U.S. patent application number 10/657872 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for cage-nut assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to E & E Manufacturing Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cutshall, Mark L..
Application Number | 20040047705 10/657872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26871364 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040047705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cutshall, Mark L. |
March 11, 2004 |
Cage-nut assembly
Abstract
A cage-nut assembly includes a nut positioned within a cage
structure. The cage structure is configured to provide high
torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut. The cage
structure has a flat base and an at least partially open end
portion. The cage structure includes a blocking member preventing
the nut from moving laterally along the base through the at least
partially open end portion. The blocking member is relatively
structurally weak in a direction orthogonal to a torsional rotation
direction of the nut. The structurally weak blocking member is
bendable when less than approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied
to the blocking member to open the end portion and allow the nut to
move laterally along the base through the end portion for removal
of the nut.
Inventors: |
Cutshall, Mark L.;
(Plymouth, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER
TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
E & E Manufacturing Company,
Inc.
Plymouth
MI
|
Family ID: |
26871364 |
Appl. No.: |
10/657872 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10657872 |
Sep 9, 2003 |
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09626610 |
Jul 27, 2000 |
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6644902 |
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60175593 |
Jan 11, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
411/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 37/044
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/111 |
International
Class: |
F16B 039/284 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cage-nut assembly, comprising: a nut; and a cage structure
having the nut therein, the cage structure being configured to
provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut, the
cage structure further having a flat base and an at least partially
open end portion, the cage structure including a relatively
structurally weak blocking member preventing the nut from moving
laterally along the base through the at least partially open end
portion, the structurally weak blocking member being formed by one
of first and second opposing straps which extend from the flat base
to wrap around opposing ends of the nut, the one of first and
second opposing straps providing high torsional strength and being
bendable away from the flat base to enable removal of the nut from
the cage structure.
2. The cage-nut assembly of claim 1, further comprising small tabs
extending away from the base to space the nut away from the base to
prevent paint-welding of the nut to the base, the small tabs being
bendable to allow the nut to seat when torqued down.
3. The cage-nut assembly of claim 1, wherein the nut is
Teflon-coated.
4. The cage-nut assembly of claim 1, wherein the flat base forms an
aperture to receive a bolt.
5. The cage-nut assembly of claim 4, wherein the aperture is fully
enclosed by the base.
6. The cage-nut assembly of claim 1, wherein the nut is oblong, and
first and second opposing straps wrap around opposing ends of the
oblong nut.
7. The cage-nut assembly of claim 6, wherein the oblong nut is
generally diamond-shaped.
8. A cage-nut assembly, comprising: a nut; and a cage structure
having the nut therein, the cage structure being configured to
provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut, the
cage structure further having a flat base and an at least partially
open end portion, the flat base including opposing straps extending
therefrom to wrap around opposing ends of the nut, the cage
structure including a blocking member adjacent the at least
partially open end portion preventing the nut from moving laterally
along the base through the at least partially open end portion, the
blocking member being relatively structurally weak in a direction
orthogonal to a torsional rotation direction of the nut, the
blocking member being bendable in the orthogonal direction when
less than approximately 20 lb. of force is applied to the blocking
member to open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally
along the base through the end portion for removal of the nut.
9. The cage-nut assembly of claim 8, wherein the blocking member is
formed by one of the opposing straps, the one of the opposing
straps providing high torsional strength and being bendable away
from the flat base to enable removal of the oblong nut from the
cage structure.
10. The cage-nut assembly of claim 8, further comprising small tabs
extending away from the base to space the nut away from the base to
prevent paint-welding of the nut to the base, the small tabs being
bendable to allow the nut to seat when torqued down.
11. The cage-nut assembly of claim 8, wherein the nut is
Teflon-coated.
12. The cage-nut assembly of claim 8, wherein the flat base forms
an aperture to receive a bolt.
13. The cage-nut assembly of claim 12, wherein the aperture is
fully enclosed by the base.
14. The cage-nut assembly of claim 8, wherein the nut is oblong,
and first and second opposing straps wrap around opposing ends of
the oblong nut.
