US3919955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and crimping tool for permanently joining together two sheet metal members
Assignee: Auto Craft Tool and Die Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-26
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of permanently joining two sheet material members by placing them in an overlapping position, and simultaneously punching out a portion of each sheet member so that a portion of an uppermost sheet member is disposed in the lowermost sheet member, and said portion of the lowermost sheet member is punched out of the lowermost sheet member to a position offset therefrom, and wherein each of said portions is joined to its respective sheet member by at least a pair of locking tabs. The crimping tool of the invention includes a die means mounted on a frame member and having a first punch tool movably mounted therein. A power operated second punch tool is movably mounted on said frame member for operation with said first punch member to simultaneously punch a portion from an uppermost sheet member into an underlying lowermost sheet member and a portion from said lowermost sheet member to a position offset therefrom, and wherein each of said portions is joined to its respective sheet member by at least a pair of locking tabs.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur C Duvernay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:15
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/03; B21D39/035; F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/04; F16B5/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/34; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49833; Y10T29/49835; Y10T29/49837; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
395 words
A crimping tool for fastening at least two sheets of material together, comprising: a. a frame member: b. die means mounted on said frame member and having a workpiece supporting station for supporting at least two overlapping sheets of material thereon including a fixed retainer plate and a movable retainer plate; c. a first cylindrical punch tool mounted in said die means and having an operative flat end normally biased against the lowermost sheet of material mounted on said die means, and being movable a predetermined distance away from the lowermost sheet of material during a crimping operation; d. a second cylindrical punch tool movably mounted on said frame member for engagement with the uppermost sheet of material mounted on said die means; e. power means mounted on said frame member and being connected to said second punch tool for moving the operative end of said second punch tool against said sheets of material on the die means and to punch a portion from the uppermost sheet of material into the lowermost sheet of material for crimping the two sheets of material together; f. the operative end of said second punch tool being flat and provided with a pair of diametrically disposed notches to form a locking tab between the uppermost sheet of material and the portion punched from said uppermost sheet of material; g. said first punch tool being movable in conjunction with the second punch tool away from the lowermost sheet of material a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the lowermost sheet of material to allow a portion of the lowermost sheet of material to be punched therefrom when the portion of the uppermost sheet of material is punched into the lowermost sheet of material; h. the die means being provided with a pair of diametrically disposed relieved areas which are aligned with the notches on the second punch tool and which are operative to form a locking tab between the lowermost sheet of material and the portion punched therefrom; i. said first punch tool being normally biased against the lowermost sheet of material by a spring means; and, j. the movable retainer plate of said die means being movable perpendicularly to the line of punching force during a punching operation to permit the portion of the material being punched out from the two sheets of material to flow laterally outward.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
395 words
A crimping tool for fastening at least two sheets of material together, comprising: a. a frame member: b. die means mounted on said frame member and having a workpiece supporting station for supporting at least two overlapping sheets of material thereon including a fixed retainer plate and a movable retainer plate; c. a first cylindrical punch tool mounted in said die means and having an operative flat end normally biased against the lowermost sheet of material mounted on said die means, and being movable a predetermined distance away from the lowermost sheet of material during a crimping operation; d. a second cylindrical punch tool movably mounted on said frame member for engagement with the uppermost sheet of material mounted on said die means; e. power means mounted on said frame member and being connected to said second punch tool for moving the operative end of said second punch tool against said sheets of material on the die means and to punch a portion from the uppermost sheet of material into the lowermost sheet of material for crimping the two sheets of material together; f. the operative end of said second punch tool being flat and provided with a pair of diametrically disposed notches to form a locking tab between the uppermost sheet of material and the portion punched from said uppermost sheet of material; g. said first punch tool being movable in conjunction with the second punch tool away from the lowermost sheet of material a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the lowermost sheet of material to allow a portion of the lowermost sheet of material to be punched therefrom when the portion of the uppermost sheet of material is punched into the lowermost sheet of material; h. the die means being provided with a pair of diametrically disposed relieved areas which are aligned with the notches on the second punch tool and which are operative to form a locking tab between the lowermost sheet of material and the portion punched therefrom; i. said first punch tool being normally biased against the lowermost sheet of material by a spring means; and, j. the movable retainer plate of said die means being movable perpendicularly to the line of punching force during a punching operation to permit the portion of the material being punched out from the two sheets of material to flow laterally outward.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A crimping tool as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said pair of diametrically disposed relieved areas on the die means are each formed partially on said fixed retainer plate and partially on said movable retainer plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
A crimping tool as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. said fixed retainer plate is substantially L-shaped with one leg of said L-shape being secured to said frame member and having said first cylindrical punch tool slidably mounted through a bore formed through said one leg of said L-shape, and the other leg of said L-shape being disposed longitudinal of said first cylindrical punch tool, and provided with a longitudinally extended half-round bore through which said first cylindrical punch tool is slidably mounted; and, b. said movable retainer plate is movably mounted on said one leg of said fixed retainer plate for movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first cylindrical punch tool, and being provided with a half-rounD bore on the end thereof adjacent said fixed retainer plate through which said first cylindrical punch tool is slidably mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A crimping tool as defined in claim 3, including: a. a stop block fixed on said one leg of said fixed retainer block; and, b. a resilient cushion member mounted between said movable retainer plate and said retainer block for normally biasing said movable retainer plate against the said fixed retainer plate, and to allow said movable retainer plate to be moved perpendicularly away from the fixed retainer plate during a punching operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A crimping tool as defined in claim 4, including: a. a resilient holding member operatively mounted about said second cylindrical punch tool for engagement with the sheets of material to be crimped for holding the same in place during a punching operation.
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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |