Retainer, lay-in lug assembly nut plate retainer
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorsGustavo Cortes Rico, Kristopher Scott Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a lay-in lug nut plate retainer. More particularly, the invention encompasses a nut plate retainer for a lay-in lug assembly nut plate. The present invention is also directed to a novel lay-in nut plate retainer which provides an alternative way to secure a nut plate to a lay-in lug body during shipping and/or the installation process. The inventive nut plate retainer has a cover with an open area and at least two legs to surround a portion of the lay-in lug and the nut plate.
Claims23
A lay-in lug comprising:
- a first lug wall;
- a second lug wall spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first lug wall;
- a nut plate supported between said first lug wall and said second lug wall;
- and
- a nut plate retainer, said nut plate retainer comprising a flexible retaining cover having an extended first retaining leg and an extended second retaining leg, and an opening between said extended first retaining leg and said extended second retaining leg, and said extended first retaining leg and said extended second retaining leg extends along at least a portion of said nut plate and are configured to cover at least a portion of said first lug wall and said second lug wall, and substantially restrict said nut plate from moving in a direction substantially along said first and second lug walls relative to at least one open end in said lay-in lug;
- wherein said extended first retaining leg is configured to cover at least a portion of a first end of said first lug wall;
- and
- said extended second retaining leg is configured to cover at least a portion of a second end of said first lug wall.
A nut plate retainer for preventing a nut plate of a lay-in lug from moving along a wall of said lay-in lug comprising:
- a flexible retaining cover;
- a first retaining leg extending from a first section of said retaining cover, wherein said first retaining leg covers at least a portion of a first outer wall of said lay-in lug, and restricts movement of a first end of said nut plate;
- and
- a second retaining leg extending from a second section of said retaining cover, wherein said second retaining leg covers at least a portion of a second outer wall of said lay-in lug, and restricts movement of a second end of said nut plate.
A lay-in lug comprising:
- a first lug wall;
- a second lug wall spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first lug wall;
- a nut plate supported between said first lug wall and said second lug wall;
- and
- a retaining means, said retaining means comprising a flexible retaining cover having an extended first retaining member and an extended second retaining member, and an opening between said extended first retaining member and said extended second retaining member, and said extended first retaining member and said extended second retaining member extends along at least a portion of said nut plate and are configured to cover at least a portion of said first lug wall and said second lug wall, and substantially restrict said nut plate from moving in a direction substantially along said first and second lug walls;
- wherein said extended first retaining member is configured to cover at least a portion of a first end of said first lug wall;
- and
- said extended second retaining member is configured to cover at least a portion of a second end of said first lug wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.