Scratch resistant clip-on nut

• US 5,039,264 A
• Filed: 12/01/1988
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monadnock Company The City of Industry CA
• Original Assignee: The Monadnock Company (Compagnie Industrielle de Delle SA)
• Inventors: Benn, Howard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saether, F.
• Application Number:
  US07/278,344
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 411/108, 411/111, 411/112, 411/172-175, 411/182, 411/522-524, 411/970, 411/522, 411/523, 411/524, 411/965
• US Class Current: 411/175
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/041 Releasable devices F16B37/044, F16B37/045 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/044 Nut cages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/97 Resilient retainer

Abstract

A clip-on nut for enabling a panel to be secured to a support structure, the clip-on nut being secured to the support structure. The clip-on nut has a portion for guiding the clip-on nut into an aperture formed on the support structure, the guide portion comprising a spherically rounded projection.

Claims

1. A clip-on nut for attachment to a support structure comprising:

a U-shaped metal member having first and second leg members extending laterally from a curved end portion, aperatures being formed in each of said first and second leg members, said aperatures being in alignment; and

a tab portion connected to the end of said second leg member spaced from said end portion and having a protrusion extending in the direction of said first leg member, said protrusion comprising a vertically extending portion terminating in a circularly shaped end face portion, the entire surface joining the edge of the face portion at its diametrical extent and the adjacent edge of the vertically extending portion having a curved shape defined by two inversely connecting radial arcs forming generally an S-shape, said curved surface contacting said support structure.

2. The clip-on nut of claim 1 wherein an aperature is formed in said protrusion, the aperature in said protrusion being in alignment with the aperature in said first leg member.

3. The clip-on nut of claim 1 wherein a third leg member is attached to the end of said first leg member and extends towards the curved end portion of said metal member, said third leg member having an opening in alignment with the aperatures in said first and second leg members.

4. The clip-on nut of claim 3 further including a nut supported by said third leg member for retaining a bolt.

5. The clip-on nut of claim 1 wherein said protrusion is diametrical with the diameter having a radius.