Panel edge fastener receptacle and joint
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorVictor B. Starr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener receptacle, preferably having a threaded hole formed axially therein, is installed in an opening prepared at the edge of a first member, which is usually a thin rigid plate or panel. The receptacle is used to releasably attach the first member, at its edge, to the surface of a second member, the planes of the first and second members being at right angles to each other. A threaded fastener, such as a screw, is inserted through a hole prepared in the second member and into the threaded hole in the receptacle at the edge of the first member.
Claims17
A fastener receptacle adapted for installation at the edge of a thin panel, said receptacle comprising:
- a. a body of resilient material;
- b. a peripheral spring element having one end integral with said body and the other end free;
- c. a first peripheral recess located adjacent said other end of said spring element;
- d. a second peripheral recess diametrically opposite said first recess;
- e. said first and second recesses adapted to engage and cooperate with the edges of an opening prepared in said panel in which said receptacle is to be installed;
- f. said spring element being adapted to be flexed inwardly toward the center of said body by one edge of said panel opening during installation and then to return outwardly to its unflexed position as, during installation, the spring element passes beyond said edge of said panel opening, said spring element in its unflexed outward position being adapted to retain said receptacle in said panel opening.
A screw fastener receptacle adapted for installation at the edge of a thin rigid panel and adapted to receive a screw fastener for removably securing said rigid panel to a second member in such relative positions that the edge of said thin panel abuts against the surface of said second member, said receptacle comprising;
- a. a body of resilient material;
- b. an axial hole in said body for receiving a screw fastener;
- c. first and second recesses in the peripheral surface of said body at diametrically opposed locations;
- d. a slot within said body extending generally circumferentially from said first recess toward said second recess but terminating short thereof, forming a tongue integral at one end with said body and free at its other end, the free end of said tongue being movable inwardly into said slot to permit the installation of said receptacle in an opening in said panel, said tongue returning outwardly to prevent removal of said body following installation.
In combination:
- a. a panel member having a shaped opening adjacent its edge;
- b. the dimension of said opening at the edge of said panel member being less than the dimension of said opening along a line parallel to and inwardly from said edge of said panel;
- c. a receptacle member, said receptacle member comprising:
- c-1. a body of resilient material;
- c-2. a peripheral spring element integral at one end with said body and free at its opposite end;
- c-3. a first peripheral recess adjacent to said free end of said spring element;
- c-4. a second peripheral recess located diametrically opposite said first recess;
- c-5. fastener receiving means centrally located in said body;
- c-6. said body having a reduced cross-section dimension portion adapted to be received in the lesser dimension portion of the opening at the edge of said panel;
- c-7. said first and second peripheral recesses being adapted to engage cooperatively with the side edges of the panel opening;
- c-8. said peripheral spring element being adapted to flex inwardly to pass through the opening and then to return outwardly to its unflexed position;
- c-9. said spring element in its unflexed position after having passed through said opening functioning to retain the receptacle within said panel opening.
In combination:
- a. a first thin rigid sheet having a straight edge;
- b. a second member having a flat surface against which the edge of said first sheet is to be attached in abutting relation;
- c. a fastener receptacle;
- d. an opening in said first sheet of a size and shape corresponding to the peripheral size and shape of said receptacle;
- e. said opening being of lesser dimension at said edge of said sheet;
- f. said receptacle comprising:
- f-1. a body having a generally circular cross-section;
- f-2. an axial hole in said body for receiving a screw fastener;
- f-3. first and second recesses in the peripheral surface of said body at diametrically opposed locations;
- f-4. a slot in said body extending generally circumferentially from said first recess toward said second recess but terminating short of second recess forming a tongue integral at one end with said receptacle body and free at its other end, said tongue functioning as a spring member permitting when compressed inwardly into said slot the installation of said receptacle in said panel opening but upon return to its non-compressed outward position preventing removal of said receptacle from said panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.