Self-fastening nut, panel assembly and apparatus

Claim 2

A structural assembly, comprising, in combination, a nut having a cylindrical central bore, a pilot portion surrounding said bore having a planar end face, a groove adjacent said pilot end face on opposite sides of said bore and a flange portion having an end face substantially coplanar with said pilot end face, a panel engaging said coplanar end faces of the nut in overlying relation and having a circular opening coaxially aligned with said nut bore, said panel coplanar with said pilot adjacent said opening, the internal diameter of said circular opening being substantially equal to the internal diameter of said nut bore, said panel having a portion disposed within said nut groove and said groove having a restricted opening including a portion overlying a bottom wall configured to retain said nut on said panel in interlocking relation, the inner panel edge defining said panel opening and said nut bore having a continuous female thread, a structural member overlying said panel, opposite said nut, having a hole in registry with said panel opening, and a self-tapping male threaded fastener threadably received in said continuous female thread of said panel edge and said nut bore, retaining said structural member to said panel.

Claim 3

The structural assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said nut groove has a re-entrant groove opening having a smaller width adjacent said end face than adjacent the bottom of said nut groove to securely retain the panel within said nut groove.

Claim 4

The structural assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said nut is generally rectangular and includes two linear grooves on either side of said pilot portion and defining two opposed flange portions.

Claim 5

The structural assembly defined in claim 3, characterized in that said panel includes two first portions deformed into said nut grooves and two second portions deformed towards said nut, generally perpendicular to said first panel portions, on opposite sides of said nut and engaging said nut sides to prevent rotation of said nut on said panel.

Claim 6

A nut and panel assembly, said nut having a generally planar end face engaging one face of said panel, a groove defined in said nut end face dividing said end face into a central pilot portion and a flange portion on at least two opposed sides of said pilot portion, a nut bore in said pilot portion through said nut generally perpendicular to said end face, said panel having a circular aperture generally coaxially aligned with said nut bore, said nut groove having a bottom wall and a retainer portion overlying said bottom wall defining a restricted groove opening, said panel deformed into said nut groove beneath said nut retainer portion retaining said nut on said panel, and said panel being planar and parallel to said nut end face on opposite sides of said groove.

Claim 7

A nut and panel assembly, said nut having a generally planar end face engaging one face of said panel, a groove defined in said nut end face dividing said end face into a central pilot portion and a flange portion on at least two opposed sides of said pilot portion, a nut bore in said pilot portion through said nut generally perpendicular to said end face, said panel having a circular aperture generally coaxially aligned with said nut bore, said nut groove having a bottom wall and a retainer portion overlying said bottom wall defining a restricted groove opening, said panel deformed into said nut groove beneath said nut retainer portion retaining said nut on said panel, and said panel being planar and parallel to said nut end face on opposite sides of said groove.

Claim 8

The nut and panel assembly defined in claim 5, characterized in that said nut is generally rectangular and includes two linear grooves on opposite sides of said pilot portion and defining two opposed flange portions.

Claim 9

The nut and panel assembly defined in claim 6, characterized in that said grooves have opposed side walls inclined towards said nut end face to define restricted panel receiving groove openings.

Claim 10

The nut and panel assembly defined in claim 6, characterized in that said panel includes two first portions deformed into said nut grooves and two second portions deformed towards said nut, generally perpendicular to said first panel portions, on opposite sides of said nut and engaging said nut sides to prevent rotation of the nut on the panel.

Claim 11

The nut and panel assembly defined in claim 8, characterized in that said first panel portions are spaced from said second panel portions.

Claim 12

The nut and panel assembly defined in claim 5, characterized in that the diameters of said nut bore and said panel aperture are substantially equal, and a self-threading male fastener threadably received in a continuous female thread in the panel edge defining said panel apature and said nut bore.

Claim 13

A structural assembly, comprising, in combination, a nut having a cylindrical center bore, a pilot portion surrounding said bore having a planar end face, a groove adjacent said pilot end face on opposite sides of said bore and a flange portion having an end face substantially coplanar with said pilot end face, said nut groove having a re-entrant groove opening having a smaller width adjacent said end face than adjacent the bottom said nut groove, a panel engaging said coplanar end faces of the nut in overlying relation and having a circular opening coaxially aligned with said nut bore, the internal diameter of said circular opening being substantially equal to the internal diameter of said nut bore, said panel having a portion disposed within said nut groove in interlocking relation with said re-entrant groove opening retaining said nut on said panel, the inner surface of said panel opening and said nut bore having a continuous female thread, a structural member overlying said panel, opposite said nut, having a hole in registry with said panel opening, and a self-tapping male threaded fastener threadably received in said continuous female thread of said panel opening and a nut bore retaining said structural member to said panel.

Claim 14

A structural assembly, comprising, in combination, a nut having a cylindrical center bore, a pilot portion surrounding said bore having a planar end face, a groove adjacent said pilot end face on opposite sides of said bore and a flange portion having an end face substantially coplanar with said pilot end face, said nut groove having a re-entrant groove opening having a smaller width adjacent said end face than adjacent the bottom said nut groove, a panel engaging said coplanar end faces of the nut in overlying relation and having a circular opening coaxially aligned with said nut bore, the internal diameter of said circular opening being substantially equal to the internal diameter of said nut bore, said panel having a portion disposed within said nut groove in interlocking relation with said re-entrant groove opening retaining said nut on said panel, the inner surface of said panel opening and said nut bore having a continuous female thread, a structural member overlying said panel, opposite said nut, having a hole in registry with said panel opening, and a self-tapping male threaded fastener threadably received in said continuous female thread of said panel opening and a nut bore retaining said structural member to said panel.