nut fastener of claim 7, wherein said retention arm extends toward said planar surface distal end. 15. A push-in nut fastener for insertion into a panel opening within a panel having upper and lower surfaces, said push-in nut comprising: a planar surface with proximal and distal ends, wherein said planar surface contacts said upper surface of said panel to prevent said push-in nut fastener from being displaced through said panel opening; a sleeve extending outwardly from said planar surface, wherein said sleeve comprises multiple internal threads to secure said threaded fastener, and wherein said sleeve includes an axis extending through a center thereof and substantially perpendicular to said planar surface; a cantilever extending away from said planar surface and in a direction away from said axis, wherein said cantilever provides a leverage force against said lower surface of said panel upon insertion of said push-in nut fastener into said panel opening; and a retention arm integral with and extending away from said planar surface proximal end, said retention arm having a first portion located at least partially below said sleeve and a second portion that extends across said axis, said retention arm extending at a constant angle from said planar surface proximal end at least as defined as between said first and second portions of said retention arm, wherein upon insertion of said push-in nut fastener into said panel opening said planar surface engages said upper surface of said panel and said cantilever engages said bottom surface of said panel and thereby providing leverage for insertion of said proximal end of said push-in nut fastener and said retention arm into said panel opening so that said retention arm engages said lower surface of said panel and wherein said retention arm is deflectable by non-threaded engagement with an end of the threaded fastener inserted into said sleeve so as to move away from and no longer extend across said axis at anytime while engaged by said fastener, and so that said retention arm exerts pressure against said threaded fastener and said lower surface of said panel. 16. A push-in nut fastener, comprising: a planar surface with proximal and distal ends; a sleeve extending from said planar surface, said sleeve having an axis extending through a center thereof and perpendicular to said planar surface; a cantilever extending away from said planar surface; a retention arm integral with said planar surface and extending from said planar surface proximal end so that said retention arm is positioned at least partially beneath said sleeve, such that at least a portion of said retention arm extends across said axis, said retention arm further comprising a retention arm proximal flap extending away from said planar surface proximal end, a retention arm proximal flap distal end extending from said retention arm proximal flap, a retention arm distal flap extending from said retention arm proximal flap distal end and back toward said planar surface, and a retention arm tail flap extending from said retention arm distal flap, such that a portion of said retention arm proximal flap, said retention arm proximal flap distal end, and a portion of said retention arm distal flap each extend across said axis while positioned beneath said sleeve, wherein upon insertion of said push-in nut fastener into an opening said retention arm tail flap engages an edge defining said opening. 17. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said planar surface comprises a padding material. 18. The push-in nut fastener of claim 17, wherein said padding material is plastisol. 19. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, said planar surface comprising at least one strength rib. 20. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said sleeve comprises internal threads that receive a threaded fastener. 21. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said sleeve is approximately perpendicular to said planar surface. 22. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said push-in nut fastener is formed from sheet metal. 23. The push-in nut fastener of claim 22, wherein said sheet metal is spring steel. 24. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said cantilever extends beyond the distal end of said planar surface. 25. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said retention arm is deflectable by a threaded fastener inserted into said sleeve. 26. The push-in nut fastener of claim 16, wherein said engaging of said retention arm tail flap with said opening prevents rattling of said push-in nut fastener.