Nut plate and method for making same

A nut plate comprising:

• a generally U-shaped clip having first and second elongated legs and a connecting leg extending therebetween, the U-shaped clip being heat treaded;
• the first leg having a first and second nut openings therein for receipt of first and second nuts and for securing the nuts in their respective openings;
• the second leg having first and second pass-through openings therein corresponding to the first and second nut openings, the pass-through openings being fully within the second leg, wherein the nuts can be fully passed through the pass-through openings for securing in the first leg, and wherein the nuts can be positioned in the first leg without deflection and urging away of the legs from one another, at least one of the legs being formed to define an enlarged entrance region into the clip, and wherein the U-shaped clip is heat treated prior to positioning the nuts therein.

A nut and nut plate combination comprising:

• a nut having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• and
• a nut plate having first and second elongated legs and a connecting leg therebetween, wherein the first leg has an opening therein for receipt of the nut and for securing the nut therein, and a raised region about the nut and surrounding the opening, such that the bottom surface of the nut is generally co-planar with an inner surface of the first leg, and wherein the second leg has an open area to permit insertion of the nut through the second leg and into the opening of the first leg.