Rapid fastening screw apparatus and method

Abstract

A press-in fastening apparatus and method couples a screw with a nut by pushing the screw through an opening of the nut along a slip axis and rotating the nut to align a lock axis with the inserted screw. The opening of the nut along the slip axis has a diameter greater than the diameter of the screw and the opening of the nut along the lock axis has a diameter that engages screw threads with nut threads. In one embodiment, the nut is disposed in a housing coupled to an information handling system and biased to align with the lock axis so that a module is secured to the information handling system by aligning a screw coupled to the module with the nut and pushing the screw into the nut. The module is removed from the information handling system by unscrewing the screw with engagement of the screw threads and nut threads.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates in general to the field of fasteners, and more particularly relates to a rapid fastening screw apparatus and method. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and / or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for quickly and securely fastening and removing devices together with a screw. The apparatus uses a nut with spring-loaded threads that flex from a lock position to a slip position to allow for easy insertion of a screw and prevents removal of the screw without rotation. The nut is disposed in a housing and biased by a biasing mechanism to a lock position in which the nut threads engage the screw threads to restrict the screw from being pulled out of the nut. The apparatus allows for rapid push-in fastening with a screw-out removal, which is useful in assembly and disassembly of devices, such as electronic components. The technical effects of the invention include improved assembly and disassembly speed and security, as well as reduced costs and improved safety standards.

Problems solved by technology

One difficulty with information handling systems is that a generally large number of components are typically assembled in a relatively small housing to manufacture an information handling system.

A considerable amount of time is spent during the manufacture of an information handling system to fasten components together with screws.

For instance, tool-access to electronic components is required by some standards bodies to limit the risk that users will contact live or active components in a manner that poses an electric shock hazard.

This restricts the utility of a number of hot swappable modules available for use in information handling systems.

However information handling systems typically do not adapt to the use of available rapid fastening nuts due to the smaller size, compressed mounting scheme and grounding requirements of information handling systems.

Tapped extruded holes generally lack the endurance for use with components that are subjected to multiple accesses, such as hot swappable modules.

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