Connection and fastening element for connecting workpieces of soft material, especially dowels for pressboards or parts of wood

Claim 1

A one-piece sheet metal connection and fastening element adapted for connecting workpieces of relatively soft material having predetermined depth blind bores therein, said fastening element including a hollow pin bent from flat sheet metal stock having in at least one end thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending elongated openings spaced from the ends of the pin, said elongated openings being provided in parallel spaced arrangement at a predetermined distance from the end of said at least one end portion and forming between said elongated openings a plurality of webs integrally connected at their opposite ends and adapted to be bent outwardly intermediate the extremities of said webs, a sheet metal, sleeve-like reinforcing member surrounded by and integral with the hollow pin, said member extending a predetermined distance into the end portions carrying said webs whereby said at least one end portion can be axially upset in the blind bore of said workpiece with at least partial portions of said webs being vaulted radially outwardly in a direction towards and into the wall of said bore.