WO2011121605A1

WO2011121605A1 - Quarter-turn nut assembly and method for installing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2011121605A1
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000206
Authority: WO
Inventors: E. A. Elias; S Srinivasan; Alva Akil; C. N. Shri Harsha; Horne David
Original assignee: Apw President Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2010-04-01
Filing date: 2011-03-25
Publication date: 2011-10-06

Abstract

The present invention provides a quarter- turn nut assembly (100) for securely holding equipments in place and method for installing the same in an aperture of a panel. The quarter turn nut assembly (100) for securing into an aperture (172) of a panel (170), comprises a nut (110) having a first portion, a second portion having dimensions greater than that of the first portion, and a central hole (132) with internal threading (134) extending axially throughout the second portion, and a cage plate (150) having a central opening, a pair of clamps (154,156) extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut, a pair of wings (158,160) extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of the cage plate and a tongue (162) on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corner of the aperture of the panel. The method comprises steps of inserting the quarter- turn nut assembly in the panel turning the quarter- turn nut assembly so as to lock the tongues of the cage plate with diagonally opposite corners of the aperture.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION:

The present invention generally relates to quarter-turn nut assembly for securely holding equipments in place and method for installing the same in an aperture of a panel.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION:

Generally, the most common tasks involving nut assembly design relates to mechanism involved for holding equipment in place. Where it is difficult to mount bolt and nut assembly accurately, where it is difficult to reach at nut to hold or turn, or to reduce material thickness such as seat attachments of vehicles, chassis to drive train attachments, compartment, radiator attachments etc, cage nut assemblies are used.

Cage nut assembly holds the threaded nut at a location in a panel by bringing into an axial alignment with a bolt, threaded rod or the like. Cage nuts are also used for mounting equipment in square-holed 19-inch racks (the most common type nowadays.)

Although some modern rack-mount servers have bolt-free fitting, other components such as shelves, networking hardware, UPSs and KVM switches still tend to be fitted using cage nuts. However, many presently available cage nuts require access from the backside of the panel.

US Patent No. 4377359 discloses a Quarter-Turn Nut for blind-bore insertion into an elongated, generally rectangular aperture in a thin panel. The quarter-turn nut 10 of this patent is shown in Figure 1 under prior art title. It comprises a central, internally threaded shank 12 which is depicted as a cylindrical stem, extends axially with flanges 14 and 16 extending laterally outwardly from one end thereof in first and second generally opposite directions. The second end 17 of the shank is a free or unconnected end. This end 17 may be pinched inwardly to provide a locking feature for the fastener to be associated therewith. Each flange has an inner edge 18 and an outer edge 20. Shoulder means 22 which form extensions of shank 12 interconnect the shank to the inner edge 18 of each flange 14 and 16. The Shoulders 22 have partial threads thereon along their vertical surfaces. Outer edge 20 is in an axial plane which is different from that occupied by the inner edge 18 to enable it to engage the panel first and provide a spring load. However, these nut are difficult to manufacture and expensive.

Another US Patent being numbered as 6692206 (B1) discloses a split weld cage nut assembly configured such that it meets torque requirements while having a relatively thin wall thickness. However, the cage member of the assembly is required to be welded to the mating surface for using the assembly increasing the cost of assembling as well as reduces the life of the assembly. Also, requires special panel arrangements for installment.

For atleast one of the reasons above, there is a need in the art for a nut assembly which overcomes the drawbacks associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in first aspect the present invention provides a quarter-turn nut assembly for securing into an aperture of a panel, comprising: a nut and a cage plate.

In one embodiment, the nut according to the present invention has an upper portion, a middle portion having dimensions greater than the upper portion, a lower portion, and a central hole with internal threading extending axially from the middle portion to the lower portion, and the cage plate comprises a central opening, a pair of wings extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of cage plate, a pair of clamps extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis of cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut and a tongue on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corners of the aperture of the panel. ^ln another embodiment, the nut comprises a first portion, a second portion having dimensions greater than that of the first portion, and a central hole with internal threading extending axially throughout the second portion, and the cage plate comprises a central opening, a pair of clamps extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut, a pair of wings extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of the cage plate and a tongue on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corner of the aperture of the panel.

According to the further embodiment of the quarter-turn nut assembly of the present invention, the nut has external grooves extending on one of the opposite sides from upper portion to the lower portion of the nut to secure the clamps.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for installing the quarter- turn nut assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims in an aperture of a panel comprising steps of: inserting the quarter-turn nut assembly in the panel; and turning the quarter-turn nut assembly so as to lock the tongues of the cage plate with diagonally opposite corners of the aperture in order to secure the quarter-turn nut assembly in the panel.

According to the present invention, the quarter-turn nut assembly locks with the plate by turning at 45°. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a prior art quarter-turn nut disclosed in the US Patent No. 4,377,359;

Figure 2A shows a Quarter-turn ,ftut assembly, according to the present invention;

Figure 2B shows a front view of the quarter-turn nut assembly of the present invention;

Figure 3A shows a nut according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B shows a sectional view of the nut shown in Figure 3A intersected at lines A-A

Figure 4 shows a cage plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows an installation process of the Quarter-turn nut assembly of the present invention on the panel through 5A-5C;

Figures 6A and 6B show a front view and rear view of the Quarter-turn nut inserted into an aperture of the panel before locking respectively; Figures 6C and 6D show a front view and rear view of the Quarter-turn nut inserted into an aperture of the panel after locking respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments herein provide a Quarter nut (QT) assembly and method for installing the Quarter-turn nut on a panel. The invention described herein is explained using specific exemplary details for better understanding. However, the invention disclosed can be worked on by a person skilled in the art without the use or by obvious modification in the specific details as discussed below.

References in the specification to " one embodiment" or " an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at lest one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. Parts of the description will be presented in terms of operations performed by the mechanical assembly, using terms such as locking, fixing, holding, and the like, consistent with the manner commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the components associated with the assembly can take any design form with acceptable change in dimensions that fall with in the scope of the present invention for incorporating similar features as associated and illustrated by referencing to the present invention.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary r

practice in the art to which this invention pertains. I

In general, the present invention provides a quarter-turn nut assembly for securing into an aperture of a panel, comprising a nut having a first portion and a second portion having dimensions greater than that of the first portion, and a central hole with internal threading extending axially throughout the second portion, and a cage plate having a central hole, a pair of wings extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of the cage plate, a pair of clamps extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut, and a tongue on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corner of the aperture of the panel. The quarter-turn nut assembly of the present invention is shown generally at (100) in Fig. 2A and front view of the quarter-turn nut assembly is shown in Figure 2B. The quarter-turn nut assembly for securing into an aperture of a panel, in general comprises a nut (110) and a cage plate (150) to secure the nut (110).

The nut (110) of the quarter-turn nut assembly according to the present invention is shown in Figures 3A and 3B. The nut (110) comprises an upper portion (120), a lower portion (140), a middle portion (130) having dimensions greater than that of the upper portion (120), and a central hole (132) extending through the nut having internal threading (134) axially extending from the middle portion (130) to the lower portion (140).

As shown in Figure 3A and 3B, the upper portion (120) is substantially circular in shape and the central hole (132a) of the nut extending in the upper portion (120) is hexagonal. Alternatively, the upper portion and/or the central hole extending in the upper portion can be of any polygonal or circular shape. According to the present invention, the central hole (132a) has diametric length at the upper portion greater than that of the threads teeth provided below the upper portion in the central hole. According to the present invention, a depth of the central hole (132a) in upper portion of the nut or the thickness of the upper portion is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the panel (170) of a system for which they are to be used.

As shown in Figure 3A, the middle portion (140) of the nut (110) is square and has side length substantially less than that of the aperture of the panel and diagonal length substantially greater than the side length of the aperture to lock the nut from the rear side of the panel. Alternatively, the middle portion of the nut can have any polygonal or circular shape having atleast one of the diametric lengths greater than one of the diameter or side of the aperture of the panel such as oval shape, rectangular shape. As shown in Figure 3A and 3B, the upper corner surface (130a) of the middle portion (130) of the nut has angular cuts (124) of an angle 75° ± 5° which enables locking arrangement of the assembly (100) with the panel (170) in one direction only either in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The direction of the locking of the nut assembly depends upon the direction of the screwing.

