Patent US4574453A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4574453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-attaching fastener and method of securing same to sheet material
Assignee: BTM Corp
•
Filing: 1984-12-05
•
Granted: 1986-03-11
•
Expires: 2004-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An assembly is disclosed having a simple, standard fastener secured to sheet material such as sheet metal. A support strap is integrally formed in an offset relationship with the sheet material, and opposite sides of the fastener are deformed to interlockingly engage the remainder of the sheet material. A method and apparatus are also disclosed for securing the fastener to the sheet material in substantially one operation, including alternate manual and automatic means for feeding fasteners to such apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin G. Sawdon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:29
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/06; B23P19/062; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49833; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing first and second relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least one face and two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said first and second die means; (b) forcibly pressing said fastener into said sheet material so that said first die means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; (c) deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material; and (d) deforming a portion of said fastener adjacent at least one of said sheared portions to form protrusions on at least one of said sides in engagement with said adjacent sheared portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing first and second relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least one face and two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said first and second die means; (b) forcibly pressing said fastener into said sheet material so that said first die means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; (c) deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material; and (d) deforming a portion of said fastener adjacent at least one of said sheared portions to form protrusions on at least one of said sides in engagement with said adjacent sheared portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of said protrusions also includes displacing said adjacent sheared portion to form a flared lip engaged by said protrusions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of deforming a portion of said support strap to engage at least one of said sides of said fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said fastener includes a threaded aperture extending therethrough, said method further comprising the step of forming an opening in said support strap, said opening corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said forcibly pressing step is preceded by the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around the area onto which said fastener is to be secured.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said method further comprising the steps of forming an opening in said sheet material and inserting said stud portion therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said forcibly pressing step is preceded by the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around the area onto which said fastener is to be secured.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said die means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; and (d) forcibly deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions as said die means are moved relatively toward one another in order to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said die means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; and (d) forcibly deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions as said die means are moved relatively toward one another in order to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of deforming a portion of said support strap to engage at least one of said sides of said fastener.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of deforming a portion of said support strap into an overlying engagement with at least a portion of said fastener as said fastener is forcibly urged into said sheet material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of forcibly urging said sheared portions of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a securing engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of forcibly urging said sheared portions of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a mechanically interlocking engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said fastener includes a threaded aperture extending therethrough, said method further comprising the step of forming an opening in said support strap, said opening corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said forcibly urging step is preceded by the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around the area onto which said fastener is to be secured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said method further comprising the steps of forming an opening in said sheet material and inserting said stud portion therethrough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said forcibly urging step is preceded by the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around the area onto which said fastener is to be secured.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said die means and said edges of said fastener coact to forcibly deform a first portion of said sheet material in order to form an integral support strap in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material; and (d) forcibly urging a second portion of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a securing engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said die means and said edges of said fastener coact to forcibly deform a first portion of said sheet material in order to form an integral support strap in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material; and (d) forcibly urging a second portion of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a securing engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said second portion of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener are forcibly urged into a mechanically interlocking engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of deforming a portion of said support strap into an overlying engagement with at least a portion of said fastener as said fastener is forcibly urged into said sheet material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said fastener includes a threaded aperture extending therethrough, said method further comprising the step of forming an opening in said support strap, said opening corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said method further comprising the steps of forming an opening in said sheet material and inserting said stud portion therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) providing cutting means associated with at least one of said die means; (d) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said cutting means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; and (e) forcibly deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions as said die means are moved relatively toward one another in order to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of securing a fastener to sheet material utilizing a number of relatively movable die means, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, each of said sides having an edge thereon, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said fastener and said sheet material between said relatively movable die means; (b) forcibly moving said relatively movable die means toward one another; (c) providing cutting means associated with at least one of said die means; (d) forcibly urging said fastener into said sheet material as said die means are moved relatively toward one another so that said cutting means and said edges of said fastener coact to shear a portion of said sheet material along said sides of said fastener; and (e) forcibly deforming said sheet material between said sheared portions as said die means are moved relatively toward one another in order to form an integral support strap therebetween in an offset position relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of deforming a portion of said support strap into an overlying engagement with at least a portion of said fastener as said fastener is forcibly urged into said sheet material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of forcibly urging said sheared portions of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a securing engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of forcibly urging said sheared portions of said sheet material and said sides of said fastener into a mechanically interlocking engagement with one another as said die means are moved relatively toward one another.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said fastener includes a threaded aperture extending therethrough, said method further comprising the step of forming an opening in said support strap, said opening corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said method further comprising the steps of forming an opening in said sheet material and inserting said stud portion therethrough.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of embossing a portion of said sheet material around said fastener.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |