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 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A bushing comprising:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within the cylindrical main body;   first outwardly extending members extending along an outer surface of the cylindrical main body in a longitudinal direction of the main body, wherein the first outwardly extending members are at a first circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body, wherein the first outwardly extending members are proximate to the leading end and distal from the trailing end; and   second outwardly extending members extending along the outer surface of the cylindrical main body in the longitudinal direction of the main body, wherein the second outwardly extending members are at a second circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body that differs from the first circumferential alignment, wherein the second outwardly extending members are proximate to the trailing end and distal from the leading end,   wherein the second outwardly extending members are longitudinally spaced apart from the first outwardly extending members, and   wherein ends of each of the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending members are rounded and smooth.   
     
     
         46 . An assembly, comprising:
 a first component including a hole;   a mating component that mates against the first component; and   a bushing including:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within the cylindrical main body; 
 first outwardly extending members extending along an outer surface of the cylindrical main body in a longitudinal direction of the main body; and 
 second outwardly extending members extending along the outer surface of the cylindrical main body in the longitudinal direction of the main body, 
 the bushing is positioned in the hole of the first component from a side opposite the mating component. 
   
     
     
         47 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the second outwardly extending members are longitudinally spaced apart from the first outwardly extending members. 
     
     
         48 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the first outwardly extending members are proximate to the leading end and distal from the trailing end, and wherein the second outwardly extending members are proximate to the trailing end and distal from the leading end. 
     
     
         49 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the first outwardly extending members are at a first circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body, and wherein the second outwardly extending members are at a second circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body that differs from the first circumferential alignment. 
     
     
         50 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the first outwardly extending members comprise a first set of four ribs equally spaced about the outer surface of the cylindrical main body, and wherein the second outwardly extending members comprise a second set of four ribs equally spaced about the outer surface of the cylindrical main body. 
     
     
         51 . The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein each of the first set of four ribs is spaced 90 degrees from a next closest of the first set of four ribs, and wherein each of the second set of four ribs is spaced 90 degrees from a next closest of the second set of four ribs. 
     
     
         52 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein ends of each of the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending members are rounded and smooth. 
     
     
         53 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the bushing is anchored into the first component at areas proximate to the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending members. 
     
     
         54 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the bushing is a monolithic component. 
     
     
         55 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the cylindrical main body has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the hole of the first component, and
 wherein a first extrapolated circular circumference established by respective outward-most surfaces of the first outwardly extending members and a second extrapolated circular circumference established by respective outward-most surfaces of the second outwardly extending members have diameters that are greater than the inner diameter of the hole.   
     
     
         56 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein each of the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending comprises:
 a first section extending outwardly and downwardly from the outer surface of the cylindrical main body;   a second section elongatedly extending downwardly and axially from the first section; and   a third section extending downwardly and inwardly from the second section.   
     
     
         57 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein outermost portions of each of the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending members comprises elongate smooth surfaces extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bushing. 
     
     
         58 . A bushing comprising:
 a cylindrical main body having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein a fastener passage is defined within the cylindrical main body;   first outwardly extending members extending along an outer surface of the cylindrical main body in a longitudinal direction of the main body; and   second outwardly extending members extending along the outer surface of the cylindrical main body in the longitudinal direction of the main body.   
     
     
         59 . The bushing of  claim 58 , wherein the second outwardly extending members are longitudinally spaced apart from the first outwardly extending members. 
     
     
         60 . The bushing of  claim 58 , wherein the first outwardly extending members are proximate to the leading end and distal from the trailing end, and wherein the second outwardly extending members are proximate to the trailing end and distal from the leading end. 
     
     
         61 . The bushing of  claim 58 , wherein the first outwardly extending members are at a first circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body, and wherein the second outwardly extending members are at a second circumferential alignment in relation to the cylindrical main body that differs from the first circumferential alignment. 
     
     
         62 . The bushing of  claim 58 , wherein the first outwardly extending members comprise a first set of four ribs equally spaced about the outer surface of the cylindrical main body, and wherein the second outwardly extending members comprise a second set of four ribs equally spaced about the outer surface of the cylindrical main body. 
     
     
         63 . The bushing of  claim 62 , wherein each of the first set of four ribs is spaced 90 degrees from a next closest of the first set of four ribs, and wherein each of the second set of four ribs is spaced 90 degrees from a next closest of the second set of four ribs. 
     
     
         64 . The bushing of  claim 58 , wherein ends of each of the first outwardly extending members and the second outwardly extending members are rounded and smooth.