Abstract:
A nut retainer for a fastener. The nut retainer may include one or more vertical support members that can mate with and receive vertical surfaces of the fastener. The nut retainer may also include one or more horizontal retaining members that can be coupled to at least one end of one or more of the vertical support members adapted to mate with and receive horizontal surfaces of the fastener.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/033,922, filed on Mar. 5, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to retainers for mechanical fasteners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a nut retainer. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the nut retainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the nut retainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of the nut retainer of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is another side view of the nut retainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4   a  is a cross-sectional view of the nut retainer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a pair of spaced apart screws. 
         FIG. 5   b  is a top view of the screws of  FIG. 5   a.    
         FIG. 6   a  is a front view of screws of  FIG. 5   a  with nuts threadably coupled to each of the screws. 
         FIG. 6   b  is a top view of the screws and nuts of  FIG. 6   a.    
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the mounting of nut retainers onto each of the nuts of  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b.    
         FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are cross sectional illustrations of the nut retainers mounted onto the nuts on  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the bending of the retaining tabs on the nut retainers of  FIGS. 7 ,  7   a , and  7   b.    
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b , and  8   c  are various side views of one of the nut retainers of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the nut retainers of  FIGS. 8 ,  8   a ,  8   b , and  8   c  after mounting safety wire between the nut retainers. 
         FIG. 9   a  is a side view of one of the nut retainers of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 9   b  is a side view of another one of the nut retainers of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the nut retainers of  FIG. 9  taken about a mid line through the safety wire mounting holes of the nut retainers. 
         FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are fragmentary cross-sectional illustrations of the connection of conduits to the threaded posts of the  FIGS. 9 ,  9   a ,  9   b , and  10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the drawings and description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. The various characteristics mentioned above, as well as other features and characteristics described in more detail below, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  3   a ,  4 , and  4   a , an exemplary embodiment of a nut retainer  100  is a strip of metal bent into a configuration that includes six vertical side walls or members,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112 , that together define a cavity or polygonal receptacle having an outer profile that approximates a hexagon. In an exemplary embodiment, each adjacent pair of vertical side members define an angle therebetween of approximately 120 degrees. In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical heights of the vertical side members,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112 , are substantially equal. In an exemplary embodiment, the horizontal lengths of the vertical side members,  102  and  112  are substantially equal, and the horizontal lengths of the Vertical side members,  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , are substantially equal. In an exemplary embodiment, the horizontal lengths of the vertical side members,  102  and  112 , are less than the horizontal lengths of the vertical side members,  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 . 
     Retainer  100  has a central axis and side members  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  extend circumferentially around the axis. The polygonal receptacle defined by retainer  100  has a gap. A vertical side member or gate wall  114  extends from an end of the vertical side member  102  that defines a passage  114   a  and includes a rectangular tab  114   b  at one end. For convenience, vertical side member  114  may be considered to be a right hand gate wall. In an exemplary embodiment the vertical height of the vertical side member  114  is substantially equal to the vertical height of the vertical side member  102 . In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical side members,  102  and  114 , define an angle therebetween of approximately 120 degrees. 
     A vertical side member or gate wall  116  extends from an end of the vertical side member  112  that defines a passage  116   a  and includes a rectangular tab  116   b  at one end. For convenience, vertical side member  116  may be considered to be a right hand gate wall. In an exemplary embodiment the vertical height of the vertical side member  116  is substantially equal to the vertical height of the vertical side member  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical side members,  112  and  116 , define an angle therebetween of approximately 120 degrees. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical side members,  114  and  116 , are spaced apart the width of the gap, positioned opposite to one another, and are substantially parallel to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the passages,  114   a  and  116   a , of the vertical side members,  114  and  116 , are positioned opposite to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the tabs,  114   b  and  116   b , of the vertical side members,  114  and  116 , are not positioned opposite one another while in the open position. shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  4   a ,  7  and  8 , and are vertically offset from one another. As shown in  FIG. 3   a . tab  114   b  has an upper edge flush with the upper edges of side members  108 ,  110  and  112 . Tab  116   b  has a lower edge flush with the lower edges of side members  108 ,  110 , and  112 . The lower edge of tab  114   a  is above the upper edge of tab  116   b  when tabs  114   a  and  116   a  are bent to the closed position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Horizontal retaining members or upper flanges,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , extend from upper ends of the vertical side members,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and  110 , respectively, in a direction that positions the retaining members above the hexagonal cavity defines by the vertical side members. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining members,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , have trapezoidal profiles. Horizontal retaining members  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  extend partially toward the axis of retainer  100 . 
