US3938239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a self-flanging nut joint
Assignee: LAUTH FASTENERS Ltd
•
Filing: 1974-03-13
•
Granted: 1976-02-17
•
Expires: 1994-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for forming a self-flanging nut construction utilizing a tubular body having a laterally extending flange at one end and an opening therethrough, said opening having a first portion and a second portion of differing cross sectional areas, the first portion being formed with a thread and the second portion defining a riveting flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations are provided on the periphery of said body adjacent said flange. When the nut is placed adjacent a sheet metal body having an opening therein with the opening in alignment with the opening in the nut and the nut is forced against said plate, the metal surrounding said opening in said plate is first deformed axially of the opening to form a tubular portion and thereafter the riveting flange is deformed laterally outwardly over the end of the tubular portion formed on said plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Corliss Lauth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:25
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/06; B23P19/062; F; F16; F16B; F16B37/00; F16B37/04; F16B37/06; F16B37/062; F16B37/068; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/967; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/4992; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4994; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53717; Y10T29/53726
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises positioning a sheet metal plate having an opening therein over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises positioning a sheet metal plate having an opening therein over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including controlling the bending of the plate and the movement of said nut such that the plate and tubular portion are connected by an intermediate uniformly curved section joining the plate and tubular portion comprising a first annular portion surrounding and spaced from the periphery of the nut, a second annular portion surrounding the lower edges of the flange of the nut into which said edges are impressed, and a third annular portion surrounding the serrations into which the serrations are impressed.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
280 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
280 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of leaving the portion of the tubular portion intermediate the end and the remainder of the plate unconfined during the application of the axial force.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
284 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying a continuous axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force and guiding said riveting flange portion of said nut radially outwardly to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
284 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations extending axially from said flange on the periphery thereof adjacent said flange, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying a continuous axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force and guiding said riveting flange portion of said nut radially outwardly to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises positioning a sheet metal plate having an opening therein over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises positioning a sheet metal plate having an opening therein over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
259 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
259 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying an axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the serrations become embedded in the tubular portion and the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force to the riveting flange portion of said nut to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
254 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying a continuous axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force and guiding said riveting flange portion of said nut radially outwardly to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
254 words
The method of forming a nut joint which comprises supporting a sheet metal plate having an opening therein on one surface thereof about an annular portion surrounding the opening, while leaving the portion between the annular portion and the opening unsupported, said opening being positioned over a locating pin, positioning a nut over said pin on the opposite surface adjacent said opening, said nut comprising a tubular body with a peripheral flange at one end and an opening extending through said body, said opening having a first portion which is threaded and a second portion of greater diameter defining a riveting flange at the other end of said body, the outer diameter of said tubular body being spaced radially inwardly from said supporting area of said plate, said riveting flange engaging said plate when said nut is positioned on said pin, applying a continuous axial force to said nut to cause only said body of said nut to bend the area of the plate surrounding the opening in the plate and thereby define a tubular portion on the plate without substantially changing the cross sectional thickness of the plate, continuing the application of force until the end of the nut having the flange thereon is substantially flush with the remainder of the plate, and thereafter applying an oppositely directed axial force and guiding said riveting flange portion of said nut radially outwardly to deform said portion radially outwardly into engagement with the end of the tubular portion that has been formed in the plate.
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) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |