Patent ID: 7014405

Claim:
Plastic nut for mounting on a component ( 1 ) having a penetration ( 2 ) and for use with a screw ( 4 ), the plastic nut being insertable into the penetration ( 2 ), said plastic nut comprising: a nut piece ( 9 ), the nut piece ( 9 ) having a receiving hole ( 13 ) for the screw ( 4 ), the nut piece ( 9 ) defining a longitudinal axis; a flange ( 3 ) for contact with one side of the component ( 1 ), the flange ( 3 ) having a receiving hole ( 12 ); snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) disposed for contacting an opposite side of the component ( 1 ), said snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) having upper abutment surfaces for securing the plastic nut to the component ( 1 ), said snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) adapted to bend away from the longitudinal axis of the nut piece ( 9 ) when the screw ( 4 ) is inserted, such that said snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) are adapted to move from (a) a relaxed initial position, wherein the snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) extend outward a distance from the longitudinal axis such that they fit through the penetration ( 2 ) and a distance inward to form a gap therebetween sized less than the receiving hole ( 12 ) in the nut piece, to (b) an expanded second position wherein the snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) spread out and extend perpendicularly a distance outward from the longitudinal axis such that they prevent the passage through the penetration ( 2 ), and the abutment surfaces are moved away from the longitudinal axis of the nut piece ( 9 ) to a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nut piece ( 9 ); and walls ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ; 19 , 20 ) disposed adjacent the snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ), said walls ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ; 19 , 20 ) extending from the flange ( 3 ) to the nut piece ( 9 ) and having reductions ( 17 , 18 ; 21 , 22 ) in their wall thickness disposed in a central region thereof between the flange ( 3 ) and the nut piece ( 9 ); and wherein when the screw ( 4 ) is tightened, the walls ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ; 19 , 20 ) bend at the thickness reductions ( 17 , 18 ; 21 , 22 ) such that the flange ( 3 ) contacts said one side of the component ( 1 ) and the abutment surfaces of the snap-on hooks ( 10 , 11 ) contact said opposite side of the component ( 1 ).