US3878599A — Method of forming a nut and panel assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 242 words

The method of interlocking a nut to a sheet metal panel of a known nominal thickness t comprising the steps of engaging in face-to-face relationship with one side of the panel a nut having a groove in the engaged face of the nut spaced from opposite sides of the tapped bore of the nut, the groove being undercut at the side remote from the bore and having a depth less than the width of the groove at said engaged face, and a tool receiving recess in the bottom of the groove at the side of the groove adjacent the tapped bore, and in a single uninterrupted stroke displacing said nut and said panel relative to a tool located on the opposite side of the panel from said nut a. to cause said tool in cooperation with the engaged face of the nut to shear the panel at opposite sides of said bore along the side of the groove adjacent the bore, b. to bend into the groove that portion of said panel overlying the groovE by bending the same about the shoulder of the groove remote from the tapped bore, c. to compress the panel metal along the last mentioned shoulder to approximately one-half of its original thickness t, and d. to wedge the panel metal in said groove outwardly from said bore into the undercut remote side of the groove by the advancement of the tip of the tool receiving recess.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 242 words

The method of interlocking a nut to a sheet metal panel of a known nominal thickness t comprising the steps of engaging in face-to-face relationship with one side of the panel a nut having a groove in the engaged face of the nut spaced from opposite sides of the tapped bore of the nut, the groove being undercut at the side remote from the bore and having a depth less than the width of the groove at said engaged face, and a tool receiving recess in the bottom of the groove at the side of the groove adjacent the tapped bore, and in a single uninterrupted stroke displacing said nut and said panel relative to a tool located on the opposite side of the panel from said nut a. to cause said tool in cooperation with the engaged face of the nut to shear the panel at opposite sides of said bore along the side of the groove adjacent the bore, b. to bend into the groove that portion of said panel overlying the groovE by bending the same about the shoulder of the groove remote from the tapped bore, c. to compress the panel metal along the last mentioned shoulder to approximately one-half of its original thickness t, and d. to wedge the panel metal in said groove outwardly from said bore into the undercut remote side of the groove by the advancement of the tip of the tool receiving recess.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 242 words

The method of interlocking a nut to a sheet metal panel of a known nominal thickness t comprising the steps of engaging in face-to-face relationship with one side of the panel a nut having a groove in the engaged face of the nut spaced from opposite sides of the tapped bore of the nut, the groove being undercut at the side remote from the bore and having a depth less than the width of the groove at said engaged face, and a tool receiving recess in the bottom of the groove at the side of the groove adjacent the tapped bore, and in a single uninterrupted stroke displacing said nut and said panel relative to a tool located on the opposite side of the panel from said nut a. to cause said tool in cooperation with the engaged face of the nut to shear the panel at opposite sides of said bore along the side of the groove adjacent the bore, b. to bend into the groove that portion of said panel overlying the groovE by bending the same about the shoulder of the groove remote from the tapped bore, c. to compress the panel metal along the last mentioned shoulder to approximately one-half of its original thickness t, and d. to wedge the panel metal in said groove outwardly from said bore into the undercut remote side of the groove by the advancement of the tip of the tool receiving recess.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 242 words

The method of interlocking a nut to a sheet metal panel of a known nominal thickness t comprising the steps of engaging in face-to-face relationship with one side of the panel a nut having a groove in the engaged face of the nut spaced from opposite sides of the tapped bore of the nut, the groove being undercut at the side remote from the bore and having a depth less than the width of the groove at said engaged face, and a tool receiving recess in the bottom of the groove at the side of the groove adjacent the tapped bore, and in a single uninterrupted stroke displacing said nut and said panel relative to a tool located on the opposite side of the panel from said nut a. to cause said tool in cooperation with the engaged face of the nut to shear the panel at opposite sides of said bore along the side of the groove adjacent the bore, b. to bend into the groove that portion of said panel overlying the groovE by bending the same about the shoulder of the groove remote from the tapped bore, c. to compress the panel metal along the last mentioned shoulder to approximately one-half of its original thickness t, and d. to wedge the panel metal in said groove outwardly from said bore into the undercut remote side of the groove by the advancement of the tip of the tool receiving recess.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 244 words

