Abstract: A tee nut includes a shaft portion and a flange portion outwardly extending from a first end of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a step around the periphery thereof at on an intermediate position of its axial length, a forward end side cylindrical portion having a hollow cylindrical shape located between the second end of the shaft portion and the step, and a base end side enlarged cylindrical portion having inner and outer diameters larger than those of the forward end side cylindrical portion. The forward end side cylindrical portion includes a predeterminate caulked part formed over a prescribed length from the second end and a female screw forming part between the step and the predeterminate caulked part.

Abstract: A fastener assembly and a method for making the same wherein a non-fanged fastener is affixed to a retainer by the interaction of a tab and a stake. The fastener assembly preferably includes a retainer having a face with an opening and a tab positioned adjacent to the opening. The tab protrudes from the face and extends over the fastener. A staking die forms a stake which extends into engagement with the retainer such that the fastener is retained to the retainer by the interaction of the tab and the stake.

Abstract: A compressor housing is sealed around the bolt head without the use of an intervening sealing washer. Instead, the bolt hole is machined through the compressor housing in such a way as to assure that the sharp circular edge of the bolt hole always has a degree of radial overlap with the rounded corner that makes the transition from the body of the bolt to the flat undersurface of the bolt. Then, when the bolt is tightened, it is assured that the sharp corner of the bolt hole will be hit and be rounded over by the rounded corner of the bolt head into a closely matching configuration. This assures good, close contact and a tight gas seal. It also allows for over tightening the bolt head, because the ideal sealing pressure will still be attained at some point moving radially inwardly along the interface between bolt head round corner and the deformed bolt hole edge.

Abstract: An improved self-riveting fastening element for permanent attachment to a metal panel within a panel opening by 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.

Abstract: A Tee-nut with flareable portion comprises a flange head, a plurality of prongs extending from the flange head, and a hollow barrel extending from the flange head. The hollow barrel has an internally threaded portion provided at one end of the barrel connecting to the flange head, and an enlarged flareable portion extending from the internally threaded portion and provided at a free end of the barrel. The end of the enlarged flareable portion is radiussed inwardly so as to form an end opening having a diameter which reduced in relation to the diameter of the flareable portion to facilitate insertion into a hole in a workpiece. The present invention further discloses a workpiece fitted with such a Tee-nut.

Abstract: A fastener, for example a nut element, for attachment to a plate-like component with an end face of the fastener having a recess within a raised contact surface and a plurality of projections and undercuts are provided in a sidewall of the recess. The base surface of the recess extends up to the bore of the fastener without the presence of a pilot portion and a plurality of recesses are provided in the contact surface for resisting rotation. The die button which serves for the attachment of the fastener to a plate-like component has a hole-forming punch projection which has a plurality of noses distributed around the periphery in the region of the transition to the planar surface of the die button. On attachment of the hollow element to a plate-like component in a press, the sheet metal part is perforated by a hole punch and is molded in form-locked manner by the die button, in particular by its hole-forming punch projection, into the recess of the hollow element.

Abstract: An expansion dowel (1) is formed of an axially extending dowel member (2) having a leading end and a trailing end. The trailing end has an outwardly projecting collar (9) with an expansion region extending axially from the trailing end toward the leading end with at least one axially extending slot (7) or breakout groove therein. The dowel member (2) has a central throughbore (3) arranged to receive an expanding element (8). Throughbore (3) has an inside thread (15) in its leading end region. The expanding element (8) is an axially extending sleeve insertable into the trailing end of the throughbore (3) for expanding the expansion region (6).

Abstract: A method of riveting a plurality of panels utilizing a fastener which may then be used to attach a further element to the panel assembly and wherein the fastener is first permanently attached to a first panel for a later attachment to a second or plurality of panels to form the fastener and panel assembly. The fastener is attached to the first panel by piercing a tubular barrel portion through the panel and affixing the first panel in an annular groove in a flange portion surrounding the barrel portion. The groove includes radial ribs preventing rotation of the fastener in the first panel and a radial rib is deformed in an outer surface of the barrel portion preventing pull-out of the fastener. The second and further panels are pre-pierced with a conical lip surrounding the panel opening and received on the barrel portion of the fastener with the conical lip facing the first panel.

