Abstract: The present invention is a weld adapter including a body portion having a first aperture and at least two flanges connected to the body portion. The present invention also includes a second aperture formed in one of the at least two flanges, with the second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture. Additionally, one of the flanges is adaptable for being connected to a structure.

Abstract: Process for attaching a functional element to a plastically deformable flat material or workpiece, the functional element on a contact surface having a rivet collar which is formed by a hollow or tubular section and which stands away over this surface, in the joining area in the flat material by plastic deformation a dome-like section being formed which with its base projects over the plane of the flat material surrounding this section and on the base has a joining opening, and the attachment of the functional element to the flat material in a joining and riveting process taking place by insertion of the rivet collar into the joining opening and by plastic deformation of the rivet collar such that the base is held in a region of the base which surrounds the joining opening between the deformed rivet collar and the contact surface or end side of the functional element, the functional element being anchored on the edge region which surrounds the joining opening without reducing the diameter of the joining openi

Abstract: A bracket recessed portion of a bracket is inserted into a vehicular jig recessed portion of a vehicular jig, and a washer is put on a face of the bracket through an elastic member on a side opposite from a contact face of the bracket contacting the vehicular jig. The bracket is fixed by inserting a screw into a washer screw hole, an elastic member screw hole, a bracket screw hole and an attachment member screw hole from a side of the washer opposite from a contact face of the washer contacting the bracket. Thus, vibration of the bracket can be damped economically.

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: The invention relates to a fixing element having a concentric end face forming a frictional surface for friction welding joining to a flat part by rotational force and axial force applied by the fixing element to the part, and having multiple radially oriented ridges on the end face. The ridges are limited in the direction of rotation by a front groove introduced into the friction surface, the ridges rising only slightly over the friction surface in the axial direction and being provided with a scraping surface that pushes the material scraped during the friction welding process into the front groove.

Abstract: A welding stud including a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank has an end region opposite the head and the end region includes at least two angled surfaces which incline towards an axis of the shank in a direction moving away from the head.

Abstract: A method of connecting a metallic bolt to a plastic work piece is shown and described. The object to provide a method which makes possible a reliable connection between metal workpieces on the one hand and plastic workpieces on the other hand is achieved in that a first plastic work piece and a metallic bolt are provided, and in that the bolt is pressed into a surface of the first plastic workpiece, the bolt being rotated during the pressing-in, and the rotational speed of the bolt being selected in such a way that the first plastic workpiece is plasticized, so that the bolt is anchored in the first plastic workpiece in a positive-locking manner after the rotation is stopped.

Abstract: A weld nut has a base panel and a nut. The base panel has a through hole formed therethrough and multiple weld points formed on a bottom thereof. The nut is mounted securely in the through hole in the base panel and has a nut body, a connecting section and a threaded hole. The connecting section is formed on and protrudes axially from the nut body and is mounted securely in the through hole. The threaded hole is formed through the nut body and the connecting section to screw with a bolt. The base panel has a lower carbon content and has an excellent weldability to make the weld points easy to be welded on a workpiece. The nut has a higher carbon content and has an enhanced hardness to prevent deformation resulting from an axial force.

Abstract: An integrated bracket for attaching multiple components to a vehicle instrument panel reinforcement includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion is configured to receive a first component and the second attachment portion is configured to receive a second component. The integrated bracket also includes at least one flange for attaching the integrated bracket to an instrument panel reinforcement.

Abstract: A weldable nut assembly includes a plate body and a nut body. The plate body has top and bottom sides, and is formed with an installation hole, and a plurality of welding portions that protrude from the bottom side of the plate body. The nut body includes a nut portion that abuts against the top side of the plate body and that is in spatial communication with the installation hole, an upper annular flange that abuts against the top side of the plate body, and a lower annular flange that extends downwardly and coaxially from a bottom side of the nut portion, that extends into the installation hole, and that is machined so as to abut against the plate body. The lower annular flange has a plurality of teeth that abut against the plate body and that cooperate with the upper annular flange for clamping the plate body therebetween.

Abstract: A fastener with a shank and, arranged at one end of the shank, a head intended for welding to a workpiece, has multiple detent pawls formed on the shank that extend radially outward from the shank toward the head and that are elastically resilient in the radially inward direction. On the outside, each detent pawl has an engagement recess with support surfaces. The shank has a longitudinal hole, in which is located a stud, wherein one end of the stud projects out of the longitudinal hole and forms the head for welding. Also formed on the shank is a flange that is elastically resilient in the axial direction, whose outermost edge region is located opposite the engagement recess of the detent pawls.

Abstract: A welding stud apparatus and method of manufacturing a welding stud are disclosed. The welding stud has a weld end constructed to be welded to a workpiece that has at least one recess formed therein. The recess decreases an effective arc area of the weld end to localize a current therethrough and increase the efficiency with which the welding stud can be welded to a workpiece.

