Abstract: A female fastener having a self-threading bore for threaded receipt of a conventional male threaded fastener which forms a substantially continuous female thread without tapping having a prevailing torque. The bore includes a cylindrical internal surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced concave recesses having a total volume equal to an annulus defined by a major diameter and an inner diameter of the cylindrical surface. A method of forming self-attaching fasteners by rolling a continuous metal strip having a central pilot, piercing spaced self-threading bores through the pilot and either severing the pilot or the strip. Where the strip is severed into discreet fasteners, the fasteners may be interconnected by a frangible connector without reorienting the fasteners.

Abstract: A method of forming pierce and clinch nuts by rolling a section having the desired cross-section, punching equally spaced bores through the central pilot portion and then punching configured openings through the central pilot portion having convex arcuate surfaces and eliminating sharp corners. The strip of interconnected self-attaching fasteners may be installed directly from the strip in a panel, fed in bulk or separate fasteners interconnected by frangible connectors. The resultant self-attaching nut includes a central pilot portion having a bore through the top face, integral flange portions extending from opposed sides and the pilot portion includes convex arcuate faces reducing or eliminating stress cracking and propagation of stress cracks.

Abstract: An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.

Abstract: The method of forming self-attaching female fasteners by rolling a continuous metal strip including a central pilot portion having parallel sides and flange portions on opposed sides, severing at least the pilot portion and cold forming the rectangular pilot portion into a cylindrical end portion. Wing-shaped radial portions are formed in the pilot portion which may be severed or remain for anti-rotation features. The strip may remain continuous, wherein the severed pilot portions are spread and the flange portions are thinned or the strip may be severed into discreet fasteners. The female fasteners thus include generally cylindrical pilot portions and rectangular flange portions which may include rolled grooves.

Abstract: A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel in sealed relation, which may be formed by rolling, including a generally rectangular central pilot, a flange surrounding the pilot having a first pair of parallel re-entrant grooves on opposed sides of the pilot extending across the length of the nut and a second pair of parallel grooves on opposed ends of the pilot intersecting the first pair of parallel grooves, but not extending across the width of the nut. The flange includes co-planar bearing faces surrounding the pilot.

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 fastener for thick panels having a pilot and a groove in a flange portion including an inclined outer wall and a bottom wall having an inclined portion extending to the outer face of the pilot and a concave surface in the outer face of the pilot adjacent the bottom wall. A die set for various panel thicknesses each having a projecting lip including an end face and first and second inclined faces which deform the panel against the inclined bottom wall and beneath the concave surface of the pilot. And, a method of attaching the fastener to a metal panel, wherein the die lip deforms a panel against the inclined bottom wall portion adjacent the pilot portion, inwardly into the concave surface and outwardly beneath the groove outer wall.

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 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 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.