DUAL-USE NUT-CAGE SYSTEM

• US 20190331158A1
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Bacon, JR., Bruce Bennett
• Granted Patent: US 11,131,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/04 Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates nuts fastened behind a wall by a toggle-mechanism F16B13/0808; threaded inserts F16B37/122; measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/002
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/044 Nut cages

Abstract

A nut-cage system has a nut cage having a base plate and two wings extending from the base plate on opposite sides of the base plate. The wings and base plate form a U-shape, each wing having a slot formed therein, and a fastener aperture is formed through the base plate. A snap-in threaded nut has a pair of tabs extending from a base thereof. A clip-retained threaded nut has a flange extending from a base thereof and is configured for use with a retainer clip. The slots are sized for receiving the tabs of the snap-in nut when the snap-in nut is installed in the nut cage and for receiving portions of the retainer clip when the clip-retained nut and retainer clip are installed in the nut cage, thereby retaining a selected one of the nuts within the cage.

Claims

1. A nut-cage system, comprising:

a nut cage having a base plate and two wings extending from the base plate on opposite sides of the base plate, the wings and base plate forming a U-shape, each wing having a slot formed therein, a fastener aperture being formed through the base plate;

a snap-in threaded nut having a pair of tabs extending from a base thereof;

a clip-retained threaded nut having a flange extending from a base thereof; and

a retainer clip;

wherein the slots are sized for receiving the tabs of the snap-in nut when the snap-in nut is installed in the nut cage and for receiving portions of the retainer clip when the clip-retained nut and retainer clip are installed in the nut cage, thereby retaining a selected one of the nuts within the cage.

2. The nut-cage system of claim 1, further comprising:

a grommet having a base and a coaxial cylindrical portion extending from the base, an end of the cylindrical portion configured to be deformed for forming a flange adjacent an inner surface of the base plate.

3. The nut-cage system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one aperture in the base plate spaced from the fastener aperture and adapted for use in fastening the nut cage to an assembly component.

4. The nut-cage system of claim 1, wherein the combined height of the tabs of the snap-in nut is approximately equal to the height of the flange of the clip-retained nut and the clip.

5. A nut-cage system, comprising:

a nut cage having a base plate and two wings extending from the base plate on opposite sides of the base plate, the wings and base plate forming a U-shape, each wing having a slot formed therein, a fastener aperture being formed through the base plate;

a snap-in threaded nut having a pair of tabs extending from a base thereof;

a clip-retained threaded nut having a flange extending from a base thereof;

a retainer clip; and

a grommet having a base and a coaxial cylindrical portion extending from the base, an end of the cylindrical portion configured to be deformed for forming a flange adjacent an inner surface of the base plate;

wherein the slots are sized for receiving the tabs of the snap-in nut when the snap-in nut is installed in the nut cage and for receiving portions of the retainer clip when the clip-retained nut and retainer clip are installed in the nut cage, thereby retaining a selected one of the nuts within the cage.

6. The nut-cage system of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one aperture in the base plate spaced from the fastener aperture and adapted for use in fastening the nut cage to an assembly component.

7. The nut-cage system of claim 5, wherein the combined height of the tabs of the snap-in nut is approximately equal to the height of the flange of the clip-retained nut and the clip.