Floating Tapping Plate and Pocket

Abstract

A floating fastener base and pocket are disclosed. The base and pocket permit the adjustable positioning of a stud, such as a striker bolt, prior to final assembly and tightening. A floating fastener base has one or more flanges which fit within a pocket created by one or more respective flange receptacles formed on a substrate. The floating fastener base is inserted into the floating fastener base pocket. This provides a fastening base for a stud wherein the fastening base and the stud are positionally adjustable prior to final retention of the stud, typically accomplished by tightening of the stud.

1 . A floating tapping plate for insertion into a floating tapping plate pocket, the floating tapping plate pocket being formed onto an automotive door pillar, the automotive door pillar having an opening sized and positioned to allow a stud to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the floating tapping plate, the floating tapping plate comprising:
 (a) a plate having at least one flange, each flange being shaped to fit within a flange receptacle of the floating tapping plate pocket, for retaining the floating tapping plate within a predefined three-dimensional floating position; and   (b) means for securing a stud to the plate, said means being positioned on the plate such that a stud may be inserted through the automotive door pillar opening into the floating tapping plate means when the floating tapping plate is inserted into the floating tapping plate pocket.   
   
   
       2 . The floating tapping plate of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment member shaped and sized to fit within an opening of a beaded strip on the floating tapping plate pocket for aligning and retaining the floating tapping plate within a confined floating position such that the floating tapping plate floats within the predefined three-dimensional floating position. 
   
   
       3 . The floating tapping plate of  claim 1 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded bolt. 
   
   
       4 . The floating tapping plate of  claim 2 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded bolt. 
   
   
       5 . The floating tapping plate of  claim 1 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded striker bolt. 
   
   
       6 . The floating tapping plate of  claim 2 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded striker bolt. 
   
   
       7 . A floating tapping plate assembly comprising:
 (a) a floating tapping plate pocket for retaining a floating tapping plate, the floating tapping plate having at least one flange and means for securing a stud, the floating tapping plate pocket comprising:
 (i) an automotive door pillar having an opening sized and positioned to allow a stud to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the means for securing a stud of the floating tapping plate; and 
 (ii) at least one floating tapping plate flange receptacle formed as a pocket shaped cavity on the automotive door pillar, each flange receptacle being shaped to receive and retain a floating tapping plate flange and to retain the floating tapping plate within a predefined three-dimensional floating position when the opening within the automotive door pillar and the means for securing a stud are aligned such that a stud may be inserted from one side of the automotive door pillar through the automotive door pillar into the means for securing a stud of the floating tapping plate on the other side of the automotive door pillar; and 
   (b) a floating tapping plate for insertion into the floating tapping plate pocket comprising:
 (i) a plate having at least one flange, each flange being shaped to fit within a flange receptacle of the floating tapping plate pocket, for retaining the floating tapping plate within the predefined three-dimensional floating position; and 
 (ii) means for securing a stud to the plate, said means being positioned on the plate such that a stud may be inserted through the automotive door pillar opening into the floating tapping plate means when the floating tapping plate is inserted into the floating tapping plate pocket, said floating tapping plate being inserted into said floating tapping plate pocket such that the means for securing a stud is aligned with the opening within the automotive door pillar, for allowing a stud to be inserted from one side of the automotive door pillar through the automotive door pillar into the floating tapping plate on the other side of the automotive door pillar. 
   
   
   
       8 . The floating tapping plate assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 (a) the floating tapping plate pocket further comprises a beaded strip formed onto the automotive door pillar, the beaded strip being positioned on the automotive door pillar, and having an opening positioned and shaped, to receive an alignment member of the floating tapping plate for aligning and retaining the floating tapping plate within a confined floating position such that the floating tapping plate floats within the predefined three-dimensional floating position; and   (b) the floating tapping plate further comprises an alignment member shaped and sized to fit within the opening of the beaded strip on the floating tapping plate pocket for aligning and retaining the floating tapping plate within the confined floating position such that the floating tapping plate floats within the predefined three-dimensional floating position.   
   
   
       9 . The floating tapping plate assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded bolt and the opening within the automotive door pillar is sized and positioned to allow the threaded stem, but not the head, of the bolt to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the socket. 
   
   
       10 . The floating tapping plate assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded striker bolt and the opening within the automotive door pillar is sized and positioned to allow the threaded stem, but not the shoulder, of the striker bolt to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the socket. 
   
   
       11 . The floating tapping plate assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded bolt and the opening within the automotive door pillar is sized and positioned to allow the threaded stem, but not the head, of the bolt to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the socket. 
   
   
       12 . The floating tapping plate assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for securing the stud is comprised of a threaded socket within the plate for engagingly receiving and securing a threaded striker bolt and the opening within the automotive door pillar is sized and positioned to allow the threaded stem, but not the shoulder, of the striker bolt to be inserted through the automotive door pillar and secured to the socket.