Bushing assembly

Abstract

A bushing includes a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within the main body, and a plurality of ribs outwardly extending from the main body. The plurality of ribs are configured to securely position the bushing with respect to an opening formed in a component.

1 . A bushing comprising:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within said main body; and   a plurality of ribs outwardly extending from said main body, said plurality of ribs being configured to securely position the bushing with respect to an opening formed in a component.   
   
   
       2 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of said leading end is rounded. 
   
   
       3 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of said leading and/or trailing ends are inwardly flanged. 
   
   
       4 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said trailing end is outwardly flanged. 
   
   
       5 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said trailing end comprises a spring member. 
   
   
       6 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said main body further comprises a plurality of lobes inwardly extending into said fastener passage proximate said trailing end, said plurality of lobes being configured to retain a portion of a fastener. 
   
   
       7 . The bushing of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener is configured to pivot about an area where said plurality of lobes retain the portion of the fastener. 
   
   
       8 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said main body further comprises inwardly-canted tabs cut out from said main body, said inwardly-canted tabs being configured to retain a portion of a fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said main body further comprises indented portions configured to retain a portion of a fastener. 
   
   
       10 . The bushing of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of ribs comprises a first series of ribs located away from said leading end and a second set of ribs located away from said trailing end. 
   
   
       11 . The bushing of  claim 10 , wherein a diameter of said leading end is less than a distance between two distally located ribs within said first series of ribs, wherein said diameter of said leading end is configured to allow for easy location and insertion with respect to the opening formed in the component. 
   
   
       12 . The bushing of  claim 11 , wherein said diameter of said leading end is less than a diameter of the opening of the component. 
   
   
       13 . A bushing assembly configured to secure a first component to a second component, the bushing assembly comprising:
 a fastener having a head integrally formed with a shaft; and   a bushing comprising:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within said main body, said shaft being positioned within said fastener passage; and 
 first and second series of ribs outwardly extending from said main body, said first and second series of ribs being configured to securely anchor the bushing within an opening formed in the first component. 
   
   
   
       14 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein an outer surface of said leading end is rounded to prevent snagging the first component. 
   
   
       15 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein one or both of said leading and trailing ends are flanged. 
   
   
       16 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said main body further comprises a plurality of fastener engaging members inwardly extending into said fastener passage proximate said trailing end, said plurality of fastener engaging member being configured to retain a portion of said shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The bushing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said fastener is configured to pivot about an area where said plurality of fastener engaging members retain said portion of said shaft. 
   
   
       18 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said first series of ribs is located away from said leading end and said second set of ribs is located away from said trailing end. 
   
   
       19 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of said leading end is less than a distance between two distally located ribs within said first series of ribs, wherein said diameter of said leading end is configured to allow for easy location and insertion with respect to the opening formed in the first component. 
   
   
       20 . The bushing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said diameter of said leading end is less than a diameter of the opening formed in the first component. 
   
   
       21 . The bushing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a gap is formed over a length of said cylindrical main body. 
   
   
       22 . A bushing comprising:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, a fastener passage being defined within said main body, an outer surface of said leading end being rounded, one or both of said leading and/or trailing ends being flanged; and   first and second series of ribs outwardly extending from said main body, said first series of ribs located away from said leading end and said second set of ribs located away from said trailing end, said first and second series of ribs being configured to securely position the bushing with respect to an opening formed in a component.   
   
   
       23 . The bushing of  claim 22 , wherein said main body further comprises a plurality of fastener engaging members inwardly extending into said fastener passage proximate said trailing end, said plurality of fastener engaging members being configured to retain a portion of a fastener. 
   
   
       24 . The bushing of  claim 22 , wherein a diameter of said leading end is less than a distance between two distally located ribs within said first series of ribs, wherein said diameter of said leading end is configured to allow for easy location and insertion with respect to the opening formed in the component. 
   
   
       25 . The bushing of  claim 24 , wherein said diameter of said leading end is less than a diameter of the opening of the component.