Gutted U-nut

• US 4,897,005 A
• Filed: 12/03/1987
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Buell Industries, Inc. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Francis C., Gagnon, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US07/128,432
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 411/172-175, 411/436, 411/437, 411/522-524
• US Class Current: 411/175
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/02 made of thin sheet material fastening to surfaces F16B37/04 ; used as lock-nuts F16B39/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/041 Releasable devices F16B37/044, F16B37/045 take precedence

Abstract

A fastener clip is adapted to be pushed onto an edge of sheet materials of varying thicknesses. The clip has two legs. The first leg has cut from it a U-shaped elongated tongue with an elongate aperture which is between the two legs; the tongue is gutted to provide a clearance between the outer perimeter of the tongue and the surrounding portions of the first leg. The elongated tongue has a length to width ratio of at least 1.3:1. The second leg has a threaded means opposite the elongate aperture for receiving a bolt.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a clip having first and second legs,

(a) said first leg having a substantially U-shaped elongated tongue for engaging a sheet material,

(i) said tongue having long uniform spring arms formed of substantially straight substantially uniform width metal strips connected to said first leg at the tips of said strips, said spring arms having a uniform spring action over their length,

(ii) a substantially elongated oblong aperture being provided in said tongue;

(iii) substantial clearance being provided between said tongue and said first leg; and

(b) said second leg having means for receiving a threaded fastener formed thereon;

said clip being mountable onto a sheet material having a thickness of about four millimeters with as little as about 8 pounds of force.

2. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said clip mounted onto a sheet material having a thickness of about four millimeters requires a pull-off force of at least three pounds to remove said clip from said sheet material.

3. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring arms are sufficiently elongated whereby they extend for a substantial distance away from said axis of said threaded barrel, whereby said fastener assembly may be mounted onto sheet materials having a substantial range of material thicknesses with a push-on force of less than about 8 pounds.

4. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said U-shaped tongue has a length to width ratio of at least 1.3:

1.

5. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said oblong aperture is squared off at one end where said tongue joins said first leg.

6. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a tab formed on the free end of said tongue, said tab having a first segment extending from said tongue end to said first leg, and a second segment at right angles to said first segment and extending parallel to the plane of said first leg towards the join between said first and second legs.

7. A fastener assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for receiving a threaded fastener comprises an internally threaded barrel having an axis substantially perpendicular to said first leg.

8. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a clip having substantially parallel first and second legs joined together with a space therebetween for receiving a sheet material,

(a) said first leg having a substantially U-shaped elongated tongue for engaging a sheet material,

(i) said tongue having spring arms formed of narrow metal strips connected to said first leg at the tips of said strips, said spring arms being elongated and substantially straight and having a substantially uniform width over their spring acting length, and having uniform spring action over their length,

(ii) said tongue being formed from said first leg with a substantial clearance between said tongue and first leg when said tongue and first leg are located in the same plane,

(iii) a substantially elongated oblong aperture provided in said tongue, said aperture being squared off at one end where said tongue joins said first leg,

(iv) a tab being formed on the free end of said tongue, said tab having a first segment extending from said tongue end to said first leg, and a second segment at right angles to said first segment and extending parallel to the plane of said first leg towards the join between said first and second legs,

(v) said tongue having a length to width ratio of about 1.3;

1; and

(b) said second leg having an internally threaded barrel for receiving a threaded fastener formed thereon, said internally threaded barrel having an axis substantially perpendicular to said first leg, and wherein said spring arms extend for a substantial distance away from said axis;

(c) said clip being mountable on a sheet material having a thicknesses of about four millimeters with a push-on force of about six to about eight pounds, and requiring a pull-off force of at least three pounds to remove said clip from said sheet.