Patent ID: 8439620

Claim:
A speed nut for engaging a member, the speed nut comprising: a housing comprising a first wall including a first inner surface and having a first opening therethrough for receiving the member, a second wall including a second inner surface facing the first inner surface, and an outer wall extending between the first and second walls, the first and second walls defining a cavity therebetween; and a plurality of engagement elements arranged in the cavity between the first and second walls about a longitudinal axis of the housing to form an opening therebetween, each of the engagement elements comprising an inner surface distal from the outer wall, wherein at least one of the engagement elements is freely movable in the cavity relative to at least another one of the engagement elements between a first position wherein a portion of the inner surface of the at least one engagement element is spaced from the longitudinal axis by a first radial distance for engaging the member and a second position wherein the portion of the inner surface of the at least one engagement element is spaced from the longitudinal axis by a second radial distance greater than the first radial distance for receiving the member through the opening, wherein the at least one engagement element is tiltable between the first position and the second position, and wherein the outer wall is at a same fixed position relative to the first and second walls when the at least one engagement element is in the first and second positions.