Anti-rattle track fastener
View Patent ↗An anti-rattle track fastener assembly for attaching a fixture to a vehicle that has a track formed therein. The track includes upper walls that form a longitudinally-extending slot. Spaced-apart segments extend from the upper walls into the slot to provide undercut areas in the slot positioned under the segments. Spaced-apart openings are positioned between the segments. The fastener assembly includes a stud that extends from the fixture and is dimensioned to be received within the slot for engaging the spaced-apart segments. The fastener also includes an eccentrically-mounted cam movable between a first position and a second position. When the cam is in the first position, the stud can engage the spaced-apart segments with clearance, and when the cam is in the second position, the stud can tightly engage the spaced-apart segments.
1. An anti-rattle track fastener assembly for attaching a fixture to a track having a longitudinally-extending slot defining alternating openings and segments, the fastener assembly comprising:
a sleeve fixed relative to the fixture and having a stud therein having a foot formed on an end thereof, the stud extending vertically from the sleeve and dimensioned to be received through the openings of the slot with the foot engaging the underside of the segments;
a cylinder-shaped cam directly urging against the track, the cam defining a flat surface portion on its circumference and an opening eccentrically positioned through its parallel faces, the cam further having a radially extending camming hole formed therein through a curved portion of its circumference for removably receiving a tool, the camming hole being substantially concealed between sidewalls of the fixture; and
the fixture substantially concealing the sleeve and the cam, the fixture pivotably supporting the cam separate from and adjacent to the sleeve such that the cam is pivotable between a first position wherein the flat surface portion of the cam is engaged with the track and the foot is disengaged from the track, and a second position wherein a curved exterior surface of the cam is engaged with the track and the foot is engaged with the track.
2. An anti-rattle track fastener assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the foot is disengaged with the underside of the segments when the cam is in the first position, and engaged with the underside of the segments when the cam is in the second position.
3. An anti-rattle track fastener assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stud and the sleeve are axially aligned.
4. An anti-rattle track fastener assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the cam are positioned side-by-side along the length of the track.
5. An anti-rattle track fastener assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the fixture is carried by an aircraft passenger seat.