JP2777237B2 - Plastic encapsulated nut / washer assembly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel and improved plastic encapsulated nut / washer assembly having a plastic retainer or body that forms a circumferential seal around the washer, and more particularly, to the nut and washer with an external elongated screw. A common conventional nut and annular washer assembly with a plastic retainer for holding an axially aligned abutment ready for assembly with the member. A portion of the plastic retainer or body forms an annular seal around the periphery of the washer, and the other portion locks the threaded member when the threaded member is threaded through the threaded bore of the encapsulation nut. It is configured to form a locking extension bore for engagement.

(Prior art)

U.S. Patent Nos. 692,812 (Anderson) and 1,254,5
No. 14, No. 3,471,158 (Sorins), No. 4,557,654 (Masda, etc.) and No. 4,582,462 (Chelle) disclose a cap, that is, a cap nut having a screw portion protecting means. U.S. Pat. Nos. 302,046 (spruce), 2,851,079 (Hella), 3,3
Nos. 99,589 (Bleed) and 3,622,167 (Bersawben) disclose nuts with sealing means. U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,064 (Lapata) discloses a nut having elastic gripping and sealing means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,116 (Mari) discloses a composite molded plastic article having a metal nut insert. U.S. Patent Nos. 56,124 (Till), 515,089 (McCreland), 4,132,142 (Becker),
UK Patent Nos. 1,315, 757,519 and Italian Patent No. 29
No. 9,788 discloses various types of combined nut / washer assemblies.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, none of these prior patents discloses a plastic body for at least partially enclosing the nut and washer and securing the washer and nut in an axially aligned abutment position ready for insertion of the screw member. That is, it does not disclose a common conventional hex nut / washer in an advantageous combination with the retainer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved nut / washer assembly which assures that a common hex nut and washer are securely retained by the enclosing plastic retainer or body in preparation for assembly with the threaded member. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pre-aligned position ready for assembly to a screw element by a plastic body or retainer in which a common conventional polygonal nut and a conventional annular washer can perform their relative free rotation. A new and improved nut of the type described above, which is ensured
It is to provide a washer assembly.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fastener of the above type wherein the encapsulating plastic body or retainer also serves as a locknut function to prevent loosening of the nut after engagement with the threaded element. It is to provide.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for the encapsulating plastic body to form a circumferential seal around the washer and to surround and protect the assembled screw member and the engaging thread of the encapsulating nut. That is, to provide a new and improved nut / washer assembly of the type described above that constitutes a cap.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel improved nut / washer / equipment / equipment that is economical to manufacture and easy to use, and that is particularly suited for use in harsh environmental conditions to seal the threads from contaminants. It is to provide a retainer combination assembly.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above and other objects are to provide a nut and a washer at least partially in a pre-aligned position where their bores are axially aligned and the washer is positioned adjacent and abuts the end face of the nut. This is achieved in the illustrated embodiment with a conventional hex nut and annular washer in combination with an enclosing plastic retainer or body. The plastic retainer assures that the nut and washer together are ready to be assembled as a unit with a typical elongated external threaded member such as a bolt, set screw or threaded rod. Also, the plastic body forms an annular peripheral seal around the edge of the washer to seal against adjacent surfaces. Also, the encapsulating body forms a protective cap or cover for the combined threaded assembly, and the body has an extension bore aligned with the threaded bore of the nut, from the alignment bore of the adjacent encapsulation hex nut to the extension bore. The over-inserted threaded portion of the intruding bolt functions as a lock nut portion when engaged.

〔Example〕

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a novel and improved plastic encapsulated nut / washer assembly constructed in accordance with features of the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. This nut /
The washer assembly or fastener assembly 10 includes end faces 16,
It comprises a common common metal hexagonal or square nut 12 having a central threaded bore 14 extending between 18, and a common annular washer 20. Washer is the outer end face of the hexagon nut
It is held in place adjacent to 16 and is aligned with a central bore 22 of the washer which is coaxially aligned with the threaded bore 14 of the hex nut 12 as shown in FIGS.

Washer 20 has flat inner and outer end faces 24, 26,
The inner end face of the washer is positioned adjacent to the outer end face 16 of the hexagon nut 12 and is in contact with the outer end face 16. The opposite outer end face 26 of the washer is a sheet member on which the fastener assembly 10 is mounted.
It is exposed to the outside for supporting contact with an adjacent surface 28 of an external component such as 30.

Typically, a second external component 32 is secured adjacent to the first component 30 and both components are provided with alignment holes 34, 36 which are fixed along a common axis 38. Washer 20
The center hole 22 and the screw bore 14 of the hexagon nut 12 are coaxially aligned and positioned. The screw shaft 40 of the cap screw 42 or other screw element is easily inserted into the alignment holes or bores 36, 34 of the external component and the bore 22 of the washer to engage the female threads of the threaded bore 14 of the encapsulated hex nut 12. Inserted.

