Patent ID: 7503524

Claim:
A device for reinforcing a panel of an aircraft structure, wherein the panel presents a panel plane, the panel further presenting a panel first face, an opposed panel second face, a panel thickness extending between the panel first face and the panel second face, and structure defining a panel hole and a panel hole edge extending the panel thickness transverse to the panel plane, the device being removably engageable with the panel at the panel hole, the device comprising: a plate including a plate section and a plate fin; and a flange removably coupled to the plate, the flange including a flange section having a flange section thickness being less than said panel thickness, and receivable within the panel hole and engageable with the panel hole edge, a flange fin oriented radially outwardly from the flange section, and a peripheral reinforcement portion intermediate the flange section and the flange fin, wherein the peripheral reinforcement portion is positioned substantially flush against the panel hole edge, the peripheral reinforcement portion being adapted to absorb a compressive force from the panel hole edge, the peripheral reinforcement portion presenting a peripheral reinforcement portion thickness being greater than said flange section thickness, wherein the plate fin is oriented relative to the plate section and the flange fin is oriented relative to the flange section such that the plate fin abuts the panel first face, and the flange fin abuts the opposed panel second face such that the flange fin and plate fin clampingly engage the panel when the device is removable engaged with the panel at the panel hole.