15. The cage-nut assembly of claim 14, wherein the oblong nut is
generally diamond-shaped.
16. A cage-nut assembly, comprising: a nut; and a cage structure
having the nut therein, the cage structure being configured to
provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut, the
cage structure further having a flat base and an at least partially
open end portion, the cage structure including a relatively
structurally weak blocking member preventing the nut from moving
laterally along the base through the at least partially open end
portion, the structurally weak blocking member being bendable to
open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally along the
base through the end portion for removal of the nut, the flat base
including a bolt-receiving aperture which is formed coextensively
with the at least partially open end, the blocking member including
at least one curved tang formed coplanar with the flat base.
17. The cage-nut assembly of claim 16, wherein the nut includes a
protruding tubular portion which extends through the bolt-receiving
aperture.
18. The cage-nut assembly of claim 16, wherein the nut is
Teflon-coated.
19. The cage-nut assembly of claim 16, wherein the flat base is
supported by standoff legs, the legs including bendable retainer
tabs configured to hold the nut in position, the bendable retainer
tabs being bendable to allow movement of the nut away from the flat
base in a perpendicular direction with respect to the flat
base.
20. The cage-nut assembly of claim 19, wherein the standoff legs
include small projections to facilitate projection welding.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
09/626,610, filed Jul. 27, 2000, which, in turn, claims the benefit
of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/175,593, filed Jan.
11, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to caged female threaded
fasteners which provide high torsional strength while allowing
removal of the fasteners for servicing.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] It is a common manufacturing practice to apply coatings of
paint or other decorative or protective coatings to large
subassemblies prior to final assembly of the completed product. For
example, in the manufacture of automobiles, the body of the
automobile will be formed and assembled, and then painted. Other
automotive subassemblies, such as suspension parts, undercarriages,
or closures for the automobile (such as the doors, hood, and trunk
lid) are separately manufactured and painted, and are assembled
with the painted automobile body to form a complete automobile.
[0006] In most cases, the subassemblies of the automobile will be
secured to the auto body by threaded fasteners. However, the use of
threaded fasteners often presents difficulties in final assembly.
For example, in the case of assembling a door into a body, one of
the matching threaded fasteners, for example, a female fastener,
may be located inside a door pillar. The door pillar in a modern
automobile of unibody construction very often is a hollow metal
part which may be completely enclosed after manufacture of the
vehicle body. In order to provide a female fastener inside the
pillar, it is necessary to mount the female fastener, for example
by welding, inside the pillar when the body is being
manufactured.
[0007] Due to variations in manufacturing tolerances, a degree of
position adjustment for the female fastener must be provided so
that the door and body may be properly aligned during final
assembly. Position adjustment is provided by using a female
fastener called a "cage-nut", which is usually a nut encaged in a
structure that is attached to the inside of the door pillar. The
nut is provided with a range of movement within the encaging
structure so that when the door is assembled to the body, the
alignment of the door and the body can be adjusted until they meet
manufacturing standards.
[0008] Cage-nuts are also frequently used in situations where the
nut is not completely enclosed, such as on the frame of the
vehicle. In these situations, the use of a cage-nut welded onto the
body prior to final assembly reduces the time needed for final
assembly of the automobile.
[0009] It has been found, however, that during the step of painting
and baking paint on the body of the auto, that the nut will often
weld or adhere to the cage. This paint-welding creates problems in
the step of assembling and aligning the door or other subassembly
within the body, because the nut no longer has any freedom of
movement. It can be difficult to free the paint welded nut from the
cage if it is in an enclosed space. Consequently, the final
assembly of the automobile will be slowed while these parts are
freed up enough so that the door or other subassembly can be
properly aligned and assembled with the body.
