Fastener for temporarily securing components
AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsAnthony Ruh, Cameron Crow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Toggle bolts are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a fastener configured to temporarily secure a component to a support structure during installation of the component. The fastener includes a proximal portion configured to selectively engage and disengage a hole in the support structure. The fastener also has an intermediate portion having a plurality of retention arms. Each of the retention arms is configured to transition between a resting configuration and a compressed configuration. The fastener also includes a distal portion configured to guide traversal of the fastener through the hole in the component.
Claims18
A method of securing a component to a support structure during installation of the component, the method comprising:
- installing a fastener into the support structure by turning a distal portion of the fastener clockwise such that threads of a proximal portion of the fastener engage a first tapped surface of the support structure;
- inserting a distal portion of the fastener through a first hole defined in the component;
- compressing a plurality of retention arms of an intermediate portion of the fastener such that the retention arms transition from a resting configuration to a compressed configuration;
- inserting the intermediate portion of the fastener through the first hole defined in the component;
- releasing the retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener such that the retention arms transition from the compressed configuration to the resting configuration;
- and
- releasing the component such that a flange of each of the retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener engages the component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.