Inset panel fastener

• US 7,195,436 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NMC Group Incorporated (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NMC Group Incorporated (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stephen, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell; Katherine
• Application Number:
  US11/006,181
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 411/82.1, 411/82, 411/373, 411/376
• US Class Current: 411/82.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/044 Nut cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/01 by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels

Abstract

An inset panel fastener anchors into honeycomb substrates employed in the aircraft industry. The inset panel fastener provides significantly increased load carrying capabilities with a simple inexpensive construction. The inset panel fastener includes a plastic casing and a central floating fastener element. The casing includes a body, disk and cap. The body is generally barrel shaped including a central chamber for holding the fastener element which is preferably a female fastener. The disk radially projects from the top of the body and includes a fill hole and vent hole. Meanwhile, the cap engages and covers the bottom of the barrel shaped body. The cap is affixed in place using a weld, such as a sonic weld.

Claims

1. An inset panel fastener for being received into a structure cavity for affixing objects to the structure, the inset panel fastener comprising:

a plastic casing including plastic body, a plastic disk and a plastic cap;

said plastic body including a cylindrical barrel having a top, a bottom and a bore extending through said body to form a central chamber, a fastener entrance located at the top of said body and a fastener access opening located at the bottom of said body;

said plastic disk radially projecting from said top of said body;

said disk having a diameter greater than the diameter of said body to form a cavity space around said body;

said disk further including a fill hole and a vent hole at the edge of said disk for allowing the injection of resin into said cavity space;

said plastic cap engaging said body and covering said fastener access opening;

a fastener floatingly disposed within said central chamber; and

a weld affixing said plastic cap to said plastic body wherein the material of said plastic cap and plastic body both melt and coalesce to form a bond.

2. The inset panel fastener of claim 1 wherein said weld is a sonic weld.

3. The inset panel fastener of claim 1 wherein said plastic body and plastic disk are constructed in one piece.

4. The inset panel fastener of claim 1 wherein said plastic body, plastic disk and plastic cap are constructed of nylon.

5. The inset panel fastener of claim 1 further comprising one or more ridges vertically positioned in said cavity space for restricting rotation of the inset panel fastener when adhered within a structure cavity.

6. The inset panel fastener of claim 1 wherein said fastener is a female fastener.