Abstract:
A modular nut plate includes a carrier configured for mounting the nut plate and fastener components selectably connectable to the carrier. Multiple nut plates can be linked together end to end.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present regular U.S. Patent Application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/671,746, filed on Jun. 17, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to industrial fastener systems; and, more particularly, the invention pertains to so-called “nut plates” that provide a one or a plurality of fastener sites on a single device connected in an assembly.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Assemblies of various types such as, for example, automobiles, appliances and the like, use so-called “nut plates” as part of a fastener system. In many situations, it is difficult to access a nut, bolt head or other fastener component to complete an assembly. As a remedy to this difficulty, it is known to secure the nut, bolt or other component in a fixed position for engagement with the complimentary component of the fastener system. Affixing a single nut or bolt can be difficult, and positioning of it can be imprecise. It is known to provide a nut or threaded boss on an otherwise generally plate-like structure which can then be secured in place. It is known to secure such nut plates by welding or the like directly to the frame in some assemblies, such as an automobile frame, and by other types of fasteners including push-in fasteners in other, more lightweight assemblies. A single nut plate can be of sufficient size to include several fastener components.  
         [0004]     It is necessary in some assemblies to use the same or similar nut components on nut plates of different size because the spacing between adjacent fasteners is different in different parts of the assembly. In known constructions for nut plates, this has required stocking and making available complete nut plates of different overall size, even though the hut components of the different nut plates are the same. Further, although the nut portion might be required to be of metal or other strong, durable material, the plate portion of a nut plate is needed primarily for positioning purposes and may not have the same requirements of strength and durability. However, if the nut plate is a monolithic body, the plate portion is of the same material, thus adding to cost of the nut plate.  
         [0005]     Further, nut plates have been provided only in defined sizes with defined numbers of and locations for fastener sites. This again has added to both expense and inconvenience in that many different types of nut plates may be required.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a modular nut plate adaptable to different uses.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a modular nut plate having a carrier with a plurality of connector sites and one or more fastener component connected to the carrier at the connector sites.  
         [0008]     In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a modular nut plate with a carrier having first and second connector sites and a mounting structure for affixing the carrier in an assembly. A fastener component is selectably connected at one of the first and second connector sites. The fastener component has a fastener element thereon.  
         [0009]     In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a modular nut plate with a carrier having mounting structure for attaching the carrier in an assembly; and a fastener component having a fastener element. A snap connection first piece is provided on the carrier; and a snap connection second piece is provided on the fastener component. The first and second pieces are configured for connecting the fastener component to the carrier.  
         [0010]     In a still further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a modular nut plate with a carrier having mounting structure configured for mounting the carrier to an assembly. The carrier includes a body having first and second connector sites configured as part of a snap together connection. A fastener component has a base, a fastener element on the base and at least a first connector end having a snap connection second part for selectably connecting to the first and second connector sites of the carrier.  
         [0011]     An advantage of the present invention is providing a modular nut plate which can be manufactured efficiently and inexpensively.  
         [0012]     Another advantage of the present invention is providing a modular nut plate having a carrier that can be used with different types and sizes of connector assemblies.  
         [0013]     Still another advantage of the present invention is providing a modular nut plate that can be connected in end-to-end relationship of infinite lengths.  
         [0014]     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular nut plate in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the modular nut plate shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nut plate shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the nut plate installed in an assembly. 
     
    
       [0018]     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 arrangements 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 understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including”, “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 PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to  FIG. 1  in particular, a modular nut plate  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Nut plate  10  includes a carrier  12 , a first fastener component  14  connected at one end of carrier  12  and a second fastener component  16  connected at an opposite end of carrier  12  from the end at which fastener component  14  is connected. Since nut plate  10  is modular, the individual components thereof can be made of material most suitable for the requirements of the component. For example, carrier  12  can be made of plastic and fastener components  14  and  16  can be made of metal. Alternatively, one or both of fastener components  14  and  16  can be made of plastic and/or carrier  12  can be made of metal.  
