US3810291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation die and nut and method of installing a nut in a panel
Assignee: Multifastener Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to the combination of a die and nut for installing a nut in a panel and a method of installing a nut in a panel. In the disclosed embodiment of the apparatus, the piercing end of the die member is circular or annular and fits snugly into the tool receiving recess of the nut groove. In the preferred embodiment, pressure relief is provided in the nut by making the outer wall defining the tool receiving recess, or junction between the bottom walls, hexagonal or polygonal, whereby entrapped metal is extruded into the corners. The outer wall of the groove and the outer wall of the flange portion are also preferably concentric polygons with parallel sides. The die member includes an enlarged hexagonal or polygonal portion which deforms the pierced edges of the panel against the polygonal outer inclined wall of the groove.
Inventors
- 👤 H Ladouceur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:09
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B37/00; F16B37/04; F16B37/06; F16B37/062; F16B37/068; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/968; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49833; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53717
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
The combination of a die member and a self-piercing nut for piercing a hole in a panel hAving a predetermined thickness and secure the nut within the pierced hole, comprising: said nut having a central threaded aperture, a pilot portion having a flat piercing face generally perpendicular to the axis of said aperture and adapted to be received against the panel to be pierced, a flange portion surrounding said pilot portion and having an end face generally parallel to the plane of said piercing face and a continuous groove surrounding said pilot portion between said pilot portion and said flange portion, said groove adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel to secure the nut to the panel, said groove having an outer wall at said flange portion, a first bottom wall at said outer wall adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel, an inner wall at the pilot portion and a second bottom wall at said inner wall adapted to receive the piercing end of the die member, said second bottom wall of the groove spaced farther from the plane of said piercing face than said first bottom wall to define a tool receiving recess adjacent said pilot portion, said die member having a central opening telescopically receiving said inner wall of said nut groove to pierce a hole in a panel received between said nut and said die member, a circular piercing end telescopically receivable within said tool receiving recess of said nut groove to fold the pierced edge of the panel into said groove, and a radially enlarged portion spaced from said piercing end of the die member a distance less than the depth of said groove, said enlarged portion adapted to force the pierced edge of the panel outwardly against said outer wall of the nut groove and said first bottom wall and confine said panel in said groove, the junction of said first and second bottom walls of the nut groove defining a regular polygon concentric with said pilot portion to define relief areas at the corners of said polygon to receive the deformed panel edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
The combination of a die member and a self-piercing nut for piercing a hole in a panel hAving a predetermined thickness and secure the nut within the pierced hole, comprising: said nut having a central threaded aperture, a pilot portion having a flat piercing face generally perpendicular to the axis of said aperture and adapted to be received against the panel to be pierced, a flange portion surrounding said pilot portion and having an end face generally parallel to the plane of said piercing face and a continuous groove surrounding said pilot portion between said pilot portion and said flange portion, said groove adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel to secure the nut to the panel, said groove having an outer wall at said flange portion, a first bottom wall at said outer wall adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel, an inner wall at the pilot portion and a second bottom wall at said inner wall adapted to receive the piercing end of the die member, said second bottom wall of the groove spaced farther from the plane of said piercing face than said first bottom wall to define a tool receiving recess adjacent said pilot portion, said die member having a central opening telescopically receiving said inner wall of said nut groove to pierce a hole in a panel received between said nut and said die member, a circular piercing end telescopically receivable within said tool receiving recess of said nut groove to fold the pierced edge of the panel into said groove, and a radially enlarged portion spaced from said piercing end of the die member a distance less than the depth of said groove, said enlarged portion adapted to force the pierced edge of the panel outwardly against said outer wall of the nut groove and said first bottom wall and confine said panel in said groove, the junction of said first and second bottom walls of the nut groove defining a regular polygon concentric with said pilot portion to define relief areas at the corners of said polygon to receive the deformed panel edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The die and nut defined in claim 1, characterized in that said outer wall of the nut groove defines a second regular polygon concentric with said threaded aperture and said enlarged portion of the die member also defining said second regular polygon having a smaller diameter to force the pierced edge of the panel against said groove outer wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The die and nut defined in claim 2, characterized in that said outer wall of the groove is inclined to overlie said first bottom wall to entrap the pierced edge of the panel therebeneath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The die and nut defined in claim 2, characterized in that said regular polygon and said second regular polygon are the same geometric shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The die and nut defined in claim 4, characterized in that said geometric shape is a hexagon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The die and nut defined in claim 2, characterized in that the external surface of said flange portion also defines said geometric shape to locate the nut relative to the die member, prior to piercing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The die and nut defined in claim 1, characterized in that said piercing face of the nut is spaced from said bottom walls of the groove a distance equal to or greater than the distance said end face is spaced from said bottom walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The die and nut defined in claim 1, characterized in that said central opening of the die member and said inner wall of the groove are cylindrical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
246 words
The combination of a die and a nut, comprising: said nut having a central threaded bore extending through one end face of the nut and a channel encircling said bore in said nut end face defining a flange portion encircling said nut channel, said nut channel having a radial outer side wall adjacent said flange portion and a configured bottom wall, said channel bottom wall including a first wall at said radial outer side wall adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel, a second wall adjacent said threaded bore adapted to receive said die member and a regular polygonal medial wall concentric with said nut bore and joining said first and second bottom walls, said second bottom wall spaced farther from said nUt end face than said first end wall to provide a die receiving recess adjacent said nut bore, said die member having a projecting circular end telescopically receivable within said tool receiving recess of said nut channel to fold the pierced edge of the panel into said nut channel and a radially enlarged portion spaced from said cylindrical end a distance less than the depth of said channel, said enlarged portion adapted to force the pierced edge of the panel outwardly against said outer side wall of the channel and said first bottom wall and confine said panel edge in said channel, the corners of said regular polygonal medial wall defining pressure relief areas during installation of the nut in the panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
The combination of a die and a nut, comprising: said nut having a central threaded bore extending through one end face of the nut and a channel encircling said bore in said nut end face defining a flange portion encircling said nut channel, said nut channel having a radial outer side wall adjacent said flange portion and a configured bottom wall, said channel bottom wall including a first wall at said radial outer side wall adapted to receive the pierced edge of the panel, a second wall adjacent said threaded bore adapted to receive said die member and a regular polygonal medial wall concentric with said nut bore and joining said first and second bottom walls, said second bottom wall spaced farther from said nUt end face than said first end wall to provide a die receiving recess adjacent said nut bore, said die member having a projecting circular end telescopically receivable within said tool receiving recess of said nut channel to fold the pierced edge of the panel into said nut channel and a radially enlarged portion spaced from said cylindrical end a distance less than the depth of said channel, said enlarged portion adapted to force the pierced edge of the panel outwardly against said outer side wall of the channel and said first bottom wall and confine said panel edge in said channel, the corners of said regular polygonal medial wall defining pressure relief areas during installation of the nut in the panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of a die and nut defined in claim 9 characterized in that said radial outer side wall defines a regular polygon concentric with said medial wall and said outer wall is inclined toward said nut bore to overly said first bottom wall and entrap the pierced edge of the panel therebeneath.
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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) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |