Panel mount fastener having an outer sleeve with a collapsible end portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10221879-B2
Application number	US-201715727285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2017
Priority date	Oct 10, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A fastener and method for mounting a connector to a panel, the fastener having an outer sleeve housing having a mount bushing portion and a locking portion with a collapsible end, and an inner pin member received in the outer sleeve housing and axially moveable therein between locked and unlocked positions. The inner pin member has a body with a head end that cooperates with the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and a locking end that cooperates with the locking portion of the outer sleeve portion. When the inner pin member is in the unlocked position, the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing is allowed to collapse. When the inner pin member is in the locked position, the locking end of the inner pin member prevents collapse of the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for mounting a connector to a panel, comprising:
an outer sleeve housing having a mount bushing portion and a locking portion, the locking portion having a collapsible end; and
an inner pin member received in the outer sleeve housing and axially moveable with respect to the outer sleeve housing between locked and unlocked positions, the inner pin member having a body with a head end that cooperates with the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and a locking end that cooperates with the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing,
wherein when the inner pin member is in the unlocked position, the head end thereof abuts or comes close to abutting the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and the locking end thereof is clear of the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing and the collapsible end is allowed to collapse, and when the inner pin member is in the locked position, the head end thereof is spaced from the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and the locking end thereof is received in the collapsible end of the outer sleeve housing, thereby preventing collapse of the collapsible end.

2. A fastener according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed in the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing in association with the inner pin member, wherein the spring biases the inner pin member in the locked position.

3. A fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the spring is compressed by the head end of the inner pin member toward the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing when the inner pin member is in the unlocked position, and the spring is extended when the inner pin member is in the locked position to push the head end away from the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing.

4. A fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing includes flexible fingers formed by longitudinal slots in the locking portion, and the locking end of the inner pin member includes a shoulder having outer diameter sized to prevent collapse of the flexible fingers when the locking end of the inner pin member is received in the locking position.

5. A fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing includes opposing first and second flanges, the first flange cooperates with the head end of the inner pin member when the inner pin member is moved between the locked and unlocked positions.

6. A fastener according to claim 5 , wherein the outer sleeve housing includes an annular recessed area between the mount bushing portion and the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing.

7. A fastener according to claim 6 , wherein the outer sleeve housing includes a stopping member having an outer diameter that is wider than the locking portion.

8. A connector assembly, comprising:
a connector having a housing with at least one mounting bore; and
at least one fastener receivable in the at least one mounting bore for mounting the connector to a panel, the at least one fastener including,
an outer sleeve housing having a mount bushing portion and a locking portion, the locking portion having a collapsible end; and
an inner pin member received in the outer sleeve housing and axially moveable with respect to the outer sleeve housing between locked and unlocked positions, the inner pin member having a body with a head end that cooperates with the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and a locking end that cooperates with the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing,
wherein when the inner pin member is in the unlocked position, the head end thereof abuts or comes close to abutting the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and the locking end thereof is clear of the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing and the collapsible end is allowed to collapse, and when the inner pin member is in the locked position, the head end thereof is spaced from the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing and the locking end thereof is received in the collapsible end of the outer sleeve housing, thereby preventing collapse of the collapsible end.

9. A connector assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising a spring disposed in the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing in association with the inner pin member, wherein the spring biases the inner pin member in the locked position.

10. A connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the spring is compressed by the head end of the inner pin member toward the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing when the inner pin member is in the unlocked position, and the spring is extended when the inner pin member is in the locked position to push the head end away from the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing.

11. A connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing includes flexible fingers formed by longitudinal slots in the locking portion, and the locking end of the inner pin member includes a shoulder with an outer diameter sized to prevent collapse of the flexible fingers when the locking end of the inner pin member is received in the locking position.

12. A connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the mount bushing portion of the outer sleeve housing includes opposing first and second flanges and the spring is disposed between the first and second flanges.

13. A connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first flange cooperates with the head end of the inner pin member when the inner pin member is moved between the locked and unlocked positions and the second flange cooperates with the housing of the connector at the at least one mounting bore.

14. A connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the outer sleeve housing includes an annular recessed area between the mount bushing portion and the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing, the annular recessed area defining a space between the outer sleeve housing and the mounting bore of the connector that provides radial and axial float for the fastener inside of the mounting bore.

15. A connector assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the outer sleeve housing includes a stopping member adjacent the annular recessed area, the stopping member having an outer diameter that is configured to be wider than a hole in the panel through which the fastener is inserted.

16. A method of mounting a connector to a panel, comprising the steps of:
using at least one fastener for mounting the connector to the panel, the fastener comprising an outer sleeve housing having a mount bushing portion with first and second flanges and a spring located therebetween, and a locking portion with a collapsible end, and an inner pin member received in the outer sleeve housing and axially moveable therein, and the inner pin member having a body with a head end and a locking end;
pushing the head end of the inner pin member toward the locking portion of the outer sleeve housing, such that the head end of the inner pin member abuts or comes close to abutting the first flange of the outer sleeve housing, thereby compressing spring until the locking end of the inner pin member is clear of the collapsible end of the outer sleeve housing;
after the step of pushing the head end of the inner pin member, inserting the fastener through a mounting bore of a connector and through a corresponding mounting hole in the panel such that the collapsible end of the locking portion of the outer sleeve housin

Assignees

• Amphenol Corp

Inventors

• Mugan Shan

Classifications

• F16B19/02

  Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings · CPC title

• F16B21/086 Primary

  the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion · CPC title

• F16B1/04

  disengaged by movement of the actuating member of the element (locking of actuators G05G, e.g. G05G5/00) · CPC title

• F16B5/0208

  using panel fasteners, i.e. permanent attachments allowing for quick assembly · CPC title

• H01R13/518

  for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames · CPC title