Fastener with floating nut for use with composite structure

A fastener unit comprising

• a channel of nonmetallic composite material having a opposite side flanges joined by a central web,
• said central web having at one opening therethrough,
• each of said side flanges having an opening therethrough adjacent said opening in said central web, and
• a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly including
• a first member received in said channel, said first member including a first portion on said central web having an opening therethrough adjacent said opening in said central web and having opposite end walls,
• each of said opposite end walls having an opening therethrough,
• a second member including a first portion overlying said first portion of said first member, and
• a tubular portion projecting from said first portion of said second member into said opening in said first portion of said first member, and therebeyond into said opening in said central web,
• said tubular portion at said opening in said central web being of smaller lateral dimension than that of said opening in said central web, whereby said second member is movable laterally relative to said channel,
• said second member including tab means extending from said first portion thereof into said openings in said side flanges of said channel for retaining said first and second members to said channel, and
• a nut member having a threaded portion and a base portion,
• said base portion overlying said first portion of said second member and including oppositely projecting tabs received in said openings in said end walls of said first member, said base portion being of smaller lateral dimension than the distance between said side flanges of said channel and of smaller lateral dimension than the distance between said end walls of said first member, and said tab means of said nut member being of smaller lateral dimension than said openings in said end walls of said first member, whereby said nut member is capable of limited lateral floating movement relative to said first member and to said channel,
• said end walls of said first member being resiliently deflectable, whereby said tabs of said nut member can be removed from said openings in said end walls for permitting removal and replacement of said nut member.

In combination with a structure of nonmetallic composite material having at least one opening therethrough, a fastener unit comprising

• a channel of nonmetallic composite material having opposite side flanges joined by a central web,
• an adhesive securing said central web to said structure,
• said central web having at least one opening therethrough aligned with said opening in said structure, each of said side flanges having an opening therethrough adjacent said opening in said central web, and
• a fastener assembly including
• a first member received in said channel, said first member including a first portion on said central web having an opening therethrough adjacent said opening in said central web and having opposite end walls,
• each of said opposite end walls having an opening therethrough,
• a second member including a first portion overlying said first portion of said first member,
• a tubular portion projecting from said first portion of said second member into said opening in said first portion of said first member, and therebeyond into said opening in said central web,
• said first and second members being narrower than the distance between said side flanges, said tubular portion at said opening in said central web being of smaller lateral dimension than that of said opening in said central web, whereby said first and second members are movable laterally a limited distance relative to said channel, said second member including tab means extending from said first portion thereof into said openings in said side flanges of said channel for retaining said first and second members to said channel, and
• a nut member having a threaded portion and a base portion,
• said base portion overlying said first portion of said second member and including oppositely projecting tabs received in said openings in said end walls of said first member,
• said base portion being of smaller lateral dimension than the distance between said side flanges of said channel and of smaller lateral dimension than the distance between said end walls of said first member, and said tab means of said nut member being of smaller lateral dimension than said openings in said end walls of said first member, whereby said nut member is capable of limited lateral floating movement relative to said first member and to said channel,
• said end walls of said first member being resiliently deflectable, whereby said tabs of said nut member can be removed from said openings in said end walls for permitting removal and replacement of said nut member from said fastener assembly without removal of said first member from said channel.