Abstract:
A connector assembly configured to secure at least one component to a structure may include a base, at least one member configured to receive and retain a portion of a component, and a stud retainer extending from the base. The stud retainer may include first and second engaging legs within a retaining chamber. The first and second engaging legs are configured to automatically align the stud retainer with respect to a stud that passes into the retaining chamber.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/961,616 entitled “Stud Retainer,” filed Jul. 23, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a stud retainer apparatus, and more particularly to a self-centering/aligning stud retainer apparatus that may be easily secured to various types of studs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various components, such as conduits and tubes, may be secured to surfaces, such as walls, ceilings or the like, through fastening assemblies. For example, a cylindrical tube may be secured to a wall through a fastening assembly having a tube channel that snapably secures around a portion of the tube. The fastening assembly itself may be secured to the wall through a stud that is received and retained by the fastening assembly. 
         [0004]    Conventional fastening assemblies are often not compatible with different types of studs. For example, one fastening assembly may be specifically designed to receive and retain a specific type of stud. Additionally, conventional fastening assemblies may be misaligned with respect to a particular stud. Thus, as the fastening assembly is secured to the stud, such as through a threadable engagement, the fastening assembly and/or the stud may be stripped, thereby reducing the retaining force exerted with respect to the fastening assembly and the stud. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a connector assembly configured to secure at least one component to a structure. The connector assembly may include a base, at least one member, such as a tube channel, configured to receive and retain a portion of a component, such as a tube or conduit, and a stud retainer. The member(s) may be formed on and/or within the base. 
         [0006]    The stud retainer may extend from the base, and may include first and second engaging legs within a retaining chamber. The first and second engaging legs may be configured to automatically align the stud retainer with respect to a stud. 
         [0007]    The stud retainer may include first and second walls, wherein the first and second engaging legs are secured to the first and second walls, respectively, through first and second flexible tethering beams, respectively. The first and second flexible tethering beams allow the first and second engaging legs to flex with respect to a central axis of the stud retainer. The tethering beams may be offset with respect to the first and second engaging legs. For example, the tethering beams may connect to the first and second walls at positions above or below the engaging legs. Also, the engaging legs may include a plurality of fingers configured to dig into an outer circumferential surface of the stud. 
         [0008]    The first and second engaging legs may inwardly curve about a central axis of said stud retainer. The inwardly-curved nature maximizes the surface engagement between the engaging legs and outer surfaces of the stud. The engaging legs may curve or wrap around a radial distance of 90° about the central axis of the stud retainer. Optionally, the radial curvature may be more or less than 90° about the central axis of the stud retainer. 
         [0009]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a stud retainer apparatus of a connector assembly configured to securely fasten at least one component to a structure. The connector assembly is configured to be secured to the structure through a stud. The stud retainer apparatus may include first and second lateral walls and first and second engaging legs. 
         [0010]    The first and second lateral walls may be integrally connected to a base and a top wall. A retaining chamber may be defined between the first and second lateral walls and the top wall. 
         [0011]    The first and second engaging legs may be secured to the first and second lateral walls, respectively, through first and second tethering beams, respectively. The first and second engaging legs may be configured to automatically align the stud retainer with respect to the stud. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a connector assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a connector assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a stud, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a stud, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a stud, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of a stud retainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of a stud retainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an axial cross-sectional view of a stud retainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a stud retainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate isometric and front views, respectively, of a connector assembly  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector assembly  10  includes a base  12  having a plurality of tube channels  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . Each tube channel  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  may be sized differently to accommodate different sized tubes (not shown). The tube channels  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  are configured to snapably and securely engage around outer circumferential surfaces of tubes. The connector assembly  10  may include more or less tube channels than those shown. Additionally, the connector assembly  10  may not include tube channels, but may include clamps, grooves, latches, claps, barbs or the like configured to securely retain other components, such as rails, beams or the like. 
         [0023]    A stud retainer  22  extends from the base between the tube channels  16  and  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stud retainer  22  is generally centered on the base  12 . The stud retainer  22  includes lateral walls  24  and  26  integrally connected to the base  12  and a top wall  28 . The lateral wall  24  may also connect to a wall  30  defining the channel  16 , while the lateral wall  26  connects to a wall  32  defining the channel  18 . An opening (not shown) is formed through the base  12  underneath the stud retainer  22  and is configured to receive a stud. The opening leads to a stud passage  34  defined by a guide sleeve  36 . The stud passage  34 , in turn, leads to a retaining chamber  38 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a stud  40 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stud  40  includes a base  42  having a shaft  44  extending upwardly therefrom. The shaft  44  includes threads  46 . A plurality of curved or pitched non-threaded channels  48  may extend over a length of the shaft  44 , thereby separating sections of threads  46 . The stud  40  is configured to be secured to a structure (not shown) and to be received and retained by the stud retainer  22  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Various other studs may be used, such as those shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Alternatively, instead of being threaded, the shaft  44  may include a series of pitched or curved flutes formed into the shaft  44 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a stud  50 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stud  50  includes a base  52  having a shaft  54  extending upwardly therefrom. The shaft  50  may also include threads  56 . Unlike the stud  40 , however, the shaft  50  may not include passages separating threaded sections. Instead, the threads  56  may wrap around the shaft  54 . The stud  50  is configured to be secured to a structure (not shown) and to be received and retained by the stud retainer  22  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a stud  58 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stud  58  includes a base  60  having a shaft  62  extending upwardly therefrom. The shaft  62  may include contiguous, pitched threads  64 , instead of fluted areas or channels separating threaded portions. Optionally, the stud  58  may include channels or fluted areas separating threaded portions. The stud  58  is also configured to be secured to a structure (not shown) and to be received and retained by the stud retainer  22  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the stud retainer  22 . As shown, an opening  66  is formed through the base  12  and allows a stud to pass therethrough and into the stud passage  34 . As the stud is threaded or passed into the opening  66  (or as the opening  66  of the base  12  passes, or is threaded around, the stud), the stud moves into the stud passage  34  where the guide sleeve  36  ensures that the stud moves into the retaining chamber  38 . 
