Abstract: A clamp 1 comprises a band 3, a buckle 5 having a support surface 18 against which a long component wound by the band is held, and a clip 6 extending from the buckle 5 and secured to, e.g., a body panel. The buckle 5 comprises a pawl 15 for engaging ratchet teeth 17 on the band, a first guide 25 and a second guide 26 forming an insertion passage 19 for guiding the band 3 and restraining the band 3 inside the insertion passage 19. The second guide 26 is formed in a shape by which the rear portion 30 of the insertion passage 19 including the outlet is parallel to the support surface 18, and the first guide 25 is formed in a shape by which the front portion 31 of the insertion passage 19 including the inlet is connected to the rear portion 30 at an acute angle of inclination 29 with respect to the rear portion 30.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring clinched joints senses lateral displacement of die segments during formation of a joint, which depends on joint button diameter. The system determines whether a joint is acceptable by correlating acceptable button diameter with acceptable amount of punch advancement. A predetermined number of unacceptable joints indicates excessive punch and/or die wear.

Abstract: There is provided a blind rivet including an axially extending hollow tubular body having a tail end face at one end and a pre-formed radially enlarged flange at the other end, together with a mandrel having a stem which extends co-axially though the body and having enlarged head adjacent the tail end of the body, the stem having a weakened region immediately adjacent the head. There is also provided a method of fastening at least two workpieces using such a blind rivet, including providing the blind side of the workpieces with a countersunk region to accommodate the conically deformed tail end of the body after setting, substantially flush therewith.

Abstract: A prewinder apparatus attached to a drive tool to install helical coil inserts includes an adapter attached to the drive tool. A rotatable tubular sleeve in the adapter is engaged with the tool drive and has opposed engagement walls of a longitudinal slot extending through a hollow portion. A mandrel has a threaded first end and a pin transversely extending from a second end positioned within the longitudinal slot. A stop slides within the adapter member and rotatably receives the sleeve. The stop has a plurality of external threads. A stop regulator rotatably disposed in the adapter member has internal threads engaged with the stop external threads. The stop is axially displaceable within the adapter member and infinitely positionable along the stop external threads by manually rotating the stop regulator. A ball or male detent member biased to engage detent cavities of the stop regulator provides predetermined stop axial displacement.

Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a plug body and a backing rack that cooperate to define a plurality of pin chambers within the lock cylinder, with each of the pin chambers housing a corresponding pin. Movement of the backing rack changes the configuration of the pin chambers, thereby allowing the corresponding pins to change configuration to match the bitting on a valid key.

Abstract: A vibration absorbing clamp comprises a hard plastic base, hard plastic pipe grippers for gripping pipes, and a soft plastic vibration absorbing material disposed between the base and the pipe grippers. Each pipe gripper has a receiver for receiving a pipe and elastic wings allowing the pipe to be pushed into the receiver but not removed. The base has a bottom and side walls spaced from the bottom and sides of the receivers. The sides of the receiver and the side walls of the base are connected only by hard plastic thin plate supports. The spaces formed by the bottoms and sides of the receiver and by the bottom and side walls of the base are filled with vibration absorbing material so as to envelop the thin plate supports.

Abstract: A positive hold tube weld stud assembly connectable to a vehicle body panel includes a substantially hollow tubular-shaped body. The body includes an inner body wall defined by a body internal aperture. A raised engagement portion extends inwardly from the inner body wall. A first chamfer positioned proximate an end surface of the body transitions between the inner body wall and the raised engagement portion. A second chamfer transitions between the raised engagement portion and the inner body wall. An insert is partially received in the body internal aperture and is adapted to engage a body connectable device. The insert includes a chamfered stud engagement portion releasably engageable with the second chamfer in an insert installed position.

Abstract: A deadbolt assembly includes a bolt housing having a longitudinal sleeve defining a first axis. A bolt is located in the longitudinal sleeve. An elongate member has a first end and a second end portion opposite the first end, the first end being attached to the proximal end of the bolt and the second end portion having a first connector. A rotatable crank has a pivot member, a second connector and an arm. The second connector of the crank is operationally engaged with the first connector of the elongate member. A first actuator assembly has a body, a lock cylinder, and a tailpiece that extends from the lock cylinder and is rotatable around a second axis with respect to the lock cylinder. The tailpiece is engaged with the pivot member of the crank. At least a portion of the lock cylinder extends past a vertical plane of an outer side surface of the elongate member.

