Connecting structure for a hub and fan blade

Claim 1

A structure for connecting two members at a line of connection, a first of said two members being in the form of relatively thin sheet-like formation at the line of connection and having an abutting edge, the second of said two members being relatively heavier in a direction transverse to the sheet-like formation of the first member, said second member having a groove therein extending along the line of connection, said groove having a width approximately equal to the thickness of said sheet-like formation of the first member and forming two spaced upstanding shoulders, one of said two shoulders extending beyond the other shoulder by a dimension greater than the thickness of said first member, said groove having a throat extending to a base with the width of the groove at the base being greater than the width adjacent the throat to form an under cut of said one shoulder, said one shoulder being divided into a plurality of segments with alternate segments being in one group and intermediate segments being in a second group, said first member being seated on the upper edge of the other shoulder with said abutting edge in contact with the segments of the one shoulder, each of the intermediate segments having free ends extending beyond the abutting edge and being deformed toward and into engagement with the first member, said first member at each point of engagement with the intermediate segments having a portion extending into the groove to prevent relative movement.