Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: A self-attaching nut for installation in a panel by a plunger driven against the bottom face of the nut, the bottom face of the nut including parallel rails on opposed sides of a channel-shaped recess and a threaded bore through the recess, eliminating the requirement for a countersink in the bore at the bottom face and preventing tapping burrs from being driven back into the bore during installation.

Abstract: The self-attaching female fastener of this invention includes a re-entrant groove having a V-shaped bottom wall including relatively inclined bottom faces of equal width having an arcuate apex centered beneath the restricted opening to the groove. A die drives a panel portion through the restricted groove opening against the bottom faces, driving the panel portion into the apex and inwardly beneath the inclined inner side wall and outwardly beneath the inclined outer side wall of the groove, resulting in a better installation and accommodating a wider range of panel thicknesses. The V-shaped bottom wall also centers and balances the rolls during the rolling process resulting in a more accurate cross-section of the fastener.

Abstract: The self-attaching female fastener of this invention includes a re-entrant groove having a V-shaped bottom wall including relatively inclined bottom faces of equal width having an arcuate apex centered beneath the restricted opening to the groove. A die drives a panel portion through the restricted groove opening against the bottom faces, driving the panel portion into the apex and inwardly beneath the inclined inner side wall and outwardly beneath the inclined outer side wall of the groove, resulting in a better installation and accommodating a wider range of panel thicknesses. The V-shaped bottom wall also centers and balances the rolls during the rolling process resulting in a more accurate cross-section of the fastener.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: A torque resistant self-attaching fastener having a tubular barrel portion and a radial flange portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections each having opposed planar generally radial side faces with the outer surface of the radial flange between the radial projections having a greater circumferential width than a circumferential width of the radial projections and a radial length less than the circumferential width. The side faces may be aligned with a radius, the side faces may be parallel or the side faces of adjacent radial projections may be parallel.

Abstract: A male fastener formed of heat treated carbon steel for high performance applications, including a shank portion, radial flange and tubular barrel, wherein the barrel has an axial length of 60% or less than the outside diameter and a fastener and panel assembly, wherein the distal open end of the barrel is deformed into an L-shape and the panel is deformed by the radial flange into an L-shape having an inwardly projecting portion deformed between the radial flange and the outwardly deformed distal end of the barrel.

Abstract: A self-attaching female fastener having a generally cylindrical body including opposed annular ends, a bore extending through the annular ends of the body including an inclined frustoconical outer surface and a radial flange portion integral with the body midway between the opposed ends having parallel outer surfaces surrounding the body. The fastener is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the bore longitudinal axis. The parallel surfaces of the flange include radial grooves spaced from the body and the outer surface of the flange is tapered inwardly to a rounded outer edge. The installation method includes receiving either end of the body through an opening in the panel, which may be pierced by the annular end, deforming the annular outer periphery of the flange toward the end of the body received through the panel opening forming an annular groove surrounding the body and deforming an annular portion into the annular groove.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: A self-piercing element including a shank, a radial flange and a tubular barrel. The flange includes spaced concave surfaces and the annular bearing surface has an area at least four times the concave surfaces. The element is installed in a panel supported on a female die including a central die post, wherein the outer side wall is a frustoconical having an included angle between five and twelve degrees. During installation, the tubular barrel pierces an opening in the panel and the panel is drawn against the outer surface of the tubular barrel and the barrel is deformed into a U-shape. The flange is simultaneously received in the die cavity and the panel is incrementally deformed radially into the concave surfaces between the frustoconical side wall and the flange portion providing improved torque resistance.

Abstract: A self-attaching female fastener having a generally cylindrical body including opposed annular ends, a bore extending through the annular ends of the body including an inclined frustoconical outer surface and a radial flange portion integral with the body midway between the opposed ends having parallel outer surfaces surrounding the body. The fastener is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the bore longitudinal axis. The parallel surfaces of the flange include radial grooves spaced from the body and the outer surface of the flange is tapered inwardly to a rounded outer edge. The installation method includes receiving either end of the body through an opening in the panel, which may be pierced by the annular end, deforming the annular outer periphery of the flange toward the end of the body received through the panel opening forming an annular groove surrounding the body and deforming an annular portion into the annular groove.

Abstract: A symmetrical self-attaching female fastener including a body having a bore, and identical integral tubular barrel portions extending from opposed ends of the body coaxially aligned with the bore. The installation method includes driving either barrel portion through an opening in a panel, which may be formed by piercing the panel with the barrel portion, and simultaneously deforming both barrel portions radially outwardly and inwardly, wherein one barrel portion entraps the panel and the other exposed barrel portion is folded at an acute angle relative to the bore to reduce the overall length of the assembly.

Abstract: A fastening element capable of being attached to a panel by deforming the panel is disclosed. A barrel portion is tubular with an open free end and has an axis defining a circumference. A radial flange portion is integral with the tubular barrel portion opposite the free end and defines a circumferential surface. The radial flange portion includes a plurality of projections spaced apart and extending outwardly from the circumferential surface. Each of the projections defines at least one wall generally perpendicular to the circumference about the axis of the barrel portion.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: A self-piercing element including a shank, a radial flange and a tubular barrel. The flange includes spaced concave surfaces and the annular bearing surface has an area at least four times the concave surfaces. The element is installed in a panel supported on a female die including a central die post, wherein the outer side wall is a frustoconical having an included angle between five and twelve degrees. During installation, the tubular barrel pierces an opening in the panel and the panel is drawn against the outer surface of the tubular barrel and the barrel is deformed into a U-shape. The flange is simultaneously received in the die cavity and the panel is incrementally deformed radially into the concave surfaces between the frustoconical side wall and the flange portion providing improved torque resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: The method of attaching a fastening element to a metal panel within a panel opening using a die member having an annular concave die cavity. The fastening element includes a tubular riveting portion and a radial flange portion and a fastening portion. The internal and external surfaces of the tubular riveting portion are relatively uniformly inclined toward the radial flange portion such that the thickness of the tubular riveting portion at the free end is less than the thickness adjacent the radial flange portion. In the preferred embodiment, the internal surface of the tubular riveting portion is cylindrical and the external surface is slightly conical tapering inwardly toward the free end to reduce the force required to radially deform the free end of the tubular portion radially outwardly.