US 12,264,698 B2
Cage nut fastener and methods for tool-less installation of same
Jared Keith Davis, Leander, TX (US)
Assigned to Chatsworth Products, Inc., Simi Valley, CA (US)
Filed by CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS, INC., Simi Valley, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/389,570.
Application 18/389,570 is a continuation of application No. 17/548,091, filed on Dec. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,846,312.
Application 17/548,091 is a continuation of application No. 17/108,959, filed on Dec. 1, 2020, granted, now 11,209,039, issued on Dec. 28, 2021.
Application 17/108,959 is a continuation of application No. 16/172,060, filed on Oct. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,859,111, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 16/172,060 is a continuation of application No. 15/364,912, filed on Nov. 30, 2016, granted, now 10,337,550, issued on Jul. 2, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/267,020, filed on Dec. 14, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0093716 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. F16B 37/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 37/044 (2013.01) [F16B 37/043 (2013.01); F16B 37/04 (2013.01); F16B 37/046 (2013.01); Y10T 29/4987 (2015.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A cage nut fastener for installation without the aid of tools, the cage nut fastener comprising:
a nut; and
a spring cage comprised of a back wall with a wall aperture therethrough, first and second hooking arms disposed at opposite sides of the back wall, and one or more cage arms, wherein,
at least one of the first and second hooking arms includes a compressible lever formed of inner and outer portions arranged at one side of the back wall and spaced apart from one another to define a space therebetween for accommodating compression of one of the inner and outer portions toward the other,
each of the first and second hooking arms terminates with an outwardly-oriented hooked portion at a front of the nut, and
each of the one or more cage arms engages at least a side face and a front face of the nut;
wherein the nut is retained at a caged location by at least the one or more cage arms, is prevented from rotation at the caged location, and includes a nut aperture therethrough in alignment with the wall aperture of the back wall; and
wherein application of a compression force upon the lever, by compressing the inner and outer portions thereof toward one another without the aid of tools, manipulates the spring cage to a temporary compressed state to allow for positioning of a distal end of one or both of the hooked portions through an aperture of a frame member so that, upon release of the compression force, the spring cage and the nut are secured against the frame member.