Adjustable height fastener
An adjustable height fastener may have a fixed load-bearing member connectable to a fixed structure and an adjustable load-bearing member connectable to the fixed load-bearing member at different locations along a first axis. An adjustment locking member is connectable to both the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member to fix the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member in a first location along the first axis.
1 . An adjustable height fastener comprising:
a fixed load-bearing member connectable to a fixed structure, wherein the fixed load-bearing member includes at least one first keyway on an outer circumference of the fixed load-bearing member;
an adjustable load-bearing member connectable to the fixed load-bearing member at different locations along a first axis, wherein the adjustable load-bearing member includes at least one second keyway on an outer circumference of the adjustable load-bearing member; and an adjustment locking member connectable to both the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member to fix the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member in a first location along the first axis, wherein the adjustment locking member comprises a locking sleeve that is annularly shaped and disposable over at least a portion of both the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member, wherein the adjustment locking member includes at least one key on an inner circumference of the adjustment locking member, and wherein the at least one key of the adjustment locking member is configured to slidably coupled to the at least one first keyway of the fixed load-bearing member and the at least one second keyway of the adjustable load-bearing member in order to limit relative rotation of the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member.
2 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed load-bearing member comprises a lower collar and the adjustable load-bearing member comprises an upper collar connectable to the lower collar at different locations along the first axis.
3 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the upper collar and the lower collar are connectable by threading the upper collar over the lower collar, the upper collar and the lower collar having corresponding threads.
4 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 1 , further comprising a bolt attaching a removable structure to the adjustable load-bearing member, the adjustable load-bearing member spacing the removable structure away from the fixed structure.
5 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the fixed structure is a seat track of an aircraft cabin.
6 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 5 , wherein a removable structure is connected to at least one of the upper collar and the lower collar and is spaced apart from the fixed structure by a combination of the lower collar and the upper collar, a spacing being changeable in response to the changing an amount of engagement of threads of the lower collar with threads of the upper collar.
7 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 6 , wherein the removable structure is an aircraft lavatory.
8 . The adjustable height fastener according to claim 6 , wherein the removable structure is an aircraft passenger seat.
9 . A removable aircraft lavatory system comprising: a modular aircraft lavatory configured for installation and removal from an aircraft passenger cabin having a plurality of floor-mounted seat rails; and a plurality of adjustable height fasteners placed between the modular aircraft lavatory and the plurality of floor-mounted seat rails and configured to attach the modular aircraft lavatory to the plurality of floor-mounted seat rails, wherein each adjustable height fastener of the plurality of adjustable height fasteners comprises: a fixed load-bearing member connectable to a floor-mounted seat rail of the plurality of floor-mounted seat rails, wherein the fixed load-bearing member includes at least one first keyway on an outer circumference of the fixed load-bearing member;
an adjustable load-bearing member connectable to the fixed load-bearing member at different locations along a first axis extending away from a floor of the aircraft passenger cabin, wherein the adjustable load-bearing member includes at least one second keyway on an outer circumference of the adjustable load-bearing member, and
an adjustment locking member connectable to both the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member to fix the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member in a first location along the first axis, wherein the adjustment locking member comprises a locking sleeve that is annularly shaped and disposable over at least a portion of both the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member, wherein the adjustment locking member includes at least one key on an inner circumference of the adjustment locking member, and wherein the at least one key of the adjustment locking member is configured to slidably couple to the at least one first keyway of the fixed load-bearing member and the at least one second keyway of the adjustable load-bearing member in order to limit relative rotation of the fixed load-bearing member and the adjustable load-bearing member, wherein the first location along the first axis is selected to space the modular aircraft lavatory away from the floor-mounted seat rail.
10 . The removable aircraft lavatory system according to claim 9 , wherein the fixed load-bearing member comprises a lower collar and the adjustable load-bearing member comprises an upper collar connectable to the lower collar at different locations along the first axis.
11 . The removable aircraft lavatory system according to claim 10 , wherein the upper collar and the lower collar are connectable by threading the upper collar over the lower collar, the upper collar and the lower collar having corresponding threads.