Panel fastener with spring retaining ring

A fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising:

• a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of a sub-panel;
• a bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the other end, said nose being adapted to extend through a countersink opening in said panel coaxially aligned with both of said openings, a groove provided in said bolt between said nose and said head, said bolt being threaded for threaded engagement to said stud;
• a spring retainer ring mounted in said groove, said ring being a split ring formed of one continuous piece of resilient material consisting only of a first end having a first generally straight portion extending in a linearly direction then curving to a first curved portion generally U-shaped first arched portion, then extending to a first elongated portion, then curving to a second generally U-shaped second arched portion, then extending to a second elongated portion, then curving to a third generally U-shaped third arched portion, then extending to a second generally straight portion terminating in a second end spaced from said first end, said first and second straight portions being generally parallel to each other and spaced therefrom, said first, second and third arched portions abutting against said groove of said bolt and resiliently gripping the same at four contact points so as to hold said bolt in a hold out position with respect to said panel, said ring being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity exceeding 27,000,000 psi, said ring also being rectangular in cross section having a generally flat upper surface spaced from a generally flat lower surface, and having a generally flat first side wall spaced from a generally flat second side wall, the spacing between said upper and lower surfaces being greater than the spacing between said side walls.

In a fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having an internally threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel, a bolt having an enlarged head at one end an integral shaft and a nose at the other end, said nose being adapted to extend through a countersunk opening in said panel coaxially aligned with both of said bolt being externally threaded for threaded engagement to said stud, the improvement which comprises a spring retainer ring mounted on the shaft of said bolt, said ring being a split ring formed of one continuous piece of resilient material consisting only of a first end having a first generally straight portion extending in a linearly direction then curving to a first generally U-shaped first arched portion, then extending to a first elongated portion, then curving to a second generally U-shaped second arched portion, then extending to a second elongated portion, then curving to a third generally U-shaped third arched portion, then extending to a second generally straight portion terminating in a second end spaced from said first end, said first and second straight portions being generally parallel to each other and spaced therefrom, said first, second and third arched portions abutting against said shaft of said bolt and resiliently gripping the same at four contact points so as to hold said bolt in a hold out position with respect to said panel, said ring being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity exceeding 27,000,000 psi, said ring also being rectangular in cross section having a generally flat upper surface spaced from a generally flat lower surface, and having a generally flat first side wall spaced from a generally flat second side wall, the spacing between said upper and lower surfaces being greater than the spacing between said side walls.

In a fastener assembly for joining a panel to a sub-panel comprising a receptacle assembly having a threaded stud secured to the undersurface of the sub-panel, a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, an integral shaft and a nose at the other end, said nose being adapted to extend through a countersunk opening in said panel coaxially aligned with an opening through said sub-panel, said stud being coaxially aligned with said opening through said sub-panel, said bolt being threaded for threaded engagement to said stud, the improvement which comprises a spring retainer ring mounted on said shaft, said ring being a split ring formed of one continuous piece of resilient material having an inner and an outer surface and consisting only of a first end having a first generally straight portion extending in a linearly direction then curving on the outer surface of said ring forming a first generally U-shaped first arched portion, then extending to a first elongated portion, then curving on the outer surface of said ring forming a second generally U-shaped second arched portion, then extending to a second elongated portion, then curving on the outer surface of said ring forming a third generally U-shaped third arched portion, then extending to a second generally straight portion terminating in a second end spaced from said first end, said first and second straight portions being generally parallel to each other and spaced therefrom, said first, second and third arched portions abutting against said shaft of said bolt at four contact points and resiliently gripping the same on the outer surface of said ring so as to hold said bolt in a hold out position with respect to said panel, said ring being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity exceeding 27,000,000 psi, said ring also being rectangular in cross section having a generally flat upper surface spaced from a generally flat first said wall spaced from a generally flat second side wall, the spacing between said upper and lower surfaces being greater than the spacing between said side walls.