Cage nut fastener and methods for tool-less installation of same

1. A cage nut fastener capable of installation against a frame member without the aid of tools, the cage nut fastener comprising:

a spring cage that includes:

a back wall with a wall aperture therethrough;

a cage arm extending in a forward direction from a side of the back wall; and

a pair of lever arms disposed at opposite sides of the back wall; and

a nut retained within a space defined by the spring cage, and prevented from rotation therein, the nut including a nut aperture therethrough that is generally aligned with the wall aperture of the back wall;

wherein each lever arm includes an extension portion that extends in a rearward direction behind the back wall of the spring cage; and

wherein application of a compression force upon at least one of the pair of lever arms, without the aid of tools, manipulates the spring cage to a compressed state that facilitates positioning of a distal end of each of the pair of lever arms through an aperture of a frame member so that, upon release of the compression force, the spring cage and the nut are secured against the frame member.

2. The cage nut fastener of claim 1 , wherein each lever arm includes outer and inner aligned portions.

3. The cage nut fastener of claim 2 , wherein each outer aligned portion is compressible toward the respective inner aligned portion.

4. The cage nut fastener of claim 3 , wherein compression of either outer aligned portion toward the respective inner aligned portion manipulates the spring cage to the compressed state.

5. The cage nut fastener of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the outer aligned portions is arc-shaped to curve away from the respective inner aligned portion.

6. The cage nut fastener of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of lever arms includes an outwardly-extending tab at the distal end thereof.

7. The cage nut fastener of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional cage arms extending in a forward direction from one or more additional sides of the back wall.

8. The cage nut fastener of claim 1 , wherein the nut is a floating nut.

9. The cage nut fastener of claim 1 , wherein the nut is prevented from moving within the spring cage.

10. A cage nut fastener capable of installation against a frame member without the aid of tools, the cage nut fastener comprising:

a nut; and

a spring cage comprised of a back wall with a wall aperture therethrough and a pair of lever arms disposed at opposite sides of the back wall, each lever arm including an extension portion that extends in a rearward direction behind the back wall of the spring cage and a hooked portion that extends inward at a front of the nut and then outward away from the nut;

wherein the nut is retained within a space defined by the spring cage, and prevented from rotation therein, the nut including a nut aperture therethrough that is generally aligned with the wall aperture of the back wall; and

wherein application of a compression force upon at least one of the pair of lever arms, without the aid of tools, manipulates the spring cage to a compressed state that facilitates positioning of a distal end of the hooked portion of each of the pair of lever arms through an aperture of a frame member so that, upon release of the compression force, the spring cage and the nut are secured against the frame member.

11. The cage nut fastener of claim 10 , wherein each lever arm includes outer and inner aligned portions.

12. The cage nut fastener of claim 11 , wherein each outer aligned portion is compressible toward the respective inner aligned portion.

13. The cage nut fastener of claim 12 , wherein compression of either outer aligned portion toward the respective inner aligned portion manipulates the spring cage to the compressed state.

14. The cage nut fastener of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the outer aligned portions is arc-shaped to curve away from the respective inner aligned portion.

15. The cage nut fastener of claim 10 , wherein the nut is a floating nut.

16. The cage nut fastener of claim 10 , wherein the nut is prevented from moving within the spring cage.

17. A cage nut fastener capable of installation against a frame member without the aid of tools, the cage nut fastener comprising:

a nut; and

a spring cage comprised of

a back wall with a wall aperture therethrough,

a cage arm extending in a forward direction from a side of the back wall, the cage arm engaging at least a side and a portion of a front of the nut, and

a pair of lever arms disposed at opposite sides of the back wall, each lever arm including an extension portion that extends in a rearward direction behind the back wall;

wherein the nut is retained within a space defined by the spring cage, and prevented from rotation therein, the nut including a nut aperture therethrough that is generally aligned with the wall aperture of the back wall; and

wherein application of a compression force upon at least one of the pair of lever arms, without the aid of tools, manipulates the spring cage to a compressed state that facilitates positioning of a distal end of each of the pair of lever arms through an aperture of a frame member so that, upon release of the compression force, the spring cage and the nut are secured against the frame member.

18. The cage nut fastener of claim 17 , wherein each lever arm includes outer and inner aligned portions, each outer aligned portion being compressible toward the respective inner aligned portion.

19. The cage nut fastener of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the outer aligned portions is arc-shaped to curve away from the respective inner aligned portion.

20. The cage nut fastener of claim 17 , wherein each of the pair of lever arms includes an outwardly-extending tab at the distal end thereof.