     Horizontal retaining members or lower flanges,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 , extend from lower ends of the vertical side members,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and  110 , respectively, in a direction that positions the retaining members above the hexagonal cavity defines by the vertical side members. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining members,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 , have trapezoidal profiles. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining members,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , are vertically spaced apart and positioned in opposing relation to the retaining members,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132 , respectively. Horizontal retaining members  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132  extend partially toward the axis of retainer  100 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the nut retainer  100  is fabricated from a metallic material such as, for example, low carbon steel, that will permit the nut retainer to be elastically deformed to permit the nut retainer to be placed onto a conventional hexagonal nut without plastically deforming the retainer. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , an assembly  500  includes a base member  502  and a pair of spaced apart threaded posts,  504  and  506 , that are coupled to and extend from the base member. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , conventional hexagonal nuts,  602  and  604 , are then threaded onto the posts,  504  and  506 , respectively. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 ,  7   a , and  7   b , nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , are then placed onto the nuts,  602  and  604 , respectively, with the retainers oriented at opposite directions. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , are identical to the nut retainer  100  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4   a . In an exemplary embodiment, after placing the nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , on the nuts,  602  and  604 , the nuts are retained within the vertical side members,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 , and horizontal retainers,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 ,  8   a ,  8   b , and  8   c , the tabs,  114   b  and  116   b , of the nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , are bent over and around the ends and back walls of the vertical side members,  116  and  114 , respectively. As a result, the vertical side members,  114  and  116 , of the nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , are locked together. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 ,  9   a ,  9   b , and  10 , an end of a safety wire  900  is then threaded through the passages,  114   a  and  116   a , of the vertical side members,  114  and  116 , respectively, of the nut retainer  110   a . The other end of the safety wire  900  is then looped around the end of the vertical wall  114  of the nut retainer  100   a  and then bent into the recess formed in the end of the nut retainer between the bent over tabs,  114   b  and  116   b . The free ends of the safety wire  900  are then twisted about one another until the twisted portion is proximate the nut retainer  100   b . One of the free ends of the safety wire is then threaded through the passages,  116   a  and  114   a , of the vertical side members,  116  and  114 , respectively, and the other free ends of the safety wire is run through the recess formed in the end of the nut retainer between the bent over tabs,  114   b  and  116   b . The free ends of the safety wire  900  are then twisted about one another. As a result, a tensile force may be exerted between the ends of the nut retainers,  100   a  and  110   b , that may tend to further tighten the nuts,  602  and  604 , on the threaded posts,  504  and  506 . 
     During operation, the nut retainers,  100   a  and  100   b , in combination with the safety wire  900 , may prevent the nuts,  602  and  604 , from unthreading from the threaded posts,  504  and  506 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b , the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to the threaded fastening of tubular members to the support structure  502 . For example, hydraulic and/or pneumatic control lines,  1102  and  1104 , that convey hydraulic and/or pneumatic control fluids may be coupled to the support structure using the threaded posts,  504  and  506 , and the nuts,  602  and  604 . In such applications, the threaded posts,  504  and  506 , may define passageways,  504   a  and  506   a , for conveying the hydraulic and/or pneumatic control fluids between the threaded posts and hydraulic and/or pneumatic conduits. 
     It is understood that variations may be made in the above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the nut retainers  100  of the present disclosure may be modified to fit onto any geometry such as, for example, square, elliptical, triangular, etc . . . In addition, the safety wire  900  may be restrained by any adjacent structure and therefore does not need to be restrained only by another nut retainer  100 . Further, the nut retainer  100  does not have to have the tabs,  114   b  and  116   b , bent over the opposing vertical members,  116  and  114 , of the nut retainer  100  in order to employ the safety wire  900  to restrain the nut retainer. In addition, the tabs,  114   b  and  116   b , may be omitted from the nut retainer  100 . Further, the teachings of the present exemplary embodiments may be employed in the restraining of any type of fastener that can be captured by a suitable shaped retainer. In addition, spatial references are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specific orientation or location of the structure described above. While specific embodiments have been shown and described, modifications can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of this invention. The embodiments as described are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications are possible and are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.