Abstract: A fastening system is providing, the fastening system has a weld stud having an annular weldment portion and a fracturable nut. The fracturable nut and stud construction is configured to fail under torsional load prior to the structural parts failure.

Abstract: A vehicle floating nut assembly is part of a body mounting fixture that couples a vehicle body onto a vehicle frame. The floating nut assembly has a nut element that floats with in a nut retainer assembly. At least one of the sliding surfaces located between the nut element and the retainer assembly is coated with a coating resistant material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Thus, the nut retainer assembly is arranged so that the nut element is slideable relative to the planar surface of the retainer assembly within a predetermined range of movement. Several floating nut assemblies are utilized to fixedly couple the vehicle body to the vehicle frame in which one of the vehicle floating nut assemblies includes is arranged to only allow limited movement of the nut element in one linear direction.

Abstract: This invention firstly relates to a method for joining a first component made of a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material, to a second component by applying a joining element on the first component, wherein the joining element has a supporting plate formed of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material and comprising a connecting means and a supporting plate bore. The method comprising the steps of incorporating a bore into the first component; welding the supporting plate to the first component; and joining the first component and the second component by incorporating a joining means arranged on the second component into the connecting means. Due to welding of the supporting plate to the first component, a rivet joint, otherwise generally required for joining the supporting plate to the first component, can be omitted, whereby the production of a junction by means of the inventive joining means is considerably simplified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functional element (10) comprising a longitudinal axis (14), a body part (16), a hollow pressed part (18), an annular supporting surface (20) which is arranged on the body part, substantially extended in a perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and is radially displaced away from the pressed part and an annular groove (21) which axially extends and is embodied in the body part radially inside the supporting surface. Locking ribs (26) are preferably provided and at least partly cross the annular groove and the free end (28) of the pressed part is provided with a annular cutting edge (30). The inventive functional element is characterised in that an annular bulge (32) is embodied on the pressed part between the annular supporting surface and the free end of the pressed part and an annular cavity (34) is embodied around said pressed part between the bulge and the front free end thereof.

Abstract: A fastening system is providing, the fastening system has a weld stud having an annular weldment portion and a fracturable nut. The fracturable nut and stud construction is configured to fail under torsional load prior to the structural parts failure.

Abstract: A weld stud includes a cylindrical body having an outer surface and opposing first and second ends. At least one groove is formed in the outer surface of the cylindrical body. The groove extends helically about the cylindrical body from the first end toward the second end of the cylindrical body. A thread is formed on the cylindrical body and extends longitudinally from the first end towards the second end of the cylindrical body. The thread projects radially outward from the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A weld nut has a base panel and a nut. The base panel has a through hole formed through and multiple weld points formed on a bottom of the base panel. The nut is mounted securely in the through hole in the base panel and has a nut body, a connecting section and a threaded hole. The connecting section is formed on and protrudes axially from the nut body, is mounted securely in the through hole. The threaded hole is formed through the nut body and the connecting section to screw with a bolt. The base panel has a lower carbon content and has an excellent weldability to make the weld points easy to be welded on a workpiece. The nut has a higher carbon content and has an enhanced hardness to prevent deformation resulted from an axial force.

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 molded product includes a receiving member in a body. A coupling component such as a female screw component is embedded in the receiving member. A connecting piece is formed continuous to the body and the receiving member based on integral molding. The connecting piece extends to the receiving member from the body inside a bore formed in the body. The connecting piece may form a single flat plate in the molded product, so that a general cutting device can be utilized to cut through the connecting piece in a facilitated manner. The receiving member can be removed from the body without any difficulty. The receiving member can be separated from the body.

Abstract: A method of assembling a captive panel fastener to a printed circuit board comprises the steps of placing an axially-extending shank of a captive fastener retainer through a mounting hole in a printed circuit board, soldering the retainer to the printed circuit board, cooling the retainer, and then affixing a retractable screw assembly including a plastic screw cap to the retainer by snap attachment of the screw cap to an outside surface of the retainer.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly is disclosed having a body defining a through bore. The cage is disposed about at least a portion of the body. The body is hexagonal in shape, while the cage defines a seam configured to be placed adjacent the coupling surface of the cage and base material.

Abstract: A method of attaching a functional element (10, 210), in particular a fastener element to a sheet metal part (12, 212), optionally in liquid and/or gas-tight manner, is characterized in that the functional element (10, 210, 410) is pressed against the sheet metal part (12, 210, 410) supported by a die (14, 114, 214, 414) and sheet metal material (13) is pressed by means of at least one movably mounted shaped part (16, 116, 216, 416) of the die (14, 114, 214, 414) into an undercut (18, 218, 418) of the functional element (10, 210, 410). The disclosure also claims a die, a functional element, and a component assembly comprising the functional element and a sheet metal part.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding a screw captive to a printed circuit board (PCB), with a channel formed through the apparatus and a mounting hole formed through the PCB being in alignment to allow a screw to pass therethrough.

