Adjustable-height inserts and related methods
First Claim
1. An adjustable-height insert, comprising:
- a first insert part comprising;
a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface;
a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and
a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and
a second insert part comprising;
a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface;
a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange;
a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck; and
a plurality of radially-extending projections extending from the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are spaced apart about a peripheral edge of the second flange, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections extend along less than half of a height of the second flange,wherein the second insert part is configured to be selectively operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck engages the first outer surface of the first neck with an interference fit, wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured to have a selectively adjustable overall height such that moving the second insert part with respect to the first insert part such that the second flange is moved towards the first flange reduces the overall height of the adjustable-height insert, wherein the overall height of the adjustable-height insert is defined as the perpendicular distance between the second upper surface of the second flange and the first lower surface of the first flange, and wherein the first hole and the second hole are at least substantially concentric when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two-part adjustable-height insert may be installed in a bore of a sandwich panel, such that the adjustable-height insert may be configured to transfer a load to the sandwich panel. The adjustable-height insert may include a first insert part and a second insert part that may be selectively operatively positioned with respect to each other. The adjustable-height insert may be configured such that an interference fit between the first insert part and the second insert part may be engaged by moving a second flange of the second insert part towards a first flange of the first insert part, which may thereby reduce the overall height of the adjustable-height insert to a selected height. Presently disclosed adjustable-height inserts may be configured for flush installation in a sandwich panel. Methods of installing such adjustable-height inserts and adjusting the height of the same are also disclosed.
28 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An adjustable-height insert, comprising:
-
a first insert part comprising; a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface; a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and a second insert part comprising; a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface; a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange; a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck; and a plurality of radially-extending projections extending from the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are spaced apart about a peripheral edge of the second flange, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections extend along less than half of a height of the second flange, wherein the second insert part is configured to be selectively operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck engages the first outer surface of the first neck with an interference fit, wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured to have a selectively adjustable overall height such that moving the second insert part with respect to the first insert part such that the second flange is moved towards the first flange reduces the overall height of the adjustable-height insert, wherein the overall height of the adjustable-height insert is defined as the perpendicular distance between the second upper surface of the second flange and the first lower surface of the first flange, and wherein the first hole and the second hole are at least substantially concentric when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of installing an adjustable-height insert into a bore formed in a sandwich panel, the method comprising:
-
installing an adjustable-height insert into the bore, wherein the adjustable-height insert comprises; a first insert part comprising; a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface; a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and a second insert part comprising; a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface; and a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange; a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck; and a plurality of radially-extending projections extending from the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are spaced apart about a peripheral edge of the second flange, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections extend along less than half of a height of the second flange, wherein the second insert part is configured to be selectively operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck engages the first outer surface of the first neck with an interference fit, wherein the adjustable-height insert is installed into the bore such that at least a portion of the first neck and at least a portion of the second neck of the adjustable-height insert are positioned within the bore of the sandwich panel; and adjusting a height of the adjustable-height insert until the plurality of radially-extending projections of the adjustable-height insert engage the sandwich panel and the second upper surface of the second flange is at least substantially flush with an outer surface of the sandwich panel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system, comprising:
-
a plurality of first adjustable-height inserts; and a plurality of second adjustable-height inserts, wherein each second adjustable-height insert of the plurality of second adjustable-height inserts and each first adjustable-height insert of the plurality of first adjustable-height inserts comprises; a first insert part comprising; a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface; a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and a second insert part comprising; a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface; and a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange; a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck; and a plurality of radially-extending projections extending from the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are spaced apart about a peripheral edge of the second flange, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections extend along less than half of a height of the second flange, and wherein the second insert part is configured to be positioned on the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck engages the first outer surface of the first neck with an interference fit, wherein each respective first adjustable-height insert has a first minimum overall height and a first maximum overall height when the respective second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the respective first insert part of each respective first adjustable-height insert, and wherein each respective second adjustable-height insert has a second minimum overall height and a second maximum overall height when the respective second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the respective first insert part of each respective second adjustable-height insert, wherein the second minimum overall height of each second adjustable-height insert is greater than the first minimum overall height of each first adjustable-height insert, and wherein the second maximum overall height of each second adjustable-height insert is greater than the first maximum overall height of each first adjustable-height insert.
-
Specification