Patents by Inventor Randy M. Hoffman

Randy M. Hoffman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9347481
    Abstract: A method of attaching a nut to a panel includes forming an aperture in a sheet metal panel by lancing a tab from the sheet metal panel. A root of the tab remains attached to the panel. The method further includes pressing a self-attaching nut into the aperture to attach the self-attaching nut to the sheet metal panel. The tab is bent to substantially prevent material from entering a bore of the nut from a blind side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. Hoffman, Patrick Bolick
  • Patent number: 9328763
    Abstract: A die button for installation of a nut to a panel includes a button body with a panel end, and a cavity defined therein. An aperture is defined in the panel end at a mouth of the cavity. A shearing edge is at a perimeter of the aperture to shear a tab from the panel when a shearing force is applied to the panel by the nut driven by a punch of a press. A relief is in a portion of the perimeter of the aperture to bend a root portion of the panel connecting the tab to the panel without severing the root when the nut applies the shearing force. A reaction member is slidably disposed within the cavity. A resilient member is disposed within the cavity to urge the reaction member toward the panel end, thereby bending the tab to contact the nut and seal a bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. Hoffman, Patrick Bolick
  • Publication number: 20150247457
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine exhaust system component includes an exhaust gas conduit having a metal shell. A boss is crimped to the metal shell. The boss is to threadingly mount an electrical sensor to measure an exhaust gas property. The boss includes a self-attaching nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventor: Randy M. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150047171
    Abstract: A method of attaching a nut to a panel includes forming an aperture in a sheet metal panel by lancing a tab from the sheet metal panel. A root of the tab remains attached to the panel. The method further includes pressing a self-attaching nut into the aperture to attach the self-attaching nut to the sheet metal panel. The tab is bent to substantially prevent material from entering a bore of the nut from a blind side of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. Hoffman, Patrick Bolick
  • Publication number: 20150047175
    Abstract: A die button for installation of a nut to a panel includes a button body with a panel end, and a cavity defined therein. An aperture is defined in the panel end at a mouth of the cavity. A shearing edge is at a perimeter of the aperture to shear a tab from the panel when a shearing force is applied to the panel by the nut driven by a punch of a press. A relief is in a portion of the perimeter of the aperture to bend a root portion of the panel connecting the tab to the panel without severing the root when the nut applies the shearing force. A reaction member is slidably disposed within the cavity. A resilient member is disposed within the cavity to urge the reaction member toward the panel end, thereby bending the tab to contact the nut and seal a bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. Hoffman, Patrick Bolick