Insert Fastener with a Compression Sleeve
AssigneePenn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
InventorsMichael J. Maloney, Brian G. Bentrim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-part fastener with an insert and a compression sleeve. The insert is an internally-threaded fastener intended to be installed into a hole of a very hard panel. The insert itself is relatively hard with a knurled outer barrel portion and a flange at the bottom. A compression sleeve is made of relatively soft material and is preassembled around the barrel of the insert by friction fit. Upon installation into a panel with a blind hole having parallel sides, the compression sleeve is pressed into the panel and deforms outwardly between the insert and the side wall of the hole. Friction between the compression sleeve and the wall of the hole prevents torque out and pull out of the fastener from the panel.
Claims20
A two-part fastener, comprising:
- a generally-cylindrical insert made of a first material and having a barrel with knurls on an outer surface thereof;
- a flange on said insert at a bottom end thereof;
- and,
- a generally-cylindrical, deformable sleeve made of a second material softer than said first material, having:
- a bottom end abutting the top of said flange;
- a bottom portion rigidly affixed around a lower portion of said barrel by friction fit;
- and,
- a top portion with an enlarged internal diameter radially spaced away from an upper portion of said barrel.
An assembly comprising
- a) a panel having a receiving hole;
- and,
- b) a two-part fastener having:
- i) a generally-cylindrical insert made of a first material and having a barrel with knurls on an outer surface thereof;
- ii) a flange on said insert at a bottom end thereof;
- and,
- iii) a generally-cylindrical, deformable sleeve made of a second material softer than said first material, including:
- a bottom end abutting the top of said flange;
- a bottom portion rigidly affixed around a lower portion of said barrel by friction fit;
- and,
- a top portion with an enlarged internal diameter radially spaced away from an upper portion of said barrel;
- wherein said two-part fastener is rigidly affixed in said receiving hole by friction fit.
A method of installing an insert into a panel, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a panel having a blind hole;
- b) providing a two-part fastener having:
- i) a generally-cylindrical insert made of a first material and having a barrel with knurls on an outer surface thereof;
- ii) a flange on said insert at a bottom end thereof;
- and,
- iii) a generally-cylindrical, deformable sleeve made of a second material softer than said first material, including:
- a bottom end abutting the top of said flange;
- a bottom portion rigidly affixed around a lower portion of said barrel by friction fit;
- and,
- a top portion with an enlarged internal diameter radially spaced away from an upper portion of said barrel;
- c) placing the two-part fastener into the blind hole against its end wall;
- and
- d) pressing the sleeve downward against the top of flange whereby the sleeve deforms around the barrel and against the side wall of the blind hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.