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Captive Fastener DeviceA captive fastener device is utilized to hold two members together. The device is comprised of a housing which may be securely attached to the first member. Within the housing is a spring which biases a bottom of a first lip of a cup washer. The top of the first lip contacts the top of the housing when the fastener is not engaged. The fastener has a ledge at the bottom of the fastener head which rests on a top surface of a second lip of the cup washer. The bottom surface of the second lip contacts the first member when the fastener has fully engaged the second member to secure the first and second members together. The first lip of the cup washer has a greater diameter than the second lip. The first lip also has a greater diameter than the fastener. When the fastener is not engaged, a top surface of the first lip engages a bottom surface of the top of the housing. The housing top has an access hole of smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the fastener head which retains the fastener within the housing when the fastener is not engaging the second member.
Document ID
20020089470
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other - Patent
Authors
Dowling, Timothy Edward
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
October 15, 2002
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-Patent-6,464,438|NASA-Case-MFS-31544-1
Patent Application
US-Patent-Appl-SN-928017
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