Captive fastener

Abstract

A fastener for a floor panel adapted to be secured to pedestal means wherein said fastener is operable to move to a position to fasten said floor panel to said pedestal means, and a position to permit withdrawal of said floor panel from said pedestal means while being captured by said floor panel.

1 . A fastener for a floor panel adapted to be secured to pedestal means wherein said fastener is operable to move to: 
 (a) a position to fasten said floor panel to said pedestal means, and    (b) a position to permit withdrawal of said floor panel from said pedestal means while being captured by said floor panel.    
   
   
       2 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastener includes a head at one end thereof and a threaded end at another end thereof adapted to be disposed through said floor panel for securement to said pedestal means.  
   
   
       3 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said floor panel presents means to restrain said threaded end from being removed from said floor panel when said floor panel is withdrawn from said pedestal means.  
   
   
       4 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said floor panel includes a hole adapted to receive said means to restrain said threaded end from being removed from said floor panel when said floor panel is withdrawn from said pedestal means.  
   
   
       5 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said means to restrain said threaded end from being removed from said floor panel when said floor panel is withdrawn from said pedestal means comprises a sleeve adapted to be disposed in said hole, said sleeve including means from inhibiting said threaded end from being removed from said sleeve.  
   
   
       6 . A fastening system adapted to be disposed in a hole of a floor panel for securing said floor panel to a pedestal comprising: 
 (a) a sleeve having an axial length and adapted to be retained in said hole;    (b) a fastener co axially disposed in said sleeve and axially displaceable relative said sleeve between a first and second position, said fastener including a head at one end and a threaded end axially displaced from said head for threaded engagement with said pedestal when securing said floor panel to said pedestal in said first position;    (c) said sleeve including means from inhibiting said fastener from being removed from said sleeve when said panel is removed from said pedestal means in said second position.    
   
   
       7 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said inhibiting means comprises spring means extending into said sleeve, said spring means: 
 (a) displaceable radially outwardly to permit passage of said threaded end past said spring means into said sleeve, and    (b) inhibiting removal of said fastener from said sleeve and floor panel by presenting a barrier to said threaded end, in said second position.    
   
   
       8 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said fastener includes a shank portion intermediate said head and threaded portion, said shank portion having a diameter less than said threaded end, said shank portion axially displaceable in said sleeve without contacting said spring means between said first and second positions.  
   
   
       9 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said sleeve presents an inner cylindrical surface and said spring means comprise a plurality of fingers protruding from said surface towards said axis, said fingers permitting axial movement of said shank, but presenting a barrier to said threaded end in said second position.  
   
   
       10 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said diameter of said shank is less than said threaded end.  
   
   
       11 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein floor panel presents a top and bottom surface having said hole through said top and bottom surface and said sleeve presents a first end adjacent said top surface and a second end adjacent said bottom surface, said plurality of fingers disposed in said sleeve adjacent said top surface.  
   
   
       12 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said shank portion has an axial length to permit said head to engage said top surface of said floor panel in said secured position.  
   
   
       13 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said threaded portion has an axial length less than the axial length between said second end of said sleeve and said plurality of fingers so as to permit said threaded end to be received in said sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said inhibiting means comprises a female threaded portion: 
 (a) permitting rotational passage of said threaded end through said female threaded portion;    (b) inhibiting axial removal of said fastener in said second position.    
   
   
       15 . A fastener system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said inhibiting means comprises a protrusion disposed interiorally of said sleeve to: 
 (a) permit forced passage of said threaded end past said protrusion into said sleeve in said first position;    (b) inhibit removal of said fastener from said sleeve and said floor panel by presenting a barrier to said threaded end in said second position.    
   
   
       16 . A fastener system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein: 
 (a) said fastener includes a shank portion intermediate said head and threaded end, said shank portion having: 
 (i) a diameter less than said threaded portion;  
 (ii) a shoulder presented by said shank;  
 (iii) a ring axially displaceable relative to said shank between said shoulder and said threaded end;  
   (b) said sleeve including means for catching said ring so as to permit said fastener to move between said first and second positions.    
   
   
       17 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said catching means comprises two spaced concentric annular protrusions adapted to catch said ring there between.  
   
   
       18 . A fastening system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said sleeve is plastic.