Abstract: A door handle assembly includes a door handle having an operator portion, and a shank extending from the operator portion, the shank having a first opening. A door latch mechanism has a rotatable actuator, the rotatable actuator having a second opening. A spindle assembly includes a spindle and a spring. The spindle has a first end and a second end. The spring is attached to the first end of the spindle. The spring and the first end of the spindle of the spindle assembly are inserted as a unit into the first opening of the shank of the door handle, and the second end of the spindle is inserted into the second opening of the rotatable actuator of the door latch mechanism.

Abstract: A clamp 10 for an elongated member comprises a receiving portion 22 and a resilient retaining wing 27 which has a connection end 33 connected to an upper edge of a side wall 25 of the receiving portion 22. The resilient retaining wing 27 has a first portion extending from an intermediate position 35 to a distal end 34 and a second portion extending from the connection end 33 to the intermediate position 35. The second portion is formed to extend toward a bottom of the receiving portion 22 obliquely at a predetermined small angle ? relative to the side wall 25 so as to increase a distance (b) between a point of action (33) and a point of application (35), and the first portion is formed to be bent in a direction away from the side wall 25 so as to narrow a width of a pull-out passage for the elongated member.

Abstract: A system useful for riveting sheets of metal together. The system having a fastening element having a head on one side and a self-piercing surface on an opposite end, a die having an elastically moveable annular stop and a ring boost, and a ram assembly operably punching the piercing surface into a sheet. The fastening element may be a self-piercing rivet.

Abstract: Accordingly, this invention provides a fastener system which is weldable to a substructure that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the fasteners of the prior art. Generally, a weldable fastener is disclosed that has a coating applied to at least one surface of the fastener. The coating functions to prevent the deposit of a further coating, particularly an electrodeposition coating, upon further processing.

Abstract: A stop arrangement for forming an adjustable stop between a first component and a second component that are movable in relation to each other, in particular between a vehicle body and a flap hinge-connected to it, including a fastening element which is connected to the first component and has a first threaded portion, and including a stop part, which serves as a stop for the second component and has a second threaded portion, which can be brought into engagement with the first threaded portion in such a way that, by turning the stop part, the distance of the latter from the first component can be set.

Abstract: A reset cradle with integral reset tool assembly, that automatically positions the lock cylinder, the reset tool assembly, and all associated components, and choreographs the operations that need to be performed in the right sequential order. The reset cradle generally comprises a two-section housing including a base section with centrally-protruding tubular post into which the lock cylinder may be inserted, and a separate hub section rotatably seated on the base. Inside the housing, a cam is engaged against the post and is rotatable thereabout along with relative rotation of the two-section housing. A reset member is also operative inside the housing, and is engaged by rotation of the cam for axial displacement into the lock cylinder. Similarly, a detent pin is slidably seated in the post and is engaged by the cam for axial displacement into the lock cylinder.

Abstract: A blind rivet assembly includes a mandrel having a male threaded portion at its distal end to be screwed into an internal female threaded portion of a rivet body. The mandrel has a section of enlarged diameter adjacent the male threaded portion joined by a breaker groove to a pulling portion. The section of enlarged diameter is accommodated within an internal bore of the collapsing portion of the rivet body, the collapsing portion having a radial groove on the outer surface thereof for improving the radial expansion of the rivet when installed. A shoulder in the internal bore supports a sealing ring. When assembled correctly, the pulling portion breaks off at the breaker groove.

Abstract: A clip (1) comprises a base (6), a shank (7) extending from the base (6), a pair of legs (9A, 9B) extending from an end of the shank towards the base and away from a side of the shank, and a pair of elastic fingers (11A, 11B) extending from the end of the shank towards the base and away from a side of the shank, juxtaposed with the legs. A curved end (12)is formed at the end of each finger to engage the edge of a mounting hole (5) in a workpiece. Complementary parts of a molded plastic clip, connected by a hinge, are fastened to one another before mounting of the clip.