Abstract: A male clinch fastener adapted to be secured to a sheet by cold-forming includes a generally cylindrical head having a threaded shaft extending outwardly therefrom and a plurality of circumferentially distributed splines. Longitudinally extending portions of the splines are adapted to be displaced by cold-forming or a peeling action to form a laterally extending flange along a medial portion of the head. The clinch fastener also preferably includes a laterally extending flange at one end cooperating with the cold-formed flange to secure the fastener within a pilot, or collar, formed at an opening in the sheet to which the clinch bolt is secured. The splines adjacent the end flange are also secured within the pilot of the sheet and prevent rotation of the clinch fastener.

Abstract: A female clinch fastener adapted to be secured to a sheet by cold-forming includes a generally tubular body having a plurality of circumferentially distributed splines. Longitudinally extending portions of the splines are adapted to be displaced by cold-forming or a peeling action to form a laterally extending flange along a medial portion of the tubular body. The clinch fastener also preferably includes a laterally extending flange at one end cooperating with the cold-formed flange to secure the fastener within a pilot, or collar, formed at an opening in the sheet to which the clinch nut is secured. The splines adjacent the end flange are also secured within the pilot of the sheet and prevent rotation of the clinch fastener.

Abstract: An electrical grounding connector, electrical grounding connector assembly, and a method of attaching an electrical grounding connector and electrical grounding connector assembly to an electrically conductive panel is disclosed. The grounding connector assembly includes a grounding stud connector having a body portion disposed between, and integrally joining, a stud portion and a riveting portion. The body portion includes a flange extending generally radially from the body portion and the flange includes a panel engaging surface and a lug engaging surface. A protective nut is adapted to engage and substantially cover the stud portion of the grounding stud connector thereby protecting the stud portion from contaminants. Barbed elements are disclosed on various surfaces of the grounding connector thereby giving the grounding connector excellent electrically conductive properties when it is assembled to an electrically conductive panel.

Abstract: A fastener assembly, a fastener assembly assembled to a member, and a method of attaching a fastener assembly to a member is disclosed. The fastener assembly includes a male fastener element which is fastened to a female fastener element wherein the male fastener element is adapted to engage and pierce through a panel. The female fastener element is adapted to rivet itself to the panel thereby forming a secure mechanical interlock between the female fastener and the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the female and male fastener include threaded surfaces which cooperatively engage one another thereby permitting the male fastener to be easily removed and used to fasten a structural member, or the like to the female fastener/panel assembly. While the fastener assembly is particularly suited for self-piercing applications, it may be used equally well in pre-pierced panel applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Tee nut which can form a hole in a work piece with no problem by driving of the Tee nut itself, without previously forming a hole in the work piece. A closure member is engaged in a hollow shaft portion, to divide a portion to be caulked from a female threading carrier portion. A punched-out portion resulting from a hole which is formed by driving of a Tee nut itself is prevented by the closure member from reaching the female threading carrier portion, so that the punched-out portion can be discharged at the same time by extruding the closure member.

Abstract: A fastener and panel assembly, such as a stud or nut fastener and sheet metal panel assembly, wherein the fastener is permanently attached to the panel in a panel opening. The fastener includes a body portion having an annular bearing surface, preferably including a plurality of radially extending ribs bearing against the panel surrounding the panel opening. The fastener includes a riveting portion extending through the panel opening having a radial groove preferably spaced from the overall plane of the panel and the panel is deformed into the groove, substantially filling the groove and forming a secure mechanical interlock. In the stud fastener embodiment, the shank portion of the fastener extends through the panel opening, which is preferably threaded to attach a structural element to the panel.

Abstract: Two or more bodies of sheet-like material are secured together with a single rivet-like fastening device which has an expanded head, a shank extending from the expanded head and a chamfer at the junction of the expanded head and the shank having a radius which is larger adjacent the head and which has bosses extending radially therefrom. An aperture is formed in the first body of material which substantially conforms to the radial dimensions of the shank and the shank is inserted into the aperture. A shaped aperture having radial dimensions which cooperate with the shank to define voids adjacent the shank is formed in the second body of material and the shank inserted into the shaped aperture. The shank is then axially compressed to force the first body over the chamfer and deform part of the first body into the voids in the second body, thus locking the first and second bodies together.

Abstract: A locking fastener in accordance with the invention comprises a head or a nut body having a radially outer surface defining an outer periphery of selectible configuration and a height dimension defining an axial direction. A shank or a locking neck portion extends axially from the head or nut body and has a radially outer surface defining an outer diameter of smaller cross-sectional dimension than the outer periphery of the head or nut body. A substantially flat radially extending locking surface is defined on the head or nut body between the outer surface thereof and the outer surface of the shank or locking neck, and a plurality of raised locking ribs extend across at least a portion of the locking surface, each of the ribs being arranged angularly offset in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the nut to attain advancement toward a clamped engagement, (viz.

Abstract: A tee nut has a stem portion and a flange portion which are integrally made by sheet metal processing using an iron sheet. The stem portion has a crimping portion at an end opposite to the flange portion. The inner peripheral surface excluding the crimping portion is formed with a female thread. The flange portion is provided with a plurality of pawls formed by radially inwardly deforming part of the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion from the outside. The pawls inhibit rotation of the nut relative to an object to which the nut is secured. The pawls can be driven into the object concurrently with the crimping applied to the crimping portion. A radially outwardly open notch is formed in each pawl simultaneously with the deformation of the pawls.

Abstract: An electrical grounding connector, electrical grounding connector assembly, and a method of attaching an electrical grounding connector and electrical grounding connector assembly to an electrically conductive panel is disclosed. The grounding connector assembly includes a grounding stud connector having a body portion disposed between, and integrally joining, a stud portion and a riveting portion. The body portion includes a flange extending generally radially from the body portion and the flange includes a panel engaging surface and a lug engaging surface. A protective nut is adapted to engage in substantially cover the stud portion of the grounding stud connector thereby protecting the stud portion from contaminants. Barbed elements are disclosed on various surfaces of the grounding connector thereby giving the grounding connector excellent electrically conductive properties when it is assembled to an electrically conductive panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fastener installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button. The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding a central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel.

Abstract: In interconnecting construction between a bolt and a mounting plate such as a shell of a brake booster is disclosed. A sealing, annular projection is formed in an end face of a bolt head so as to surround a bolt shank which is formed with a serration. Both the annular projection and the serration are caused to bite into the opposite surfaces of the mounting plate, whereby an excellent sealing effect and locking action against rotation are simultaneously achieved.

Abstract: An improved joint structure and tooling apparatus are provided for assembling a self-clinching fastener to sheet material, particularly sheet metal. The fastener includes head and shank portions with an intermediate locking groove formed in the shank. The fastener shank projects through the aperture and the head is at least partially embedded within the peripheral material surrounding the sheet metal aperture. A portion of the peripheral sheet metal is disposed within the groove to form a mechanical interlock for securement of the joint assembly. The shank has an outwardly flared end portion which is staked so that it has an exposed surface coplanar or flush with the exposed, opposite surface of the sheet material relative to the embedded fastener head, which provides a smooth continuous undersurface of the joint.

Abstract: An installation apparatus and method of attaching a female element, such as a nut, to a panel, wherein the panel is pierced and the female element is permanently installed in the pierced panel opening in a continuous operation. The female element includes a body portion and an annular barrel portion. In one of the methods disclosed, the panel is pierced by the free end of the barrel portion and the panel slug is disposed in the barrel portion as the nut is installed in the panel. In the presently preferred method, the panel is pierced by a punch received through the body and barrel portions, prior to driving the female element into a mechanical interlock with the panel. In the preferred installation, the free end of the barrel portion is deformed into a hook-shaped end portion, opening toward the body portion, and the panel is simultaneously driven into the hook-shaped barrel end portion, forming a very secure mechanical interlock.

Abstract: A method of attaching a female element having an annular riveting portion to a panel and the installation apparatus. The method includes driving a punch through the female element into a panel supported on a die member forming an unsupported cone-shaped panel portion in the cavity of the die member. The punch includes an axially extending piercing end which pierces a small opening in the cone-shaped panel portion and an arcuate drawing portion which is driven against and through the panel opening, enlarging the panel opening. The annular riveting portion of the female element is then driven into the cone-shaped panel portion and through the panel opening, drawing the panel portion into a tubular shape engaging the external surface of the riveting portion. Finally, the riveting portion is driven against a center post of the die member, radially outwardly deforming the free end of the riveting portion and forming a mechanical interlock with the tubular panel portion.

Abstract: An installation apparatus and method of attaching a female element, such as a nut, to a panel, wherein the panel is pierced and the female element is permanently installed in the pierced panel opening in a continuous operation. The female element includes a body portion and an annular barrel portion. In one of the methods disclosed, the panel is pierced by the free end of the barrel portion and the panel slug is disposed in the barrel portion as the nut is installed in the panel. In the presently preferred method, the panel is pierced by a punch received through the body and barrel portions, prior to driving the female element into a mechanical interlock with the panel. In the preferred installation, the free end of the barrel portion is deformed into a hook-shaped end portion, opening toward the body portion, and the panel is simultaneously driven into the hook-shaped barrel end portion, forming a very secure mechanical interlock.

Abstract: An anchor for secure reception of a fastener such as a screw shank can be frictionally welded, by high-speed rotation of the anchor, to the structure upon which the fastener is mounted. The anchor is molded from frictionally meltable material, for example a typical engineering thermoplastic such as ABS resin. The anchor has a generally cylindrical body with an end face at one end defining a surface for frictional welding to the compatible structure. The end face has an aperture which receives the screw shank or the like. The cylindrical body has a cup-like configuration having a cavity formed therein extending from the end face to an open end at the opposite end of the cylindrical body. A cylindrical boss is formed within the cavity and extends from the aperture at an entrance end for receiving the fastener. The boss has a frangible cap covering the end of its bore opposite the entrance end.

Abstract: The fastener includes a nut, a basket, and a sleeve, the latter being received in an opening in a workpiece with its outer end flared to form an attaching flange. Spaced rounded lobes on the sleeve extend the full length of the opening and become embedded in the wall of the opening. The sleeve includes a corner surface adjacent its head which compresses and deforms the workpiece at one corner of the opening. A tool having an annular bulge is forced into the sleeve to expand it against the wall of the opening. When the end of the sleeve is flared to form the attacking flange, the other corner of the opening in the workpiece is compressed and cold-worked. The forces exerted by the sleeve on the workpiece greatly increase the fatigue life of the workpiece.

Abstract: A structure, which interlocks a relatively thin sheet of material with a relatively heavy member, for example, a hub member with a sheet metal fan structure, comprises the hub on one end having a groove dividing the hub into an inner sleeve-like shoulder having a length substantially greater than the thickness of the sheet-like member, the groove has a wider base than the throat adjacent a second outwardly extending shoulder on which the member rests. The sleeve is cut into a plurality of segments with alternate segments being deformed to force a portion of the edge of the sheet-like member into the groove to form a spline connection with the hub.

