Patent Application
20130108392
The present invention relates to a fastener assembly, and in particular to a fastener assembly including a nut with an enlarged head and an internally threaded shank.
Fastener assemblies including a nut with an enlarged encapsulated head have an internally threaded shank comprising a blind hole. The screw is threaded into the hole to secure the two fastener parts together and to clamp the fastened pieces together. These types of fasteners are sometimes referred to as T-nuts.
In some uses of fastener assemblies, such as in the construction of wall panels for truck bodies, the head of the nut portion of the fastener is exposed on the exterior of the truck. These head portions, which may have a thickness of 0.200 to 0.350 inches from their undersurface to their outer surface, protrude from the otherwise relatively flat wall of the truck, generally in rows or columns when the exterior side wall is secured to the interior wall structure of the truck body. The protruding heads prevent sheet-like advertising or informational signs, such as in the form of truck wraps, from being applied to the exterior side wall of the truck, or else cause a distracting and displeasing appearance.
Consequently, it can be seen that the need exists for a fastener assembly that can provide an attachment mechanism for truck body exterior side walls, yet will allow for the use of sheet-like advertisements known as full wrap graphics or informational signs to be applied to the exterior side wall without causing a distracting or displeasing appearance.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fastener assembly including an externally threaded screw and an internally threaded nut for use in securing at least two materials together, wherein a head of the nut portion of the fastener assembly has a low profile. This means that the thickness of the head of the nut which protrudes from the exterior surface of the truck body is much thinner than conventional T-nut heads, and is on the order of no greater than about 0.080 to 0.150 inches, and preferably about 0.100 inches.
The underside of the head of the nut, in an embodiment, includes an annular recess extending around the shank of the nut which results in an annular lip being formed on the lower surface at the circumference of the head.
A seal member, such as an O-ring, may be carried on the shank of the nut. The seal member will be pressed into the annular recess as the fastener is tightened to provide a water tight seal between the lower surface of the head and the exterior surface of the truck body. This seal member will prevent water, such as rain, from entering the truck body at the location of the fasteners.
To secure the nut in place in the wall of the truck body, and to prevent rotation of the nut as the screw is tightened into the nut, the nut may be provided with anti-rotation protrusions. These protrusions may take the form of ribs or ridges provided on the shank of the nut. The ribs may be arranged parallel to the axis of the screw which is inserted into the nut, or the ribs may be angled relative to the axis.
The outer surface of the nut portion of the fastener may be provided with a salt spray protector in the form of a liquid sealant that will dry with a very thin thickness so as not to meaningfully increase the thickness of the head portion.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several Figures in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
As shown in
The shank portion 24 is provided with an internally threaded longitudinal bore 36 comprising a blind hole with an opening 38 at a free end 40 opposite the head portion 22. The outer peripheral surface 32 of the shank portion 24 near the end 40 has a smooth cylindrical shape with an outer diameter smaller than a width dimension of the anti-rotation structure 28.
The underside 26 of the first fastener member 18 has an annular recess 46 surrounding the shank portion 24 which forms an annular lip 48 at a periphery 50 of the head portion 22. When the fastener assembly 16 is tightened into position, a seal member 52 shown in the form of an O-ring which may be carried on the shank portion 24 will be squeezed between the underside 26 of the head portion 22 and the first structural component 12, which may be the exterior surface of a truck body. In a preferred embodiment, the O-ring 52 has a diameter greater than a depth of the annular recess 46. For example, the annular recess 46 may have a depth of about 0.025 inches and the O-ring may have a diameter of about 0.0625 inches. This will cause the O-ring to flatten out, as shown in
While the underside 26 of the head portion 22 may be made without any recess, if a seal member 52 is used with such a first fastener member 18, the seal member may be squeezed to the point where it extends beyond the outer periphery of the head portion 22 potentially causing an unsightly appearance. Further, by using an annular recess 46 forming an annular lip 48, there are two concentric seal points, the lip engagement with the first structural member 12 and the O-ring engagement with the first structural member. This improves the sealing characteristics.
The second fastener member 20, which may be a screw, is provided with a generally cylindrical shank portion 60. The head portion of the screw may be a countersink head, a round head, pan head, etc., depending on the application involved. The shank portion 60 is provided with external threads 62 that may extend along the entire length of the shank portion 60, and is adapted to threadingly engage with the internal bore 36 of the first fastener member 18. An outer side of the head portion 56 of the second fastener member 20 may be provided with a recessed portion 64 that is adapted to receive a tool for rotationally driving the second fastener member. The recessed portion 64 as shown is adapted to receive a TORX.RTM. driving tool, but it is contemplated that the head portion 56 can be adapted or shaped to receive any suitable driving tool, such as a screwdriver, allen wrench or socket wrench.
In
In operation, the first fastener member 18 is inserted into a bore 66 in the structural component 12, as shown in
After the first fastener member 18 has been inserted into the first structural component 12, the second fastener member 20 is then inserted through an aligned bore 68 in the second structural component 14, and a driving tool is used to rotationally drive the second fastener member 20, thus causing the threaded shank portion 60 of the second fastener member to threadingly engage the threaded inner bore 36 of the first fastener member 18. The frictional engagement of the anti-rotation structure 28 with the inner surface of the bore 68 prevents rotational movement of the first fastener members 18 with respect to the bore 68 of the first structural component 12.
The triangular configuration of the longitudinal ridges 30 (see
The low profile (thickness) of the head portion 22, 22A results in a nearly smooth surface for the first structural member 12, thereby allowing the surface of the first structural member to be covered with thin, sheet-like advertisements or informational signs, such as truck wraps, without causing any unsightly bumps at the locations of the fasteners assemblies 16. The low profile also allows the sheet-like advertisements or informational signs to adhere to the surface of the first structural member without the formation of bubbles or gaps which might detrimentally affect the adherence.
To provide protection for the first fastener components 18, they may be coated with a salt spray protector which will seal the surfaces of the first fastener components, and particularly the head portion, from salt spray or other corrosive materials that might lead to rusting or deterioration of the first fastener components.
The outer surface of the head portion 22, 22A may be painted white or other color, depending on the covering to be placed over the first structural member and the fastener assembly 16 so that if the sheet-like advertisement or informational sign is scraped or torn in the location of the fastener assembly, the fastener assembly will not be readily visible.
In a particular embodiment, such as shown in
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.
