US20050186049A1 - Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method - Google Patents
Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
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- US20050186049A1 US20050186049A1 US11/067,973 US6797305A US2005186049A1 US 20050186049 A1 US20050186049 A1 US 20050186049A1 US 6797305 A US6797305 A US 6797305A US 2005186049 A1 US2005186049 A1 US 2005186049A1
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- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 17
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- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 10
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- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 206010014357 Electric shock Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006855 networking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
- F16B5/02—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of fastening members using screw-thread
- F16B5/0208—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of fastening members using screw-thread using panel fasteners, i.e. permanent attachments allowing for quick assembly
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B37/00—Nuts or like thread-engaging members
- F16B37/08—Quickly-detachable or mountable nuts, e.g. consisting of two or more parts; Nuts movable along the bolt after tilting the nut
- F16B37/0807—Nuts engaged from the end of the bolt, e.g. axially slidable nuts
- F16B37/0814—Nuts engaged from the end of the bolt, e.g. axially slidable nuts movable along the bolt after tilting the nut
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B37/00—Nuts or like thread-engaging members
- F16B37/04—Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates
- F16B37/044—Nut cages
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
- Y10T29/49947—Assembling or joining by applying separate fastener
- Y10T29/49963—Threaded fastener
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to the field of fasteners, and more particularly relates to a rapid fastening screw apparatus and method.
- An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information.
- information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated.
- the variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications.
- information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
- Hot swappable modules are insertable into and removable from an information handling system while the information handling system is operable with power applied.
- a typical information handling system may have six or more modules that are secured in place with captive screws and mating press-in nuts.
- One way to decrease assembly time for information handling systems is to use rapid fastening nuts such as are used in the assembly of automotive and household appliance products.
- information handling systems typically do not adapt to the use of available rapid fastening nuts due to the smaller size, compressed mounting scheme and grounding requirements of information handling systems.
- boards are secured to a chassis with captive screws that insert into mated nuts in order to reduce the risk that a loose, misplaced or lost fastener will cause damage to electronic components, such as shorting out components.
- One available technique for securing two devices is to use captive screws with extruded holes in sheet metal and into press-in hardware. For example, an extrusion in sheet metal is either tapped to form threads or a screw is inserted and tightened to form threads.
- Tapped extruded holes generally lack the endurance for use with components that are subjected to multiple accesses, such as hot swappable modules.
- Another available technique for securing two devices is to use press-in or self-clenching nuts. Press-in nuts are secured to one device by pressing the nut into the device, and self-clenching nuts are secured into the device as a screw tightens in the nut to pull the nut against the device.
- press-in and self-clenching nuts embedded in a board or sheet metal have greater endurance to withstand multiple accesses
- coupling devices to press-in and self-clenching nuts generally requires that the screws are rotated within the nut to secure devices together and release devices from each other.
- a rapid fastening, screw out coupling apparatus secures to a screw pushed through the coupling apparatus without a need for rotation of the screw and prevents removal of the screw from the coupling apparatus unless the screw is rotated.
- the coupling apparatus accepts the screw by rotating a nut to a slip position that aligns a slip opening axis of the nut with the screw for insertion and secures the inserted screw to the nut by rotating the nut to a lock position that aligns a lock opening axis with the screw to engage the screw with threads aligned along the lock opening axis.
- the coupling apparatus accepts the screw through a nut having spring-loaded threads that flex from a locking position to a slip position to allow insertion of a screw and that press against the threads of an inserted screw to prevent removal of the screw without rotation.
- the coupling apparatus secures first and second devices with a push-in motion of a screw through a nut and releases devices by unscrewing the screw to rotationally engage screw threads with nut threads.
- a nut is fabricated with a slip opening having a diameter greater than a screw along a slip axis and a lock opening having a diameter and threads that engage the threads of an inserted screw.
- the slip axis and lock axis are offset so that rotation of the nut determines whether the screw slips through the nut or engages the nut threads.
- the nut is disposed in a housing and biased by a biasing mechanism, such as a spring element, to a lock position in which the lock axis aligns with the axis through which a screw is inserted into the housing.
- the screw threads push against the nut threads to overcome the bias force and rotate the nut to a slip position in which the slip axis aligns with the screw insertion axis.
- the biasing mechanism rotates the nut to the lock position to engage the screw threads with the nut threads and restrict the screw from being pulled out of the nut.
- the screw may be further tightened or removed by rotational engagement of the screw threads and nut threads through turning of the screw. The nut is restricted from turning with the screw by contact between the nut and the housing.
- the nut is fabricated with spring fingers that extend into a screw opening of the nut to form threads aligned to engage screw threads.
- the spring fingers are angled to flex when a screw is pushed into the opening so that the screw slips into the opening without rotation. The spring fingers push against and engage the threads to prevent removal of the screw without rotation.
- the present invention provides a number of important technical advantages.
- One example of an important technical advantage is that a screw is rapidly fastened with a push-in motion that secures the screw so that an unscrewing motion is used to remove the screw. Rapid push-in fastening with a screw-out removal aids in the assembly of devices, such as electronic components, while providing a slower or tool-only disassembly.
- information handling systems are quickly and securely assembled to meet grounding and safety standards requirements with screws that satisfy shock and vibration limitations.
- a motherboard pressed into a chassis with the present invention is secured to the chassis by screws without a screwing motion or the use of tools.
- the motherboard is substantially secured with the press-in fastener and then tightened with less screwing motion to bring the upper surface of the nut into contact with the upper surface of the cavity.
- hot swappable modules are easily and quickly secured in an information handling system with a push-in motion, but removed only with a tool by adapting the screw to require a screw driver for unscrewing.
- FIG. 1 depicts a side cut away view of a screw aligned to push into a fastening nut apparatus
- FIG. 2 depicts a side cut away view of a screw being inserted into a push-in fastening nut apparatus
- FIG. 3 depicts a side cut away view of two devices coupled together by a push-in fastening apparatus
- FIG. 4 depicts a side cut away view of a push-in nut apparatus in a lock position with a lock axis aligned with the screw insertion axis;
- FIG. 5 depicts a side cutaway view of a push-in nut apparatus in a slip position with a slip axis aligned with the screw insertion axis;
- FIG. 6 depicts a side perspective view of a push-in nut apparatus with spring finger threads
- FIG. 7 depicts a side cutaway view of the push-in nut apparatus having spring fingers extended into the screw opening
- FIG. 8 depicts a blow-up view of a hot swappable module arranged to couple with an information handling system by push-in, screw out fasteners.
- a push-in, screw out fastening apparatus simplifies the securing of devices to each other with a single push-in securing method while restricting separation of the devices from each other to unscrewing of the fastening apparatus.
- the push-in, screw out fastening apparatus aids in assembly of hot swappable modules in an information handling system and reduces risk of electric shock from disassembly of modules while power is applied to the information handling system.
- an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes.
- an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price.
- the information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory.
- Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display.
- the information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
- a side cutaway view depicts a push-in fastening apparatus 10 aligned to secure a first device 12 with a second device 14 .
- the first device is coupled with a housing 16 defining a cavity 18 aligned with a opening 20 in device 12 .
- a nut 22 is disposed in cavity 18 with a screw opening 24 aligned with opening 20 of device 12 .
- Nut threads 26 are machined in screw opening 24 of nut 22 to engage screw threads 28 of a screw 30 .
- Nut 22 is shaped to have a curved side 32 with a height slightly smaller than the height of cavity 18 , the curved side 32 disposed to rotationally engage the cavity wall of housing 16 .
- nut 22 Opposite to curved side 32 , nut 22 has a shorter side 34 with a height approximately one-half or smaller of the height of cavity 18 so that nut 22 rotates along curved side 32 to raise and lower shorter side 34 .
- a biasing mechanism 36 such as a spring element, biases shorter side 34 upward towards the top of cavity 18 .
- a side cutaway view depicts insertion of screw 30 into screw opening 24 of nut 22 to begin the securing of first device 12 and second device 14 .
- threads 28 of screw 30 push on threads 26 on short side 34 of nut 22 to compress biasing mechanism 36 , allowing nut 22 to rotate from a locking position downward towards the bottom of cavity 18 into a slip position.
- biasing mechanism 36 flexes to allow room for screw 30 to slip through screw opening 24 without requiring rotational engagement of threads 26 and 28 .
- Biasing mechanism 36 maintains a biasing upward force against nut 22 to press threads 26 and 28 together to restrict removal of screw 30 from screw opening 24 except by rotational engagement of threads 26 and 28 .
- biasing mechanism 36 pushes short side 34 of nut 22 towards the top of cavity 18 so that threads 26 and 28 engage to restrict removal of screw 30 by the pulling of screw 30 from screw opening 24 of nut 22 .
- screw 30 may be rotated from tool attachment point 38 so that threads 26 and 28 rotationally engage to pull nut 22 against the upper surface of cavity 18 .
- a side cutaway view depicts nut 22 disposed in a locking position within cavity 18 with biasing mechanism 36 biasing nut 22 towards the top of cavity 18 .
- a locking axis 40 of nut 22 aligns with the axis through which a screw inserts into screw opening 24 of nut 22 .
- Locking axis 40 is offset from a slip axis 42 .
- the diameter of screw opening 24 across locking axis 40 is such that threads 26 will engage with the threads of an inserted screw to restrict removal of the screw except by rotational engagement of the screw threads and nut threads 26 .
- a side cutaway view depicts nut 22 disposed in a slip position within cavity 18 with biasing mechanism 36 compressed so that nut 22 is pushed downward towards the bottom of cavity 18 .
- slip axis 42 of nut 22 aligns with the axis through which a screw inserts into screw opening 24 of nut 22 .
- the diameter of screw opening 24 across slip axis 42 is such that a screw will slip through opening 24 without having to engage threads 26 , thus allowing a push-in insertion of the screw through opening 24 .
- Nut 22 rotates between the lock position of FIG. 4 and the slip position of FIG. 5 approximately about the intersection of lock axis 40 and slip axis 42 .
- Nut 22 is restricted from rotation about the screw insertion axis by shaping the sides of cavity 18 to contact nut 22 .
- nut 22 is fabricated by drilling two holes through nut 22 at an angle to one another.
- a first locking hole is drilled with a diameter of the minor diameter of the screw threads and then nut tabs are tapped to engage the screw threads.
- the locking hole is drilled perpendicular to the upper surface of nut 22 so that when the locking axis aligns with an inserted screw, the upper surface of nut 22 mates with the upper surface of cavity 18 .
- a second slip hole is drilled at an angle to the locking hole and with a diameter greater than the major diameter of the screw threads so that the screw will slip through the slip hole without engaging the nut threads fabricated in the locking hole.
- FIG. 6 a side perspective view depicts one embodiment of a push-in screw out fastening nut 50 for rapid fastening of a screw.
- Four separate spring fingers 52 extend from the nut housing 54 into a screw opening 56 angled to point away from nut housing 54 along a screw insertion axis 58 .
- the ends 60 of spring fingers 52 align to define threads to engage the threads of screw 30 . That is, each spring finger end 60 is shaped with a varied height relative to nut housing 54 so that the threads 28 of screw 30 will simultaneously engage the entire length of all of the spring finger ends 60 .
- Spring fingers 52 are made of flexible and resilient material, such as high grade steel, so that pressure against the spring fingers will flex enough to increase the effective diameter of opening 56 from being substantially equal to the minor diameter of screw 30 to being substantially equal to the major diameter of screw 30 . Once pressure is removed, spring fingers 52 return to their unflexed position with a diameter substantially equal to the minor diameter of screw 30 .
- Nut housing 54 is held in position by self-clenching or press-in ridges that fixedly engage a device to couple nut housing 54 to the device.
- a side cutaway view of push-in fastening nut 50 depicts screw 30 inserted to engage threads 28 with spring fingers 52 in an unflexed position having a diameter approximately equal to the minor diameter of screw 30 .
- Screw 30 is inserted further into nut housing 54 by applying pressure along the screw insertion axis 58 to push threads 28 against ends 60 and flex spring fingers 52 so that ends 60 open to a diameter of approximately the major diameter of screw 30 .
- spring fingers 52 flex to the major diameter, screw 30 slips through opening 56 .
- spring fingers 52 are offset slightly to point in the direction of screw insertion along axis 58 so that pulling on screw 30 to attempt to remove screw 30 from opening 56 results in spring fingers 52 flexing towards the minor diameter to engage threads 28 .
- the flexing of spring fingers 52 allows pushing in to insert a screw yet prevents pulling to extract the screw.
- Hot swappable module 46 is aligned with module opening 48 so that screws 30 insert in openings 20 for push-in, screw-out nut fasteners to couple hot swappable module 46 to information handling system 44 .
- Hot swappable module 46 is secured in module opening 48 by pushing screws 30 through openings 20 to couple with push-in screw-out nut fasteners.
- screws 30 are rotated to tighten the nut.
- screws 30 are rotated so that the screw and nut threads engage to release screw 30 from opening 20 .
- Push-in, screw-out fasteners enhance the assembly of a variety of information handling system components and improve safety by restricting removal of electronic components to the unscrewing of the components.
Abstract
A press-in fastening apparatus and method couples a screw with a nut by pushing the screw through an opening of the nut along a slip axis and rotating the nut to align a lock axis with the inserted screw. The opening of the nut along the slip axis has a diameter greater than the diameter of the screw and the opening of the nut along the lock axis has a diameter that engages screw threads with nut threads. In one embodiment, the nut is disposed in a housing coupled to an information handling system and biased to align with the lock axis so that a module is secured to the information handling system by aligning a screw coupled to the module with the nut and pushing the screw into the nut. The module is removed from the information handling system by unscrewing the screw with engagement of the screw threads and nut threads.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates in general to the field of fasteners, and more particularly relates to a rapid fastening screw apparatus and method.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
- One difficulty with information handling systems is that a generally large number of components are typically assembled in a relatively small housing to manufacture an information handling system. A considerable amount of time is spent during the manufacture of an information handling system to fasten components together with screws. For instance, nuts are often coupled to a component, such as a chassis, for accepting a screw that passes through another component, such as a motherboard, in order to secure the components together. Screw and nut coupling is often required over other coupling techniques to satisfy mechanical shock and vibration requirements and to satisfy the certification requirements of standards bodies. For instance, tool-access to electronic components is required by some standards bodies to limit the risk that users will contact live or active components in a manner that poses an electric shock hazard. This restricts the utility of a number of hot swappable modules available for use in information handling systems. Hot swappable modules are insertable into and removable from an information handling system while the information handling system is operable with power applied. A typical information handling system may have six or more modules that are secured in place with captive screws and mating press-in nuts.
- One way to decrease assembly time for information handling systems is to use rapid fastening nuts such as are used in the assembly of automotive and household appliance products. However information handling systems typically do not adapt to the use of available rapid fastening nuts due to the smaller size, compressed mounting scheme and grounding requirements of information handling systems. For instance, in electronic enclosures, boards are secured to a chassis with captive screws that insert into mated nuts in order to reduce the risk that a loose, misplaced or lost fastener will cause damage to electronic components, such as shorting out components. One available technique for securing two devices is to use captive screws with extruded holes in sheet metal and into press-in hardware. For example, an extrusion in sheet metal is either tapped to form threads or a screw is inserted and tightened to form threads. Tapped extruded holes generally lack the endurance for use with components that are subjected to multiple accesses, such as hot swappable modules. Another available technique for securing two devices is to use press-in or self-clenching nuts. Press-in nuts are secured to one device by pressing the nut into the device, and self-clenching nuts are secured into the device as a screw tightens in the nut to pull the nut against the device. Although press-in and self-clenching nuts embedded in a board or sheet metal have greater endurance to withstand multiple accesses, coupling devices to press-in and self-clenching nuts generally requires that the screws are rotated within the nut to secure devices together and release devices from each other.
- Therefore a need has arisen for an apparatus and method for coupling devices together with a press-in motion to secure the devices and an unscrewing motion to separate the devices.
- In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous apparatus and methods for fastening devices together. A rapid fastening, screw out coupling apparatus secures to a screw pushed through the coupling apparatus without a need for rotation of the screw and prevents removal of the screw from the coupling apparatus unless the screw is rotated. In one embodiment, the coupling apparatus accepts the screw by rotating a nut to a slip position that aligns a slip opening axis of the nut with the screw for insertion and secures the inserted screw to the nut by rotating the nut to a lock position that aligns a lock opening axis with the screw to engage the screw with threads aligned along the lock opening axis. In another embodiment, the coupling apparatus accepts the screw through a nut having spring-loaded threads that flex from a locking position to a slip position to allow insertion of a screw and that press against the threads of an inserted screw to prevent removal of the screw without rotation. Thus, the coupling apparatus secures first and second devices with a push-in motion of a screw through a nut and releases devices by unscrewing the screw to rotationally engage screw threads with nut threads.
- More specifically, in one embodiment, a nut is fabricated with a slip opening having a diameter greater than a screw along a slip axis and a lock opening having a diameter and threads that engage the threads of an inserted screw. The slip axis and lock axis are offset so that rotation of the nut determines whether the screw slips through the nut or engages the nut threads. The nut is disposed in a housing and biased by a biasing mechanism, such as a spring element, to a lock position in which the lock axis aligns with the axis through which a screw is inserted into the housing. As a screw is inserted into the lock opening, the screw threads push against the nut threads to overcome the bias force and rotate the nut to a slip position in which the slip axis aligns with the screw insertion axis. Once the screw is inserted through the slip opening, the biasing mechanism rotates the nut to the lock position to engage the screw threads with the nut threads and restrict the screw from being pulled out of the nut. The screw may be further tightened or removed by rotational engagement of the screw threads and nut threads through turning of the screw. The nut is restricted from turning with the screw by contact between the nut and the housing. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the nut is fabricated with spring fingers that extend into a screw opening of the nut to form threads aligned to engage screw threads. The spring fingers are angled to flex when a screw is pushed into the opening so that the screw slips into the opening without rotation. The spring fingers push against and engage the threads to prevent removal of the screw without rotation.
- The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a screw is rapidly fastened with a push-in motion that secures the screw so that an unscrewing motion is used to remove the screw. Rapid push-in fastening with a screw-out removal aids in the assembly of devices, such as electronic components, while providing a slower or tool-only disassembly. For instance, information handling systems are quickly and securely assembled to meet grounding and safety standards requirements with screws that satisfy shock and vibration limitations. As a specific example, a motherboard pressed into a chassis with the present invention is secured to the chassis by screws without a screwing motion or the use of tools. Alternatively, the motherboard is substantially secured with the press-in fastener and then tightened with less screwing motion to bring the upper surface of the nut into contact with the upper surface of the cavity. As another example, hot swappable modules are easily and quickly secured in an information handling system with a push-in motion, but removed only with a tool by adapting the screw to require a screw driver for unscrewing.
- The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
-
FIG. 1 depicts a side cut away view of a screw aligned to push into a fastening nut apparatus; -
FIG. 2 depicts a side cut away view of a screw being inserted into a push-in fastening nut apparatus; -
FIG. 3 depicts a side cut away view of two devices coupled together by a push-in fastening apparatus; -
FIG. 4 depicts a side cut away view of a push-in nut apparatus in a lock position with a lock axis aligned with the screw insertion axis; -
FIG. 5 depicts a side cutaway view of a push-in nut apparatus in a slip position with a slip axis aligned with the screw insertion axis; -
FIG. 6 depicts a side perspective view of a push-in nut apparatus with spring finger threads; -
FIG. 7 depicts a side cutaway view of the push-in nut apparatus having spring fingers extended into the screw opening; and -
FIG. 8 depicts a blow-up view of a hot swappable module arranged to couple with an information handling system by push-in, screw out fasteners. - A push-in, screw out fastening apparatus simplifies the securing of devices to each other with a single push-in securing method while restricting separation of the devices from each other to unscrewing of the fastening apparatus. The push-in, screw out fastening apparatus aids in assembly of hot swappable modules in an information handling system and reduces risk of electric shock from disassembly of modules while power is applied to the information handling system. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
- Referring now to
FIG. 1 , a side cutaway view depicts a push-infastening apparatus 10 aligned to secure afirst device 12 with asecond device 14. The first device is coupled with ahousing 16 defining acavity 18 aligned with aopening 20 indevice 12. Anut 22 is disposed incavity 18 with ascrew opening 24 aligned with opening 20 ofdevice 12.Nut threads 26 are machined in screw opening 24 ofnut 22 to engagescrew threads 28 of ascrew 30.Nut 22 is shaped to have acurved side 32 with a height slightly smaller than the height ofcavity 18, thecurved side 32 disposed to rotationally engage the cavity wall ofhousing 16. Opposite tocurved side 32,nut 22 has ashorter side 34 with a height approximately one-half or smaller of the height ofcavity 18 so thatnut 22 rotates alongcurved side 32 to raise and lowershorter side 34. Abiasing mechanism 36, such as a spring element, biasesshorter side 34 upward towards the top ofcavity 18. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , a side cutaway view depicts insertion ofscrew 30 into screw opening 24 ofnut 22 to begin the securing offirst device 12 andsecond device 14. Asscrew 30 is pushed into screw opening 24 ofnut 22,threads 28 ofscrew 30 push onthreads 26 onshort side 34 ofnut 22 to compress biasingmechanism 36, allowingnut 22 to rotate from a locking position downward towards the bottom ofcavity 18 into a slip position. Asscrew 30 is pushed through screw opening 24, biasingmechanism 36 flexes to allow room forscrew 30 to slip through screw opening 24 without requiring rotational engagement ofthreads Biasing mechanism 36 maintains a biasing upward force againstnut 22 to pressthreads screw 30 from screw opening 24 except by rotational engagement ofthreads FIG. 3 , oncedevice mechanism 36 pushesshort side 34 ofnut 22 towards the top ofcavity 18 so thatthreads screw 30 by the pulling ofscrew 30 from screw opening 24 ofnut 22. In order to further tighten the coupling ofdevices screw 30 may be rotated fromtool attachment point 38 so thatthreads nut 22 against the upper surface ofcavity 18. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 , a side cutaway view depictsnut 22 disposed in a locking position withincavity 18 with biasingmechanism 36 biasingnut 22 towards the top ofcavity 18. In the locking position depicted byFIG. 4 , a lockingaxis 40 ofnut 22 aligns with the axis through which a screw inserts into screw opening 24 ofnut 22. Lockingaxis 40 is offset from aslip axis 42. The diameter of screw opening 24 across lockingaxis 40 is such thatthreads 26 will engage with the threads of an inserted screw to restrict removal of the screw except by rotational engagement of the screw threads andnut threads 26. Referring toFIG. 5 , a side cutaway view depictsnut 22 disposed in a slip position withincavity 18 with biasingmechanism 36 compressed so thatnut 22 is pushed downward towards the bottom ofcavity 18. In the slip position depicted byFIG. 5 , slipaxis 42 ofnut 22 aligns with the axis through which a screw inserts into screw opening 24 ofnut 22. The diameter of screw opening 24 acrossslip axis 42 is such that a screw will slip throughopening 24 without having to engagethreads 26, thus allowing a push-in insertion of the screw throughopening 24.Nut 22 rotates between the lock position ofFIG. 4 and the slip position ofFIG. 5 approximately about the intersection oflock axis 40 and slipaxis 42.Nut 22 is restricted from rotation about the screw insertion axis by shaping the sides ofcavity 18 to contactnut 22. - In one embodiment,
nut 22 is fabricated by drilling two holes throughnut 22 at an angle to one another. A first locking hole is drilled with a diameter of the minor diameter of the screw threads and then nut tabs are tapped to engage the screw threads. The locking hole is drilled perpendicular to the upper surface ofnut 22 so that when the locking axis aligns with an inserted screw, the upper surface ofnut 22 mates with the upper surface ofcavity 18. A second slip hole is drilled at an angle to the locking hole and with a diameter greater than the major diameter of the screw threads so that the screw will slip through the slip hole without engaging the nut threads fabricated in the locking hole. Thus, the engagement of the threads of an inserted screw is controlled by the rotation ofnut 22 between the lock position and slip position. - Referring now to
FIG. 6 , a side perspective view depicts one embodiment of a push-in screw outfastening nut 50 for rapid fastening of a screw. Fourseparate spring fingers 52 extend from thenut housing 54 into ascrew opening 56 angled to point away fromnut housing 54 along ascrew insertion axis 58. The ends 60 ofspring fingers 52 align to define threads to engage the threads ofscrew 30. That is, eachspring finger end 60 is shaped with a varied height relative tonut housing 54 so that thethreads 28 ofscrew 30 will simultaneously engage the entire length of all of the spring finger ends 60. Asscrew 30 is pushed alongscrew insertion axis 58, it pushes against ends 60 ofspring fingers 52 causing the spring fingers to flex and effectively widennut opening 56 to allowscrew 30 to insert through opening 56 without a need for rotational engagement of the screw threads with spring finger ends 60.Spring fingers 52 are made of flexible and resilient material, such as high grade steel, so that pressure against the spring fingers will flex enough to increase the effective diameter of opening 56 from being substantially equal to the minor diameter ofscrew 30 to being substantially equal to the major diameter ofscrew 30. Once pressure is removed,spring fingers 52 return to their unflexed position with a diameter substantially equal to the minor diameter ofscrew 30.Nut housing 54 is held in position by self-clenching or press-in ridges that fixedly engage a device to couplenut housing 54 to the device. - Referring now to
FIG. 7 , a side cutaway view of push-infastening nut 50 depictsscrew 30 inserted to engagethreads 28 withspring fingers 52 in an unflexed position having a diameter approximately equal to the minor diameter ofscrew 30.Screw 30 is inserted further intonut housing 54 by applying pressure along thescrew insertion axis 58 to pushthreads 28 against ends 60 andflex spring fingers 52 so that ends 60 open to a diameter of approximately the major diameter ofscrew 30. Asspring fingers 52 flex to the major diameter, screw 30 slips throughopening 56. However,spring fingers 52 are offset slightly to point in the direction of screw insertion alongaxis 58 so that pulling onscrew 30 to attempt to removescrew 30 from opening 56 results inspring fingers 52 flexing towards the minor diameter to engagethreads 28. Thus, the flexing ofspring fingers 52 allows pushing in to insert a screw yet prevents pulling to extract the screw. Once ascrew 30 inserts to engagethreads 28 withspring fingers 52, the screw may also be inserted by rotationally engagingthreads 28 withspring fingers 52 to tightenscrew 30 innut 50. - Referring now to
FIG. 8 , a blow-up view of aninformation handling system 44 adapted to accept a hotswappable module 46 in amodule opening 48 is depicted. Hotswappable module 46 is aligned with module opening 48 so thatscrews 30 insert inopenings 20 for push-in, screw-out nut fasteners to couple hotswappable module 46 toinformation handling system 44. Hotswappable module 46 is secured inmodule opening 48 by pushingscrews 30 throughopenings 20 to couple with push-in screw-out nut fasteners. In order to further tighten hotswappable module 46, screws 30 are rotated to tighten the nut. To remove hotswappable module 46, screws 30 are rotated so that the screw and nut threads engage to releasescrew 30 from opening 20. Push-in, screw-out fasteners enhance the assembly of a variety of information handling system components and improve safety by restricting removal of electronic components to the unscrewing of the components. - Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (6)
