IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0159584
(2011-06-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-8506224
(2013-08-13)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cosenza, Frank
- Haylock, Luke
- Pinheiro, Rodrigo
- Frias, Edgar
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A fastener including a bolt and a grommet assembly attached to the bolt for fastening to a work piece. The grommet assembly includes an upper grommet, a lower grommet attached to the upper grommet, a retainer ring, and a housing that houses the retainer ring within the lower grommet. The upper gromm
A fastener including a bolt and a grommet assembly attached to the bolt for fastening to a work piece. The grommet assembly includes an upper grommet, a lower grommet attached to the upper grommet, a retainer ring, and a housing that houses the retainer ring within the lower grommet. The upper grommet is inserted into a hole at one side of the work piece and the lower grommet is attached to the upper grommet through the hole at an opposite side of the work piece. The retainer ring is inserted into the lower grommet and encapsulated by the housing. The bolt is inserted into the grommet assembly, and the retainer ring engages the bolt such that a plurality of pressure pads extending from a plurality of corresponding spring beam elements of the retainer ring reside in an annular groove of the bolt. The grommet assembly captivates the bolt onto the work piece, while providing a positive hold out of the bolt.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fastener, comprising: a bolt having an elongated shank portion adapted to be positioned within an opening of a work piece, the work piece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the elongated shank portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a head fo
1. A fastener, comprising: a bolt having an elongated shank portion adapted to be positioned within an opening of a work piece, the work piece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the elongated shank portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a head formed at the first end, a threaded portion having a plurality of external bolt threads, the threaded portion being adapted to extend past the second side of the work piece, and an annular groove formed proximate to the second end;an upper grommet having a receptacle and a head extending from the receptacle, the head of the upper grommet having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an annular pocket formed within the interior surface, wherein the upper grommet is adapted to be installed within the opening of the work piece;a lower grommet having a tubular portion with a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the tubular portion, a flared portion extending from the first end of the tubular portion, and a base member extending from the second end of the tubular portion, the base member including an interior portion, wherein the lower grommet is adapted to be installed within the upper grommet, such that the receptacle of the upper grommet is sized and shaped to receive the tubular portion of the lower grommet, and the annular pocket of the head of the upper grommet is sized and shaped to receive the flared portion of the lower grommet;a housing; anda retainer ring housed within the housing,wherein the interior portion of the base member of the lower grommet is sized and shaped to receive the housing and the retainer ring, andwherein the elongated shank portion of the bolt is adapted to be installed within the upper grommet and lower grommet, such that the retainer ring engages the annular groove of the bolt in order to captivate the bolt. 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the annular groove of the elongated shank portion of the bolt is defined by an annular portion that extends approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bolt, and a ramped portion that extends angularly from the longitudinal axis of the bolt, wherein the annular portion inhibits the bolt from being decaptivated from the retainer ring. 3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the retainer ring includes an outer ring having an exterior surface, and an interior surface, and at least one spring beam element extending from the interior surface of the outer ring, wherein when the bolt engages the retainer ring, the at least one spring beam element is displaced and expands radially from a free position to an expanded position in order to enable the bolt to travel through the retainer ring, and wherein when the retainer ring engages and aligns with the annular groove of the bolt, the at least one spring beam element springs back to its free position. 4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the at least one spring beam element includes an elongated arm having a first end attached to the interior surface of the outer ring and a free, second end opposite the first end of the elongated arm, wherein the arm of the at least one spring beam element and the interior surface of the outer ring form a slot therebetween. 5. The fastener of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring beam element of the retainer ring includes a tab portion formed at the second end of the elongated arm. 6. The fastener of claim 5, wherein the housing includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a channel formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a centrally-located aperture, wherein the channel of the housing is sized and shaped to receive the retainer ring such that the exterior surface of the outer ring of the retainer ring is juxtaposed with the outer wall of the housing, and the at least one spring beam element of the retainer ring is juxtaposed with the inner wall of the housing. 7. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the at least one spring beam element includes a plurality of spring beam elements. 8. fastener of claim 7, wherein each of the elongated arms of the plurality of spring beam elements is curvilinear in shape. 9. The fastener of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a plurality of windows formed within the inner wall, wherein each of the plurality of windows includes a stop surface, and wherein each of the plurality of windows of the housing is sized and shaped to receive a corresponding one of the tab portions of the plurality of spring beam elements of the retainer ring. 10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein each of the tab portions of the retainer ring includes a pressure pad, wherein when the plurality of spring beam elements are in their expanded positions, each of the pressure pads contacts a corresponding one of the stop surfaces of the housing. 11. The fastener of claim 10, wherein each of the pressure pads extends perpendicular to its corresponding arm of one of the plurality of spring beam elements. 12. The fastener of claim 11, wherein each of the tab portions extends substantially perpendicular to and in the same plane as the free end of its corresponding arm of one of the plurality of spring beam elements. 13. The fastener of claim 12, wherein the base member of the lower grommet includes an annular compressive wall, wherein the annular compressive wall defines the interior portion of the base member, and wherein the annular compressive wall is adapted to be compressed about its periphery to encapsulate the retainer ring and the housing within the interior portion of the base member. 14. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the bolt is adapted to receive a locking member. 15. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the bolt includes external threads below the annular groove and proximate to the second end of the bolt. 16. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the annular groove of the bolt is coincident with the external bolt threads of the bolt. 17. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the work piece is a panel. 18. A fastener, comprising: a bolt having an elongated shank portion adapted to be positioned within an opening of a work piece, the work piece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the elongated shank portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a head formed at the first end, a threaded portion having a plurality of external bolt threads, the threaded portion being adapted to extend past the second side of the work piece, and an annular groove formed proximate to the second end;a grommet having a receptacle, a head extending from one end of the receptacle, and a base member extending from an opposite end of the receptacle, the base member including an interior portion, wherein the grommet is adapted to be installed within the opening of the work piece;a housing; anda retainer ring housed within the housing,wherein the interior portion of the base member of the grommet is sized and shaped to receive the housing and the retainer ring, and wherein the elongated shank portion of the bolt is adapted to be installed within the grommet, such that the retainer ring engages the annular groove of the bolt in order to captivate the bolt. 19. The fastener of claim 18, wherein the retainer ring includes an outer ring having an interior surface and at least one spring beam element extending from the interior surface, wherein when the bolt engages the retainer ring, the at least one spring beam element is displaced and expands radially from a free position to an expanded position in order to enable the bolt to travel through the retainer ring, and wherein when the retainer ring engages and aligns with the annular groove of the bolt, the at least one spring beam element springs back to its free position.
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