Importance

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Abstract

A captive panel fastener assembly is disclosed for joining a panel to a sub-structure. The fastener assembly includes a sleeve bolt, a grommet assembly which is attached to the panel and a receptacle assembly which is attached to the sub-structure. The sleeve bolt passes through the grommet assembly and engages the receptacle assembly thereby joining the panel and the sub-structure. The bolt includes an enlarged head at one end, an intermediate body portion and a nose at the other end. A groove is provided between the nose and the body portion of the bolt. The grommet assembly includes a sleeve in a hole in the panel and the sleeve has a plurality of resilient inwardly extending tangs formed out of the body of the sleeve which tangs move inwardly upon insertion of the nose through the sleeve until the nose moves past the tangs and the tangs enter the groove and return to their original inwardly extending position thereby retaining the bolt in a hold out condition with respect to the panel while permitting the bolt to be pushed to a position wherein the tangs ride along the body portion of the bolt until the head thereof abuts against the panel. Thus, the sleeve bolt is retained in the panel and remains in its withdrawn position when the panel is disengaged from the sub-structure.

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First Claim