Abstract: A window stay including a frame mounting plate (10); a sash mounting plate (11); a short arm (12) coupled by pivots at each end to the frame mounting plate (10) and the sash mounting plate (11); and an elongate long arm (13) coupled by pivots at each end to the frame mounting plate (10) and sash mounting plate (11), wherein the stay includes a first stop (33) and a second stop (102) acting as limiters at a fully open position of the window stay.

Abstract: A connection assembly for attaching metallic and plastic components by a heat staking operation includes a first component, a second component, a compressible protrusion, an annular collar, and a deformable stud. The first component is formed of a metallic material and includes an inner surface. The second component includes an interior surface facing the inner surface of the first component and an opposite exterior surface. The second component includes a plurality of apertures which extend between the interior surface and the exterior surface. During the heat staking operation the deformable stud is deformed so as to restrain relative movement between the first and second components. The compressible protrusion plastically deforms to absorb pressure to prevent cracking of the second component and the annular collar absorbs heat to prevent the second component adjacent the aperture from melting.

Abstract: A method for joining at least two workpiece layers (1, 2) by introducing a connecting element (10) with a coating (15) applied externally to the connecting element (10), where the connecting element (10) is guided, in particular punched, through the first workpiece layer (1) by a ram (26), forming a cut surface (1), and penetrates at least partially into the second workpiece layer and is deformed by a die (21) such that it connects the at least two workpiece layers (1, 2) together in a form-fitting manner. The connecting element (10) is heated such that the coating (15) applied externally to the connecting element (10) melts and wets, in particular completely closes, the cut surface in the first workpiece layer (1); after a cooling process, the re-solidified coating (15) adheres to the cut surface of the first workpiece layer (1).

Abstract: A composite part including a resin matrix and fibers reinforcing the resin matrix in a first portion of the matrix. A second portion of the resin matrix is substantially devoid of fibers. The fibers may be in the form of a woven mat that defines an opening. Alternatively, the fibers may be loose fibers that are deposited in a mold that includes predetermined areas that are shielded from the deposit of the loose fibers. A method of making the composite part is disclosed in which a woven mat having an opening is filled with resin. Another method is also disclosed in which loose fibers are shielded from being deposited in a portion of the mold that is subsequently filled with resin.

Abstract: A connection assembly for attaching metallic and plastic components by a heat staking operation includes a first component, a second component, a compressible protrusion, an annular collar, and a deformable stud. The first component is formed of a metallic material and includes an inner surface. The second component includes an interior surface facing the inner surface of the first component and an opposite exterior surface. The second component includes a plurality of apertures which extend between the interior surface and the exterior surface. During the heat staking operation the deformable stud is deformed so as to restrain relative movement between the first and second components. The compressible protrusion plastically deforms to absorb pressure to prevent cracking of the second component and the annular collar absorbs heat to prevent the second component adjacent the aperture from melting.

Abstract: A method for connecting a first component to a second component, the method including: applying a fastening dome composed of material in a viscous state to the first component, hardening the fastening dome on the first component, and then inserting a connecting element through the first component, second component, and at least partially through the fastening dome.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming corrosion-resistant joints in a plurality of overlapping thin metal sheet workpieces, at least one of which comprises at least 85% by weight of magnesium sheets. The fastener is a fiber-reinforced polymer rod shaped and sized for insertion into a coaxial opening formed in each sheet and subsequently upset on each end to form a head. The workpiece sheets are deformed to form mechanically-interfering features which cooperatively complement the strength of the fastener, under at least some joint loading patterns. The method may be used for other workpiece and fastener compositions.

Abstract: Fastening plastic drivers in a washing machine drum having at least two domes on the inside, which comprise a cavity extending along its center line, and are oriented perpendicular to the sheet casing of the drum and which serve to fasten the driver. A hole pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the domes of a driver is punched into the sheet casing of the drum. The driver is placed with its dome ends, which project beyond the contact surface of the driver with the sheet casing, onto the sheet casing so that the dome ends pass through the holes of the hole pattern. Counter holders are inserted from the opposite side into the cavities of the domes. From the fastening side, hold-down elements are driven against the sheet casing. Heated form punches are driven against the dome ends until the dome ends have mushroom-shape ends.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically-joining components to assemble a composite structure. A first component and a second component may be provided. At least one of the first and second components may comprise a composite component. A hole may be formed in each of the first and second components. A metallic sleeve may be placed in the holes in the first and second components such that the metallic sleeve is in contact with the first and second components, and a composite rivet may be placed in the metallic sleeve. Heat and a deforming force may be applied to the composite rivet to join the first and second components to form an assembled composite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for installing a rivet (R, R?, R?, R2) for the purpose of assembling at least two elements (300, 400) through which a hole passes, in which the rivet (R) is positioned in said hole and is of the type comprising a head (100) coming to rest on the edge of the hole and a tubular or semi-tubular rod (200) of which the free open end (220) is deformed, for the purpose of creating a bearing surface, in which a snap (B, B?) ensures the deformation of said free end (220) by bringing the snap (B, B?) toward the first tool, remarkable in that it consists of interposing a film (500, 600, 700) of material between the snap (B, B?) and the end to be deformed during installation. The invention also relates to a corresponding rivet and installation tool. Applications: rivet installation.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower which includes a number of sections, connected by bolted joints is disclosed. A bolted joint includes at least one connection of the bearing type and at least one connection of the slip resistant at serviceability type. In one aspect, the bearing type connection includes at least one non prestressed bolt and/or the connection of the slip resistant at serviceability type includes at least one prestressed bolt.

