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US 6,174,118 B1Granted
Movable retention device for a threaded fastener
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsKenneth D. Rebers, Franklin S. Sanders, Jr., George J. Knox, Lazlo Markos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A threaded fastener retention device includes a housing having a retainer aperture formed therein and tab retainers adjacent the aperture. A resilient retainer is movably mounted in the aperture. The retainer includes a body having tabs for engaging the tab retainers and fastener gripping members for engaging the threads of the fastener and retaining the fastener in the housing.
Claims2
A fastener retention device for gripping threads of a threaded fastener comprising:
- an elongate tubular housing having a first end opposite a second end and having an aperture formed in the housing to open to the first end and the second end, the tubular housing having indented tab retainers adjacent to the first end and recessed tab retainers adjacent to the second end;
- a resilient retainer including a wall defining a generally cylindrical body that separates first tabs from second tabs, the elongate tubular housing surrounding the cylindrical body that is movably mounted in the aperture between the first end and the second end, the first tabs being positioned in the indented tab retainers and the second tabs seated in the recessed tab retainers;
- and
- at least a pair of grippers, integral with the wall between the first and second ends of the elongate housing, the grippers adapted to engage threads of a threaded fastener whereby the fastener retention device permits axial and rotational movement of a fastener removably inserted therein.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.