FLANGED CAP FOR FORMING SEALED CAVITY AROUND FASTENER
First Claim
1. A cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener, the cap comprising a body portion with a base terminating at an edge which surrounds an opening into a central cavity, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion at a point which is set back from the edge of the base, wherein the body portion is deformable between a first configuration in which at least a part of the annular flange is inclined upwardly away from the base, and a second configuration in which said part of the annular flange is inclined downwardly at an acute angle to the base so as to define an annular pocket between the flange and the base.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cap has a body portion forming a central cavity, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion. The body portion is deformable between a first configuration in which the annular flange is inclined upwardly, and a second configuration in which the annular flange is inclined downwardly. A method includes applying a quantity of sealant to the annular flange in the first configuration; fitting the cap over the end of the fastener so that the fastener is enclosed by the cap; and turning down the annular flange such that the cap assumes the second configuration in which an annular pocket is formed between the flange and the base, and the sealant material fills the annular pocket; and bonding the cap to the structure with the sealant material.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener, the cap comprising a body portion with a base terminating at an edge which surrounds an opening into a central cavity, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion at a point which is set back from the edge of the base, wherein the body portion is deformable between a first configuration in which at least a part of the annular flange is inclined upwardly away from the base, and a second configuration in which said part of the annular flange is inclined downwardly at an acute angle to the base so as to define an annular pocket between the flange and the base.
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11. A joint comprising:
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a. a structure b. a fastener passing through the structure; c. a cap comprising a body portion with a base terminating at an edge, the body portion forming an enclosure around an end of the fastener, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion and is set back from the edge of the base, wherein the body portion is in a deformed state in which at least a part of the annular flange is inclined downwardly at an acute angle to the base so as to define an annular pocket between the flange and the base, deformed from a pre-installed state in which said part of the annular flange is inclined upwardly away from the base; and d. a sealant material in the annular pocket between the flange and the base, the sealant material bonding the cap to the structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of installing a cap to form a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener, the fastener passing through a structure, the cap comprising a body portion with a base terminating at an edge which surrounds an opening into a central cavity, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion at a point which is set back from the edge of the base, wherein the body portion is deformable between a first configuration in which at least a part of the annular flange is inclined upwardly away from the base, and a second configuration in which said part of the annular flange is inclined downwardly at an acute angle to the base, the method comprising:
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a. applying a quantity of sealant to the annular flange of the cap when the cap is in the first configuration; b. fitting the cap over the end of the fastener so that the fastener is enclosed by the cap; c. turning down the annular flange such that the cap assumes the second configuration in which an annular pocket is formed between the flange and the base, and the sealant material fills the annular pocket; and d. bonding the cap to the structure with the sealant material. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification