The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 31, 1988
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1986
John A Duran, Glendora, CA (US);
Avilbank Mfg., Inc., Burbank, CA (US);
Abstract
A captive panel fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head and a threaded shank with a pair of slots extending longitudinally along the outer periphery of the shank. A C-shaped ring is trapped in the grommet assembly and has a pair of inwardly extending ends riding in the slots. In this manner, when the grommet assembly is installed in an aperture in the panel, which may be the skin of an aircraft panel, the bolt can be pushed between positions whereby, in a first position, the grommet assembly and C-ring are at one end of the shank holding the head and shank outwardly from the aircraft panel and, in a second position, the C-ring rides along the slots and abuts against the head so that the remaining threaded shaft can extend through the aperture with a stud on the receptacle assembly threaded thereon securing the panel to the sub-structure. An enlargement is provided along the slots adjacent the terminal end of the shank but spaced therefrom for forcing the ring upwardly when it engages the enlargement, then allowing the ring to grab down between the terminal end of the shank and the enlargement. This assures good retention of the C-ring with little play between the grommet assembly and the shaft resulting in maximum engagement and strength. Thus, the sleeve bolt is retained in the panel and remains in its withdrawn position when the panel is disengaged from the substructure.