Captive fastener system and retention member

• US 20030108401A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Heavens, Glenn, Agha, Henna
• Granted Patent: US 6,688,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/353
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/002 Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/999 with retainer, e.g. tether

Abstract

A captive fastener system having a fastener and a retention member is provided. The retention member includes a cylindrical body having a flange at one end thereof. Work piece retention members project outwardly of the body for securing the retention member in a bore of a work piece. A plurality of dimples project inwardly in the retention member, and are narrow in a circumferential direction and elongated in an axial direction of the body. The dimples frictionally engage a shank of the fastener, to hold the fastener in the retention member.

Claims

1. A captive fastener system, comprising:

a fastener including a head and a shank, at least a portion of said shank having threads; and

a fastener retention member including;

a cylindrical body having first and second ends and an axial opening between said first and second ends, said body having a circumferential direction around said body and an axial direction between said first and second ends;

a flange at one end of said cylindrical body extending radially outward from said axial opening;

at least one work piece engagement member adapted and arranged to engage a bore in a work piece; and

a plurality of inwardly extending dimples in said cylindrical body for frictionally engaging said fastener shank, said dimples being elongated in said axial direction of said body.

2. The fastener system of claim 1, said fastener retention member being metal.

3. The fastener system of claim 2, said elongated dimples extending in said axial direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second ends.

4. The fastener system of claim 2, said elongated dimples extending in said axial direction at a skewed angle.

5. The fastener system of claim 1, said threads extending the length of said shank.

6. The fastener system of claim 1, said shank including a non-threaded portion between said head and said threaded portion of said shank having threads.

7. The fastener system of claim 1, said annular body including tabs extending outwardly therefrom.

8. The fastener system of claim 7, said fastener retention member being metal.

9. The fastener system of claim 8, said elongated dimples extending in said axial direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second ends.

10. The fastener system of claim 8, said elongated dimples extending in said axial direction at a skewed angle.

11. The fastener system of claim 1, said plurality of dimples being three said dimples.

12. A fastener retention member comprising:

a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, an axis and an axial opening therethrough between said first end and said second end;

at least one inwardly extending, elongated dimple in said body, said at least one dimple being elongated generally in a direction between said first and second ends of said body; and

an outwardly extending flange at one said end of said cylindrical body.

13. The fastener retention member of claim 12, said body having three said dimples.

14. The fastener retention member of claim 13, said elongated dimples extending axially in said body.

15. The fastener retention member of claim 13, said elongated dimples extending along said body at an angle relative to said body axis.

16. The fastener retention member of claim 12, including at least one work piece engagement member extending outwardly of said body, said at least one work piece engagement member including an outwardly extending tab formed in said body.

17. The fastener retention member of claim 12, said member being metal.

18. A fastener retention member comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, and an axial opening between said first end and said second end, said body having a circumferential direction around said axial opening and an axial direction between said first and second ends;

a flange extending outwardly of said body at one said end thereof;

a plurality of outwardly extending tabs formed in said wall; and

a plurality of inwardly extending dimples formed in said wall, each said dimple being narrow in said circumferential direction of said cylindrical body and being elongated in said axial direction of said cylindrical body.

19. The fastener retention member of claim 18, said dimples being substantially perpendicular to said ends.

20. The fastener retention member of claim 18, said dimples being disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to said ends.