Fastener for temporarily securing components
Toggle bolts are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a fastener configured to temporarily secure a component to a support structure during installation of the component. The fastener includes a proximal portion configured to selectively engage and disengage a hole in the support structure. The fastener also has an intermediate portion having a plurality of retention arms. Each of the retention arms is configured to transition between a resting configuration and a compressed configuration. The fastener also includes a distal portion configured to guide traversal of the fastener through the hole in the component.
1 . A method of securing a component to a support structure during installation of the component, the method comprising:
installing a fastener into the support structure by turning a distal portion of the fastener clockwise such that threads of a proximal portion of the fastener engage a first tapped surface of the support structure;
inserting a distal portion of the fastener through a first hole defined in the component;
compressing a plurality of retention arms of an intermediate portion of the fastener such that the retention arms transition from a resting configuration to a compressed configuration;
inserting the intermediate portion of the fastener through the first hole defined in the component;
releasing the retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener such that the retention arms transition from the compressed configuration to the resting configuration; and
releasing the component such that a flange of each of the retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener engages the component.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
compressing the plurality of retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener such that the retention arms transition from the resting configuration to the compressed configuration;
removing the component from the proximal portion of the fastener over the intermediate portion of the fastener towards the distal portion of the fastener such that the intermediate portion of the fastener exits the first hole defined in the component; and
removing the component from the distal portion of the fastener.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising removing the fastener from the support structure.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein removing the fastener from the support structure comprises turning the distal portion of the fastener counterclockwise such that threads of the proximal portion of the fastener disengage the support structure.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein removing the fastener from the support structure comprises engaging a textured surface on the distal portion of the fastener to turn the distal portion of the fastener counterclockwise.
6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising uninstalling a first bolt from a second hole defined in the component and a corresponding tapped surface of the support structure.
7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising supporting at least a portion of the weight of the component using the fastener prior to compressing the plurality of retention arms.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the support structure forms a ceiling or part of a ceiling,
each of the plurality of retention arms comprises a flange formed on one end of the retention arm, each of the flanges having a contact surface, and
the method further comprises supporting at least a portion of the weight of the component using the contact surfaces of the fastener prior to compressing the plurality of retention arms.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the support structure forms a portion of a spacecraft.
10 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising releasing the plurality of retention arms of the intermediate portion of the fastener such that the plurality of retention arms transition from the compressed configuration to the resting configuration.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
installing a first bolt through a second hole defined in the component into a second tapped surface of the support structure;
removing the fastener from the first tapped surface of the support structure; and
installing a second bolt through the first hole defined in the component into the first tapped surface of the support structure.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein removing the fastener from the first tapped surface of the support structure comprises turning the distal portion of the fastener counterclockwise such that the threads of the proximal portion of the fastener disengage the first tapped surface of the support structure.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising supporting at least a portion of the weight of the component using the fastener during installation of the first bolt.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the support structure forms a ceiling or part of a ceiling,
each of the retention arms comprises a flange formed on one end of the retention arm, each of the flanges having a contact surface, and
the method further comprises supporting at least a portion of the weight of the component using the contact surfaces of the fastener during installation of the first bolt.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein installing the fastener into the support structure comprises turning the distal portion of the fastener clockwise such that the threads of the proximal portion of the fastener engage the first tapped surface of the support structure.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the distal portion of the fastener comprises a textured surface configured to facilitate the turning of the fastener clockwise and counterclockwise.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure forms a portion of a spacecraft.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the proximal portion of the fastener through the first hole defined in the component as the threads of the proximal portion of the fastener selectively disengage the first tapped surface of the support structure.