         [0028]    The stud retainer  22  includes two opposed wrap-around legs  70  and  72 . Optionally, the stud retainer  22  may include more legs than those shown. For example, three legs may be evenly spaced about a central axis of the stud retainer  22 . The leg  70  is connected to the lateral walls  24  through a tethering beam  73 , while the leg  72  is connected to the lateral wall  26  through a tethering beam  74 . The outer surfaces of each leg  70  and  72  may be smooth and curved. The legs  70  and  72  are generally curved around a central axis X. The inner surface of each leg  70  and  72  includes a series of curved fingers  75  that include edges or teeth configured to dig or bite into the outer circumferential surface of a stud. The fingers  75  extend and curve along the legs  70  and  72 . As shown, the leg  70  may include three stepped fingers  75  aligned with respect to one another. 
         [0029]    The tethering beams  73  and  74  are flexible and act as spring members between the legs  70 ,  72  and the lateral walls  24 ,  26 , respectively. As such, the legs  70  and  72  within the retaining chamber  38  are allowed to flex toward and away from the walls  24  and  26 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the stud retainer  22 . In general, the legs  70  and  72  are spaced apart from one another such that the fingers  75  on the inner surfaces thereof contact opposite arcuate sides of a stud. As shown in  FIG. 7 , in particular, the tethering beams  73  and  74  are offset with respect to the legs  70  and  72 , respectively. That is, as shown in the orientation of  FIG. 7 , the tethering beams  73  and  74  extend from the lateral walls  24  and  26  above the legs  70  and  72 , respectively. Thus, the tethering beams  73  and  74  are above the uppermost fingers  75 . It has been found that this orientation allows the fingers  74  to inwardly collapse when a stud is being removed, either intentionally or unintentionally, from the stud retainer  22 , or vice versa. The collapsing nature of the fingers  75  into the stud cause them to dig or bite into the stud and thereby provide a higher retaining force. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may be used with a wide variety of studs due to the fact that the legs  70  and  72  provide a secure retaining force by way of the fingers  75  digging into the stud. Optionally, the legs  70  and  72  may not be offset, such as if the stud retainer  22  is used with an annular ring stud in which the threads are not angled. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates an axial cross-sectional view of the stud retainer  22 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , each leg  70  and  72  may wrap around a stud  80  approximately 90°. However, each leg  70  and  72  may wrap around the stud  80  over a radial distance that is more or less than 90°. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a stud retainer  82 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , each leg  70  and  72  may wrap around a central axis of the stud retainer  22  over a radial distance that is not 90°. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , the arcuate distance that each leg  70  and  72  wraps around the stud  80  or central axis of the stud retainer  22  may be the same in order to ensure that the forces exerted into the stud  80  are balanced and even. The lengths and sizes of the fingers  75  may vary in order to accommodate the pitch of a particular stud. Because some studs, such as the stud  50  shown in  FIG. 4 , may include contiguous threading, each of the fingers  75  may abut the stud at a different radial point with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the stud. The optimal sizes and lengths of the fingers  75  may vary depending on the threading of the stud. 
         [0034]    The tethering beams  73  and  74  allow the stud retainer  22  to self center onto the stud. That is, the tethering beams  73  and  74  allow the legs  70  and  72  to flex inwardly or outwardly with respect to the stud to accommodate uneven surfaces. For example, if the fingers  74  of the leg  70  abut the stud at a thread peak, the leg  70  may flex toward the lateral wall  24  by way of the tethering beam  73 , in order to provide proper surface engagement. Further, if the fingers  74  of the leg  72  abut into a thread valley, the flexible nature of the leg  72  allows it to move into that surface. 
         [0035]    Before a stud is passed into the stud retainer  22 , the fingers  75  are generally an equal distance from the axial center of the stud retainer  22 . The legs  70  and  72  abut the stud as it threads or otherwise passes into the retaining chamber  38 , thereby preventing the stud from moving past the boundaries of the legs  70  and  72 . As noted above, the guide sleeve  36  guides the stud into the retaining chamber  38 . 
         [0036]    As the stud passes into the retaining chamber  38 , the fingers  75  of the legs  70  and  72  engage the stud. The legs  70  and  72  flex, by way of the tethering beams  73  and  74 , respectively, in equal and opposite directions about the stud. The equal and opposite flexing of the opposed legs  70  and  72  acts to center the stud retainer  22  about the stud. The tethered legs  70  and  72  move independently of one another to ensure that the legs  70  and  72  engage the surfaces of the stud. 
         [0037]    Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a connector assembly having a stud retainer that automatically centers and aligns with respect to a stud. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide a stud retainer that securely engages a stud through fingers that bite or dig into outer circumferential walls of the stud, thereby providing an increased retaining force, as opposed to prior fasteners. Further, the wrap-around nature of the legs ensures maximum engagement between the fingers of the legs and the outer surfaces of the stud. As such, the stud retainer is ideally suited to retain different types of studs, whether they have standard threading, flutes, channels or the like. 
         [0038]    While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
         [0039]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
         [0040]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.