The present invention relates generally to connection assemblies, and more specifically, to a compression limiting connective nut. The connective nut incorporates an integral compression limiting sleeve feature defining a nipple adapted for insertion in sunken relation within a fastened component.
It is known to connect a threaded member in place relative to the surface of a panel or other component (referred to herein as the “fastened component”) by extending a threaded bolt or stud portion of the threaded member through a hole in the fastened component and engaging a female nut at the far side of the fastened component. By tightening the nut relative to the threaded bolt or stud portion, the threaded member and the fastened component are held in secure relation to one another. While such an arrangement provides a secure connection, the fastened component may experience a substantial level of compression due to pressure exerted by the nut pressing against the surface of the fastened component. In severe situations, such compression may cause structural or cosmetic damage.
In order to prevent excessive compression, it is known to use supporting sleeve inserts at the interior of the fastening opening. The supporting sleeve acts as a spacer between the nut and the threaded component thereby preventing over-tightening and avoiding resultant damage. While such sleeves function well, the sleeve is a separate component which adds complexity and cost to the joining procedure.
The present disclosure provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a hollow fastening nut assembly including an upper head adapted to engage a wrench or other tightening tool and an integral co-axial, internally threaded lower section of reduced diameter adapted for insertion into an access opening in the fastened component. The lower section acts as a compression limiter. An optional annular disc spring may be disposed about the internally threaded lower section for engagement with the rear surface of the fastened component. An enhanced diameter locking structure may be disposed at the exterior surface of the internally threaded lower section to engage the interior of the access opening to lock the nut in place.
In accordance with one exemplary construction, the present disclosure provides a compression limiting nut adapted to engage a threaded male member during attachment of a fastened component to a male threaded component. The compression limiting nut includes a unitary metal body of hollow construction including a polygonal head portion adapted to engage a tightening tool and an integral nipple portion extending away from the head portion. The body has an open top and an open bottom with an axial passageway extending along the entire length of the body between the open top and the open bottom. The nipple portion includes interior surface threads extending at least partially along the length of the nipple portion circumferentially about the axial passageway within the nipple portion. The body has a stepped exterior profile in the length dimension, wherein the head portion has an effective outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the nipple portion. The axial passageway has a stepped configuration with the effective inner diameter of the head portion being greater than the inner diameter of the nipple portion. The head portion has a hollow walled construction with an interior void between perimeter walls defining an upper portion of the axial passageway. An enhanced diameter locking ring projects radially outwardly from the exterior of the nipple portion and is disposed circumferentially about the nipple portion.
The fastening nut of the present disclosure provides numerous advantages including a reduced possibility of compression damage, and reduced material used in the construction of the nut. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
Before the exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited in its application or construction to the details and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for purposes of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of terms such as “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein to the extent possible, like elements are designated by like reference numerals in the various views. Referring now jointly to
As best seen in
As best seen in
As will be appreciated, a nut 10 according to the present disclosure provides the features of a captured compression limiter. This represents an improvement over many current systems which require an additional spacer component to limit the nut from over compressing the adjacent component as fastening takes place.
As illustrated, in accordance with one exemplary feature, the compression limiting nut 10 may be configured to be captured and held in place within the access opening 23 in the fastened component 16, thereby reducing the labor or automation required to fasten the system together. By way of example only, as seen in
By way of example only, and not limitation, the ring structure 26 may be formed from a slightly compressible material such as plastic or the like. By way of example only, in one exemplary practice, the ring structure may be glass-filled nylon or other polymer heat bonded or otherwise secured to the exterior of the nipple portion 20. However, other materials of construction may be used if desired. By way of example only, and not limitation, the ring structure 26 may be formed integrally with the walls of nipple portion 20 during the formation process. Of course, other locking arrangements may likewise be used.
As illustrated, the nut 10 according to the present disclosure may be open at both the top and the bottom to define an internal passageway of internal stepped construction extending along the entire length. This internal passageway has a relatively wide diameter at the interior of the head portion 22 disposed in substantially coaxial relation to the reduced diameter interior of the nipple portion 20 containing the interior surface threads 25. Thus, it will be understood that the nut 10 is hollow along its entire length. This hollow construction may provide weight advantages when compared to using a nut and standard compression limiter in which a solid nut head typically will contain more material than a drawn nut according to the present disclosure which is hollow along its length. In the present system, a relatively thin walled hexagonal structure may be used at the head portion 22 with very little extra material compared to a conventional nut.
The nut 10 according to the present disclosure may also permit the use of a shorter externally threaded male member 24 compared to a system using a standard nut. In this regard, in prior systems the entire nut and mated threads will typically exist outside the fastened component such that the threaded male member 24 may be required to extend through and beyond the thickness dimension of the fastened component. Conversely, in the design of the present disclosure, the threaded male member 24 need only extend an adequate distance to achieve a secure connection because the internal receiving threads are within the compression limiting nipple portion 20 of the nut 10 which is disposed within the access opening 23 of the fastened component 16.
As indicated previously, the nut 10 may also facilitate connection of a captured disc spring 12. In this regard, by adding a slight interference between the ring structure 26 and the inner diameter of the disc spring 12, the disc spring 12 may be attached and secured loosely in place about the nipple portion 20 by pressing the disc spring 12 past the slightly compressible ring structure 26 and onto the nipple portion 20. Accordingly, the nut 10 and disc spring 12 may be preassembled and shipped as a useable combined assembly (
Referring now to
As illustrated, in the exemplary construction the umbrella flange 32 may intersect the upper neck 30 at an elbow 34. As best seen in
As will be appreciated, during a tightening procedure between the nut 10 and the threaded male member 24, the head portion 22 will be drawn towards the outer surface of fastened component 16. With the disc spring 12 in place as shown in
Of course, variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. All dimensions are merely exemplary. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of, and priority from, U.S. provisional application 61/547,248 filed Oct. 14, 2011. The contents of such prior application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4433578 | Hill | Feb 1984 | A |
4790703 | Wing | Dec 1988 | A |
4971498 | Goforthe | Nov 1990 | A |
5190423 | Ewing | Mar 1993 | A |
5203656 | McKinlay | Apr 1993 | A |
5827025 | Henriksen | Oct 1998 | A |
5902084 | Garcia | May 1999 | A |
5904460 | Kawabata | May 1999 | A |
6554552 | McKinlay | Apr 2003 | B2 |
8506223 | McKinlay | Aug 2013 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130094922 A1 | Apr 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61547248 | Oct 2011 | US |