Fastener

Abstract

A fastener for securing parts to metal framing such as channel framing having side flanges with inwardly turned, hook-shaped lips defining a slot therebetween. The fastener comprises an elongate body or nut having inside and outside faces, opposite sides and opposite ends, a width less than that of the slot and a length greater than that of the slot. The fastener also includes a clamp member carried on the outside face of the nut for engaging the curved outside faces of the channel lips. A retainer holds the clamp member in assembly with the nut and prevents relative lengthwise, lateral and rotational movement of the clamp member and the nut while permitting movement of the clamp member toward and away from the outside face of the nut. The retainer also has spring fingers engageable with the inside face of the nut whereby when the nut is generally aligned with, entered into and passed through the slot so that the clamp member engages the outside faces of the channel lips, and the nut is then turned to a crosswise position relative to the slot for engagement of the outside face of the nut with the inside faces of the channel lips, these spring fingers tend to draw the clamp member back toward the outside face of the nut thereby to clamp the clamp member and nut against respective outside and inside faces of the channel lips. A tool for installing the fastener on a channel is also disclosed.