Patent ID: 8092115
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: H04Q,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a nut having a first substantially cylindrical portion, a second substantially cylindrical portion, a flange disposed between the first and second portions, and a threaded bore extending through each of the first portion, second portions, and the flange, and along central axes of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions, the first portion having a first outer radial dimension and the second portion having a second outer radial dimension, wherein the first and second portions are substantially coaxial sharing a central axis, and the flange has a shortest radial dimension extending beyond the first and second outer dimensions and in a plane normal to the central axis; a first panel having: a second panel having a second hole defined therethrough, the second hole having a second inner radial dimension being smaller than the shortest radial dimension of the flange and adapted to at least partially receive the second portion of the nut; the second panel being fixedly connected to and substantially abutting the first panel so as to entrap the flange within the recess between the second panel and the first panel and prevent movement of the nut in directions parallel to the central axis relative the first and second joined panels; wherein the flange is disposed at a first end of the first portion and the nut has a radially outwardly protruding lip disposed at the other, second end of the of the first portion disposed within an interior of the first hole, the lip having a shortest outer radial dimension extending beyond the first outer radial dimension, the threaded bore extends through the lip, and the nut is clinched to the first panel by capturing a portion of the first panel between the lip and the flange; wherein the threaded bore of the nut is adapted to receive a bolt passing through at least the first portion of the nut.