[0010] Another problem associated with such cage-nut assemblies is
that a bolt may be stripped or cross-threaded into the encaged nut,
particularly if the nut is misaligned as a result of adhering to
the cage structure. In this situation, it is difficult, if not
impossible, to remove the nut and bolt for servicing because the
nut may not be removable from the cage. Accordingly, it is
desirable to provide an improved cage-nut design in which the
frequency of paint-welding the nut to the cage structure is
minimized, and the nut is removable from the cage for servicing
when the bolt or nut are stripped or cross-threaded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention overcomes the above referenced
shortcomings of prior art cage-nut assemblies by providing a
cage-nut assembly including a Teflon-coated nut and a cage
structure which provides high torsional strength while providing a
structurally weak portion which allows bending of the cage
structure for removal of the nut for servicing.
[0012] In a first embodiment, a flat base is provided with opposing
strap portions which wrap around opposing ends of an oblong (i.e.,
longer than wide, including diamond shape or other shape providing
a portion for containment and torsional resistance), Teflon-coated
nut. The flat base forms an enclosed aperture for receiving a bolt.
The straps are bendable away from the body to facilitate nut
removal. The straps are configured to provide high torsional
strength. Small tabs extend from the base to space the nut away
from the base to prevent paint-welding of the nut to the base, and
are bendable to allow the nut member to seat when torqued down.
[0013] In another embodiment, standoff legs support a flat base
with an enclosed aperture formed therethrough for receiving a bolt.
A rectangular Teflon-coated nut is positioned within the cage. The
legs include small, bendable tabs which hold the nut in position
and are bendable to allow the nut member to seat when torqued down
(when a bending-force of approximately 65 lbs. is applied to the
legs). One of the tabs prevents the nut from sliding out of the
cage, and is bendable to allow removal and servicing of the nut
(when a bending-force of approximately 10 to 20 lbs. is
applied).
[0014] In a further embodiment, the cage-nut assembly includes a
nut positioned within a cage structure, the cage structure being
configured to provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation
of the nut. Preferably, the cage structure provides sufficiently
high torsional strength that the first failure would be that of the
weld holding the cage structure against a workpiece when a
significant torque is applied to the nut (preferably at
approximately 190 Nm). The cage structure has a flat base and an at
least partially open end portion. The cage structure includes a
relatively structurally weak blocking member preventing the nut
from exiting the cage structure through the end portion. The
structurally weak blocking member is bendable when less than
approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied to the blocking member to
open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally along the
base through the end portion for removal of the nut. The flat base
includes a bolt-receiving aperture which is formed coextensively
with the at least partially open end portion. The blocking member
comprises first and second curved tangs formed coplanar with the
flat base. The nut includes a protruding tubular portion which
extends through the bolt-receiving aperture. Standoff legs support
the flat base and include small projections to facilitate
projection welding.
[0015] In the various embodiments, the flat base may be positioned
flat against a workpiece to which the nut is being attached, or may
be spaced from the workpiece by the above-described standoff
legs.
[0016] Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an
improved cage-nut assembly in which the nut is removable from the
cage for servicing.
[0017] The above object and other objects, features and advantages
of the present invention are readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the
invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cage structure in
accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the cage structure of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cage structure of FIG.
2;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of
FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a nut for use with the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the nut of FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a reverse side view of the nut of FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a cage-nut assembly in
accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a cage-nut assembly in a
slightly modified embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 10 shows the cage-nut assembly of FIG. 9 with the nut
being removed from the cage structure;
[0028] FIG. 11 shows an underside perspective view of a cage-nut
assembly in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 shows a top perspective view of the cage-nut
assembly of FIG. 11;
[0030] FIG. 13 shows a top plan view of the cage-nut assembly of
FIG. 11;
[0031] FIG. 14 shows a side view of the cage-nut assembly of FIG.
13 with the bolt and vehicle body component;
[0032] FIG. 15a shows a cross-sectional view taken at line 15a-15a
of FIG. 14;
[0033] FIG. 15b shows a cross-sectional view of the cage-nut
assembly of FIG. 15a, with the bolt torqued down and the nut
seated;
[0034] FIG. 16 shows an enlarged view of detail 16 from FIG.
