BACKGROUND

[0001] Screw bosses may be used for registration of mating parts or for attaching fasteners such as screws or accepting threaded inserts. Further, a screw boss may include a side wall forming a blind hole. Further, the screw boss may be plated to provide some degree of corrosion protection as the plating layer acts as a physical barrier between the metal and corrosive environment. For plating a screw boss, the screw boss may be immersed in a plating solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:

[0003] Fig. 1 illustrate an example screw boss structure having a blind hole and a slot to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole, according to one aspect of the present subject matter;

[0004] Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate an example design of a screw boss structure having a blind hole to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole, according to one aspect of the present subject matter;

[0005] Figs. 2C and 2D illustrate an example plating process for plating the screw boss structure shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, according to one aspect of the present subject matter;

[0006] Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate another example design of a screw boss structure having a blind hole to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole, according to one aspect of the present subject matter; and

[0007] Figs. 3C and 3D illustrate an example plating process for the screw boss structure shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] During plating process, a screw boss having a blind hole may be immersed in a plating solution. The blind hole may be initially filled with air. When parts/screw boss defining the blind hole is immersed in the plating solution, an air bubble may get trapped, for instance, at a bottom of the blind hole. The air bubble may prevent the plating solution from reaching the bottom of the blind hole, and hence portions of the inner surface of the screw boss forming the blind hole may remain unplated or partially plated. Further, even when the bubble manages to escape and the blind hole fills with the plating solution, the plating solution may not circulate throughout the blind hole. Due to the lack of circulation, the plating process may result in non-uniform plating in the blind hole. For example, the plating process may result in substantially thinner plating layer on the inner surface of the screw boss compared to the outer surface of the screw boss.

[0009] The present specification describes a screw boss structure including a column having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a base fixed at one end of the column to form a blind hole. The column includes at least one slot extending from the outer surface into the blind hole. The slot facilitates circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole during plating process. In one example, the at least one slot is created through a length of the column. In another example, the at least one slot is created at a bottom of the column.

[00010] In one example, the column includes a side wall defining an interior hole. The inner surface and the outer surface of the column/side wall may be threaded or unthreaded. Furthermore, the column may receive an unthreaded screw or threaded screw based on the design of the inner surface. The screws may be fastened to the screw boss by press fitting or inserting inserts.

[00011] Examples described herein may produce a consistent plating thickness on the inner surface (e.g., the blind hole) and the outer surface of the screw boss structure. Further, examples described herein may reduce plating time for the screw boss and may increase plating yield. Further, the plating of the blind hole may protect the screw boss from causing oxidation and corrosion in the blind hole. Also, examples described herein may not involve changing of plating parameter to get consistent plating layer on both the inner surface and the outer surface of the screw boss.

[00012] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present techniques. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, devices and systems may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to "an example" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.

[00013] Turning now to the figures, Fig. 1 illustrate an example screw boss structure 100 having a blind hole 106 and a slot 108 to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 106, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. The screw boss structure 100 includes a column 102 having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a base 104 fixed at one end of the column 102 to form the blind hole 106. The column 102 includes an opening aperture at other end. The column 102 includes the slot 108 extending from the outer surface into the blind hole 106. The slot 108 facilitates circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 106 during plating process. In one example, the plating solution enters the blind hole 106 through the opening aperture of the blind hole 106 and exits at the slot 108. Due to the circulation of the plating fluid in the blind hole 106 through the slot 108, the plating process may result in uniform/consistent plating in the blind hole 106 and the outer surface of the screw boss structure 100. For example, the plating process may result in substantially same plating layer on the inner surface and the outer surface of the screw boss structure 100.

