U.S. patent application number 09/844945 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for bolt retaining article.
Invention is credited to Genick, Raymond M. II.
Application Number | 20020159861 09/844945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25294022 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020159861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Genick, Raymond M. II |
October 31, 2002 |
BOLT RETAINING ARTICLE
Abstract
A bolt retaining article retains a bolt within a bore of a
structure prior to the bolt being threadingly engaged within the
bore. The bolt retaining article includes a tubular body having
inner and outer diameters. The tubular body including a plurality
of concave sections and a plurality of convex sections. The concave
and convex sections alternate around the tubular body. A number of
engaging arms extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the
tubular body to secure the bolt retaining article within the bore
of the structure. A bolt may or may not be in the bolt retaining
article when it is inserted into the bore, depending on the
manufacturing operation being implemented. The compressive forces
created by the compression of the bolt retainer article when it is
inserted into the bore prevent it from falling out. Likewise, the
compression of the bolt retaining article around the bolt prevents
the bolt from slipping out once inserted into the bolt retaining
article. The bolt may slide within the bolt retaining article, but
only with the application of an external axial force.
Inventors: |
Genick, Raymond M. II;
(Waterford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CLARK HILL, P.C.
500 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 3500
DETROIT
MI
48226
US
|
Family ID: |
25294022 |
Appl. No.: |
09/844945 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 411/999 20130101;
F16B 5/0258 20130101; F16B 43/00 20130101; F16B 41/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/353 |
International
Class: |
F16B 021/18 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A bolt retaining article for retaining a bolt within a bore of a
structure prior to the bolt being threadingly engaged within the
bore, said bolt retaining article comprising a tubular body
extending through a longitudinal axis and defining an inner
diameter and an outer diameter, said tubular body including a
plurality of concave sections and a plurality of convex sections,
each of said plurality of concave sections disposed adjacent each
of said plurality of convex sections; and a plurality of engaging
arms extending outwardly from said tubular body to secure said bolt
retaining article to the structure, said bolt retainer article
adapted to receive the bolt therethrough to prevent the bolt from
falling out and away from the structure.
2. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
outer diameter is larger than the bore such that said bolt
retaining article is securable to the structure upon its insertion
inside the bore.
3. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
engaging arms extend out from said bolt retaining article obliquely
thereto.
4. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of
said plurality of engaging arms extends out of each of said
plurality of concave portions.
5. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of
said engaging arms extends out to a distal end.
6. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 5 wherein said
distal end is curved.
7. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
tubular body extends between first and second ends.
8. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of
said plurality of concave sections extends between said first and
second ends.
9. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of
said plurality of convex sections extends between said first and
second ends.
10. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 9 wherein each
of said plurality of concave sections extends from said first end
to said second end.
11. A bolt retaining article as set forth in claim 10 wherein each
of said plurality of convex sections extends from said first end to
said second end.
12. A bolt retaining article for retaining a bolt within a bore of
a structure prior to the bolt being threadingly engaged within the
bore, said bolt retaining article comprising a tubular body
extending through a longitudinal axis and defining an inner
diameter and an outer diameter, said tubular body including a
plurality of concave sections and a plurality of convex sections,
each of said plurality of concave sections disposed adjacent each
of said plurality of convex sections; and an engaging arm extending
obliquely out from said tubular body to secure said bolt retaining
article to the structure, said bolt retainer article adapted to
receive the bolt therethrough to prevent the bolt from falling out
and away from the structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an article that retains cylindrical
bodies to a structure. More specifically, the invention relates to
an article for retaining bolts to a workpiece in a particular
orientation until the bolt is needed to be secured to the
workpiece.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] During assembly and manufacturing processes, bolts and other
fasteners are often required to be positioned within the pieces
they are to fasten or secure prior to the need to secure the
pieces. If the bolts are not secured in place, it becomes difficult
to change the pieces' orientation without having the bolts fall out
of the bores in which they have been placed.
[0005] Another problem with bolts is they often have to be manually
inserted into position due to the shape and size thereof. It is
difficult to automate these procedures due to the difficulty of
handling the bolts.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Re. 36,164 addresses this concern by disclosing a
bolt retainer. The bolt retainer is designed to be slightly larger
than the bore into which it is being inserted and to be slightly
smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the bolt it is
designed to hold. It does so by creating concave and convex
sections that extend inwardly and outwardly, respectively, when
taking the side view perspective. While this bolt retainer aids in
the positioning of the bolt, it does not do so with enough force.