14;
[0035] FIG. 17 shows a plan view of the nut shown in FIG. 11;
[0036] FIG. 18 shows a side view of the nut of FIG. 17;
[0037] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of a cage-nut assembly in
accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;
[0038] FIG. 20 shows a plan view of a nut corresponding with the
embodiment of FIG. 19;
[0039] FIG. 21 shows a sectional view taken at line 21-21 of FIG.
20;
[0040] FIG. 22 shows a plan view of a slightly modified embodiment
of a cage structure in accordance with the invention;
[0041] FIG. 23 shows a side view of the cage structure of FIG. 22;
and
[0042] FIG. 24 shows an end view of the cage structure of FIG.
22.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of a cage-nut
assembly 10 is shown in accordance with the present invention. The
cage-nut assembly 10 includes a cage structure 12, shown in FIGS.
1-4, and a Teflon-coated nut 14, shown in FIGS. 5-7, which
cooperate to form the cage-nut assembly 10, shown in FIG. 8.
[0044] The cage structure 12 includes a flat base 16 having a fully
enclosed aperture 18 formed therethrough for receiving a bolt (not
shown). Standoff tabs 20,22 are angled slightly upwardly with
respect to the flat base 16 to hold the nut 14 away from the base
16 to prevent the nut from paint-welding to the base 16 (i.e.
sticking to the base by dried paint). The tabs 20,22 are bendable
to allow the nut to seat when torqued down.
[0045] The base 16 is preferably a stamped steel component, and
includes integral straps 24,26, which form openings 28,30,
respectively, for receiving opposing ends 32,34 of the oblong nut
14. The straps 24,26 are preferably stamped with the base 16 to
form the openings 28,30.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the nut 14 is generally
diamond-shaped and includes a central aperture 36 which is threaded
to receive the bolt.
[0047] As viewed in FIG. 8, the flat base 16 would be welded to a
vehicle frame or other structural component, and the bolt would be
inserted through an underside thereof, as viewed in this Figure.
The openings 28,30 in the straps 24,26, respectively, are larger
than the respective opposing ends 32,34 of the nut 14, thereby
allowing the nut 14 to float for alignment with the bolt. The
engagement of the opposing ends 32,34 of the nut 14 with the straps
24,26, respectively, provides very high torsional strength against
rotation of the nut 14 during assembly.
[0048] The opposing ends 38,40 of the flat base 12 may be bent
upward for servicing the nut 14. As the opposing ends 38,40 are
pried upward, the flat base 12 would bend in the structurally
weakest areas 42,44. In other words, the opposing ends 38,40 of the
cage structure 12 are partially open, and the straps 24,26 are
operative as blocking members which prevent the nut 14 from sliding
through the partially open opposing ends 38,40. The blocking
members are relatively structurally weak in a direction orthogonal
to the torsional rotation direction of the nut, such that the
blocking members may be pried up to allow the nut to slide through
one of the opposing ends 38,40. The language "orthogonal to the
torsional rotation direction of the nut" is intended to mean
perpendicular to an arc swept out by a distal end of the rotating
nut, and includes perpendicular directions which are in the plane
of the arc or perpendicular to the plane of the arc.
[0049] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a slightly modified embodiment, wherein
the opposing ends 38',40' are substantially enclosed. The ends
38',40' are only open at an underside thereof, as viewed in FIGS. 9
and 10. FIG. 10 illustrates the end 40' having been pried upward
with respect to the flat base 12 about the structurally weak
portion 44 for removal of the nut 14 for servicing.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 11-18, a further embodiment of the
invention is shown. These figures show a cage-nut assembly 60,
including the cage structure 62, which is preferably a stamped
steel component, and a Teflon-coated rectangular nut 64.
[0051] The cage structure 62 includes standoff legs 66,68,70,72,74
which are welded to the vehicle body component 75 by the conical
projections 76,78,80, such as by projection welding or resistance
welding.
[0052] The standoff legs 66,68,70,72,74 support a flat base 82
which has an enclosed aperture 84 formed therethrough for receiving
the bolt 85 which is inserted from the vehicle body side of the
cage structure 62, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15a and 15b, and protrudes
through the lip 86 surrounding the threaded aperture 88 of the nut
64. The lip 86 also protrudes through the enclosed aperture 84 of
the base 82, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15a.