The illustrated cap screw 42 has a hexagonal enlarged head 44 which receives a wrench used to tighten the screw shank 40 into the female thread of the bore of the hex nut 12. It has a flat portion 46 that is in the same position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a washer 48 is preferably provided on the non-threaded portion of the shaft 40 adjacent to the hexagonal head 44 so as to press against the external component 32. When tightened, the external components 30, 32 are compressed between the fixed washer 20 and the external washer 48 adjacent to the head 44 of the set screw fastener 42.

According to the present invention, referring to FIG.
The washer assembly 10 has a body or retainer 50 constructed of a molded plastic material, the retainer 50 being a conventional metal hex nut 12 and a special metal hex nut 12 as shown in FIGS. The portion of the washer 20 which is in contact with and adjacent to the hexagonal nut 12 is enclosed and enclosed. This retainer keeps the threaded bore 14 of the hex nut 12 coaxially aligned with the washer bore 22 along axis 38 in preparation for receiving the threaded shaft 40 of a set screw 42, bolt or other external threaded fastener element. It is effective for

The retainer body 50 is formed of a relatively rigid, somewhat resilient plastic material molded in place around the hex nut 12 to secure the hex nut 12, the body having a lower cylindrical portion 52. The circular open end 54 of this portion 52 has an inwardly extending annular lip to loosely hold the washer 20 in a cylindrical internal recess 58 as shown.
Partially closed by 56. The lower end portion 52 is integrally joined to an intermediate body portion 60 which is spaced outwardly in parallel from a wrench flat 64 on the side of the hex nut 12 between opposed end surfaces 16, 18. It has a hexagonal cross section with six wrench flats 62. An annular flat surface 53 at the junction between lower end portion 52 and intermediate body portion 60 forms a wrench stop for body 50.

The intermediate body part 60 has an axially aligned bore
A bore 66 is formed which extends coaxially along the central axis 38 above the end face 18 of the buried hex nut 12. The bore 66 projects upwardly into the closed upper end portion 70 of the cup-shaped cap or plastic retainer 50.
The bore 66 has an inner diameter that is larger than the smallest thread diameter of the threaded bore 14 of the hex nut 12, but smaller than the largest diameter of the threaded bore, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. I have.

Therefore, the screw shaft part of the cap screw 42 or other screw element
If the thread 40 is over-threaded and extends into the bore 66 beyond the inner end face 18 of the hex nut 12, the thread damages the plastic material on the inner end face of the bore 66 and enters this material. The displaced plastic material engages the threaded part and performs a lock nut function. Because the material of the retainer body 50 is molded in place around the hex nut 12 and is somewhat resilient, the cap screws 42
When the threaded portion 40 is first screwed into the locking extension bore 66, the thread is crushed while at the same time accommodating excessive threading of the threaded shaft portion 40 as shown in FIG.

The cap portion 70 of the plastic retainer body 50 is provided with a top outer end wall 68 and a cylindrical side wall defining a vertical slot 72 evenly spaced about a central axis 38. These slots 72 extend down into the intermediate body portion 60 and terminate in a rounded lower end 74, which are connected to the plastic retainer body 50.
Upper cap 70 at the upper end and the middle hexagonal body part 60
Are spaced below a transition flat 76 formed therebetween. Equally spaced slots 72 are adapted to receive a wrench element, such as a suitable wrench, that can be installed in cap portion 70 to tighten or loosen fastener assembly 10 as desired. I have.

Referring to FIG. 2, first, a set screw 42 having a screw shaft portion 40 or another screw element is inserted into holes 34, 36 of an external member or component 30, 32 to be fixed, and the screw shaft portion is attached. Hex nut fixed through the central opening 22 of the fixed washer 20
The female screw portion of the 12 bore 14 is engaged. Since the recess 58 of the plastic body 50 is slightly larger than the fixed washer 20, the washer 20 can freely rotate with respect to the embedded hexagon nut 12 until the tightening is completed.

The flat portion 70 of the intermediate body portion 60 of the retainer body 50 is provided for receiving a conventional socket, open-ended or box-end wrench, etc., and the hex head of the cap screw 42 is wrench or other tool. Similarly, the required torque can be applied to the fastener assembly 10 while holding or turning.

When the inner end of the threaded shaft 40 first engages the threaded bore portion 14 of the embedded hex nut 12, the washer 20 is still rotatable relative to the hex nut. This is because the thickness of the recess 58 is slightly greater than the thickness of the washer 20 (as shown enlarged in FIG. 3). Eventually, the free end portion of the screw shaft portion 40 goes upward into the cylindrical locking extension bore 66 provided on the upper part of the intermediate body portion 60, and as the continuous screwing proceeds, the thread is crushed to remove the plastic wall of the bore. Start getting into the department.

When the screw shaft 40 is tightened to the hex nut 12 of the fastener assembly 10, the washer 48 is pressed against the underside of the external component 32, pressing the components 30, 32 against the exposed outer surface or end face 26 of the fixed washer 20 which is tight together.