[00014] Turning now to the figures, Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate an example design of the screw boss structure having a blind hole 206 to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 206, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. Particularly, Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view 200A of the screw boss structure and Fig. 2B illustrates a side view 200B of the screw boss structure. For example, the screw boss structure is made up of a metal such as steel, brass, aluminum, iron, copper, bronze, and the like material which can be subjected to corrosive environment. The screw boss structure includes a column 202 having an outer surface and an inner surface. In the example shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the column 202 is a cylindrical side wall defining an interior hole. In another example, the side wall can be formed of any shape, for example, the outer surface having a square shape and the inner surface having a cylindrical shape. In the example shown in Fig. 1 , the inner surface is threaded (e.g., threads 208) and receives a threaded screw.

[00015] Further, the screw boss structure includes a base 204 secured at one end of the column 202 to form the blind hole 206. The base 204 can include any shape such as square, rectangle, circle and so on. In the example shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the base 204 includes a square shape. Furthermore, the column 202 includes at least one slot 210 extending from the outer surface of the column 202 into the blind hole 206. The at least one slot 210 is created through a length (L) of the column 202. In the example shown in Fig. 2A, the column 202 includes a first slot 21 OA and a second slot 210B opposite to the first slot 21 OA. The slots 210A and 210B facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 206 during plating process.

[00016] Figs. 2C and 2D illustrate an example plating process 200C for plating the screw boss structure shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. Particularly, Fig. 2C illustrates a container 252 containing a plating solution/liquid 254. Example plating process includes electroless plating process or electroplating process. Example plating solution includes a nickel based solution, gold based solution, zinc based solution, chromium based solution, black chromium based solution, cadmium based solution and combinations thereof.

[00017] During the plating process shown in Fig. 2C, the at least one slot 210 created through a length (I) of the column 202 facilitates circulation of plating fluid 254 through the blind hole 206. In the example shown in Fig. 2C, the plating solution 254 enters the blind hole 206 through the opening aperture of the blind hole 206 and a first slot 210A and exits at the second slot 210B (e.g., as shown in the flow path). Due to the circulation of the plating solution 254 in the blind hole 206 through the slots 21 OA and 210B, the plating process may result in uniform/consistent plating in the blind hole 206 and the outer surface of the screw boss structure. For example, the plating process may result in substantially same plating layer on the inner surface 256 and the outer surface 258 of the screw boss structure (e.g., as shown in screw boss structure 200D of Fig. 2D).

[00018] Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate another example design of the screw boss structure having a blind hole 306 to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 306, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. Particularly, Fig. 3A illustrates a perspective view 300A of the screw boss structure and Fig. 3B illustrates a side view 300B of the screw boss structure. The screw boss structure includes a column 302 having an outer surface and an inner surface. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the inner surface is threaded (e.g., threads 310) and receives a threaded screw. Further, the screw boss structure includes a base 304 at one end of the column 302 forming/defining the blind hole 306. Furthermore, the column 302 includes at least one slot 308 extending from the outer surface of the column 302 into the blind hole 306. The slot 308 is created at a bottom of the column 302. The slot 308 facilitates circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole 306 during plating process.

[00019] Figs. 3C and 3D illustrate an example plating process 300C for the screw boss structure shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, according to one aspect of the present subject matter. The plating process is similar to the plating process described in Fig. 2C. During plating process, the plating solution enters the blind hole 306 through the opening aperture of the blind hole 306 and exits at the slot 308 (e.g., flow path shown in Fig. 3C). Due to the circulation of the plating solution in the blind hole 306 through the slot 308, the plating process may result in uniform/consistent plating in the blind hole 306 and the outer surface of the screw boss structure. For example, the plating process may result in substantially same plating layer on the inner surface 356 and the outer surface 358 of the screw boss structure (e.g., as shown in screw boss structure 300D of Fig. 3D). [00020] Even though, the examples described herein shows at least slot created through a length of the column or at a bottom of the column, the slots can be created at any position and/or in any shape such that the plating solution circulates throughout the blind hole that is formed by the screw boss structure.

[00021] The foregoing describes novel blind hole screw boss structures having at least one slot to facilitate circulation of plating fluid through the blind hole during plating process and described with reference to the foregoing examples, it should be understood that other forms, details, and implementations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.