[0053] This cage structure 62 in combination with the rectangular
nut 64 provides substantial torsional strength for supporting the
nut 64 against rotation when a bolt is driven into the nut 64
(preferably the weld fails before the cage structure at around 190
Nm). Between the legs 66,68,70,72,74, vertical retainer tabs
90,92,94,96 are provided for holding the nut 64 against the base
82.
[0054] The cage structure 62 is open at the longitudinal end
between legs 66,68 such that movement of the bolt 64 therethrough
is prevented only by the lateral retention tab 100. Accordingly, if
a bolt is cross-threaded into the nut 64, the tabs 90,92,94,96 may
be bent downward simply by pulling the nut 64 away from the base 82
by pulling on the bolt. This movement will bend the retainer tabs
90,92,94,96 out of the way for downward movement of the nut 64 so
that the lip 86 does not interfere with the aperture 84 as the nut
64 is slid through the opening between the legs 66,68. In order to
slide the nut 64 through the opening between the legs 66,68, the
lateral retention tab 100 is pried upward to a position
substantially parallel to the base 82. A bending force of about
10-20 lbs. is required to bend the retention tab 100. Accordingly,
the nut 64 may be removed for servicing simply by bending the tabs
90,92,94,96 to move the nut 64 away from the base 82, and then
bending the lateral retention tab 100 upward to slide the nut 64
along the base out the end of the cage structure 62 between the
legs 66,68.
[0055] FIGS. 19-21 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention.
In this embodiment, the cage-nut assembly 110 includes a cage
structure 112 and a Teflon-coated nut 114, which cooperate to form
the cage-nut assembly 110. The cage structure includes a flat base
116 which is supported by standoff legs 118,120,122,124. The flat
base 116 and the standoff legs 118,120 cooperate to form an open
end 126.
[0056] The standoff legs include bendable retainer tabs 128,130
which are configured to hold the nut 114 in position to be torqued
down by a bolt. The tabs 128,130 are bendable to allow the nut 114
to move downward as viewed in FIG. 19 when torqued down to a
workpiece by such a bolt. The tabs 128,130 are bendable under
approximately 65-80 lbs. of bending torque. Of course, the tabs
128,130 could be configured in any variety of shapes, and the
standoff legs could be combined to form a continuous support
wall.
[0057] The flat base 116 includes a bolt-receiving aperture 132,
which is formed coextensively with the open end 126 of the cage
structure 112. The bolt-receiving aperture 132 receives a tubular
extrusion 134 which extends from the nut 114. The aperture 135 of
the tubular extrusion 134 receives a bolt, not shown, which torques
down the nut 114.
[0058] First and second curved tangs 136,138 cooperate to form a
blocking member which prevents the nut 114 from sliding along the
flat base 116 through the open end 126 of the cage structure 112.
The tangs 136,138 are bendable toward the angled sides 140,142,
such as by a screwdriver, to allow the tubular extrusion 134 to
pass by the blocking member formed by the curved tangs 136,138,
thereby allowing removal of the nut.
[0059] This blocking member, like other embodiments of the
invention, is configured to allow removal of the nut for servicing.
Like other embodiments, the curved tangs 136,138 are bendable when
less than approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied to the curved
tangs 136,138, such as by a screwdriver, and the nut 114 may then
be slid along the flat base 116 through the open end 126 of the
cage structure 112.
[0060] The standoff legs 118,120 include small projections 144,146
to facilitate projection welding of the cage structure 112 to a
workpiece to which the nut 114 is being attached.
[0061] FIGS. 22-24 show a slightly modified embodiment of a cage
structure in accordance with the invention, wherein like reference
numerals with a prime (') indicate like components from the
embodiment of FIG. 19. This embodiment differs from that of FIG. 19
only in the number of bendable retainer tabs 128'. Of course, the
number of retainer tabs and the number and configuration of the
standoff legs could vary within the scope of the present
invention.
[0062] While the best modes for carrying out the invention have
been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this
invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and
embodiments for practicing the invention without departing from the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *