Fastener Systems for Enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016363153-A1
Application number	US-201615176988-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a fastener system for securing a component to an enclosure member. A mounting cage can include a flange and a cage portion with a blocking feature. In an installation configuration, a threaded fastener extends through the flange to engage the nut, and the blocking feature blocks translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange. In a fastening configuration, the nut can be rotated to clear the blocking feature, and the threaded fastener can be rotated to translate the nut along the cage portion

First claim

1 . A fastener assembly for securing an object with a first mounting opening to a structure with a second mounting opening, the fastener assembly comprising:
a mounting cage with a cage portion and a flange attached to the cage portion at a first end of the cage portion, the cage portion including a first cage side with a first cage channel, and a second cage side with a first blocking feature; a threaded fastener disposed through the cage portion; and a nut that is elongate in a first dimension, the nut threadedly engaging the threaded fastener within the cage portion; the fastener assembly having an installation configuration in which the nut is in a first orientation so that the first blocking feature blocks translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange and the cage portion is insertable through both the first mounting opening in the object and the second mounting opening in the structure; and the fastener assembly having a fastening configuration in which the nut is rotated from the first orientation to a second orientation so that the nut is clear of the blocking feature and rotation of the threaded fastener translates the nut along the first cage channel towards the flange and clamps the object and the structure between the flange and the nut.

2 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when fastener assembly is in the installation configuration, the nut is disposed with a nut perimeter of the nut substantially within a cage perimeter of the cage portion; and
wherein, when the fastener assembly is in the fastening configuration, the nut is disposed with the nut perimeter least partly outside of the cage perimeter.

3 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cage portion further includes a back cage wall disposed opposite the flange, and a first strut connecting a first wall of the second cage side to the back cage wall to define a first insertion opening on the second cage side.

4 . The fastener assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first strut includes a beveled strut surface facing an internal area of the cage portion.

5 . The fastener assembly of claim 4 , wherein the nut includes a beveled nut surface on at least one corner of the nut, the beveled nut surface facing the beveled strut surface when the fastener assembly is in the installation configuration.

6 . The fastener assembly of claim 5 , wherein the beveled nut surface and the beveled strut surface provide clearance for the nut to rotate to clear the first blocking feature, as the fastener assembly is moved from the installation configuration to the fastening configuration.

7 . The fastener assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first blocking feature includes a side wall of the first insertion opening; and
wherein, when the fastener assembly is in the installation configuration, the nut extends along the first dimension at least partly into the first insertion opening so that translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange is blocked by the side wall of the first insertion opening.

8 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cage portion further includes a back cage wall disposed opposite the flange, the back cage wall being a substantially solid wall with a central aperture that receives an end of the threaded fastener; and
wherein the end of the threaded fastener exhibits a larger radius than a body of the threaded fastener to prevent passage of the end of the threaded fastener through the central aperture of the back cage wall.

9 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cage portion of the mounting cage further includes a third cage side with a second cage channel; and
wherein, when the fastener assembly is in the fastening configuration, the nut extends along the first direction at least partly into the second cage channel, so that the rotation of the threaded fastener translates the nut along the second cage channel towards the flange.

10 . The fastener assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cage portion of the mounting cage further includes a fourth cage side with a second blocking feature; and
wherein, when the fastener assembly is in the installation configuration, the second blocking feature blocks translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange.

11 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cage portion defines a cage perimeter that is elongate in a direction perpendicular to the second cage side.

12 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded fastener includes a non-threaded portion that overlaps with internal threads of the nut when the fastener assembly is in the installation configuration.

13 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cage portion further includes a back cage wall disposed opposite the flange; and
wherein the first cage channel extends from the flange to the back cage wall.

14 . A fastener system, for use with a nut that has a nut width and a nut height larger than the nut width, to secure an object that has a first mounting opening to a structure that has a second mounting opening, the fastener system comprising:
a mounting cage with a flange and a cage portion; the cage portion having a blocking feature, a first cage side with a first insertion opening, and a second cage side with a cage channel; the first insertion opening being sized for the nut to be inserted through the first insertion opening into the cage portion with the nut in a first orientation; the blocking feature blocking translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange, when the nut is in the first orientation; and the cage channel guiding translation of the nut along the cage portion towards the flange, when the nut is rotated to a second orientation different from the first orientation.

15 . The fastener system of claim 14 , wherein the cage portion further includes a third cage side with a second insertion opening, with the third cage side being opposite the first cage side;
wherein, with the nut in the first orientation, the nut extends along the nut height between the first insertion opening and the second insertion opening; and wherein, with the nut in the second orientation, the nut extends along the nut height through the cage channel beyond a cage perimeter of the cage portion.

16 . The fastener system of claim 14 , wherein the first cage side includes a first wall connected to the flange, and a first strut that is connected to the first wall and at least partly defines the first insertion opening.

17 . The fastener system of claim 16 , wherein the first insertion opening opens into the cage channel.

18 . A method for securing an object to a structure using a cage nut assembly, the object including a first mounting opening, the structure including a second mounting opening aligned with the first mounting opening, and the cage nut assembly including a threaded fastener, a nut, and a mounting cage, with the mounting cage including a flange and a cage portion with a blocking feature, and with the threaded fastener, the mounting cage, and the nut being initially assembled into a unitary assembly with an insertion configuration in which the threaded fastener extends through the flange to engage the nut, a perimeter of the nut is disposed substantially within a perimeter of the cage portion, and the blocking feature blocks the nut from translating along the cage portion towards the flange, the method comprising:
inserting the unitary assembly into the first mounting opening and the second mounting opening, with the unitary assembly in the insertion co

Assignees

• Hoffman Enclosures Inc

Inventors

• Lakoduk Harold D
• Andrasfi Csaba
• Westby Nathan L

Classifications

• F16B37/045

  specially adapted for fastening in channels, e.g. sliding bolts, channel nuts · CPC title

• F16B35/00

  Screw-bolts; Stay-bolts; Screw-threaded studs; Screws; Set screws ({F16B33/008 takes precedence; joining sheets or plates using screws with two separate threads F16B5/0275; using screws with adjustment sleeves F16B5/0283}; thread cutting screws F16B25/00) · CPC title

• F16B37/044 Primary

  Nut cages · CPC title

• F16B7/187

  with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels (channel nuts per se F16B37/045) · CPC title

• F16B37/046

  with resilient means for urging the nut inside the channel · CPC title