Structural fastener
A nut operable for blind attachment between two rims on opposite sides of a strut channel. According to one embodiment, the nut is a spin nut operable to insert the nut into the channel, rotate and lock the nut onto the two rims on the strut. The spin nut includes a base, a pair of wings formed on one end of the base and operable to attach to two rims. The symmetrical helix is formed on the wings on the other end of the base. A shoulder extends from the symmetrical helix. A hole, such as a threaded hole is formed in the shoulder extending into the base, forming a threaded nut, according to one embodiment. A bolt may be inserted into the threaded hole to attach to a bracket, strut, plate or any suitable structure.
1 . A nut operable for blind attachment between two rims on opposing strut walls, comprising:
a base;
a pair of semi-circular wings formed on one end of the base;
a symmetrical helix formed on the semi-circular wings on the other end of the base, operable to engage the two rims;
a shoulder extending from the symmetrical helix; and
a hole formed in the shoulder extending into the base,
wherein the two rims are formed on only one side of the strut.
2 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix further comprises a plurality of steps which are rotated to engage the rims on the strut.
3 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix further comprises a plurality of steps having a curvature corresponding to a contact surface on the two rims.
4 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein as the nut is rotated, the symmetrical helix engages the two rims.
5 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix has a progressively increasing slope angle.
6 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the strut is a U-shaped structure having three sides with no rims, and a side with a U-opening having the two rims formed on a channel of the strut such that the symmetrical helix is inserted in between the two rims and rotated until the symmetrical helix engages the two rims in an engaged position.
7 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the nut is comprised of at least one of: zinc die cast, machine steel, cast powdered metal, cindered, vinyl, rubber, plastisol, plastic, acetal, polyacetal, polyoxymethylene, nylon, fiberglass, or carbon fiber.
8 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the pair of semi-circular wings has an insert to accept a threaded nut.
9 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the hole is threaded and a bolt attaches a bracket to the threaded hole.
10 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 9 wherein the bolt attaches the bracket to the threaded hole via a spring compression washer.
11 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix rotates to a height to adjust to a corresponding engagement height of the two rims.
12 . The spin nut of claim 1 wherein the continuous non interrupted symmetrical helix has an increasing angle in an angular rotation direction on the entire semi-circular wing.
13 . The spin nut of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix is formed on an entire section of the semi-circular wing.
14 . The spin nut of claim 1 wherein the symmetrical helix is formed on an entire locking surface of the semi-circular wing.
15 . A spin nut operable for blind attachment between two rims and a bracket comprising:
a base;
a pair of semi-circular wings formed on one end of the base;
a symmetrical helix formed on the wings on an other end of the base operable to engage the two rims;
a shoulder extending from the symmetrical helix; and
a hole formed in the shoulder extending into the base for a fastener operable to attach to a bracket having a hole and operable to spin the spin nut and to adjust to a position on the two rims,
wherein the two rims are formed on only one side of a strut.
16 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein the symmetrical helix further comprises a plurality of steps.
17 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein the symmetrical helix further comprises a plurality of steps having a curvature corresponding to a contact surface on the two rims.
18 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein as the nut is rotated, the symmetrical helix engages the two rims.
19 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein the symmetrical helix has an increasingly greater angle.
20 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein the strut is a U-shaped structure having three sides with no rims, and a side with a U-opening having the two rims formed on the channel of a strut.
21 . The spin nut of claim 15 wherein the nut is comprised of at least one of: zinc die cast, machine steel, cast powdered metal, cindered, plastic, vinyl, rubber, plastisol, acetal, polyacetal, polyoxymethylene, nylon, fiberglass, or carbon fiber.
22 . A strut assembly and spin nut operable for blind attachment between two rims on the strut and a bracket comprising:
a base;
a pair of semi-circular wings formed on one end of the base;
a symmetrical helix formed on the semi-circular wings on the other end of the base
a shoulder extending from the symmetrical helix; and
a threaded hole formed in the shoulder extending into the base for threading a bolt into the threaded hole operable to attach to a bracket having a hole and to spin the spin nut and to adjust to a position on the two rims on the strut,
wherein the two rims are formed on only one side of the strut.
23 . The strut assembly and spin nut of claim 22 wherein the symmetrical helix further comprises a plurality of steps.
24 . The strut assembly and spin nut of claim 22 wherein the spin nut adjusts to a position on the two rims on the strut; wherein the strut is a U-shaped structure having three sides with no rims, and a side with a U-opening having curved rims at the ends of the U shaped structure.
25 . A nut operable for blind attachment between two rims on opposing strut walls, comprising:
a base;
a pair of semi-circular wings formed on one end of the base;
wherein the semi-circular wings have a constant radius;
a symmetrical helix formed on the wings;
wherein the symmetrical helix on the wings has a surface such that the surface is operable to engage the two rims;
a shoulder extending from the symmetrical helix; and
a hole formed in the shoulder extending into the base,
wherein the two rims are formed on only one side of the strut.
26 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 25 wherein the semi-circular wings have a smooth surface.
27 . The nut operable for blind attachment of claim 25 wherein the surface on the semi-circular wings comprises a plurality of steps which are rotated to engage the rims on the strut.