1-25. (canceled)
26. An apparatus for fastening first and second devices, the apparatus comprising:
a screw coupled to the first device, the screw having threads at a minor diameter and a major diameter; and
a nut coupled to the second device, the nut having an opening with threads, the opening operable to accept the screw;
wherein the screw couples to the nut by pushing the screw threads against the nut threads to move the nut threads from a position having the minor diameter to a position having the major diameter during insertion of the screw, the nut threads biased to return to the position having the minor diameter to couple with the inserted screw.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the nut opening further comprises a slip opening having the major diameter and a lock axis offset from the slip axis, the nut threads aligned along the lock axis, the nut rotationally coupled to the second device to rotate to the slip axis during insertion of the screw and to rotate to the lock axis after rotation of the screw.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a biasing mechanism interfaced with the nut and operable to rotationally bias the nut to the lock position.
29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the nut threads comprise spring fingers extending into the nut opening along the screw insertion axis, the spring fingers flexing to move the threads to the major axis during screw insertion and to return the threads to the minor axis after screw insertion.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising four spring fingers disposed in the opening, each spring finger having an end with varying height from the nut so the ends form a thread that aligns with the screw threads.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/067,973 US20050186049A1 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2005-02-28 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/366,748 US6860693B2 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-02-14 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
US11/067,973 US20050186049A1 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2005-02-28 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/366,748 Division US6860693B2 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-02-14 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050186049A1 true US20050186049A1 (en) | 2005-08-25 |
Family
ID=32849808
Family Applications (2)
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US10/366,748 Expired - Lifetime US6860693B2 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-02-14 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
US11/067,973 Abandoned US20050186049A1 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2005-02-28 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/366,748 Expired - Lifetime US6860693B2 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-02-14 | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
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US (2) | US6860693B2 (en) |
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US20060002093A1 (en) * | 2004-07-02 | 2006-01-05 | Seagate Technology Llc | Engagement system for a module in an electronics cabinet |
US20120328389A1 (en) * | 2010-02-10 | 2012-12-27 | Nifco Inc. | Fastening tool |
DE102019128027A1 (en) * | 2019-10-17 | 2021-04-22 | Werner Beiter GmbH & Co. KG | Quick release device |
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US6860693B2 (en) * | 2003-02-14 | 2005-03-01 | Dell Products L.P. | Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method |
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US9163655B2 (en) | 2014-01-14 | 2015-10-20 | Kaoru Taneichi | Thrust nut |
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US11613866B1 (en) * | 2019-06-14 | 2023-03-28 | Nusfc, Llc | Retainer for closure device |
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US11922784B2 (en) * | 2020-05-08 | 2024-03-05 | Objectvideo Labs, Llc | Tamper detection using smart security fasteners |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20040161317A1 (en) | 2004-08-19 |
US6860693B2 (en) | 2005-03-01 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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