Abstract:
A clip nut is provided including a clip body and nut. The clip body includes an upper arm connected to a lower arm by a connecting end wall. The clip body has a nut housing upon its upper arm for affixing a nut having a tubular body and a radially projecting base. The nut housing includes an end wall, an intermediate wall and a top wall. A ridge projects upwardly from the upper arm between the intermediate wall and end wall. Furthermore, the top wall includes an opening for allowing the nut&#39;s base to slide upon the ridge to enter a cavity during assembly. Thereafter, the nut is tilted forwardly and the nut&#39;s base is slid into a nut receiving chamber to complete the assembly of the clip nut.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mounts and fasteners. More specifically, the present invention relates to lightweight clip nut fasteners which are particularly useful within the aircraft and automotive industries. 
     Many types of mounting devices have been developed for holding one or more objects to a support surface. For example, clip nuts are constructed to slide over the edge of a panel to position and maintain a nut for receiving a bolt or other threaded device. Clip nuts are known and used to mount items to the panel and for attaching two or more panels together. Common applications for clip nuts include use in automobiles, appliances and aircraft. For example, a single commercial aircraft may utilize hundreds of thousands of clip nuts. 
     Commonly used clip nuts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,474,917 and 6,918,725, both naming Gauron as the inventor. Each of these patents describe a clip nut having a clip body having first and second arms connected by an end wall. This U-shaped structure is constructed for receiving a panel between the first and second arms. Each arm includes a coaxially aligned hole for aligning with a hole within the panel. The clip nut includes a housing for holding the nut and maintaining the nut&#39;s central threaded bore coaxially aligned with the holes formed in the clip nut&#39;s upper and lower arms. To insert the nut into the housing, these patents describe a structure wherein the housing&#39;s sidewalls must be displaced to allow tabs on the nut to project through openings in the housing sidewalls. U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,941 describes a similar clip nut. However, to insert the nut into the clip nut housing, the housing includes a narrowed inlet through which the nut&#39;s tubular barrel is pushed through. 
     Although current clip nut constructions are generally effective, they do suffer from various drawbacks. Durability, load and torque capability are very important and certain clip nuts are insufficiently structured to undergo high loads and torque. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a clip nut wherein the nut can be more readily inserted into a clip housing. In addition, clip nuts are commonly used in high volumes and any improvements in use or cost savings would be extremely advantageous. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved clip nut that provides high load and torque capabilities. 
     It would also be desirable to provide a clip nut that was cost effective to manufacture and employ. 
     Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide an improved clip nut wherein the nut could more easily be inserted into a clip nut housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the aforementioned disadvantages by providing an improved clip nut. The clip nut includes a traditional “U” shaped construction including an upper arm, a lower arm and a connecting wall for connecting the arms. The upper and lower arms are substantially parallel for receiving a panel between the arms. One end of the clip body, referred to herein as the proximal end of the clip nut&#39;s body, is closed by the connecting wall. Meanwhile, the other end of the clip body, referred to herein as the distal end of the clip body, is open for receiving a panel. Each of the arms includes a hole toward its distal end, with the holes coaxially aligned with one another for receipt of a threaded male fastener passing through the clip body&#39;s upper and lower arms. 
     The clip nut includes a nut which is mounted to the top of the clip body&#39;s upper arm. The nut has a traditional construction employed for clip nuts in that the nut has a base and a tubular body. The tubular body has an internally threaded central bore for receipt of a male fastener. Meanwhile, the base includes a pair of tabs which radially project from opposite sides of the nut&#39;s tubular body. 
     To affix the nut to the top of the clip body&#39;s upper arm, the clip nut includes a housing formed upon the clip body&#39;s upper arm. The nut housing includes an end wall which extends upwardly and laterally across the top of the clip body&#39;s upper arm at its distal extremity. The end wall is positioned distally of the hole formed through the clip body&#39;s upper arm. The nut housing further includes an intermediate end wall which extends laterally across the top of the clip body&#39;s upper arm. The intermediate end wall is located between the upper arm&#39;s proximal extremity and upper arm&#39;s distal extremity. 
     The nut housing includes a ridge which also extends upwardly from the top of the clip body&#39;s upper arm. The ridge is located between the nut housing&#39;s end wall and intermediate wall. In addition, the ridge extends laterally across the top of the upper arm and is positioned so that the upper arm&#39;s hole is substantially intermediate to the ridge and end wall. The nut housing&#39;s ridge includes a substantially vertical face which is substantially parallel to the end wall. In addition, the ridge includes a top surface which slopes downwardly and proximally from the top of the ridge&#39;s vertical face to merge with the clip body&#39;s upper arm. 
     The clip housing further includes a top wall which engages and extends from the end wall, over the ridge, to engage the intermediate wall. Of importance, the top wall extends over and is sufficiently spaced from the top of the ridge to provide a space sufficient so that the nut&#39;s base can slide under the top wall but over the ridge. The top wall includes an opening having a laterally extending slot sized to receive the nut&#39;s base so that the nut&#39;s base can enter the opening and slide over the ridge. In addition, the top wall&#39;s opening includes an oval channel which extends longitudinally with respect to the clip nut&#39;s body. This channel is sized to receive and allow longitudinal movement of the nut&#39;s tubular body. 
     The volume between the top wall, intermediate wall, and sloped top surface of the ridge form a “tear dropped” shaped cavity. Meanwhile, the volume between the ridge&#39;s face, end wall, upper arm and top wall form a nut receiving chamber for receiving the clip nut&#39;s nut. 
     To install the nut within the nut&#39;s housing, the nut&#39;s base is slid downwardly and proximally through the slot formed in the top wall. The nut&#39;s base is forcibly slid upon the ridge&#39;s top surface into the teardrop shaped cavity while the nut&#39;s tubular body enters the opening&#39;s oval channel. After the nut&#39;s base is positioned within the teardrop shaped cavity, the nut is tilted by causing the tubular body to move distally until the top of the nut&#39;s base is below the bottom surface of the top wall. The nut&#39;s base is then be slid into the nut receiving chamber causing the nut&#39;s tubular body to coaxially align with the upper arm and lower arm holes. 
     Advantageously, the nut is maintained in place by the nut housing. Vertical and lateral movement of the nut is restrained by the top wall. Longitudinal movement of the nut is restrained by the end wall and ridge. Moreover, the ridge and end wall restrict rotation and torque imparted by attempts to rotate the nut. 
     Also advantageously, the structural elements that inhibit longitudinal and rotational movement of the nut, namely the ridge and end wall, do not undergo significant deformation during assembly while the nut is introduced into the nut housing. Because deformation is not required, these elements can be stiffened to provide additional durability and load capability to the clip nut. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the clip nut of the present invention with the nut removed; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clip nut of the present invention with the nut in the process of being installed into the clip nut; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the clip nut of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clip nut of the present invention as affixed to a panel; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the clip nut of the present invention with the nut removed from the clip nut; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the clip nut of the present invention in the process of the nut being installed within the clip nut; 
         FIG. 7  is an additional side view of the clip nut of the present invention as the nut is being installed into the clip nut; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the clip nut of the present invention affixed to a panel; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the clip nut of the present invention in use affixing two panels together utilizing a bolt. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , the clip nut  1  of the present invention includes a clip body  5  and a nut  31 . The clip body includes an upper arm  7  and a lower arm  13  connected together by a connecting wall  19 . The upper arm  7 , lower arm  13  and connecting wall  19  form a generally “U” shaped structure having a closed proximal end  21  and an open distal end  23  wherein the upper and lower arms are spaced apart sufficient to accept a panel  97 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , both the upper arm  7  and lower arm  13  have a hole ( 11  and  15 , respectively) which are coaxially aligned and located near the clip body&#39;s distal extremity  23 . Though not necessary, in a preferred embodiment the clip body&#39;s lower arm  13  includes one or more ears  17  which project upwardly around the lower arm&#39;s hole for projection and alignment into a hole formed within a panel  97 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clip nut  1  has a nut  31  having a tubular body  33  and a base  37 . The tubular body  33  has a generally cylindrical exterior and a central threaded bore  35  sized and threaded for receipt of the male threads of a bolt or the like. The nut&#39;s base  37  projects outwardly from the nut&#39;s tubular body  33  so as to maintain a hole through the entire nut for passage of a male threaded fastener. In addition, the base  37  extends outwardly in the form of tabs  39  which are provided to prevent rotation of the nut  31  relative to the clip nut&#39;s body when assembled together. The nut&#39;s tabs  39  can take various forms. However, in a preferred embodiment, the tabs are simple flat lateral extensions which project outwardly from the nut&#39;s tubular body and have rounded ends. 
     To affix the nut  31  to the clip body  5 , the clip nut has a nut housing  45 . The nut housing has an end wall  47  which extends laterally and upwardly upon the distal end  23  of the clip body&#39;s upper arm  7 . The end wall  47  may have a curved distal front  49 . However, the end wall&#39;s interior face is preferably substantially planar and vertical. Preferably the end wall  51  is solid. However, the end wall may include holes or spaces to provide weight savings. 
     With reference primarily to  FIGS. 5-8 , the nut housing  45  further includes an intermediate wall  55 . The intermediate wall projects upwardly and laterally at least partially across the clip nut&#39;s upper arm  7  between the clip body&#39;s proximal end  21  and distal end  23 . The nut housing&#39;s intermediate wall  55  may take various shapes and forms to provide structural integrity. 
     Also extending laterally across the top surface of the clip body&#39;s upper arm, the nut housing  45  has a ridge  59 . The ridge  59  is positioned between the intermediate wall  55  and end wall  47 . The ridge  59  and end wall  47  are positioned so that the upper arm&#39;s hole  11  is spaced between the ridge and end wall. Furthermore, the ridge  59  has a vertical face  61  which is substantially parallel to the end wall&#39;s interior face  51 . In addition, the ridge  59  has a top surface  63  which slopes proximally and downwardly from the ridge&#39;s vertical face  61  to merge with the top surface of the clip body&#39;s upper arm  7 . 
     In addition to an end wall  47 , an intermediate wall  55  and a ridge  59 , the nut&#39;s housing includes a top wall  69 . The top wall engages and extends proximally from the end wall  47  to engage the intermediate wall  55 . Importantly, and as best seen in  FIG. 5 , the top wall  69  extends over the ridge  59  with sufficient space  83  so as to allow the nut&#39;s base  37  to slide over the top of the ridge. The top wall further includes an opening  71 . The opening  71  is substantially “cross” shaped and includes a laterally extending slot  73  which is sized for receipt of the nut&#39;s base  37 . The opening  71  further includes a longitudinally extending channel  75 . The longitudinal channel  75  is oval shaped and sufficiently wide to accept the nut&#39;s tubular body  33 , but sufficiently narrow to substantially restrict lateral movement of the tubular body  33 . However, the channel  75  is sufficiently long to allow some longitudinal movement of the tubular body within the channel  75 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , the underside of the top wall  69  includes a planar retaining surface  77  which is parallel to the top surface of the underlying upper arm  7 . The top wall&#39;s planar retaining surface  77  extends proximally from the end wall  47  to an edge  81  wherein the top wall extends upwardly and then proximally to form a recess  79 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5-9 , the top wall  69 , intermediate wall  55 , lower arm  7  and end wall form a volume substantially separated into two distinct chambers by the ridge  59 . Specifically, the top wall  69 , intermediate wall  55  and sloped top surface  63  of the ridge  59  form a teardrop shaped cavity  87 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the teardrop shaped cavity  87  has an upper surface  89  that extends slightly upwardly in the proximal direction. In addition, the top wall  69 , ridge&#39;s vertical face  61 , upper arm  7  and end wall  47  form a nut receiving chamber  93  which is sized for receipt of the nut&#39;s base  37  when the nut  31  is properly installed within the clip nut  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the nut  31  is installed within the nut&#39;s housing  45  by sliding the nut&#39;s base  37  through the top wall&#39;s lateral slot  73 . To this end, the nut&#39;s base is slid downwardly and proximally through the slot into the nut housing&#39;s teardrop shaped cavity  87 . Once the nut&#39;s base  37  has entered the cavity  87  and engaged the intermediate wall  55 , the nut  31  is tilted so that the top of the tubular body  33  is rotated distally causing the base&#39;s proximal edge to move upwardly and engage the cavity&#39;s upper surface  89  and causing the base&#39;s distal edge to move downwardly to below the top wall&#39;s retaining surface  77 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the nut&#39;s base  37  is then moved into the nut receiving chamber  93  by sliding the nut&#39;s base  37  distally upon the ridge  59  until the nut&#39;s base is entirely positioned within the nut receiving chamber  93 . This results in the nut&#39;s central bore  35  being coaxially aligned with the upper and lower arm holes  11  and  15  (See  FIG. 3 ). 
     Preferably, the nut housing  45  is constructed such that a slight amount of deformation of the top wall  69  is required to move the nut&#39;s base into the nut receiving chamber  93  so as to impede removal of the nut from the nut housing. Once in place, the nut  31  is restrained from moving vertically upward from the upper arm by the top wall&#39;s planar retaining surface  77 . Furthermore, the nut is restrained laterally by the nut&#39;s tubular body  33  being restrained within the top wall&#39;s longitudinal channel  75 . Finally, longitudinal and rotational movement of the nut  31  is restrained by the ridge  59  and end wall  47 . 
     The clip nut is useful for joining various items together. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the clip nut  1  may be used to join two panels  97  together utilizing a threaded male fastener in the form of a bolt  99 . Moreover, the clip nut  1  is exceptionally durable and withstands high loads and torque imparted to the nut. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, the only significant deformation of the clip body during installation of the nut is a deformation to the nut housing&#39;s top wall  69 . Significant deformation of the ridge  59  and end wall  47  is not required. Thus, the structure elements preventing longitudinal and rotational movement of the nut member, namely the ridge and end wall, do not require deformation during the assembly process. This permits these structural elements to be more stiffly constructed to increase the clip nut&#39;s durability, load and torque capabilities. 
     Various changes of the clip nut may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is preferred that the clip body be molded into one piece of plastic and that the nut be made of a metal. More preferably, the clip body is molded in one piece with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and the nut is made of a titanium alloy. Since still additional changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is not intended that the invention be limited except by the following claims. Having described our invention in such terms so as to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention, recreate the invention and practice it, and having presently identified the presently preferred embodiments thereof,