Biased blind side temporary fasteners, systems and methods

1. A temporary fastener, comprising:

a case comprising a cylindrical body having an inner surface with an inner diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the distal end has a reduced inner diameter portion and a work piece contacting portion;

a collet body disposed within the case and extending from the first opening, the collet body comprising a cylindrical body having an outer surface with an outer diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the proximal end has an increased diameter portion and the distal end comprises a plurality of radially-inwardly biased flexible fingers having outwardly extending work piece gripping portions;

a plunger disposed within the case and extending from the second opening, the plunger comprising a cylindrical body having a distal end including a plurality of plunger fingers;

a rod disposed within the case and coaxially extending within the collet body and the plunger, the rod having a proximal end coupled to the case and a distal end extending from the first opening of the case, the collet body and the plunger being configured to axially translate within the case along an outer surface of the rod;

a web element radially extending from the proximal end of the rod and coupled to the inner surface of the case, the web element defining a plurality of openings mating with the plurality of plunger fingers to allow for axial translation of the plunger fingers therethrough when the plunger is axially actuated; and

a spring disposed within the case between the reduced diameter portion of the case and the increased diameter portion of the collet body, the spring exerting a restorative force on the collet body and the plunger in response to depression of the plunger and biasing the fastener to a clamped state;

wherein depressing the plunger causes distal ends of the plurality fingers of the plunger to axial translate the collet body and place the temporary fastener in an activated state in which the plurality of flexible fingers of the collet body axially translate beyond the distal end of the rod and radially converge; and

wherein releasing the plunger places the temporary fastener in the clamped state in which the plurality of flexible fingers of the collet body axially translate to contact the outer surface of the rod and outwardly displace the plurality of flexible fingers.

2. The temporary fastener of claim 1 , where the web element includes a plurality of arms extending radially outward from a central axis of the rod and where the plurality of openings in the web element are positioned between the plurality of arms.

3. A fastener removably coupling two work pieces, the fastener comprising:

a case comprising a cylindrical body having an inner surface with an inner diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the distal end has a reduced inner diameter portion and a work piece contacting portion;

a collet body disposed within the case and extending from the first opening, the collet body comprising a cylindrical body having an outer surface with an outer diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the proximal end has an increased diameter portion and the distal end comprises a plurality of radially-inwardly biased flexible fingers having work piece gripping portions extending radially from outer surfaces of the plurality of flexible fingers;

a plunger disposed within the case and extending from the second opening, the plunger comprising a cylindrical body having a distal end including a plurality of plunger fingers defining a plurality of slots therebetween;

a rod at least partially surrounded by the case and coaxially extending within the collet body and the plunger, the rod having a distal end extending from the first opening of the case and a proximal end coupled to the case, the collet body and the plunger being configured to axially translate within the case along an outer surface of the rod;

a web element radially extending from the proximal end of the rod and coupled to the inner surface of the case, the web element defining a plurality of openings mating with the plurality of plunger fingers to allow for axial translation of the plunger fingers therethrough when the plunger is axially actuated; and

a spring disposed within the case between the reduced diameter portion of the case and the increased diameter portion of the collet body, the spring exerting a restorative force on the collet body and the plunger when the plunger is depressed and biasing the fastener to a clamped state;

wherein the outer surface of the distal end of the rod contacts the plurality of flexible fingers to radially expand the plurality of flexible fingers when the fastener is in the clamped state; and

wherein depressing the plunger causes distal ends of the plurality of plunger fingers to axial translate the collet body and place the fastener in an activated state in which the flexible fingers axially translate beyond the distal end of the rod and radially converge.

4. The fastener of claim 3 , where the work piece contacting portion of the case and the gripping portions of the plurality of flexible fingers exert a clamping force on the two work pieces when the fastener is in the clamped state.

5. The fastener of claim 3 , where the rod is translationally fixed with regard to the case during operation of the fastener and where the web element is fixedly attached to the rod.

6. The fastener of claim 3 , where the rod is unthreaded along its length.

7. The fastener of claim 3 , further comprising a bushing seated on an annular ring of the proximal end of the collet body and a locking ring surrounding a portion of the plurality of plunger fingers.

8. A temporary fastener, comprising:

a case comprising a cylindrical body including an inner surface with an inner diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the distal end has a reduced inner diameter portion and a work piece contacting portion;

a collet body disposed within the case and extending from the first opening, the collet body comprising a cylindrical body having an outer surface with an outer diameter, a distal end defining a first opening and a proximal end defining a second opening, wherein the proximal end has an increased diameter portion and the distal end comprises a plurality of radially-inwardly biased flexible fingers having outwardly extending work piece gripping portions;

a plunger disposed within the case and extending from the second opening, the plunger comprising a cylindrical body having a distal end including a plurality of plunger fingers;

a rod at least partially surrounded by the inner surface of the case and coaxially extending within the collet body and the plunger, the rod including a distal end extending from the first opening of the case and a proximal end coupled to the case, the collet body and the plunger being configured to axially translate within the case along an outer surface of the rod;

a web element radially extending from the proximal end of the rod and coupled to the inner surface of the case, the web element including a plurality of openings positioned between a plurality of radially-extending arms and mated with the plurality of plunger fingers to allow for axial translation of the plunger fingers therethrough when the plunger is axially actuated; and

a spring disposed within the case between the reduced diameter portion of the case and the increased diameter portion of the collet body, the spring exerting a restorative force on the collet body and the plunger when the plunger is depressed and biasing the fastener to a clamped state;

wherein the outer surface of the rod pushes the plurality of flexible fingers radially outward to radially expand the plurality of flexible fingers when the fastener is in the clamped state wherein the plurality of flexible fingers are outwardly displaced; and

wherein depressing the plunger causes distal ends of the plurality of plunger fingers to axial translate the collet body to place the fastener in an activated state wherein the plurality of flexible fingers axially translate beyond the distal end of the rod and radially converge.

9. The temporary fastener of claim 8 , where in the clamped state the gripping portions in the plurality of flexible fingers and a work piece contacting portion in the case exert a clamping force on two work pieces.

10. The temporary fastener of claim 8 , further comprising a bushing seated on an annular ring of the proximal end of the collet body and a locking ring surrounding a portion of the plurality of plunger fingers.

11. The temporary fastener of claim 8 , where the web element is fixedly coupled to the rod.

12. The temporary fastener of claim 8 , where the rod is unthreaded along its length.