Abstract: A sheet metal clinch nut receives an extruded portion of the workpiece in an aperture in the nut. Part of the extruded portion is swaged radially outwardly of the aperture and locks or clinches the nut onto the workpiece. A screw threads into the nut below the extruded portion of the workpiece. In some forms of the invention the nut is tubular. In other forms the nut comprises a pair of generally parallel arms. The extruded portion of the workpiece extends through an aperture in the first arm and rotation preventing teeth or serrations lock the nut against rotational movement. A self-tapping fastener is inserted creating threads in the workpiece extrusion and then in a second arm of the clinch nut. Tightening of the fastener causes the second arm to deflect toward the first locking the fastener against rotrograde movement. Also disclosed is a simple tool for advancing an interconnected strip of clinch nuts, severing the leading nut and staking the workpiece to it.

Abstract: An anchor nut fastener device is of the type comprising a tubular body portion (11) and a nut portion (12) which tapers externally, whereby when the body portion is inserted in a suitable hole in a workpiece and the nut portion (12) is forced into the body portion (11), the taper on the nut portion (12) both radially expands the body portion into engagement with the wall of the workpiece hole and also engages the nut portion in the body portion, thereby to provide an anchor nut in the workpiece. The external taper on the nut portion (12) comprises a first, relatively long, part (24) of a relatively shallow taper and a second, relatively short, part (26) of relatively steep taper further away from the body portion than is the first part and extending radially outwardly of the first part. The end of the body portion (11) is enlarged to provide a head (10), and a countersink (14) into which the leading end of the nut can be enlarged.

Abstract: A method for hardening a portion of a fiberglass product and fibrous product with a hardened portion are disclosed. A heated thermoplastic resinous material is applied to a fibrous product. The thermoplastic resinous material has a viscosity that allows the resin to permeate the fibrous product. THe resinous material is only applied to the portion of the fibrous product to be hardened. The resinous material is then cooled whereby the resinous material solidifies and the portion of the fibrous product permeated with the resins is substantially hardened.

Abstract: A drive fastener designed to be hammered into penetrable material. One end of the drive fastener is split. The opposite end of the drive fastener contains threads. A pair of nuts are threaded together on the threaded end of the drive fastener to receive the impact of a hammering device for driving the fastener into penetrable material. When being driven, the split end spreads while penetrating to secure the fastener in place. The nuts are then removed and a single nut may be used to secure an object to the set fastener.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a metal nut compacted and welded within the thickness of a metal sheet, within a sheet-aperture of lesser diameter than a top of the nut, spaced-apart compacted edge portions of the nut's top having a larger diameter than the nut's top at other edge locations in the compacted state, and the sheet's malleable metal of bottom portions thereof adjacent the aperture being compacted against and welded to malleable metal of a circumscribing side wall of the nut.

Abstract: An abrasive disc includes a rotatable sheet. Abrasive particles are disposed on a first side of the sheet to provide an abrasive action. Coupled to the sheet means are (1) a first portion defining at least one internal thread in spaced relationship to the opposite surface of the sheet for threaded coupling with an externally threaded mandrel, (2) a second portion extending from the first portion along the opposite surface of the sheet and providing a transmittal of force from the first portion and (3) a third portion extending from the second portion into coupled relationship with the sheet and receiving the transmitted force and providing a force for driving the sheet means. The first portion of the coupling defines a boss disposed on the opposite surface of the sheet in spaced relationship to the sheet and having an opening operative as a single-turn internal thread.

Abstract: For metal plate having a thickness of at least 1/4 inch thick, having a die-punched aperature therein characterized by a die-side hole of a greater diameter and flared aperature channel walls at the die-side hole as compared to an opposite punch-side hole of lesser diameter, inserting into the die-side hole a lower end of a shaft of a particular nut through the aperature and out of the punch-side hole, before pressing the nut downwardly into the aperature a lower edge of a nut head of a diameter larger than the aperature's diameter and smaller than the diameter of the die-side hole at a face of the metal plate on the die-side thereof, being positioned to rest on the flared aperature channel walls at a point spaced-below the face of the plate on the die-side face thereof, pressing the nut downwardly into the aperature, and pressing metal material of the metal plate into a recessed-space formed along an intermediate portion of the nut's shaft in which the intermediate portion has a reduced diameter as compared