Nut Assembled To Substructure By Plastically Deformable Region On Nut Patents (Class 411/183)
  • Patent number: 6709210
    Abstract: A fastener having a head and two expandable legs. The fastener further has a Y-shaped funnel configuration, which has been formed by a partial cut of the legs. The sides of the Y-shaped funnel comprise inwardly bent portions which are designed to extend into the slot of an object. The bent portions produce jamming and clamping when an expanding member is inserted through a hole on the head, resulting to highly improved pulling force. The fastener may be used in slots of different widths and may be pulled easily out of the slots, if so desired, in contrast with the fasteners of the present state in the art. Further, the fastener may be used in vehicles to connect one or more parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eustathios Vassiliou Revocable
    Inventors: Joseph William Lowry, Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Patent number: 6637994
    Abstract: A fastener includes a generally square flange having arcuate corners. Eight upstanding ribs are provided, equally spaced about the periphery of the flange. When the fastener is inserted in a piece of material, the ribs dig into the surface of the piece of material to prevent the fastener from rotating when a threaded fastener is advanced into the opening through the shaft from the opposite side. Extending upwardly from the top surface of the flange is an elongated shaft having two adjacent regions, one adjacent the flange having relatively thicker threaded walls and another distal from the flange having thinner unthreaded walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Falcon Fasteners Reg'D
    Inventor: Volkmar Leistner
  • Patent number: 6632056
    Abstract: A fastening element for doubleglass panels has a threaded bolt having a forward end and provided with an expansion cone at the forward end, an annular expansion element pushed onto the expansion cone for expansion in a hole drilled in a rear glass panel and provided with an undercut in a region of a bottom of the drilled hole, a cap placed on the expansion element and resting against an end face of the threaded bolt, and a spacing sleeve arranged on a shank of the threaded bolt so as to rest against the rear glass panel and to pass through a front glass panel, the spacing sleeve having a portion engageable in the hole drilled in the rear glass panel and providing an abutment for the expansion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Lind
  • Patent number: 6543855
    Abstract: A fastener assembly for attaching a seat back to a seat bottom forming a part of a recliner mechanism. The seat back includes a plurality of apertures defined therethrough. The seat bottom includes a pivotally engaged and extending arm having a first side and a second side and to which the seat back is engaged. The fastener assembly includes a substantially cup shaped spacer having an inner annular rim defining an open interior. A multi-sided nut is provided having an enlarged and substantially annular shaped end portion integrally formed therewith. A polygonal recess is defined through the lower seatback arm and matches an exterior configuration of the nut to permit insertion of the nut through the recess and so that the enlarged annular portion abuts against the first side of the arm and the nut extending beyond the second side and through the inner annular rim defined in the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Bruck
  • Patent number: 6439819
    Abstract: A three-sided, progressively-formed threaded fastener is comprised of a plurality of planar longitudinal faces intersecting at comer areas. Shank tabs extend downward from the bottom of each of the faces at the base of the fastener. Threaded regions along the inside surface of the planar faces are coined indentations applied during the formation of the fastener. A plurality of wedge-shaped protrusions extend downward from the comer areas at the base of the fastener. The combination of shank tabs and wedge-shaped protrusions form a clinch profile along the bottom of the fastener so that it may can be affixed to a sheet of metal by clinch fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: PEM Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Swanstrom, Harold D. Ross, William P. McDonough
  • Patent number: 6409443
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fastener, which expands by the insertion of an expanding member, preferably a screw. The fastener comprises a substantially flat head and two expandable legs. The head has an upper side and a lower side, preferably separated by a gap. The head also has a hole (round, oblong or otherwise shaped) in which the expanding body may engage or pass through for expanding the legs and securing one object to another object, such as a plastic panel to a metal sheet. The fastener also comprises a Y-shaped funnel configuration, which has been formed by a partial cut of the legs. Miscellaneous configurations of the Y shaped legs provide improved guidance to the expanding member, improved engagement to at least one of the objects, such as the metal sheet for example, and improved engagement to the expanding member, among other advantages. The fastener may also comprise portions under the upper side of the head, which portions are engageable to the expanding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: WTPA, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph William Lowry, Michael Anthony Giugliano, Michael Walter Smith, Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Patent number: 6406237
    Abstract: The fastener of the fastener and panel assembly includes a body portion received in a panel opening and a tubular barrel having a free end extending radially inwardly and a midportion bowed outwardly having a diameter greater than the panel opening. The body portion has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the panel opening to form an interference fit providing torque resistance and preventing push-through of the fastener. The method of installing a fastener includes inserting the fastener body portion into the panel opening with the barrel received in a first die member and the body portion supported in the panel opening by a second die member. The end of the barrel is deformed radially inwardly and toward the body portion by the first die member and the midportion of the barrel is deformed radially outwardly preventing withdrawal of the fastener element from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: FabriSteel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, John J. Vrana
  • Publication number: 20020067975
    Abstract: The fastener of the fastener and panel assembly includes a body portion received in a panel opening and a tubular barrel having a free end extending radially inwardly and a midportion bowed outwardly having a diameter greater than the panel opening. The body portion has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the panel opening to form an interference fit providing torque resistance and preventing push-through of the fastener. The method of installing a fastener includes inserting the fastener body portion into the panel opening with the barrel received in a first die member and the body portion supported in the panel opening by a second die member. The end of the barrel is deformed radially inwardly and toward the body portion by the first die member and the midportion of the barrel is deformed radially outwardly preventing withdrawal of the fastener element from the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: FabriSteel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, John J. Vrana
  • Patent number: 6379092
    Abstract: A sealing fastener, which expands by the insertion of preferably a screw. The fastener comprises a substantially flat head and two expandable legs. The fastener has further an elastic body, especially a thermoplastic elastomer, molded at least on the lower side of the head by insert injection molding. The elastic body does not contain plasticizers which may be harmful to other plastics (such as polycarbonate and ABS for example) coming in contact with the fastener, all its surfaces are well defined, has well defined properties, and its dimensions are characterized by narrow tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: WTPA, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kanubhai Manibhai Patel, Michael Walter Smith, Edward John Smith
  • Patent number: 6357110
    Abstract: A stud electrical connection method is provided that employs a stud having a patterned external surface and a nut operably secured to the stud in a radially compressive manner, wherein the patterned external surface of the stud comprises a nonconductive coating on a portion thereof. Accordingly, installation of the nut onto the stud creates an electrically conductive path between an attached conductive member and a panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Shipp, Allen Dale Moring
  • Patent number: 6325580
    Abstract: A mounting device includes a first component and a second component. The first component has a forwardly disposed nose, a rearwardly disposed and outwardly flared cutting member, and a bore extending through the nose and cutting member and which is threaded at least along part of its length. The second component comprises a tube for fitting over the nose of the first component. In use, when the tube is fitted over the nose 15 and forced in an axial direction against the cutting member the latter progressively splits the tube substantially parallel to its axis into a plurality of “petals” which become mutually splayed out radially with respect to the axis of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: David Diamond
  • Patent number: 6305888
    Abstract: A T-Nut having a generally tubular barrel with an interior female thread and a flange with prongs bent to embed in a work piece, and in which the flange has planar sides to ride in a feed guide, and has end edges on the flange, at the leading and trailing edges of the flange, which end edges can contact respective end edges on leading and trailing T-Nuts within the feed, a generally median U-shaped depression formed in each of the leading and trailing edges and, generally arcuate recesses formed in each of the edge flange, on either side of the U-shaped depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sigma Tool & Machine
    Inventor: Herbert E. Leistner
  • Patent number: 6299399
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fastener, which expands by the insertion of an expanding member, preferably a screw through an engageable hole of the fastener. The fastener comprises a substantially flat head and two expandable legs. The head has an upper side and a lower side, preferably separated by a gap. The fastener has a hardness within a range which improves considerably the pulling force and allows the head of the fastener to be bowable upon applying said force on the expanding member, thus resulting in a gradual rather than abrupt failure. The engageable hole may be round or oblong. Additional engagement may be provided at lower portions of the fastener for improving pulling force and/or prevailing torque. Further, an elastic body may be integrally molded at least at the lower side of the head of the fastener, and preferably throughout the head of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: WTPA, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Walter Smith, Joseph William Lowry, Michael Anthony Giugliano
  • Patent number: 6224309
    Abstract: A blind fastener for compressively connecting at least two overlapping workpieces including a threaded core bolt and a pull-up nut at least partially positioned within an aperture of a hollow bolt. The nut includes a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion. The hollow bolt is sized to be received within aligned apertures in the workpieces and includes an enlarged head portion and a body portion extending from the head portion. The core bolt and the smaller diameter portion of the nut are positioned in the aperture in the hollow bolt such that when the core bolt is rotated with respect to the nut the larger diameter portion of the nut disrupts the body portion of the hollow bolt and the smaller diameter portion of the nut fills the space between the core bolt and the disrupted body portion of the hollow bolt to increase the shear and tensile load capabilities of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Albert Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6185870
    Abstract: A one-piece wood rivet having a first upper portion and a second lower portion is disclosed for use in adjustably securing a first piece of wood to a second piece of wood. A typical application of the rivet is the adjustment of a door threshold assembly. The first upper portion of the one-piece wood rivet includes a head and a flange. The second lower portion of the one-piece wood rivet includes a threaded shank which mates with a nut affixed to the second piece of wood. The head of the first upper portion of the one-piece wood rivet includes a lip which is deformable into a countersunk bore in the first piece of wood. The one-piece wood rivet resides substantially in a bore which extends through the first piece of wood. The one piece wood rivet is rotatable within the bore of the first piece of wood and is secured to the first piece of wood by its flange and the deformed lip. The second piece of wood includes a bore therethrough and a nut having threads affixed to the second piece of wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Stafast Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Mettler
  • Patent number: 6164886
    Abstract: A high strength bolt fastens a baffle plate and a former plate of a pressurized water nuclear reactor pressure vessel together. The bolt has a head portion and an integral locking member extending from the head portion for engaging one of the structural members to lock the bolt with the structural member. The integral locking member portion has a lower yield stress than the yield stress of the shank. A lower yield stress may be obtained by selective annealing. The locking member is less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in high temperature, high pressure water of commercial nuclear power reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: John C. Matarazzo, Ian L. W. Wilson, David E. Boyle, David H. Roarty, George E. Rudd
  • Patent number: 6161998
    Abstract: An internally threaded blind rivet nut is provided. The nut includes adjacent a clinchable region 14 thereof a resilient collar 18 or peripheral region dimensioned such that in use, when the rivet nut is clinched, it is capable of limited axial and/or radial float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: David M Brown
  • Patent number: 6139237
    Abstract: A metallic fastening member of a one piece configuration formed of a metal material includes a shaft and a flange extending outwards from a first end of the shaft. The shaft includes a relatively thin-walled portion to be caulked at a second end opposite to the first end. A female threading is formed at an inner peripheral face of the shaft excluding the portion to be caulked. An annular groove is formed at an outer peripheral face of the shaft or at the inner peripheral face of the portion to be caulked, so that the shaft has a partially thin wall. Since the wall of the shaft is thinner at the annular groove, the metallic fastening member can be fractured at that area so as to be separated into upper and lower pieces when detaching the metallic fastening member from a workpiece. Therefore, the metallic fastening member can be readily removed from the workpiece to facilitate the recovery work for recycling purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Nagayama Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 6129493
    Abstract: A Tee-nut having a flange head, a plurality of prongs extending from the flange head, and a hollow sleeve extending from the flange head. The hollow sleeve has an internally threaded reduced diameter waist portion connecting to the flange head, and an enlarged globular bulbous portion extending from the internally threaded waist portion. The end of the enlarged bulbous portion is radiussed inwardly to facilitate insertion into a hole in a workpiece. Also disclosed is a workpiece fitted with such a Tee-nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sigma Tool & Machine
    Inventors: Herbert E. Leistner, Paul D. Green, Richard J. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6109849
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Nagayama Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 6095738
    Abstract: A Tee nut and method of manufacture is provided which T-nut includes a flange and a hollow barrel extending from the flange. The flange is general circular and has a pair of pawls extending upwardly therefrom, each of which terminates in teeth for engaging a base member. The barrel has an end portion proximal to the flange and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion has internal female threads and the distal end portion has a smooth unthreaded inner surface. The wall thickness of the distal end portion is thinner than the wall thickness of the proximal end portion, and the outer wall diameter is essentially constant for the length of the barrel.The barrel is formed first as an elongate member extending from a strip of material initially having a constant inner diameter and an outer diameter of the proximal portion greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion, with the distal portion having a wall thickness thinner than the wall thickness of the proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Stafast Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Selle
  • Patent number: 5934851
    Abstract: A fastener assembly having improved push-out resistance and bearing engagement characteristics while maintaining serviceability by having stakes located in the sidewall flats. The fastener is mounted in the opening of a retainer and a stake is located in the sidewall. The stake extends from the sidewall and engages the retainer face without disturbing the fastener edge, such that the retainer is retained to the fastener flange by sandwiching retainer between the stake and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: MSD Stamping, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Stewart, Carl Lewis
  • Patent number: 5919016
    Abstract: A blind fastener system comprises(a) an outer sleeve (2) comprising a flange (4) at one end, which sleeve (2) is provided with a counterbore (9) at the end adjacent to the flange (4), and a relatively thin wall section (8) which extends from the flange (4) and terminates in an abutment surface (12) and;(b) an inner sleeve (14) having an inner threaded bore (20), which inner sleeve (14) comprises a head portion (16) which terminates in a shoulder (22) and a second portion (18) extending from the head portion (16) towards the operating side (24) of the fastener (10) and having a relatively thin wall (28), which second portion (18) has a shape which matches the shape of the inner bore of the outer sleeve (2).The inner and outer sleeves (2,14) are adapted to be assembled together so that the abutment surface (12) of the outer sleeve (2) abuts against the shoulder (22) of the inner sleeve (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Robin Smith, Donald W Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5863164
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Sigma Tool & Machine
    Inventor: Volkmar W. Leistner
  • Patent number: 5618144
    Abstract: A tee-nut 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 flarable portion extending from the internally threaded portion and provided at a free end of the barrel. The present invention further discloses a method of forming a tee-nut with an enlarged barrel end, by first swaging out and expanding the free end of the barrel and thereafter threading the unexpanded portion of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sigma Tool & Machine
    Inventor: Volkmar W. Leistner
  • Patent number: 5528812
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: PROFIL-Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rudolph R. M. Muller
  • Patent number: 5468104
    Abstract: A tubular stem (S) at one end of a nut cage (NC) is inserted into an opening in a wall and is expanded to connect it to the wall and to coldwork the wall material surrounding the opening for fatigue life enhancement. The nut cage (NC) includes a cage floor region (22) for receiving the central portion (46) of a nut (N). One end portion (48) of the nut base (44) is inserted into a socket (22). A second end portion (50) of the nut base (44) is moved axially into a channel (28). Then a snap ring (SR) is installed and moved to place a closed portion (52) over the nut base end portion (50). The socket (26) and channel (28) restrain the nut base (44) against rotation in the nut cage (NC). The channel (28) and a portion of the snap ring (SR) which closes the channel (28) and the axial boundaries of the socket (26) restrain the nut base (44) from axial movement out from the nut cage (NC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard F. Reid, Charles M. Copple
  • Patent number: 5460466
    Abstract: A moulded nylon glass fiber reinforced fixing device has an elongate body with leading and trailing ends, the body comprises two or more similar legs which splay apart to hold the device in position when the leading end is driven into blockwork. Devices shown are rectangular in section with legs defined by slot(s) running partially along the length of the device away from the leading end. One form of device has a slot extending through its thickness defining two legs and another two slots defining four legs. A third has two slots each extending partway through the device from opposed faces and which are parallel and separated by a readily rupturable wall part. A fourth has a slot extending between readily rupturable parts of opposed side walls of the device. Surfaces to contact blockwork may be roughened and surfaces defining slot(s) may have triangular grooves therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventors: Michael Kenny, David D. Dunkley, Anthony Gillham
  • Patent number: 5445483
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Robb M. Fultz
  • Patent number: 5431517
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a bracket to a fixed member, the fixed member and the bracket each having at least one opening therethrough, where the apparatus includes a bolt having a threaded body and a head at a first end of the threaded body, where the bolt head abuts against a first surface of the fixed member, a nut threadably engaged to a second end of the threaded body, and a spacer positioned between the fixed member and the nut having an opening therethrough, the spacer having a flared portion at a first end which engages the bracket opening, wherein the threaded body of the bolt is positioned through the bracket opening, the spacer opening and the fixed member opening and secured together by the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James S. Hoelle, Nicholas J. Van Benschoten, Ivan H. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5429466
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Nagayama Electronic Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 5423645
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rudolf R. M. Muller, Jiri Babej
  • Patent number: 5405228
    Abstract: A circular opening (54) is formed in a wall (12). A tubular shank (42) of a nut mounting unit (40) is inserted into the opening (54). The unit (40) is moved endwise to place a nut cage base (46) against the wall (12). A split sleeve (82) is installed on a small diameter portion (90) of a mandrel (M). The mandrel (M) and sleeve (82) are inserted into the tubular shank (42) from the side of the wall (12) opposite the nut cage (44). The mandrel (M) is then retracted to successfully move increasing and maximum diameter portions (90, 92) of the mandrel (M) through the split sleeve (82). The mandrel portions (92, 94) exert a radially outwardly expanding force on the split sleeve (82). The split sleeve (82) in turn imposes a radially outwardly expanding force on the tubular shank (42). This causes a plastic deformation of the tubular shank (42), creating a tight interference fit between the tubular shake (42) and the sidewall of the opening (54). In this manner, the unit (40) is firmly secured to the wall (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard F. Reid, Eric T. Easterbrook, Roger T. Bolstad, Charles M. Copple, Darryl E. Quincey, Michael A. Landy, Louis A. Champoux
  • Patent number: 5403135
    Abstract: A blind rivet nut with a pulling mandrel, having a flanged rivet tube with an internal thread has the pulling mandrel in the form of a cap screw, the cap being used to engage a setting tool. The cap screw is a self-tapping screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf Renner, Dieter Mauer
  • Patent number: 5397205
    Abstract: A fastener is provided for joining two components together, particularly advantageous with respect to aluminum components, in which a nut insert is secured within the components and a rivet is inserted into the nut. After insertion of the rivet into the nut, the rivet is offset to conform to the internal threads of the nut, and when a tool receiving bit is included on the outer face of the rivet, threaded removal of the rivet and disassembly of the components can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Diepeveen
  • Patent number: 5393179
    Abstract: The anchoring system includes a generally cylindrical anchor having first and second longitudinal portions. The first longitudinal portion includes a female threaded interior cylindrical chamber. The second longitudinal portion includes a lower chamber having a bore smaller than the threaded chamber. A pair of radial slots extends longitudinally through the second portion of the anchor. An elongated pin, having a length which does not exceed the second longitudinal portion of the anchor,is driven into the lower cylindrical chamber of the anchor. The pin expands the outer cross sectional dimension of the lower portion of the anchor. A male threaded screw completes the anchoring system. The threaded surface of the screw is complementary to the female threaded interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Robert F. Bane
  • Patent number: 5380136
    Abstract: An anchor nut mount (10) including a mount base (13) and a snap ring (14), the mount base (13) including a base plate (15) having base sidewall portions (16) and radial slots (18) defined in the outer side regions (20) of the base sidewall portions (16). The snap ring (14) includes a loop portion (32) and enlarged end knobs (34). The snap ring (14) mounts onto the mount base (13) with the loop portions (32) of the ring carried by the radial slots (18). The snap ring (14) and base sidewall portions (16) removably secure an anchor nut (12) to the nut mount (10) for positioning about a fastener hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Copple, Leonard F. Reid
  • Patent number: 5378097
    Abstract: A sheet-metal nut for blind fastening a screw in a hole of a carrier plate, the nut having a top plate bearing on an upper surface of the carrier plate having a hole therein and an aperture for the passage of the screw, a base plate having a threaded portion adapted to be inserted into the hole in the carrier plate located at a distance from the top plate and a plurality of connecting webs connecting the base plate to the top plate that fold outwardly in use. The nut is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the connecting webs being integrally connected at one end to opposite sides of the base plate and at the other end to two top plate halves that lie adjacent each other in the same plane and form the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: A. Raymond & CIE
    Inventor: Charles Barnavol
  • Patent number: 5348432
    Abstract: In order to prevent a flange of a tee nut which is moved along a feed track from overlapping with that of another tee nut so that the tee nut can be smoothly fed along the feed track, the flange is an octagon having linear sides coupling paired the two pawls of each of two pairs of pawls with each other. To firmly and semi-permanently fix the tee nut in an object, a relatively thin-walled flarable or splayable portion is formed on an end of a shaft away from the flange. A female screw forming portion is provided on a portion of the shaft excluding the flarable or splayable portion. When this tee unit is mounted on the object, the pawls bite into the object and the flarable or splayable portion is flared or splayed to form a flared or splayed rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Nagayama Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 5297851
    Abstract: A chair fastening device for securing a metal bracket to a seat pan of a chair thereby enabling arms, legs or pedestal bases with or without control mechanisms to be attached to the chair. The fastening device comprises a slab base weld nut which includes a slab base head that is captured and retained by parallel raised ribs formed in the plastic of the seat pan, thereby preventing rotation of the slab base weld nut, and an elongated barrel which is inserted through angled holes in the plastic seat pan and peened over in order to form a rivet connection with the underside of the plastic seat pan. The elongated barrel of the slab base weld nut is counterbored and further includes internal threads adapted to receive a screw or bolt for use in securing a metal bracket to the plastic seat pan without inducing stress fractures in the plastic, thus creating a strong, secure attachment for chair arms, legs or pedestal bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Hendrik R. Van Hekken
  • Patent number: 5294223
    Abstract: A fastener particularly suited to affixing metal to plastic parts, such as fastening electrical connectors to plastic circuit board mounting housings, includes a head and an elongate shank with an internally threaded through-bore. Located directly beneath the head is a shoulder which extends along the outside of the shank a distance equal to the total width of the parts to be joined. A mid-section of the shank is of reduced diameter, creating a thin-walled area of the shank compared with the areas at either end. A bottom part of the fastener includes internal threads, said bottom part beginning at the end of the thin-walled, mid-section of the shank. The through-bore includes a step down to a reduced diameter at the end of said mid-section. Therefore, when axially compressed, the fastener repeatedly bulges outwardly at its weakest point which lies just beyond the shoulder. The parts to be joined are thus trapped between the head and this radial bulge of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Phillips, II
  • Patent number: 5288244
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly and method includes a connector body and at least one unitary fastening member that is deformed at a central region of the fastening member after insertion through a mounting hole in the connector body. Projecting integrally from the deformed region of the fastening member is an internally threaded post which may receive cable screws of a cable mated with the connector assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening member secures a ground strap and a faceplate to the connector body, and the internally threaded post is inserted through a panel of a computer system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Maxconn Incorporated
    Inventor: Teh-Sou Lien
  • Patent number: 5267832
    Abstract: A retainer (76) is disclosed for retaining a first element to a second element. Various construction details are developed which provide means to secure a second element to a first element wherein the elements are highly stressed, such as the rotating components of a turbomachine. In one particular embodiment, the retainer has a deformable portion (86) on one end, an internally threaded portion (88), and a shoulder (84) disposed on the end opposite the deformable portion and having a flat surface (92) to prevent rotation of the retainer during assembly. The deformable portion extends through cooperating retainer apertures (52, 68) in the two elements. The deformable portion is flared in place to produce a clinching force between the deformable portion and the shoulder and thereby secure the two elements together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Johnson, Richard J. Bergmann
  • Patent number: 5259713
    Abstract: A blind rivet nut with a pulling mandrel, having a flanged rivet tube with an internal thread has the pulling mandrel in the form of a cap screw, the cap being used to engage a setting tool. The cap screw is preferably a thread-cutting screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf Renner, Dieter Mauer
  • Patent number: 5246323
    Abstract: The pin comprises an expansion body (2) and, around the body, an expandable tubular sleeve (3) made from a flexible material, with a stop collar (12) and an end (10) forming a nut. With the pin extending through an orifice pierced in the wall with the sleeve collar (12) bearing against the front face of the wall, the nut (10) interacts with an end part of the body, is driven towards the collar (12) and brings about the expansion of the sleeve (3) and its squashing against the rear face of the wall. The body (2) is tubular, in order to receive a screw for fixing a piece upon the wall, and has, unlike the end part, a collar (7) for bearing against the one (12) on the sleeve (3). The sleeve (3) is plastically deformable and means (42) are provided for preventing the rotation of the body (2) with respect to the sleeve (3) in the opposite direction to the direction of expansion. The end of the body (2) is provided with a piercing bit (4).The pin of the invention can be applied well to bricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Societe de Prospection et d'Inventions Techniques (S.P.I.T.)
    Inventors: Franck Vernet, Jean-Paul Barthomeuf
  • Patent number: 5238344
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 5232323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a threaded insert assembly with a locking plate having a non-circular shape and a non-serrated outer edge instead of a conventional circular shaped locking ring having a circular serrated outer edge. The non-circular locking plate is shaped to engage mating edges of a correspondingly shaped recess formed in the anchoring structure so as prevent the insert from rotating out of the anchoring structure once the insert is locked into the plate. The threaded insert is secured to the locking plate by interdigitated serrations swaged into engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eric E. Baehre
  • Patent number: 5219252
    Abstract: A fixing element for fixing in a through hole accessible only from one side comprises an upsettable sleeve with a flange-like end and an insert member which is disposed in the sleeve and which has a flange-like head, the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve, with the underside of the head of the insert member being connected to the adjoining end face of the sleeve by direct contact therewith for the transmission of pressure therebetween, The sleeve can be deformed to produce a bead-like configuration by a axial pulling from applied to the insert member. There is a material bonding connection such as spot welds between the outer periphery of the insert member and the inner periphery of the sleeve in the end region thereof. In the region of the connection the sleeve comprises a round shank portion while in its deformable region it has a portion of polygonal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Herbert Schruff
  • Patent number: 5137406
    Abstract: A fastener assembly which includes a nut held loosely by a cage secured to an inaccessible surface of a panel. Serrations in the facing surfaces of the cage and the nut cause them to mutually interlock when pressed together by a tightened bolt passing through aligned apertures in the panel being fastened and the cage. The mutual interlocking of the nut and the cage, either directly or through an intermediate element, causes the assembly to transfer shear loads imposed by the bolt from the bolt aperture in the inner panel to the points where the cage holding the nut is attached to that panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: VSI Corporation
    Inventor: Frank J. Cosenza
  • Patent number: 5135340
    Abstract: A fastener for blind installation where only one side of a workpiece is accessible for installation of the fastener. The fastener utilizes two methods of deformation on its blind side. The fastener has a tubular body made of a ductile material with a head at one end. A separate expander nut is made of a harder material and adapted with internal screw threads. The expander is engaged by a threaded pulling mandrel attached which protrudes through the tubular fastener to be installed. The pulling mandrel engages the expander by means of the screw thread and pulls it onto the tubular sleeve which then fails in columnar buckling to form a substantial bulge and foot print on the blind side of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Hi-Shear Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis D. Stinson