Flex reduction clip nut
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorChristopher J. Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring fastener clip includes first, second, and third strips, each with a corresponding hole therethrough. The clip is bent to form an S-shape, wherein the first strip, the second strip, and the third strip are aligned one with another, and the three holes are aligned one with another. The spring fastener clip further includes a hook extending from the second strip to the first strip and including a tab proximate the first hole. When a substrate is disposed between the first and second strips, the tab hooks over an edge of the substrate and resists flexing of the clip on installation of a fastener.
Claims20
A spring fastener clip, comprising:
- a first strip including a first hole therethrough;
- a second strip including a second hole therethrough;
- a third strip including a third hole therethrough;
- wherein the clip is bent to form an S-shape wherein the first strip, the second strip, and the third strip are aligned one with another, and the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole are aligned one with another;
- and
- a hook extending from the second strip to the first strip and including a tab proximate the first hole.
A fastener assembly, comprising:
- a spring fastener clip including:
- a first strip having a first hole therethrough to allow installation of a fastener;
- a second strip having a second hole therethrough to allow installation of the fastener;
- and
- a first bend situated between the first strip and the second strip and bringing the first strip and the second strip into alignment one with another, wherein the first hole is aligned with the second hole to allow installation of the fastener;
- wherein the second strip has a hook extending from the second strip to the first strip, and the hook includes a tab proximate the first hole.
A fastener assembly enabling coupling to a substrate, comprising:
- a spring fastener clip including:
- a first strip including a first hole therethrough;
- a second strip including a second hole therethrough;
- a third strip including a third hole therethrough;
- wherein the clip is bent to form an S-shape wherein the first strip, the second strip, and the third strip are aligned one with another, and the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole are aligned one with another;
- wherein the first strip and the second strip are situated on opposite sides of the substrate;
- and
- a hook having an isthmus and a tab, the isthmus perpendicular to the second strip and extending from an edge of the second hole through a fourth hole in the substrate to the first hole, the tab situated inside the first hole and in a plane with the first strip and hooking over an edge of the substrate from inside the fourth hole;
- a nut translationally held within the third hole;
- and
- a fastener traversing the first hole, the fourth hole, and the second hole, and threaded into the nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.