US3877133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pierce nut applying method
Assignee: MacLean Fogg Lock Nut Co
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Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for rapidly attaching pierce nuts to a sheet which does not require completely new tooling for different designs of sheets. The nuts are made from a strip of metal and are complete except that they are left attached to one another and are thus predictably oriented. They are supplied to the attaching mechanism in rolled strip form. The attaching mechanism is a standardized unit enclosed in a single housing which automatically locates the end nut of the strip over the workpiece sheet, severs the nut from the strip, pierces the sheet with the nut and clinches the nut to the sheet while, if desired, embossing the sheet at the opening made therein by the nut. As many such standarized nut attaching units may be used simultaneously in a single punch press as are required, the tooling to be used comprising mainly means for locating the units relative to the sheet in the punch press.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Grube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:18
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/06; B23P19/062; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/02; B25B23/04; B25B23/045; F; F16; F16B; F16B27/00; F16B37/00; F16B37/04; F16B37/06; F16B37/062; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/967; Y10S411/968; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/49798; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49833; Y10T29/49835; Y10T29/49837; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/5377
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of effecting the attachment to a metal panel of pierce nuts having two surfaces at the ends of shank portions and adjoined in a composite strip which strip embodies a series of correspondingly oriented and substantially discrete nuts joined together in aligned relationship by connecting means having flexibility in a direction normal to the top surfaces of the nuts, said method comprising the steps of locating the panel over a die with the panel engaging a top surface of the die, advancing the end nut of the strip over the panel to a predetermined position over the die by engaging and moving a fixed distance a transverse surface of the nut, the panel being disposed between the shank portion of said end nut and die and engaging an elevated supporting surface of the die which surrounds a substantially coplanar and continuous peripheral cutting edge of the die, severing said conNecting means between said end nut and the rest of the strip, flexing a portion of the panel within said elevated supporting surface toward and into contact with said cutting edge by force applied to the shank portion of said nut and piercing said flexed portion of the panel with the shank portion of the severed nut to cut a slug from the panel and effect the mounting of the nut on the panel, and securing the nut in its mounted position on the panel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of effecting the attachment to a metal panel of pierce nuts having two surfaces at the ends of shank portions and adjoined in a composite strip which strip embodies a series of correspondingly oriented and substantially discrete nuts joined together in aligned relationship by connecting means having flexibility in a direction normal to the top surfaces of the nuts, said method comprising the steps of locating the panel over a die with the panel engaging a top surface of the die, advancing the end nut of the strip over the panel to a predetermined position over the die by engaging and moving a fixed distance a transverse surface of the nut, the panel being disposed between the shank portion of said end nut and die and engaging an elevated supporting surface of the die which surrounds a substantially coplanar and continuous peripheral cutting edge of the die, severing said conNecting means between said end nut and the rest of the strip, flexing a portion of the panel within said elevated supporting surface toward and into contact with said cutting edge by force applied to the shank portion of said nut and piercing said flexed portion of the panel with the shank portion of the severed nut to cut a slug from the panel and effect the mounting of the nut on the panel, and securing the nut in its mounted position on the panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of effecting the attachment of a pierce nut to a metal panel as defined in claim 1, and wherein the panel adjacent the nut is deformed by the die as a result of force applied by the shank portion of the nut prior to piercing the panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 3, said step of advancing the end nut of the strip comprising engaging a transverse surface of the nut disposed in the space between adjacent nuts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, said step of advancing the end nut of the strip a fixed distance being performed independently of the position of the leading edge of the nut.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |