Patent ID: 7886439

Claim:
A method for installing a ground stud in a composite structure, the method comprising the steps of: drilling a hole in the composite structure; inserting the ground stud into the hole; positioning the ground stud including a pin having a shoulder located between a first threaded end and a second threaded end located on the ground stud and a portion of the pin that is non-threaded such that the non-threaded portion located between the shoulder and the second threaded end of the ground stud is in electrical contact with conductive fibers within the composite structure; securing the ground stud to the composite structure; and attaching a connective device to the first threaded end and the shoulder of the ground stud such that the connective device is in electrical contact with the ground stud; wherein the connective device, the ground stud and the composite structure are configured to allow electrical current to flow from the connective device to the ground stud and then into the composite structure, and the connective device, the ground stud and the composite structure are further configured to allow electrical current to flow from the composite structure to the ground stud and then into the connective device, wherein the ground stud and the composite structure engage one another in a transition fit.