Patent ID: 7789606

Claim:
A push-in nut fastener, comprising: a planar surface with proximal and distal ends; a sleeve extending from said planar surface, said sleeve including an axis extending through a center thereof and substantially perpendicular to said planar surface, said sleeve being substantially cylindrical and adapted to receive a mating fastener therein; a cantilever integral with said planar surface and extending away from said planar surface distal end, said cantilever including a cantilever downwardly extending member integral with and extending from said distal end of said planar surface, and a cantilever horizontal member extending from said cantilever downwardly extending member in a direction away from said axis; and a retention arm integral with said planar surface, said retention arm having a proximal end near said planar surface and a distal end spaced away from said proximal end and said planar surface, said retention arm extending from said planar surface proximal end so that said retention arm is positioned at least partially beneath said sleeve, such that at least a portion of said retention arm extends across said axis, wherein upon insertion of said push-in nut fastener into an opening, said cantilever is first positioned into the opening to provide a leverage force for subsequent insertion of said retention arm into the opening, and wherein said retention arm is deflectable by the fastener inserted into said sleeve such that an end of the fastener non-threadably engages said retention arm at a first location between said proximal and distal ends of said retention arm to cause said retention arm to move in a direction away from said axis, wherein the engagement between the fastener and said retention arm prevents that portion of said retention arm engaged by the end of the fastener from at anytime moving back in a direction to again extend across said axis, such that upon complete insertion of the fastener into said sleeve, the fastener engages said retention arm at a second location which is closer to said distal end of said retention arm than said first location, wherein the end of the fastener that non-threadably engages said retention arm at said first location is in continuous engagement with said retention arm as the fastener moves from said first location to said second location.