The method of interlocking to a sheet metal panel of thickness t a generally circular nut having an annular groove in one face concentric with the tapped bore of the nut and having a width at said one face greater than t and a depth less than its width, the radially outer side wall of the groove being undercut and the bottom of the groove being recessed to a depth greater than the width of the groove adjacent the radially inner side wall to define a tool receiving recess; comprising the steps of: a. engaging the panel between the one face of the nut and a hollow cylindrical tool having an inner diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the inner side wall of the nut groove and a wall thickness less than the width of the groove at said one face by approximately one-half t, the tool tip being beveled at its outer side and the tool and nut bore being coaxially aligned; b. axially advancing the tool relative to the nut to shear the panel along the radially inner side wall of the groove and to force the panel axially into the groove and radically outwardly against the outer side wall of the groove by the wedging action of the beveled tool tip and the engagement of the panel with grooved bottom, and c. continuing to advance the tool tip axially into the groove beyond the panel into the tool receiving recess.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 244 words

The method of interlocking to a sheet metal panel of thickness t a generally circular nut having an annular groove in one face concentric with the tapped bore of the nut and having a width at said one face greater than t and a depth less than its width, the radially outer side wall of the groove being undercut and the bottom of the groove being recessed to a depth greater than the width of the groove adjacent the radially inner side wall to define a tool receiving recess; comprising the steps of: a. engaging the panel between the one face of the nut and a hollow cylindrical tool having an inner diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the inner side wall of the nut groove and a wall thickness less than the width of the groove at said one face by approximately one-half t, the tool tip being beveled at its outer side and the tool and nut bore being coaxially aligned; b. axially advancing the tool relative to the nut to shear the panel along the radially inner side wall of the groove and to force the panel axially into the groove and radically outwardly against the outer side wall of the groove by the wedging action of the beveled tool tip and the engagement of the panel with grooved bottom, and c. continuing to advance the tool tip axially into the groove beyond the panel into the tool receiving recess.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 273 words

In the method of locking a nut to a flat sheet panel member in which the nut is provided with a bore and a groove in its panel engaging surface extending alongside said bore between the bore and the outer edge of said nut; said groove being formed to have an inner side surface parallel with the axis of the bore and an outer side surface inclined at an angle of from between 10 to 20 degrees relative to said axis so that the open end of said groove is smaller in width than the bottom of said groove to provide an undercut; said bottom providing a first portion along the inclined outer side and a second portion along the inner side disposed on a lower level than the first portion and connected thereto by an inclined surface, the steps comprising: placing said nut with said panel engaging surface against one side of said panel and holding said nut; advancing a hollow punch having a tapered end onto said panel from the other side in axial alignment with said axis to cut out a slug from said panel to permit said punch to enter said groove; displacing that portion of said panel overlying said groove into said groove by advancement of said punch into said groove; and further advancing said punch to compress the portions of the panel in the groove in locking engagement into the first, undercut portion of the groove by wedging action of the taper of said punch along the inclined bottom surface between said first and second portion as said punch advances into the second portion of said groove.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 273 words

In the method of locking a nut to a flat sheet panel member in which the nut is provided with a bore and a groove in its panel engaging surface extending alongside said bore between the bore and the outer edge of said nut; said groove being formed to have an inner side surface parallel with the axis of the bore and an outer side surface inclined at an angle of from between 10 to 20 degrees relative to said axis so that the open end of said groove is smaller in width than the bottom of said groove to provide an undercut; said bottom providing a first portion along the inclined outer side and a second portion along the inner side disposed on a lower level than the first portion and connected thereto by an inclined surface, the steps comprising: placing said nut with said panel engaging surface against one side of said panel and holding said nut; advancing a hollow punch having a tapered end onto said panel from the other side in axial alignment with said axis to cut out a slug from said panel to permit said punch to enter said groove; displacing that portion of said panel overlying said groove into said groove by advancement of said punch into said groove; and further advancing said punch to compress the portions of the panel in the groove in locking engagement into the first, undercut portion of the groove by wedging action of the taper of said punch along the inclined bottom surface between said first and second portion as said punch advances into the second portion of said groove.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 54 words

In the method as defined in claim 3, in which said nut is further provided with a plurality of radial recesses intersecting said groove, the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said recesses upon advancement of said punch into said groove to retain said nut against rotation relative to said panel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 73 words

In the method as defined in claim 3, in which said groove in said nut is of oval shape having undercut portions further remote from the axis of said bore than the remainder of said groove and the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said undercut portions further remote from said axis by advancement of said punch into said groove to thereby prevent said nut from rotation on saId panel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 71 words

