Method for producing a cage nut having a retaining device

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for producing a cage nut including the steps of punching out a bracket-shaped holder having a base plate and three angled legs, and a passage opening having an insertion slot in the base plate; producing a nut having a radially protruding angular flange and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle for bolts; injection moulding a retaining collar having elements for covering passage opening of the holder on both sides of the passage opening, and having a bush connecting to cover elements; putting the retaining collar onto base plate via insertion slot until cover elements cover edge regions of the passage opening on both sides; axially displacing threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut into connecting bush of retaining collar in passage opening; caulking an end of threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle, which end projects from the retaining collar, to an axially oriented cage nut being radially displaceable in passage opening.

1 . Method for producing a cage nut ( 1 ), wherein the method comprises the assembly steps of:
 punching out a bracket-shaped holder ( 7 ) comprising a base plate ( 30 ) and three angled legs ( 27 ,  28 ,  29 ), and a passage opening ( 8 ) having an insertion slot ( 13 ) in the base plate ( 30 );   producing a nut ( 4 ) comprising a radially protruding angular flange ( 5 ) and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle ( 6 ) for bolts;   injection moulding a retaining collar ( 9 ) comprising cover elements ( 10 ,  11 ) for covering the passage opening ( 8 ) of the holder ( 7 ) on both sides of the passage opening, and comprising a connecting bush ( 12 ) which connects to the cover elements ( 10 ,  11 );   putting the retaining collar ( 9 ) onto the base plate ( 30 ) of the holder ( 7 ) via the insertion slot ( 13 ) until the cover elements ( 10 ,  11 ) cover edge regions of the passage opening ( 8 ) on both sides;   axially displacing the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle ( 6 ) of the nut ( 4 ) into the connecting bush ( 12 ) of the retaining collar ( 9 ) in the passage opening ( 8 ); and   caulking an end of the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle ( 6 ), which end projects from the retaining collar ( 9 ), to an axially oriented cage nut ( 1 ) which is radially displaceable in the passage opening ( 8 ).   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the caulking takes place in a compression press using a caulking punch. 
     
     
         3 . Method for fixing components in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
 using a plurality of cage nuts ( 1 ) and using appropriate bolts for affixing components to the vehicle, the cage nuts having radially protruding angular flange ( 5 ) and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle ( 6 ) for a bolt; a holder ( 7 ) having a passage opening ( 8 ) for receiving the sleeve-like bolt receptacle and being engaged over the angular flange in a bracket-like manner; a retaining collar ( 9 ) being of one piece and having first and second cover elements ( 10 , 11 ), the retaining collar being formed to surround the sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut and being supported on the holder ( 7 ) in a region of the passage opening ( 8 ); and   welding legs ( 27 ,  28 ,  29 ) of the holders ( 7 ) of the cage nuts ( 1 ) at predetermined fixed positions on the components for fixing to the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The method for fixing components in a vehicle according to  claim 3 , including the step of affixing vehicle seats to profiled rails and welding the legs ( 27 ,  28 ,  29 ) of the holders ( 7 ) of the cage nuts ( 1 ) onto the profiled rails at predetermined fixed positions of abutments and arranging the cage nuts ( 1 ) securely in the holder ( 7 ) solely by the one-piece retaining collar ( 9 ) in a manner that shocks cannot trigger sources of noise or loosen the nut from the retaining collar. 
     
     
         5 . The method for fixing components in a vehicle according to  claim 3 , including the step of affixing an engine to a panel in an engine chamber of the vehicle and welding the legs ( 27 ,  28 ,  29 ) of the holders ( 7 ) of the cage nuts ( 1 ) onto the panel at predetermined affixed positions of abutments.