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 cage nut assembly includes a nut and a cage wrapped therearound. The nut has a number of stand-offs or protrusions provided on a lower surface thereof such that the stand-offs are the only part of the nut which are in contact with the cage. The stand-offs reduce the amount of bearing surface interface between the cage and the nut thus reducing the possibility that the two parts will stick to each other after a coating is applied to the mating surface which the cage is welded to. The nut is engaged by a male threaded fastener which is torqued into place and the stand-offs push into the material of the cage causing the cage material to flow out of the way such that the stand-offs embed into the material of the cage without deforming the stand-offs to a flattened condition.

Abstract: A nut includes a bottom wall adapted to be connected fixedly to a printed circuit board, and an annular surrounding wall extending integrally from a periphery of the bottom wall away from the printed circuit board, having a threaded inner wall surface, and cooperating with the bottom wall to define a threaded blind hole for engagement with a bolt.

Abstract: An anchor nut device for attachment to a structure, the device defining a threaded bore for the reception therein of a corresponding member. The device includes an anchor nut which is fabricated from a first material, the nut defining the bore and a plurality of radially extending ears. A base plate is fabricated from a second material, the plate having a first and a second face, the first face cooperating with the plurality of ears. The second face of the plate defines a plurality of dimples for facilitating welding of the plate to the structure. A plurality of arms extend from the plate, such that each ear of the plurality of ears is disposed between a corresponding arm of the plurality of arms and the first face of the plate for capturing the nut relative to the plate. Also, a stop extends from the anchor nut, the stop being disposed between adjacent ears for controlling rotational movement of the anchor nut relative to the plate.

Abstract: A member for being joined to a mating member is provided. The member includes a number of drive sections that are engagable by a driver having corresponding driver sections. The rotation of the driver causes the member to be joined to the mating member. Each drive section can include a drive face body, a flat and a ramp. Each of them has an angular extent for desired contact with and engagement by the driver sections. The drive sections are integral with a drive support of the member. The drive sections can be located at a border section of the drive support. In one embodiment, the drive of the member is comprised of an inner drive and an outer drive. In another embodiment, the member is hollow. Different sized members can be joined to different mating members using the same driver. The drive is configured, particularly the ramp thereof, to substantially reduce unwanted removal of the member from the mating member.

Abstract: A fastener nut is formed with anti-cross threading features that include a rounded or chamfered edge at the entry end to the nut, followed by an unthreaded cylindrical counterbore that extends axially from the entry end to the threaded section of the bore. The rounded or chamfered entry end prevents cross threading and the unthreaded section is of sufficient length to ensure substantially collinear alignment between the threaded fastener and the correspondingly threaded nut before threaded engagement occurs. An optional radiused portion is formed between the unthreaded and threaded sections of the nut to further prevent cross threading. The nut can be a weld nut formed with weld protrusions which enable the nut to be welded to a large structural member before mating engagement with a threaded fastener occurs. The nut can additionally have convex or concave or other tactile feed back features that induce vibration when a large off-angle is being attempted.

Abstract: A weld-on part made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, such as but not limited to a stud (1), which has a surface which is at least partially provided with a layer (5) which contains a titanium containing material. The stud (1) is treated with a chrome-free passivating solution which imparts corrosion resistance while simultaneously causing a layer (5) of titanium containing material to be formed on at least a portion of the surface of the stud (1). The layer (5) of titanium containing material permits the stud (1) to be satisfactorily welded to a surface, without the occurrence of arc jumping or blowing, in part, by lowering contact resistance during the welding process.

Abstract: A weld nut has weld projections on both sides. The projections concentrate heat and melt when in contact with a component part, to form a lasting weld of the nut to the component part. Because there are weld projections on both sides of the nut, there is no risk that the nut will be placed against the component part upside down.

Abstract: A fastening system is providing, the fastening system has a weld stud having an annular weldment portion and a fracturable nut. The fracturable nut and stud construction is configured to fail under torsional load prior to the structural parts failure.

Abstract: A two-piece panel fastener includes a barrel-shaped metal retainer which holds a screw. The screw includes a threaded shaft and a plastic cap which has longitudinally-extending resilient fingers which engage the outer surface of the retainer to captivate the screw. The retainer has a chamfered top flange along its top edge, a circumferential bulge area around its outer surface approximately in the middle of its length, and a base at the bottom. Two circumferential valley regions of reduced diameter are located along the outer surface of the retainer. The first valley region is located between the chamfered top flange and the bulge area and the second is located between the bulge area and the base. When the fingers occupy either of the valley regions, the screw is captively held at either of two stable positions of retraction or extension. The retainer is preferably rigidly affixed to a circuit board by soldering a base flange at the bottom of the retainer to the top surface of the board.

