Push-type rivetless nut plate and method and apparatus for installing same

A preassembled nut plate comprising:

• a holding bracket including a tubular portion and a bracket portion, said tubular portion having first and second ends with said bracket portion extending from said first end of said tubular portion, said tubular portion having an aperture provided therethrough;
• a member being at least partially positioned within said aperture of said tubular portion proximate to said first end thereof, said member being configured to be pushed through said aperture of said tubular portion from said first end thereof to said second end thereof;
• a nut having an aperture therethrough, said nut being positioned within said bracket portion and being capable of being positioned on said member such that at least a portion of said member is capable of being at least partially positioned within said aperture of said nut;
• and
• means for securing said nut within said bracket portion, said securing means permitting limited movement of said nut within said bracket portion, said securement of said nut within said bracket portion preventing substantial movement of said member such that said member cannot be removed from said tubular portion through said bracket portion.

A nut plate adapted to be attached to a wall defined by an aperture through a workpiece, said nut plate comprising:

• a nut having an aperture extending therethrough;
• a holding bracket having a bracket portion and a tubular portion, said nut being positioned within said bracket portion, said tubular portion having inner and outer walls and being configured to be inserted into the aperture of the workpiece, said inner wall defining an aperture of said tubular portion, said tubular portion having a first end and a second end, said bracket portion extending from said first end of said tubular portion, said outer wall extends from said first end of said tubular portion to said second end of said tubular portion, said inner wall extends from said first end of said tubular portion to said second end of said tubular portion, said inner wall is tapered such that a diameter of said aperture at said first end of said tubular portion is larger than a diameter of said aperture at said second end of said tubular portion, said inner wall of said tubular portion further defines a shoulder proximate to said first end of said tubular portion, said diameter of said aperture at said first end of said tubular portion being larger than a diameter of said aperture at said shoulder and said diameter of said aperture at said shoulder being larger than said diameter of said aperture at said second end of said tubular portion;
• and
• a member positioned at least partially between said nut and said tubular portion of said holding bracket, said member has at least a portion thereof which has a diameter which is larger than said diameter of said aperture at said shoulder but which is smaller than said diameter of said aperture at said first end of said tubular portion such that said portion of said member is capable of resting upon said shoulder, said member being configured to be pushed through said aperture of said tubular portion from said first end thereof to said second end thereof in order to expand said inner wall such that said outer wall is forced into engagement with the wall of the workpiece, when said member is pushed through said aperture of said tubular portion, said portion of said member expands said inner wall of said tubular portion such that said outer wall is forced into engagement with the wall of the workpiece, and wherein said member is a spherical ball.

A nut plate adapted to be attached to a wall defined by an aperture through a workpiece, said nut plate comprising:

• a nut having an aperture extending therethrough;
• a holding bracket having a bracket portion and a tubular portion, said nut being positioned within said bracket portion, said tubular portion having inner and outer walls and being configured to be inserted into the aperture of the workpiece, said inner wall defining an aperture of said tubular portion;
• and
• a generally spherical ball positioned at least partially between said nut and said tubular portion of said holding bracket, said spherical ball being configured to be pushed through said aperture of said tubular portion in order to expand said inner wall such that said outer wall is forced into engagement with the wall of the workpiece.

A nut plate adapted to be attached to a wall defined by an aperture through a workpiece, said nut plate comprising:

• a nut having an aperture extending therethrough;
• a holding bracket having a bracket portion and a tubular portion, said nut being positioned within said bracket portion, said tubular portion having inner and outer walls and being configured to be inserted into the aperture of the workpiece, said inner wall defining an aperture of said tubular portion, said tubular portion having a first end and a second end, said bracket portion extending from said first end of said tubular portion, said outer wall has a plurality of lobes extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of lobes includes high lobes and low lobes, said high lobes extending further outwardly from said outer wall than said low lobes, each said high lobe is positioned between two low lobes, and each said low lobe is positioned between two high lobes;
• and
• a member positioned at least partially between said nut and said tubular portion of said holding bracket, said member being configured to be pushed through said aperture of said tubular portion from said first end thereof to said second end thereof in order to expand said inner wall such that said outer wall is forced into engagement with the wall of the workpiece, said lobes capable of being embedded into the wall of the workpiece upon expansion of said inner wall by said member.