US3775833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of securing fasteners to sheet material
Assignee: MacLean Fogg Lock Nut Co
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of attaching a pierce nut to a panel is disclosed wherein by a single stroke of a ram a threaded fastener, such as a nut, acts as a punch and pierces its own hole in the sheet metal panel to which it is to be fastened. The nut has one or more laterally extending flanges which abut upon one side of the said panel, the corners of the nut being displaced laterally in the die associated with the piercing operation, preferably under the flange, to clinch the material therebetween. The panel is also displaced at the displaced region of the nut and in the same general direction as the displaced region of the nut. The method is not dependent upon any particular thickness, hardness or ductility of the material of the panel, nor does the nut need to have any predetermined hardness. The displaced material of the nut and panel is compressed together to form, in effect, a cold weld, but it is not confined laterally, thereby avoiding binding of the displaced material in the back-up die used to displace the materials.
Inventors
- 👤 W Grube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B37/00; F16B37/04; F16B37/06; F16B37/062; B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/03; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
The method of securing to a metal panel a metal element having mounting flanges extending laterally from a relatively thick pilot portion projecting through an opening in said metal panel, which opening conforms generally to the pilot portion, and which method comprises the steps of gouging segments of metal from restricted and separated portions of said pilot portion of the metal element while continuously forcing the gouged metal segments laterally away from the pilot portion whithout the complete severance thereof from the metal element and on the side of the panel opposite the side against which the mouting flange bears, displacing metal of the panel laterally by the lateral displacement of the metal segments from the pilot portion, spreading and forming the displaced metal and that of the segments gouged from the pilot portion into a forming die having cavities to receive said displaced metal and that of the segments, at least some of said cavities having a section adjacent the pilot portion of progressively increasing volume joined to a section of progressively decreasing volume, and then compressing the metal in the forming die cavities against the adjacent surface of the panel to form securement bosses, said compressing step intitially promoting free flow of the displaced metal as it moves into the section of progressively increasing volume and then interposing progressively increased resistance to the flow of the displaced metal as it moves into the section of progressively decreasing volume.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
The method of securing to a metal panel a metal element having mounting flanges extending laterally from a relatively thick pilot portion projecting through an opening in said metal panel, which opening conforms generally to the pilot portion, and which method comprises the steps of gouging segments of metal from restricted and separated portions of said pilot portion of the metal element while continuously forcing the gouged metal segments laterally away from the pilot portion whithout the complete severance thereof from the metal element and on the side of the panel opposite the side against which the mouting flange bears, displacing metal of the panel laterally by the lateral displacement of the metal segments from the pilot portion, spreading and forming the displaced metal and that of the segments gouged from the pilot portion into a forming die having cavities to receive said displaced metal and that of the segments, at least some of said cavities having a section adjacent the pilot portion of progressively increasing volume joined to a section of progressively decreasing volume, and then compressing the metal in the forming die cavities against the adjacent surface of the panel to form securement bosses, said compressing step intitially promoting free flow of the displaced metal as it moves into the section of progressively increasing volume and then interposing progressively increased resistance to the flow of the displaced metal as it moves into the section of progressively decreasing volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 1, comprising the further step of moving metal from the panel around the ends of the metal gouged from the metal element prior to compressing the gouged metal to form an interlock with said gouged metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 2, comprising the further step of compressing the metal moved from the panel and the gouged metal together to form a cold weld therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as defined in claim 2, comprising the further steps of guiding the gouged metal along a curvilinear surface outwardly of the metal element behind the moved metal of the panel and into the cavities in the forming die and compressing the metal moved from the pAnel and the gouged metal together to form a cold weld therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
The method as defined in claim 1, said pilot portion having a rectangular section, said die cavities being disposed exterior to the rectangular section at the corners thereof such that the opening in said metal panel does not conform to the shape of the forming die at its corners, the method comprising the further step of moving portions of the panel at the corners of the forming die into said cavitites ahead of the pilot portion of the element, and said step of compressing the metal in the forming die cavities comprising gouging said segments from the corners of the pilot portion and moving said gouged segments in the cavities laterally against the said portions of the panel at the corners of the forming die to move said portions of the panel in the cavities around said gouged segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in Claim 1, said at least some of said cavities having substantially circular perimeters outwardly of the pilot portion to give said securement bosses substantially convex form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |