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US 11,629,742 B2Granted
Box nut retainer
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsGregory G. Buczynski, Clinton Pitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first example box nut retainer includes a support, a fastener sleeve, and a resilient arm. The fastener sleeve defines an opening and extends downwardly from the support. The resilient arm extends upwardly and outwardly relative to the fastener sleeve toward the support.
Claims20
A component retainer system, comprising:
- a component retainer comprising:
- a support;
- a fastener sleeve defining an opening and extending from the support;
- a first leg connected to the support, wherein the first leg is spaced laterally outwardly from the support;
- a second leg connected to the support, wherein the second leg is spaced laterally outwardly from the support;
- a tab that connects the first leg to the second leg;
- and
- a resilient arm connected to the tab between the first leg and the second leg, the resilient arm having a finger and a second portion,
- a fastener inserted into the fastener sleeve and contacting the tab, the fastener comprising a head,
- a first panel comprising:
- a first aperture extending between a first surface and a second surface;
- and
- a first wall that defines the first aperture, and
- a second panel positioned between the head and the support,
- wherein the head compresses the second panel onto the support, and the support toward the first surface,
- wherein the second portion faces the second surface, and the finger contacts the first aperture,
- wherein the finger contacts the first wall and extends linearly directly from the resilient arm, and
- wherein in a rest configuration the finger is disposed substantially parallel with an insertion axis defined by the fastener sleeve and is spaced a distance from the fastener sleeve which is greater than a distance between the fastener sleeve and the resilient arm.
15 more elements
A component retainer system, comprising:
- a first panel comprising:
- a first aperture extending between a first surface and a second surface;
- and
- a first wall that defines the first aperture, and
- a component retainer inserted into the first aperture of the first panel, comprising:
- a support;
- a first leg connected to the support;
- a first tab extending from the first leg;
- and
- a resilient arm extending outwardly from the first tab and having a ledge at an end of the resilient arm and a serrated finger that projects from the ledge,
- wherein the resilient arm acts as a spring to laterally stabilize the first leg in the first aperture, the serrated finger contacts the first wall, a portion of the support contacts the first surface, and the ledge faces the second surface.
8 more elements
A component retainer, comprising:
- a support;
- a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the support, and extending outwardly beyond the support, wherein the first leg and the second leg are connected at a distal end, and the first leg and the second leg connect to the support through a first curved orthogonal angle and a second curved orthogonal angle, respectively, and extend in an orthogonal direction with respect to the support;
- a fastener sleeve defining an opening and extending from the support;
- and
- an arm extending outwardly relative to the first leg, and upwardly toward the support, wherein the arm extends between the first leg and the second leg, and wherein the arm includes a serrated finger extending toward the support and having at least one serration, wherein the at least one serration defines a first depth measured orthogonally from the serrated finger to a distal-most point on the at least one serration,
- wherein the serrated finger and a portion of the arm define a ledge, wherein the ledge defines a second depth measured orthogonally from the serrated finger, and wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth, and
- wherein a plane intersects the serrated finger, the first curved orthogonal angle, and the fastener sleeve.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.