US Patent 11060551 Snap alignment guard for nut plate ring

Disclosed herein is a snap alignment guard for a nut plate ring. The alignment guard includes a curved elongated body comprising an inner surface and an outer surface. The alignment guard further includes a plurality of couplings extending from the inner surface. Each of the plurality of couplings are configured to engage a nut plate ring to attach the alignment guard to the nut plate ring. The elongated body forms a plurality of apertures defined in the outer surface. Each of the plurality of apertures are configured to receive at least a portion of a nut plate to maintain a circumferential position of the nut plate relative to an inner surface of the nut plate ring.