Further, the bolt retainer lacks an outwardly extending piece that
would aid in the handling of the bolt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A bolt retaining article retains a bolt within a bore of a
structure prior to the bolt being threadingly engaged within the
bore. The bolt retaining article includes a tubular body that
extends through a longitudinal axis and defining an inner diameter
and an outer diameter. The tubular body includes a plurality of
concave sections and a plurality of convex sections. Each of the
plurality of concave sections are disposed adjacent each of the
plurality of convex sections. An engaging arm extends outwardly
from said tubular body to secure the bolt retaining article to the
structure. The bolt retainer article is adapted to receive the bolt
therethrough to prevent the bolt from falling out and away from the
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other advantages of the invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of
the invention taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of
FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of
FIG. 2; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of
the invention inserted into a bore of a structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0015] Referring to the Figures, a bolt retaining article is
generally shown at 10. The bolt retaining article 10 is used to
position a bolt 12 within a bore 14 or some type of threaded hole.
As is shown in the Figures, the bolt retaining article 10 is
received by a compression limiting device 16 which is, in turn,
received by the bore 14. The compression limiting device 16 is
disclosed in a copending, co-owned patent application (identified
by Clark Hill, PLC attorney docket no. 19041-085656), which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0016] The bolt 12 is shown as a standard bolt 12 having a tool
engaging head 18 and a shaft 20. The shaft 20 may include a
threaded portion 22. The threaded portion 22 defines a bolt outer
diameter.
[0017] The bolt retaining article 12 includes a tubular body 24.
The tubular body 24 extends between a first end 26 and a second end
28. The tubular body 24 is fabricated from a thermoplastic
polyolefin alloy having a hardness of Shore D40, a tensile strength
of approximately 1,000 psi at yield, and a flexural modulus
(tangent) of approximately 25,000 psi.
[0018] The tubular body 24 defines a longitudinal axis 30. When the
bolt 12 is inserted into the tubular body 24, the bolt 12 is
coaxial with the tubular body 24 and also extends along the
longitudinal axis 24.
[0019] The tubular body 24 includes a plurality of concave 32 and
convex 34 sections. When viewing the tubular body 24 through a side
view, as is shown in FIG. 1, the concave sections 32 extend
inwardly into the tubular body 24 whereas the convex sections 34
extend outwardly. The concave sections 32 define an inner diameter
of the tubular body 24. The inner diameter of the tubular body 24
is slightly less than the outer diameter of the shaft 20 of the
bolt 12. This ensures that the bolt retaining article 10 will
frictionally engage the bolt 12 and prevent it from slipping out
therefrom. The compression of the bolt retaining article 10 also
provides forces directed outwardly against the sides of the bore 14
(or device 16 inserted therein) preventing the removal of the bore
14 therefrom.
[0020] Likewise, the convex sections 34 define the outer diameter
of the tubular body 24. The outer diameter of the tubular body 24
is slightly greater than the bore 14. This ensures that the bolt
retaining article 10 will frictionally engage the bore to prevent
the bolt retaining article from slipping out therefrom. This will,
in turn, prevent the bolt 12 from slipping out of the bore 14 prior
to the bolt 12 threadingly engaging a threaded portion 38 of the
bore 14.
[0021] In the embodiment shown, the concave sections 32 alternate
with the convex sections 34. More specifically, each side of each
concave section 32 adjoins a convex section 34. As such, each side
of each convex section 34 adjoins a concave section 32. The
interior of the tubular body 24 includes a number of ribs 36. The
ribs 36 aid in the retention of the bolt 12 within the tubular body
24. The ribs 36 are raised from an inner surface 37 of the tubular
body 24.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the concave 32 and convex 34
sections extend between the first 26 and second 28 ends of the
tubular body 24. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the
concave 32 and convex 34 sections extend through only a portion of
the length of the tubular body 24.
[0023] The bolt retaining article 10 also includes an engaging arm
40 that extends out from the tubular body 24. In the preferred
embodiment, a plurality of engaging arms 40 extend out therefrom.
The engaging arms 40 are extensions of the tubular body 24 and
extend out obliquely from the outer sides of the tubular body 24 to
distal ends 42.
[0024] Each of the plurality of engaging arms 40 are bent when the
bolt retaining article 10 is inserted into the bore 14. The
resiliency of the engaging arms 40 add more compressive forces
against the bore 14 to prevent the bolt retaining article 10 from
falling out of the bore 14.
[0025] The engaging arms 40 act as a handle upon which an automated
device, such as a robot, can hold and/or guide a bolt 12 to its
proper position. The outward direction of the engaging arms 40
facilitates this task by allowing a device to grasp the engaging
arms 40 without having to hold the bolt 12.
[0026] In addition, the distal ends 42 may provide a positive edge
against which any lip or ledge in the bore 14 may prevent the bolt
retaining article 10 from being removed.
[0027] The engaging arms 40 extend out of each of the concave
sections 32. This allows the bolt retaining article 10 to
incorporate the engaging arms 40 without adding to the outer
diameter thereof because the convex sections 34 extend out further
than the concave sections 32 at the point at which the engaging
arms 40 are secured to the tubular body 24.
[0028] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner.
It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation.
[0029] Many modifications and variations of the invention are
possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the
scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other
than as specifically described.
* * * * *