Adjustable diameter bolt assembly
First Claim
1. In a self-retaining bolt assembly including a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a threaded section at the other end and a shank portion between the head and the threaded section, the bolt being adapted to be inserted through aligned apertures in a pair of abutting panels with the head on the access side of said panels, the shank portion including a pawl disposed in a hole in the shank portion movable from a first position into said hole to a second position abutting against the blind side of the panels in which the bolt may be inserted to hold the bolt in a hold-out position with respect to the panels, the pawl being adapted to be disengaged from abutment with the panels whereby the bolt can be removed from the aligned apertures, the threaded section being adapted to be threaded to a nut on the blind side of said panels, the improvement which comprises:
- bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, one of said bushing means including a first bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion t the walls of said apertures when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt; and
said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said bushing means toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-retaining adjustable diameter bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into aligned holes in a pair of abutting panels for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of the panels. The bolt includes a pawl engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panels. A plurality of bushing segments are mounted on the bolt shank, the pawl extending through an opening in the segment adjacent the threaded end of the bolt shank and retained therein by engagement with a slot through the segment while simultaneously being oriented in an operative position therein. A nut, having a skirt portion, is threaded onto the threaded end driving the segments forward and filling the spacing between the holes and the bolt shank. The skirt portion of the nut overlies the pawl and protects the same. The nut can be fully torqued to cause complete radial expansion of the bushing segments in the aligned panel holes before bottoming out against the panels.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a self-retaining bolt assembly including a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a threaded section at the other end and a shank portion between the head and the threaded section, the bolt being adapted to be inserted through aligned apertures in a pair of abutting panels with the head on the access side of said panels, the shank portion including a pawl disposed in a hole in the shank portion movable from a first position into said hole to a second position abutting against the blind side of the panels in which the bolt may be inserted to hold the bolt in a hold-out position with respect to the panels, the pawl being adapted to be disengaged from abutment with the panels whereby the bolt can be removed from the aligned apertures, the threaded section being adapted to be threaded to a nut on the blind side of said panels, the improvement which comprises:
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bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, one of said bushing means including a first bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion t the walls of said apertures when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt; and said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said bushing means toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a self-retaining bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a threaded end at the other with a shank portion therebetween, said shank portion including a pawl adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position, the shank portion including a hole partway therethrough, the central longitudinal axis of said hole extending in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, said shank portion being free of any longitudinally extending passageway along the interior length thereof, or cross through passage in the area of the pawl, the pawl being disposed in said hole and loosely retained therein, said pawl having a face portion having a plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank position, spring biasing means in said hole engaging said pawl normally biasing said pawl to a first position wherein said face portion extends out of said hole and movable along an axis generally coincident with the central longitudinal axis of said hole to a second position wherein said face portion is disposed in said hole, and keying means keying said pawl to said bolt so that said pawl is oriented so that its face portion faces the head of said bolt with the plane thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, the improvement which comprises:
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a plurality of bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened onto the threaded sections of said bolt; and said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded onto said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said segments toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An adjustable diameter bolt assembly comprising:
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a bolt having an enlarged head at one end;
a threaded end at the other end and a shank portion therebetween;a spring biased pawl mounted in a hole in said shank portion adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position; bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough, and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened; and a nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded on said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing at least said one segment toward said bolt head. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification