INSERT NUT AND FASTENING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRAL SEAL AND BUMPER

Abstract

An insert nut includes a body having an opening at a first end, an end wall at a second end and an internal cavity extending between the opening and the end wall. A seal is carried on the body around the opening. In addition, a fastening system is provided. That fastening system includes the insert nut and a cooperating fastener.

Claims

1. An insert nut, comprising: a body including an opening at a first end, an end wall at a second end and an internal cavity extending between said opening and said end wall; and a seal carried on said body around said opening.

2. The insert nut of claim 1, wherein said seal includes a first sealing feature and a second sealing feature.

3. The insert nut of claim 2, wherein said first sealing feature and said second sealing feature are oriented in opposed directions.

4. The insert nut of claim 3, wherein said first sealing feature opens toward said end wall.

5. The insert nut of claim 4, wherein said second sealing feature projects outwardly from said body and away from said end wall.

6. The insert nut of claim 5, wherein said second sealing feature is a bumper that extends continuously around said opening.

7. The insert nut of claim 6, wherein said body includes a flange adjacent said opening.

8. The insert nut of claim 7, wherein said seal includes a channel and said flange is received in said channel.

9. The insert nut of claim 8, wherein said seal is overmolded onto said body.

10. The insert nut of claim 9, further including a plurality of resilient retention wings projecting from said body.

11. The insert nut of claim 10, wherein said body is polygonal in cross section and said internal cavity is circular in cross section.

12. The insert nut of claim 10, wherein said body is square in cross section and said internal cavity is cylindrical.

13. A fastening system, comprising: an insert nut having a body including an opening at a first end, an end wall at a second end and an internal cavity extending between said opening and said end wall, said insert nut including a seal carried on said body around said opening; and a fastener received and secured in said internal cavity.

14. The fastening system of claim 13, wherein said seal includes a first sealing feature and a second sealing feature.

15. The fastening system of claim 14, wherein said first sealing feature comprises a pair of sealing lips defining a groove therebetween and said second sealing feature comprises a bumper.

16. The fastening system of claim 15, wherein said bumper projects outwardly from said body and away from said end wall while also extending continuously around said opening.

17. The fastening system of claim 16, wherein said body includes a flange adjacent said opening.

18. The fastening system of claim 17, wherein said seal includes a channel and said flange is received in said channel.

19. The fastening system of claim 18, further including a plurality of resilient retention wings projecting from said body.

20. The fastening system of claim 19, wherein said body is polygonal in cross section and said internal cavity is cylindrical.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0014] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the insert nut and the fastening system and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the insert nut.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the insert nut taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the insert nut taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fastening system including the insert nut illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and a fastener that is received and secured in an internal cavity of the insert nut. As illustrated, the fastening system is used for securing a license plate to a body panel of a motor vehicle.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a license plate seated on the bumper of the insert nut seal.

[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the insert nut and the fastening system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the insert nut 10. The insert nut 10 comprises a body 12 that may be molded from a plastic or composite material. The body 12 includes an opening 14 at a first end and an end wall 16 at a second end. An internal cavity 18 extends between the opening 14 and the end wall 16. In some embodiments, the body 12 has an outer surface 19 that is polygonal in cross section while the internal cavity 18 is circular in cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 12 is substantially square in cross section while the internal cavity 18 is cylindrical in shape.

[0022] As further illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the insert nut 10 includes a seal, generally designated by reference numeral 20. The seal 20 is carried on the body 12 at the first end thereof around the opening 14. The seal 20 includes a first sealing feature, generally designated by reference numeral 22, and a second sealing feature, generally designated by reference numeral 24. As illustrated, the first sealing feature 22 and the second sealing feature 24 are oriented in opposed directions. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment the first sealing feature 22 comprises a pair of adjacent sealing lips 26, 28. More specifically, the sealing lip 26 is concentrically arranged within the sealing lip 28 so that the two sealing lips define a groove 30 therebetween. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the first sealing feature 22, including the sealing lips 26, 28 and the groove 30, open toward the end wall 16 at the second end of the body 12.

[0023] The second sealing feature 24 comprises a resilient bumper 32 that projects outwardly from the body 12 away from the end wall 16. The resilient bumper 32 also extends continuously around the opening 14.

[0024] As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the body 12 includes a flange 34 around the first end thereof adjacent the opening 14. The seal 20 includes a channel 36. Both the flange 34 and the channel 36 are continuous. The seal 20 is secured to the body 12 by means of the flange 34 being received and held in the channel 36. In one particularly useful embodiment, the seal 20 is overmolded onto the body 12 so that the channel 36 is formed directly around the flange 34 to lock the seal 20 on the body 12 thereby forming an insert nut 10 incorporating an integral body and seal.

[0025] As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 12 also includes a plurality of resilient retention wings 38 that project outwardly from the body 12 and serve to retain the insert nut 10 in position in a manner that will be described in greater detail below.

[0026] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 illustrating the fastening system 40. That fastening system comprises a fastener 42, such as the illustrated screw fastener, and the insert nut 10 that is described in detail above and illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

[0027] One may use the fastening system 40 to secure a license plate L to a body panel P of a motor vehicle. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the insert nut 10 is fully inserted and seated in an aperture A of the body panel P. As the insert nut 10 is inserted into the aperture A, the resilient retention wings 38 collapse against the body 12 so as to pass through the aperture A. Once the insert nut 10 is fully inserted in the aperture A of the body panel P, the resilient retention wings 38 spring back into a home position projecting outwardly from the body 12 so that they engage the inner face F of the body panel P and thereby function to retain the insert nut 10 in the aperture A.

[0028] As should be further appreciated, the first sealing feature 22 provides an effective seal against the outer face O of the body panel P. More specifically, the cooperating sealing lips 26, 28 are pressed against the outer face O so as to provide a water tight seal around the aperture A. Here it should also be appreciated that the end wall 16 closes the internal cavity 18 in the body 12 of the insert nut 10. Together, the closed or blind internal cavity 18 and the first sealing feature 22 prevent water from getting behind the body panel P whether or not a fastener 42 is secured in the insert nut.

[0029] One secures the license plate L to the body panel P by aligning the license plate in proper position and extending the fastener 42 through a screw hole opening S in the license plate and tightening that fastener 42 into the internal cavity 18 of the insert nut 10. The tapered margin 44 in the body 12 at the entry of the opening 14 helps guide the fastener 42 into the internal cavity 12. The fastener 42 is tightened in the insert nut 10 in order to complete the connection.

[0030] As best illustrated in FIG. 5, once the license plate L is fully seated against the body panel P, the bumper 32 engages and seals against the rear surface R of the license plate. Here it should be appreciated that the second sealing feature 24/bumper 32 seals against moisture penetration but also maintains a space between the license plate L and the body panel P so as to prevent rattling of the license plate against the body panel.

[0031] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.