Patent ID: 8246281

Claim:
A captive panel fastener assembly to be installed in a bore of a panel, comprising: a fastener including a head attached to a cylindrical member, said cylindrical member including a first end portion connected to said head, a second end portion located opposite the first end portion, and an externally threaded portion between said first end portion and said second end portion; a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves defined along an external surface of the cylindrical member extending between said first end portion and said second end portion of said cylindrical member; a retaining ring mounted over said cylindrical member, said retaining ring including at least two radially inwardly extending opposing prongs that fit into said plurality of longitudinally extending grooves of the cylindrical member, wherein said plurality of longitudinally extending grooves include radially inner surfaces separated by a first distance, and said inwardly extending opposing prongs being separated by a second distance that is less than said first distance between said radially inner surfaces of said plurality of longitudinally extending grooves, said retaining ring includes a tubular retaining sleeve including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a first radially outer diameter, and said second portion having a second radially outer diameter smaller than said first radially outer diameter of said first portion of said tubular retaining sleeve, said first radially outer diameter of said first portion of said tubular retaining sleeve being larger than an inner diameter of the panel hole, and said second radially outer diameter of said second portion of said tubular retaining sleeve being smaller than the inner diameter of the panel hole, wherein said cylindrical member has an outer diameter, and said tubular retaining sleeve includes a lumen therethrough with an inner diameter larger than said outer diameter of the cylindrical member, and said tubular retaining sleeve is fitted over said cylindrical member with said first end portion of said tubular retaining sleeve on a first side of the panel, with said prongs positioned in corresponding ones of said plurality of longitudinally extending grooves of the cylindrical member, and said second portion of said tubular retaining sleeve is flared on a second side of the panel, wherein the bore of the panel has a conical shape, and said second portion of said tubular retaining sleeve is flared to have a corresponding conical shape; primary means for retaining said retaining ring on said cylindrical member; and a washer mounted in the bore of the panel by an adhesive adjacent to said flared portion of said second portion of the tubular retaining sleeve.