The lip 56 of the body 50 has a shallow inward and outwardly extending frustoconical lower surface 78 (FIG. 3), and
And further shank until the condition shown in FIG. 2 is reached, in which all areas of the respective abutting surfaces 26, 28 of the outer member 30 are pressed tightly together in direct contact.
When screwed into 12, the lip is progressively pushed radially outward from between surfaces 26,28. The lower end surface 24 of the hex nut 12 is pressed tightly against the upper surface 24 of the washer 20 to provide a tight seal and secure the nut / washer assembly 10 in place, surrounding the washer 20 against the upper surface 28 of the external component 30 and Achieve a seal. The fixing nut 12 and the fixing washer 20 of the fastener assembly 10 are easy to use, and the fixing washer 20
Forms a lock nut feature and an annular closing circumferential seal around the outer periphery or edge of the seal. The external set screw 42 and the engaging threaded portion of the fixed hex nut 12 are well protected from the external environment and are tightly sealed and surrounded to prevent corrosion and degradation.

As can be seen from the above, hexagon nut 12, fixed washer
The fixed nut / washer assembly 10 having the retainer body 50 and the retainer body 50 includes a shaft 40 of a set screw 42 or other screw element.
An economical, advantageous and easy solution for pre-aligning and holding the female threaded bore 14 of the hex nut 12 in coaxial alignment with the bore 22 of the fixed washer 20 in preparation for assembly with such external threaded elements is provided. Hollow extension bore 66 performs the lock nut function, and when fastener assembly 10 is fully tightened, an annular seal 78A around stationary washer 20 is achieved.

Encapsulated nut / washer assembly 10 is constructed by molding hex nut 12 in place in a plastic body or retainer 50. Internal bore of body 66 is concave
Formed on both sides of the nut during the initial forming operation along with 58, and after the forming process is completed, the washer 20 is formed by bending the sealing lip 56 and moving the washer through the opening 54 inward.
Into the recess. When the washer is fully inserted into the recess 58, the lip 56 returns to its normal state, the washer is held loosely and is free to rotate with respect to the hex nut 12, which is secured to the plastic retainer body 50, Rotated by 50.

The intermediate body portion 60 of the nut / washer assembly 10 allows a normal wrench to be used for tightening and loosening, and a special pin wrench
Upper end cap part 70 and middle body part 60 of body 50
The fastener assembly 10 can also be tightened or loosened by inserting a pin element into an elongated slot 72 formed in the fastener assembly.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that such details are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a novel and improved plastic encapsulated nut / fixed washer assembly constructed in accordance with features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the encapsulated nut / washer assembly in use with sealing achieved around the washer relative to the outer member; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the encapsulated nut / washer alone; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the encapsulated nut / washer assembly. 10 …… Plastic encapsulated nut / washer assembly, 12…
… Nut 14 …… Nut screw bore 16, 18 …… Nut end face 20 …… Circular washer 22 …… Washer center bore 24, 26 …… Washer end face 30, 32 …… External members 34, 36 …… External Holes in the member 40… Screw shaft, 42… Holding screw 44… Hex head, 48… External washer 50… Retainer, that is, body 56… Annular lip 62, 64… Flat part for wrench 66 …… Extended bore part 70 …… Cap part, 72 …… Slot

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-54-147349 (JP, A) JP-A-62-176828 (JP, A) JP-A-61-192915 (JP, A) , U) Jpn. Sho 63-152822 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16B 39/26 F16B 37/14

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fastener assembly, comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface, and a screw bore intersecting the lower surface, and extending upwardly from the lower surface and having a polygonal shape in a lateral direction of the screw bore. A nut having flat sides defining a cross-section; and a washer having a central bore aligned with the threaded bore, the washer comprising an annular outer periphery, a flat upper surface,
A body of plastic material having a flat lower surface, wherein the lower surface of the nut is in planar contact with the upper surface of the washer, and which is permanently molded into the nut and encloses the nut and captures the washer. A lower part for capturing the washer, an intermediate part for enclosing the nut,
An upper portion extending upwardly from the nut, wherein the intermediate portion of the plastic body forms a shape for receiving tool means used to rotate the fastener assembly on a screw element. Having a flat surface spaced apart from said flat side of said nut, said flat side being parallel to said flat side of said nut, and said flat side of said nut; The lower portion of the plastic body extends radially outward from the flat surface to form a wrench stop and is sealed with the encapsulation. An annular ring for receiving the washer to allow rotation of the washer relative to the nut and to align the central bore with the threaded bore of the nut to retain the washer. The lower portion has a lip located on the lower surface of the washer to capture the washer in the cavity while exposing the bore to receive a mating screw element. The lip is engageable in a sealing relationship between the lower surface and an adjacent surface of the washer, and the upper portion of the plastic body is coaxially aligned with the threaded bore of the nut. A fastener assembly that extends upwardly from the top surface of the nut. 2. The body is formed of a resilient plastic material and the extension bore is dimensioned to perform an interference nut function when a threaded element extending from the threaded bore of the nut is engaged. The fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein 3. The fastener assembly according to claim 2, wherein the body has a cap portion for protecting the screw element, the cap portion closing an upper end of the extension bore. 4. An extension bore according to claim 1, wherein said extension bore is initially cylindrical in shape and has a diameter smaller than a thread outer diameter of said screw element and larger than a root diameter of said screw element. 3. The fastener assembly of claim 2.