As show in Figure 3A, the nut has side external grooves (180, 182) extending on one of the opposite sides of the nut from upper portion (120) to the lower portion (140) of the nut (110). The grooves (180, 182) are provided in order to secure the nut firmly by the cage plate as well as to reduce the thickness and weight of the quarter-turn nut assembly.

As shown in Figure 4, the cage plate (150) comprises a central opening (152), a pair of clamps (154, 156) extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the cage plate (150) and bent downwardly to clamp the nut (110), a pair of wings (158, 160) extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of the cage plate (150) and a tongue (162) on each wing (158, 160) bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut assembly into opposite corner (174) of the aperture (172) of the panel (170).

According to the present invention, the aperture (172) provided on the panel (170) are preferably square. Alternatively, the apertures can be rectangle, elliptical, polygonal or the like.

As shown in Figure 4, the central opening (152) of cage plate (150) is hexagonal and the dimensions of central opening (152) of the cage plate (150) are substantially equal to or greater than that of the central hole (132a) of the upper portion (120) of the nut (110). Alternatively, the central opening can have any shape such as rectangle, elliptical, octagonal, triangular etc. but generally it is advantageous to devise in accordance with shape of the central hole (132a) at the upper portion (120) of the nut (110).

As shown in Figure 4, the wings (158, 160) of the cage plate are generally triangular in order to avoid overlapping of plurality of nut assembly (100) when preferably mounted in close vicinity. The distance between ends of the wings (158, 160) of the cage plate (150) is substantially greater than the diametric length of the panel aperture (172). According to the present invention the distance (Y-Y) (Refer Figure 2B) between the tongues (162a, 162b) is substantially equal or less than the diagonal (Z-Z) (Refer Figure 5A) of the panel aperture (172) so as to fit into the corner of the aperture of the panel for locking the Quarter-turn nut assembly.

As shown in Figure 4, the clamps (154, 156) of the cage plate comprises a pair of inwardly bent flanges (154a, 156a) holding the nut (110) at the lower portion to form the Quarter-turn nut assembly (100) according to the present in invention. Accordingly, the lower portion of the nut comprises the grooves in the form of undercuts (not shown) to adapt the flanges (154a, 156a) of the clamps (154, 156) of the cage plate (150).

As shown in Figure 4, the lower portion (140) of the nut (110) is circular in shape and has dimensions less than that of the middle portion (130). Alternatively, the dimensions and shape of the lower portion (140) can be according to the shape of the middle portion (130) that is the nut may comprise of two portions only. In order to reduce the weight and cost of the nut, the lower portion is designed as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows a method for installing the Quarter-turn nut assembly into an aperture on a panel according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 5A, the Quarter-turn nut (100) of the present invention is inserted into the square aperture (172) of the panel (170) from the front side. Figure 5B shows the Quarter-turn nut assembly inserted into the Panel and the front view and rear view after insertions of the Quarter-turn nut assembly is show in Figure 6A and 7B. After insertion, the quarter-turn nut assembly (100) is turn in a clockwise direction so as to lock (176) the tongues (162a, 162b) of the cage plate (150) diagonally in the opposite corners (174) of the aperture (172) as shown in Figure 5C in order to secure the quarter-turn nut assembly (100) in the panel (170). However, the direction of the locking of the Quarter-turn nut assembly depends upon the screwing direction of the bolt and the like. Accordingly, if the screwing direction of a bolt (not shown) or the like is in anticlockwise, then the Quarter-turn nut assembly can be configured to lock in the anticlockwise direction.

According to the present invention, the quarter-turn nut requires turning in 450 to lock in the panel.

The quarter-turn nut assembly (100) is secured into the panel aperture by turning with a key, which can be devised in accordance with the central hole of the nut (110). The key may have a hexagonal, square or any shape or means that allows turning of the quarter nut such as screw driver in the panel hole.

In one embodiment of the assembly, the present invention may be a compliance solution for holding equipments in place associated particularly to equipments incorporated in systems with panel.

The present invention has the advantage of a self locking mechanism, with easy mounting assembly compared to the existing assembly.

The panel with aperture referred in the specification can be any means devised for holding an object and requiring quarter-turn nut of the present invention for locking the object in place such as mounting angle and the like.

The nut generally used for the purpose where there is little or no space for turning or where nuts that are turned and fixed with the panels, such nut are generally known as Quarter-turn nut (QT nut) in generic terms in India. Though, it is understood that the quarter-turn nut means the nut that requires rotating 90° for locking, in present invention the nut assembly requires turning 45° (half of the Quarter) to lock with the panel and it is called in herein above and herein after as referred or defined as quarter turn (QT) nut assembly as the purpose of the invented nut is same as that of the quarter nut and it is not defined based on the turning for locking with the panel and the like.

It should further be noted that the -dimensions of the assembly are with reference to there side lengths when considering polygonal shapes such as triangle, square, rectangle, hexagonal etc. and the dimensions are with reference to radial length when considering circular shapes such as round, oval etc.

Various changes, modifications and alterations will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is intended that all such changes, modifications and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims be considered as being a part of the present invention:

Claims

1. A quarter-turn nut assembly for securing into an aperture of a panel, comprising; a nut having an upper portion, a lower portion, a middle portion having dimensions greater than that of the upper portion, and a central hole with internal threading axially extending from the middle portion to the lower portion; and

a cage plate having a central opening, a pair of wings extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of cage plate, a pair of clamps extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut,, and a tongue on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corner of the aperture of the panel.

2. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aperture in the panel can be square, rectangle, elliptical, polygonal and preferably square.

3. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nut is having grooves extending from upper portion to the lower portion of the nut to secure the clamps of the cage plate.

4. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein depth of the central hole in upper portion of the nut is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the panel.

5. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the central hole at upper portion of the nut is substantially greater than the diameter of the central hole with the internal threading.

6. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the middle portion has square shape and the upper corner surface of the middle portion of the nut has angular cuts of an angle 75° ± 5° to enable locking of the nut assembly with the panel in one direction only either in clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

7. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein distance between the tongues in the wings of the cage plate is substantially equal or less than the diametric distance between the corners of the aperture in the panel.

8. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the central opening of the cage plate is substantially equal to or greater than the central hole of the upper portion of the nut.

9. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central opening of the cage plate and/or the central hole of the upper portion of the nut can be rectangle, elliptical, octagonal, triangular or any polygonal or circular shape and preferably hexagonal.

10. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wings of the cage plate are triangular to avoid overlapping of nut assembly when mounted in close vicinity.

11. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein distance between the ends of wings of the cage plate is substantially greater than the diagonal of the panel aperture.

12. The quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein diagonal distance of the nut at middle portion is greater than the length of side of the aperture in the panel

13. A quarter-turn nut assembly for securing into an aperture of a panel, comprising; a nut having a first portion, a second portion having dimensions greater than that of the first portion, and a central hole with internal threading extending axially throughout the second portion; and

a cage plate having a central opening, a pair of wings extending oppositely along the longitudinal axis of cage plate, a pair of clamps extending oppositely in transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cage plate bent downwardly to clamp the nut, and a tongue on each wing bent downwardly to lock the quarter nut into opposite corner of the aperture of the panel;

wherein the quarter-nut assembly requires a turn of 45° to lock with the panel.

14. A method for installing the quarter-turn nut assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims in an aperture of a panel comprising steps of:

inserting the quarter-turn nut assembly in the panel;

turning the quarter-turn nut assembly so as to lock the tongues of the cage plate with diagonally opposite corners of the aperture in order to secure the quarter-turn nut assembly in the panel.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a turn of 45° is required to secure the assembly in the aperture of the panel.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the turning direction to lock the nut assembly depends on screwing in direction of the bolt.

17. The quarter-turn nut assembly as herein described with reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.