Abstract: In a male or female snap button including a base and a mounting opening, a cylindrical protrusion is provided around the mounting opening. When the male or female snap button is being mounted to a fabric, after a post of a button fastener has passed through the fabric and then the mounting opening, the post is swaged by an upper die. At this time, the protrusion of the male or female snap is crushed between the post and the base. Thereby, a part of a load as imposed on the male or female snap button can be absorbed by the deformation of the protrusion.

Abstract: Provided is a personal traction device that includes a traction mechanism that is very comfortable underfoot, while providing excellent traction over slippery surfaces as well as excellent long-term wear.

Abstract: Aircraft fuselage made out with composite material and manufacturing processes. The structure of the fuselage (11) comprises a skin (13), a plurality of frames (17) positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis (9) of the fuselage (11) and a plurality of longitudinal stiffening elements (14, 15) that can be either stringers (14) or beams (15), being the ratio between the distance (X) between frames (17) and the distance (Y) between longitudinal stiffening elements (14, 15) is less than one. If the stiffening elements are stringers (14) the manufacturing process is based on assembling the fuselage section (11) joining the skin (13) with the stringers (14) to the frames (17). If the stiffening elements are beams (15) the manufacturing process is based on joining the skin to an internal structure made up with frames (17) and beams (15).

Abstract: An anchoring fastener comprises, in one embodiment, a shaft (100) with straight and tapered portions, a tip (105) at the front end, cam follower surfaces (110, 111) at the rear end, a body (120) with a bore, a head (125) with a hole collinear with the bore in the body, and a pair of fins (115). The shaft and the body are joined at a bendable region by the fins. The anchor is fully inserted into wallboard (600) until the head comes into contact with the outer surface of the wallboard (610). The length of the body is approximately equal to the thickness of the wall. The fins slice into the wallboard, thereby preventing rotation of the anchor during and after insertion. An activating member (900), such as a screw or a pin, is inserted into the hole and bore and urged against the cam follower surfaces, thereby forcing the shaft to rotate until it comes into contact with the inner surface (615) of the wallboard.

Abstract: A unified head for a staked fastener wherein the unified head is made from a first member in combination with a supplemental member, and the two members have at least one shared fiber. In a staking operation that forms the unified head, the operation is conducted in such a manner that a portion of a fiber, initially within the first member or the supplemental member, crosses the boundary therebetween creating the shared fiber, i.e., a segment of a single fiber is embedded in the first member and a segment is embedded in the supplemental member.

Abstract: In a method for the connection of objects by means of at least one plasticizable hollow cylindrical rivet peg which can be heated by application of a process element which is provided, at its process side to be placed onto the hollow cylindrical rivet peg, with a spigot which can be introduced into the hollow space of the rivet peg and with an annular cut-out surrounding it, a rivet head is formed at the rivet peg by application and follow-up movement of the process element and the process element is subsequently removed from the formed rivet head. In this respect, a spreading effect directed from the inside to the outside is exerted onto the rivet peg generally transversely to the follow-up movement direction during the follow-up movement of the process element by its spigot entering into the hollow space of the rivet peg and the rivet peg is beaded over in the doughy state to form the rivet heat. A corresponding apparatus for the connection of objects is also set forth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of joining dissimilar materials, particularly a non-ferrous component to a ferrous component to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet is driven through the assembly by a welding electrode. The rivet pierces and passes through the non-ferrous component and then at least into contact with the ferrous component to thereby form a mechanical interlock. An electrical current is then applied to this mechanical retention to melt a portion of the rivet as well as a portion of the ferrous metal in the joining region. The flow of electrical current is then stopped after several welding cycles where the now melted material is allowed to solidify upon cooling, thereby forming a weld.

Abstract: A sandwich structure does not permit the permeation of water and a sandwich structure repairing method is capable of easily repairing the sandwich structure. A sandwich structure (1) includes a core (4) formed of a closed-cell foam plastic material, and surface plates (2, 3) formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material containing hydrophobic inorganic fibers as reinforcing fibers and bonded to the opposite surfaces of the core (4). Water is unable to permeate the sandwich structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an improved pultruded and clinched Z-axis fiber reinforced composite laminate structure. The upper and lower skins and the core are pulled automatically through tooling where the skin material is wetted-out with resin and the entire composite laminate is preformed in nearly its final thickness. The preformed composite laminate continues to be pulled into an automatic 3-dimensional Z-axis fiber deposition machine that deposits “groupings of fiber filaments” at multiple locations normal to the plane of the composite laminate structure and cuts each individual grouping such that an extension of each “grouping of fiber filaments” remains above the upper skin and below the lower skin. The preformed composite laminate then continues to be pulled into a secondary wet-out station.

Abstract: Transducer suspensions are attached to actuator arms by means of bonding a portion of a thermoplastic actuator arm to the magnetic recording head suspension assembly. The actuator arm has rail portions that provide a channel in which the load beam and base plate flange fit. The rail portions are ultrasonically welded using a clamping ultrasonic horn, which causes melted plastic to flow over the flange The clamping ultrasonic horn causes heat to be applied and focused at prongs to cause the rails to flow and expand onto the flange rigidly connecting the base plate and load beam to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A method of bonding a magnetic disk drive head suspension to an actuator arm. The actuator arm has a boss hole therein and the suspension includes a base plate with an inside diameter or barrel therein. A thermoplastic cylindrical core is fabricated with a barrel therein. The suspension and actuator arm are clamped together to form a head stack assembly in which the base plate inside diameter is aligned with the boss hole in the actuator arm. The thermoplastic cylindrical core is passed through the base plate inside diameter and the boss hole in the actuator arm. A heating tool, such as an ultrasonic horn is passed through the barrel of the cylindrical core and heated causing the cylindrical core expand and bond to the base plate inside diameter and to the actuator arm boss hole.