Abstract: A weld nut has weld projections on both sides. The projections concentrate heat and melt when in contact with a component part, to form a lasting weld of the nut to the component part. Because there are weld projections on both sides of the nut, there is no risk that the nut will be placed against the component part upside down.

Abstract: A cage for a cage fastener includes a base and sides, with a flap integral with one side bendable to be disposed in spaced relation to the base and overlying the base. A distal edge of the flap and a distal edge of one of the sides define a cooperating locking structure whereby the position of the flap relative to the side can be secured, with a fastener positioned between the flap and the base.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent weld nut wherein the weld nut and an iron plate are closely fixed together by inserting extra metal materials upon welding into a groove around a weld projection. The present invention relates to weld nuts each having such a groove in the vicinity of such a weld projection.

Abstract: A fastening system is providing, the fastening system has a weld stud having an annular weldment portion and a fracturable nut. The fracturable nut and stud construction is configured to fail under torsional load prior to the structural parts failure.

Abstract: A fastener nut is formed with anti-cross threading features that include a rounded or chamfered edge at the entry end to the nut, followed by an unthreaded cylindrical counterbore that extends axially from the entry end to the threaded section of the bore. The rounded or chamfered entry end prevents cross threading and the unthreaded section is of sufficient length to ensure substantially collinear alignment between the threaded fastener and the correspondingly threaded nut before threaded engagement occurs. An optional radiused portion is formed between the unthreaded and threaded sections of the nut to further prevent cross threading. The nut can be a weld nut formed with weld protrusions which enable the nut to be welded to a large structural member before mating engagement with a threaded fastener occurs. The nut can additionally have convex or concave or other tactile feed back features that induce vibration when a large off-angle is being attempted.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: A metal plane jointing structure includes a metal plate, a metal joint nut having a periphery flange thereon, and a layer of adhesive glue positioned therebetween. The method of making the structure includes formation and insulation of the metal plate and the metal joint nut, the de-scum process at the joint positions of the metal plate and the metal joint nut, glue coating at the joint positions of the metal joint nut and the metal plate, curing the metal plate and the metal joint nut in the oven after both of them are being positioned, and cooling the jointed metal plate and the metal joint nut at room temperatures.

Abstract: A nut fastener is formed with anti-cross threading features that include a rounded or chamfered edge at the entry end to the nut, followed by an unthreaded cylindrical counterbore that extends axially from the entry end to the threaded section of the bore. The rounded or chamfered entry end prevents cross threading and the unthreaded section is of sufficient length to ensure substantially collinear alignment between the threaded fastener and the correspondingly threaded nut before threaded engagement occurs. An optional radiused portion is formed between the unthreaded and threaded sections of the nut to further prevent cross threading. In a preferred embodiment, the anti-cross threading nut is a weld nut formed with weld protrusions which enable the nut to be welded to a large structural member before mating engagement with a threaded fastener occurs.

Abstract: A friction stir rivet is rotated and driven through a first fusible workpiece into an engaged second fusible workpiece, causing local portions of the first and second workpieces to plasticize. A slideable cap contacts the exposed surface of the first workpiece shortly after the process begins. The cap acts as a retaining element limiting plasticized material from escaping during the process. As the rivet is further driven into the members the cap slides up the rivet and actuates an angled stirring member to increase the stir radius around the body of the rivet. Once the rivet is driven into the first and second workpieces, rotation is stopped and the plasticized material cools and hardens around the rivet, creating a weld joining the workpieces and encompassing the rivet, which provides additional mechanical strength.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.

Abstract: A cage-nut assembly includes a nut positioned within a cage structure. The cage structure is configured to provide high torsional strength to prevent rotation of the nut. The cage structure has a flat base and an at least partially open end portion. The cage structure includes a blocking member preventing the nut from moving laterally along the base through the at least partially open end portion. The blocking member is relatively structurally weak in a direction orthogonal to a torsional rotation direction of the nut. The structurally weak blocking member is bendable when less than approximately 20 lbs. of force is applied to the blocking member to open the end portion and allow the nut to move laterally along the base through the end portion for removal of the nut.

Abstract: A joining assembly for mounting a fastening element to an external surface of a structural member of deformable material. The structural member is provided at its external surface with one or a plurality of joining projections engaging into respective recesses of a joining flange of said fastening element. The joining projections are provided at their free ends with upset beads obtained by material deformation of the joining projections and positively fixing the associated joining projection to the joining flange.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent weld nut wherein the weld nut and an iron plate are closely fixed together by inserting extra metal materials upon welding into a groove around a weld projection. The present invention relates to weld nuts each having such a groove in the vicinity of such a weld projection.