In the method as defined in claim 3, in which said nut is of rectangular shape and said groove comprising a pair of longitudinal parallel grooves extending along opposite sides of said bore, the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said undercut first portions of both of said grooves simultaneously by advancement of said punch into said grooves to thereby lock said nut against rotation on said panel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 316 words

In the method of making a nut and panel assembly, said panel being of a thickness t, said nut having an axial bore and a lateral outer surface and is provided with a groove in the panel engaging surface of the nut between said bore and the outer surface providing an undercut having a shoulder along one edge thereof closest to the outer surface, and a continuous recess in the bottom of said groove nearest to said bore having a greater axial depth than the undercut portion of said groove to which the recess is connected by a tapered surface, the steps comprising: placing said panel engaging surface of said nut against one side of said panel; locating a punch at the other side of said panel having a bore in axial alignment with said bore of said nut defining a cutting edge, said punch further having a tapered outer surface; displacing said nut and said panel relative to said punch to cause said punch in co-acting relationship with said nut defining a cutting edge, said punch further having a tapered outer surface; displacing said nut and said panel relative to said punch to cause said punch in co-acting relationship with said nut to shear a slug from said panel of a size corresponding to the inner surfaces of said groove; further advancing said punch in to said groove to cause the portions of said panel overlying said groove immediately adjacent from the severed slug to be bent into said groove around said shoulder; and still further advancing said punch into said recess of said groove to cause wedging engagement of said tapered outer surface of said punch with said tapered surface of said groove to thereby exert an axial and radial outwardly directed compression force on said portions of said panel to displace the material of said portions into said undercut in locking engagement therewith.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 316 words

In the method of making a nut and panel assembly, said panel being of a thickness t, said nut having an axial bore and a lateral outer surface and is provided with a groove in the panel engaging surface of the nut between said bore and the outer surface providing an undercut having a shoulder along one edge thereof closest to the outer surface, and a continuous recess in the bottom of said groove nearest to said bore having a greater axial depth than the undercut portion of said groove to which the recess is connected by a tapered surface, the steps comprising: placing said panel engaging surface of said nut against one side of said panel; locating a punch at the other side of said panel having a bore in axial alignment with said bore of said nut defining a cutting edge, said punch further having a tapered outer surface; displacing said nut and said panel relative to said punch to cause said punch in co-acting relationship with said nut defining a cutting edge, said punch further having a tapered outer surface; displacing said nut and said panel relative to said punch to cause said punch in co-acting relationship with said nut to shear a slug from said panel of a size corresponding to the inner surfaces of said groove; further advancing said punch in to said groove to cause the portions of said panel overlying said groove immediately adjacent from the severed slug to be bent into said groove around said shoulder; and still further advancing said punch into said recess of said groove to cause wedging engagement of said tapered outer surface of said punch with said tapered surface of said groove to thereby exert an axial and radial outwardly directed compression force on said portions of said panel to displace the material of said portions into said undercut in locking engagement therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

In the method as defined i claim 7, in which said groove is of circular shape and concentric with said bore of said nut and said nut is further provided with a plurality of radial recesses intersecting said groove, the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said recess upon advancement of said punch into said groove.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 82 words

In the method as defined in claim 7, in which the inner surface of said groove is being circular and concentric with said bore and the outer surface of said groove extends along an oval path providing undercut portions further remote from the axis of said bore of said nut than the remainder of said groove, the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said undercut portions further remote from said axis by advancement of said punch into said groove.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 71 words

In the method as defined in claim 7, in which said nut is of rectangular shape and said groove comprising a pair of longitudinal parallel grooves extending along opposite sides of said bore, the further step comprising: compressing material from said panel into said undercut first portions of both of said grooves simultaneously by advancement of said punch into said grooves to thereby lock said nut against rotation on said panel.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 245 words

In the method of making a nut and locking said nut on a panel the steps comprising: providing a nut body having an axial bore and a panel engaging surface, providing a continuous groove in said panel engaging surface having an inner lateral surface equally spaced from the axis of said bore to define a central hub portion of said nut surrounded by an outer rim portion, said outer rim portion initially having an inclined surface relative to the planar surface of said hub portion, axially compressing said outer rim portion into co-planar alignment with said planar surface to thereby provide an undercut, outer, radial surface of said groove, providing said groove with a bottom recess along said inner lateral surface of a greater axial depth than the undercut portion of said groove; placing said panel engaging surface of said nut against one side of said panel; disposing a tool against the other side of said panel, relatively moving said panel and nut against said tool for advancement of said tool through said panel and into said groove to (a) sever a slug from said panel corresponding to the size of said central hub portion of said nut, (b) advancing said tool into said groove to align said inner lateral surface to bend the portions of said panel overlying said groove into said recess of said groove to thereby compress said portions of said panel into said undercut of said groove in locking engagment therewith.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 245 words

