Captive panel fastener assembly
View Patent ↗A fastener assembly for installation within a work piece, the fastener assembly including a bolt, a retainer ring, and a housing that houses the retainer ring. The housing is positioned at and engages one side of the work piece, while the bolt is inserted into a hole of the work piece on an opposite side thereof. The retainer ring engages the bolt such that a plurality of pressure pads extending from a plurality of corresponding spring beam elements of the retainer ring reside in an annular groove of the bolt. The housing captivates the bolt onto the work piece, while providing a positive hold out of the bolt.
1. A fastener, comprising:
a bolt having an elongated shank portion adapted to be positioned within an opening of a work piece, the work piece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the elongated shank portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a head formed at the first end, a threaded portion having a plurality of external bolt threads, the threaded portion being adapted to extend past the second side of the work piece, and an annular groove formed proximate to the second end; and
a retainer ring including an outer ring having an interior surface and at least one spring beam element extending from the interior surface, wherein the at least one spring beam element includes an elongated arm having a first end attached to the interior surface, a free, second end opposite the first end, and a tab portion formed at the second end,
wherein when the bolt engages the retainer ring, the at least one spring beam element displaced and expands radially from a free position an expanded position in order to enable the bolt to travel through the retainer ring, and wherein when the retainer ring engages and aligns with the annular groove of the bolt, the at least one spring beam element springs back to its free position.
2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the annular groove of the elongated shank portion of the bolt is defined by an annular portion that extends approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bolt, and a ramped portion that extends angularly from the longitudinal axis of the bolt, wherein the annular portion inhibits the bolt from being decaptivated from the retainer ring.
3. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the bolt is adapted to receive a locking member.
4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the bolt includes external threads below the annular groove and proximate to the second end of the bolt.
5. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the annular groove of the bolt is coincident with the external bolt threads of the bolt.
6. The retainer ring of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring beam element includes a plurality of spring beam elements.
7. The retainer ring of claim 6 , wherein each of the arms of the plurality of spring beam elements is curvilinear in shape.
8. The retainer ring of claim 7 , wherein each of the arms is positioned concentrically with the outer ring.
9. The retainer ring of claim 7 , wherein each of the arms is positioned eccentrically with the outer ring.
10. The retainer of claim 7 , wherein each of the tab portions of the retainer ring includes a pressure pad.
11. The retainer ring of claim 10 , wherein each of the pressure pads extends perpendicular to its corresponding arm of one of the plurality of spring beam elements.
12. The retainer ring of claim 10 , wherein each of the tab portions extends substantially perpendicular to and in the same plane as the free, second end of its corresponding arm of one of the plurality of spring beam elements.