Captive fastener assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704587-B2
Application number	US-201314048050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2013
Priority date	Oct 8, 2012
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A method and device for a captive fastener assembly comprising of a fastener including a head and a shaft, the shaft comprising of a threaded section and an unthreaded section being interposed between the head and the threaded section. A standoff accommodating the fastener permanently fastened to the first surface and enabling the fastener to have an angular and circular motion within the standoff and fastening the first surface with the other surface by placing the surfaces together so that the fastener is substantially aligned with the receiving nut on the other surface for coupling, wherein a marginal offset for the alignment of fastener with the female part of the other surface is allowed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for captive fastener assembly for fastening a plurality of surfaces by steps comprising:
providing a fastener comprising a head and a shaft, the shaft comprising a threaded section and an unthreaded section being interposed between the head and the threaded section;
providing a standoff on a first surface accommodating the fastener, wherein the standoff has an enlarged hollow internally threaded portion at one end, and a hollow shank portion at another end;
forming a hole in the first surface and inserting the hollow shank portion of the standoff through the hole so that a rim on a lower part of the enlarged portion of the standoff abuts the first surface;
forming a distal end of the hollow shank portion on another side of the first surface, wherein the hole is circular at the first surface abutting the rim portion, the distal end of the hollow shank portion is deformed during the forming operation to form a permanent fastening joint such that the deformed part flushes with the other side of the first surface in a frusto-conical shape;
engaging the threaded section of the shaft of the fastener initially with the enlarged hollow internally threaded portion of the standoff and subsequently engaging the unthreaded portion of the shaft of the fastener with the enlarged hollow internally threaded portion of the standoff to allow free movement of the fastener inside the standoff; and
fastening the first surface with another surface by placing the surfaces together so that the fastener is substantially aligned with a receiving nut on the other surface for coupling, wherein a marginal offset for alignment of the fastener with the receiving nut on the other surface is allowed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
engaging the fastener along an internally threaded enlarged portion of the standoff permanently fastened to the first surface, such that the engaged fastener has a substantial circular and angular floating movement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, the distal end of the shank has a generally flat hollow circular portion which upon forming by a forming tool deforms into the hole on the other side of the first surface, such that the deformed part is frusto-conical in shape and flushes with the other side of the first surface and no part of the permanent fastening joint on the shank portion protrudes on the other side of the first surface and wherein the enlarged portion of the standoff protrudes on the first surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener within the standoff aligns with the receiving nut on the other surface for coupling, when placed together with the other surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener within the standoff, when placed together with the other surface, owing to its circular and angular movement, if a part of the threaded section of the fastener protrudes in an inclined manner towards the other surface, the protruded portion upon contact with the other surface aligns with the receiving nut on the other surface for coupling.

6. A captive fastener assembly comprising:
a fastener comprising a head and a shaft, the shaft comprising a threaded section and an unthreaded section being interposed between the head and the threaded section; and
a standoff provided on a first surface accommodating the fastener, wherein the standoff includes an enlarged hollow internally threaded portion at one end, and a hollow shank portion at another end, wherein a distal end of the hollow shank is adapted to deform during a forming operation to form a permanent fastening joint on the first surface such that the deformed part flushes with another side of the first surface in a frusto-conical shape,
wherein the threaded section of the shaft of the fastener initially engages with the enlarged hollow internally threaded portion of the standoff and the unthreaded portion of the shaft of the fastener subsequently engages with the enlarged hollow internally threaded portion of the standoff to allow free movement of the fastener inside the standoff; and
wherein the first surface when placed with the other surface together for fastening, the fastener is substantially aligned with a receiving nut on the other surface for coupling, wherein a marginal offset for alignment of the fastener with the receiving nut on the other surface is allowed.

7. A captive fastener assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the fastener upon engagement with the enlarged portion of the standoff permanently fastened to the first surface, has a substantial circular and angular movement.

Assignees

• Tejas Networks Ltd

Inventors

• Khamithar Babu Rao
• M Basavaraja

Classifications

• F16B5/0208 Primary

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

• F16B29/00 Primary

  Screwed connection with deformation of nut or auxiliary member while fastening ({Nuts fastened to surfaces by riveting F16B37/065}; members deformed for locking screws, bolts or nuts F16B39/22) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49948

  Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut] · CPC title