Patent ID: 6860689

Claim:
A fastening assembly, comprising: a stud assembly including a stud, a first sleeve that is matingly engageable with a second sleeve, the second sleeve including an inwardly disposed channel for receiving a substantially circular retaining ring, the retaining ring including two oppositely disposed tabs protruding toward the center of the retaining ring; and a receptacle assembly including a bracket constructed and arranged to be secured to a panel, an internally threaded nut, a retaining clamp for securing the nut in the bracket, and a coil constructed and arranged to be threaded into the nut, the bracket including a substantially planar upper portion with a collar extending from the upper portion and defining a bore for receiving the stud therethrough; wherein the stud includes a base, a head, and a shank disposed therebetween, the shank including an exterior surface having a threaded section and a substantially smooth section adjacent the head end, the exterior surface including at least two longitudinal channels positioned opposite one another and extending from the base end into the substantially smooth section, each channel including an inner surface, opposing sidewalls and opposing end walls, both the sidewalls and the endwalls disposed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface, and each channel including at least two engagement members for engaging the tabs of the retaining ring, the engagement members being disposed between the opposing end walls whereby the ring can be retained at at least two different fixed axial positions between the end walls along the shank.