# US 5,704,749 A · Panel aligning fastening system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,749 A - Document ID: US5704749A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/685,452 - Filed: 1996-07-19 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1996-07-19 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: James H. Landgrebe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704749A ## CPC - F16B 5/025: {specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A fastener assembly having a receptacle attached to the underside of a substructure and extending through a hole within the substructure which are both generally aligned with a panel with a hole adapted to receive a threaded bolt. The hole in the panel has a cylindrical portion. The fastener extends through the panel which is being secured to the substructure and enters the receptacle before engaging a threaded section within the receptacle. The dimensions are sized so that the central section of the fastener engages the central section of the receptacle before the tapered section of the fastener contacts the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel. Continued rotation of the fastener causes the tapered section on the fastener to enter the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, exerting a lateral force on the panel to align the hole in the panel with the bore in the receptacle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In an apparatus having a panel and a substructure, the panel and substructure having holes which generally align, the hole in the panel having upper and lower portions, an improved fastener assembly comprising in combination: a fastener having a head at one end, a smooth cylindrical upper section joining the head, the upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lower portion of the panel hole, a smooth cylindrical central section of smaller diameter than the upper section, an integral tapered section interconnecting the upper and central sections, and an integral threaded portion extending below the central section; and a receptacle having a sleeve which extends into the hole in the substructure, the sleeve having a bore with a smooth cylindrical upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the upper section of the fastener, a smooth cylindrical central section substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the central section of the fastener, and a threaded section extending below the central section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the head of the fastener further comprises an integral conical section interconnecting the upper section of the fastener to the head, and wherein the upper portion of the hole in the panel is conical for receiving the conical section of the fastener. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the dimensions of the holes in the panel and the receptacle are selected such that the two cylindrical central sections begin to engage each other before the tapered section of the fastener enters the lower portion of the hole in the panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein engagement of the tapered section on the fastener with the upper portion of the hole in the panel while threading the fastener into the receptacle applies a lateral force on the panel if the hole in the panel is misaligned with the bore in the receptacle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the panel hole is tapered, and the head of the fastener is tapered on an underside of the head for mating engagement with the upper portion of the panel hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle also comprises a flange which is adapted to be secured to a lower side of the substructure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper section of the fastener extends into the upper section of the bore in the sleeve when the fastener is fully engaged with the receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve of the receptacle further comprises a tapered section located between the upper section and the central section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein when the fastener is fully engaged with the receptacle, the tapered section of the fastener is axially spaced above the tapered section of the receptacle by a clearance. ### Claim 10 An apparatus, comprising in combination: a panel having a hole which has a cylindrical portion; a substructure having a hole which generally aligns with the hole in the panel; a fastener having a head at one end, a smooth cylindrical upper section, the upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, a smooth cylindrical central section of smaller diameter than the upper section, an integral tapered section interconnecting the upper and central sections, and an integral threaded section extending from the central section; a receptacle having a sleeve which extends into the substructure hole, the sleeve having a bore with a smooth cylindrical upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the upper section of the fastener, a smooth cylindrical central section substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the central section of the fastener, a tapered section located between the upper section and the central section, a threaded section extending below the central section, and a flange on a lower end of the sleeve; and wherein the dimensions of the holes in the panel and the receptacle are selected such that the cylindrical central section of the fastener begins to engage the cylindrical central section of the bore of the receptacle before the tapered section of the fastener contacts the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the upper section of the fastener extends into the upper section of the bore in the sleeve when the fastener is fully engaged with the receptacle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein when the fastener is fully engaged with the receptacle, the tapered section of the fastener is axially spaced above the tapered section of the receptacle by a clearance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hole in the panel has a tapered countersunk portion located above the cylindrical portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein engagement of the tapered section on the fastener with the upper portion of the hole in the panel while threading the fastener into the receptacle applies a lateral force on the panel if the hole in the panel is misaligned with the bore in the receptacle. ### Claim 15 A method for aligning and securing a panel to a substructure, the panel and substructure having holes which generally align, the hole in the panel having a cylindrical portion, the method comprising: providing a fastener having a head at one end, a smooth cylindrical upper section, the upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, a smooth cylindrical central section of smaller diameter than the upper section, an integral tapered section interconnecting the upper and central sections, and an integral threaded section extending from the central section; installing on the substructure a receptacle having a sleeve which extends into the hole in the substructure, the sleeve having a bore with a smooth cylindrical upper section having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the upper section of the fastener, a smooth cylindrical central section substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the central section of the fastener, a tapered section located between the upper section and the central section, and a threaded section extending below the central section; inserting the fastener threaded section into the receptacle threaded section and rotating the fastener, which causes the central section of the fastener to engage the central section of the receptacle before the tapered section of the fastener contacts the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, and continuing to rotate the fastener to cause the tapered section on the fastener to enter the cylindrical portion of the hole in the panel, exerting a lateral force on the panel to align the hole in the panel with the bore in the receptacle.