In the method of making a nut and locking said nut on a panel the steps comprising: providing a nut body having an axial bore and a panel engaging surface, providing a continuous groove in said panel engaging surface having an inner lateral surface equally spaced from the axis of said bore to define a central hub portion of said nut surrounded by an outer rim portion, said outer rim portion initially having an inclined surface relative to the planar surface of said hub portion, axially compressing said outer rim portion into co-planar alignment with said planar surface to thereby provide an undercut, outer, radial surface of said groove, providing said groove with a bottom recess along said inner lateral surface of a greater axial depth than the undercut portion of said groove; placing said panel engaging surface of said nut against one side of said panel; disposing a tool against the other side of said panel, relatively moving said panel and nut against said tool for advancement of said tool through said panel and into said groove to (a) sever a slug from said panel corresponding to the size of said central hub portion of said nut, (b) advancing said tool into said groove to align said inner lateral surface to bend the portions of said panel overlying said groove into said recess of said groove to thereby compress said portions of said panel into said undercut of said groove in locking engagment therewith.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 92 words

In the method as defined in claim 11 in which said recess and the undercut portion of said groove are connected by an inclined surface and said tool having a chamfered outer surface for engagement with the inclined surface in the bottom of said groove the further steps comprising: advancing said tool into said recess of said groove in wedging engagement against said inclined surface; to exert an axial and radially outwardly directed force on said portions of said panel bend into said groove to forceably compress said portions into said undercut.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 196 words

A method of making a nut and panel assembly, said nut having a panel engaging surface, said surface having a groove defined therein having an inner side wall defining a piercing face and an outer side wall inclined towards said piercing face defining a restricted groove opening, the bottom wall of said groove, at said inner side wall, spaced farther from said surface than at said outer side wall, comprising the steps of: placing said nut piercing face against one side of said panel; advancing a hollow punch against the opposed side of said panel, said punch having an opening closely receiving said piercing face and cutting a slug from said panel; further advancing said punch, into said nut groove, to deform the pierced panel edges into said groove, over said groove outer side wall; and continuing to advance said punch, into said nut groove, against said groove bottom wall adjacent said inner wall and beyond said pierced panel edge, to (1) deform said pierced panel edge against said bottom groove wall at said outer side wall, and (2) deform and compress said panel beneath said inclined outer side wall, wedging said panel within said groove.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 196 words

A method of making a nut and panel assembly, said nut having a panel engaging surface, said surface having a groove defined therein having an inner side wall defining a piercing face and an outer side wall inclined towards said piercing face defining a restricted groove opening, the bottom wall of said groove, at said inner side wall, spaced farther from said surface than at said outer side wall, comprising the steps of: placing said nut piercing face against one side of said panel; advancing a hollow punch against the opposed side of said panel, said punch having an opening closely receiving said piercing face and cutting a slug from said panel; further advancing said punch, into said nut groove, to deform the pierced panel edges into said groove, over said groove outer side wall; and continuing to advance said punch, into said nut groove, against said groove bottom wall adjacent said inner wall and beyond said pierced panel edge, to (1) deform said pierced panel edge against said bottom groove wall at said outer side wall, and (2) deform and compress said panel beneath said inclined outer side wall, wedging said panel within said groove.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of making a nut and panel assembly defined in claim 13, wherein said punch includes an inclined outer edge at the piercing end, including radially deforming said pierced panel edge, beneath said outer side wall with said inclined punch edge.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method of making a nut and panel assembly defined in claim 13, wherein said groove bottom wall includes a distinct tool receiving recess at said inner side wall, including the step of continuing to advance said punch into said tool receiving recess, beyond said pierced panel edge, to deform and compress said panel edge against said outer side wall.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of making a nut and panel assembly defined in claim 13, wherein said punch includes an inwardly inclined end surface and said groove bottom wall has a conforming inclined surface, including (1) radially deforming said pierced panel edge with said inclined punch surface against said outer side wall, and (2) continuing to advance said punch to abut said inclined surfaces, beyond said pierced panel edge.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-04-21	1978-10-21	1979-04-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-04-21	1982-10-21	1983-04-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-04-21	1986-10-21	1987-04-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of forming a nut and panel assembly

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