         [0020]     In the exemplary embodiment, carrier  12  is an elongate body  20  having firs and second connector sites  22  and  24  at opposite ends thereof. A mounting structure  26  includes an elongate hole  28  and a pin  30  for insertion and therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, pin  30  is a so-called “Christmas Tree” fastener having a rectangular or flat, tapered body to prevent rotation when inserted in a rectangular hole. Other types of push-in fasteners, snap fasteners, threaded fasteners or the like can be used in place of pin  30 . For long modular nut plates, more than a single fastener can be used.  
         [0021]     Connector site  22  is configured for receiving and securing fastener component  14 . Connector site  24  is configured for receiving and securing fastener component  16 . In the exemplary embodiment, fastener component  14  and fastener component  16  are identical, and connector site  22  and connector site  24  are similarly structured for receiving connector components interchangeably.  
         [0022]     Body  20  forms opposed, spaced, elongated channels  32 ,  34  along opposite sides thereof throughout the length of body  20 . Channels  32  and  34  are part of connector site  22  and connector site  24 . While each channel  32  and channel  34  is shown as a single continuous channel throughout the length of body  20 , it should be understood that channels  32  and  34  can be shorter discontinuous channels provided at each first connector site  22  and second connector site  24 . A depression or hole  36  is provided at connector site  22 , and a depression or hole  38  is provided at connector site  24 .  
         [0023]     Fastener component  14  is a substantially symmetrical body having a base  40  and a fastener element  42 . In the exemplary embodiment, fastener component  42  is an internally threaded boss. However, it should be understood that an externally threaded member or other type of fastener, either threaded or not threaded also can be supported by base  40 . The present invention is not limited in its application to the use of internally threaded fastener elements, nor is the present invention limited to the use of threaded fastener elements in general.  
         [0024]     Fastener component  14  further includes first and second connector ends  44  and  46  at opposite ends of base  40 . Connector ends  44  and  46  include dimples  48  and  50 , respectively. Connector ends  44  and  46  further define lips  52  and  54 , respectively.  
         [0025]     Second fastener component  16 , is structured similarly to fastener component  14 . Accordingly, the same reference numerals have been applied to fastener component  16 , to designate the parts thereof similar to first fastener component  14 .  
         [0026]     First and second connector sites  22 ,  24  and first and second connector ends  44 ,  46  are configured as cooperating pieces of a snap together connection. Accordingly, first fastener component  14  and second fastener component  16  can be connected to carrier  12  without the use of tools.  
         [0027]     In the assembly of modular nut plate  10 , first fastener component  14  is attached to carrier  12  by inserting either connector end  44  or connector end  46  in to channels  32  and  34  and slid therein until dimple  48  or  50  engages hole  36 . Registration of a dimple  48  or  50  in hole  36  establishes a fixed overall length for modular nut plate  10 , and thereby the position of fastener element  42  relative to mounting structure  26 . Thus, by accurately positioning the plate through installation via mounting structure  26 , fastener element  42  is accurately and precisely located.  
         [0028]     Second fastener component  16  is attached to carrier  12  at second connector site  24  in the same manner as attaching first fastener component  14  at first connector site  22 .  
         [0029]     To further establish fixed positioning of fastener components  14  and  16  relative to carrier  12 , channels  32  and  34  can be provided with slots  60 ,  62  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  for channel  34 . Lips  52 ,  54  register in slots  60 ,  62  to further establish fixed positioning and secure location of fastener components  14  and  16  relative to carrier  12 . Further, connector ends  44 ,  46  can be angled to define a longitudinal thickness between highest and lowest portions thereof greater than a thickness of channels  32 ,  34 . Thus, an interference fit is established between fastener component  14  or  16  and carrier  12 .  
         [0030]     Modular nut plate  10  is connected in an assembly  70  having an elongated hole  72  for receiving fastener  30 . Thereafter, bolts  74 ,  76  can be inserted into fastener elements  42  via holes  78 ,  80  in assembly  70 .  
         [0031]     While shown herein with similar first and second components  14 ,  16  a modular nut plate  10  in accordance with the present invention can be assembled with different fastener components on opposite ends of carrier  12 . Further, since fastener components  14 ,  16  are symmetrical, with connector ends on opposite longitudinal ends thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that additional carriers  12  and fastener components  14 ,  16  can be connected end for hand in any number or length.  
         [0032]     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.  
         [0033]     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.