Patent US4722647A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4722647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-attaching fastener for sheet material
Assignee: BTM Corp
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Filing: 1985-12-09
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Granted: 1988-02-02
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Expires: 2005-12-09
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 04:22
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/06; B23P19/062; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/966
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An assembly comprising a fastener having at least one face and at least one side, sheet material, a strap integral with said sheet material and offset relative to at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said strap engaging said face of said fastener to restrain said fastener in a first direction, at least one lip integral with said remainder of said sheet material and protruding generally toward said strap and engaging said side of said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An assembly comprising a fastener having at least one face and at least one side, sheet material, a strap integral with said sheet material and offset relative to at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said strap engaging said face of said fastener to restrain said fastener in a first direction, at least one lip integral with said remainder of said sheet material and protruding generally toward said strap and engaging said side of said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least one face and at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the plane of at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said opposite sides of said fastener interlockingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is rigidly secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least one face and at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the plane of at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said opposite sides of said fastener interlockingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is rigidly secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said support strap engages at least one of said opposite sides of said fastener.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least one face and at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the plane of at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said opposite sides of said fastener each having a pair of spaced protrusions thereon interlockingly engaging at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material therebetween, whereby said fastener is rigidly secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least one face and at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the plane of at least a portion of the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap, said opposite sides of said fastener each having a pair of spaced protrusions thereon interlockingly engaging at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material therebetween, whereby said fastener is rigidly secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said portion of said remainder of said sheet material includes at least one flared lip thereon, said spaced protrusions interlockingly engaging said flared lip therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said fastener includes a threaded aperture extending therethrough, and said support strap includes an opening therethrough corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said fastener comprises a standard square nut deformed to have said spaced protrusions by forcibly compressing said fastener and said sheet material between a pair of die means in order to forcibly urge said opposite sides of said fastener outwardly into said interlocking engagement with said portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said support strap includes an opening therethrough, and said fastener includes a stud portion protruding from said face, said stud portion extending through said opening through said support strap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement according to claim 8, wherein said fastener comprises a standard square-headed bolt deformed to have said spaced protrusions by forcibly compressing said fastener and said sheet material between a pair of die means in order to forcibly urge said opposite sides of said fastener outwardly into said interlocking engagement with said portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and a portion of said fastener being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and a portion of said fastener being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said strap is offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said strap engages a face of said fastener, and wherein at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material securely engages a side of said fastener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said fastener.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said fastener.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said strap is offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said strap engages a face of said fastener, and wherein at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material securely engages a side of said fastener.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and at least a portion of said fastener and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material both being deformed into engagement with one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly comprising a fastener, sheet material, a strap integral with the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral strap and restraining said fastener in a first direction, at least the remainder of said sheet material securingly engaging said fastener to restrain said fastener in a second opposite direction, and at least a portion of said fastener and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material both being deformed into engagement with one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said strap is offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said strap engages a face of said fastener, and wherein at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material securely engages a side of said fastener.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and a portion of said support strap engaging at least one of said opposite sides of said fastener.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and a portion of said support strap engaging at least one of said opposite sides of said fastener.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and the opposite sides of said fastener each having a pair of spaced protrusions thereon interlockingly engaging at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material therebetween.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and the opposite sides of said fastener each having a pair of spaced protrusions thereon interlockingly engaging at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material therebetween.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement according to claim 20, wherein said portion of said remainder of said sheet material includes at least one flared lip thereon, said spaced protrusions on at least one of the opposite sides of said fastener interlockingly engaging said flared lip therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and said fastener including a threaded aperture extending therethrough, and said support strap including an opening therethrough corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and said fastener including a threaded aperture extending therethrough, and said support strap including an opening therethrough corresponding to, and communicating with, said threaded aperture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 22, wherein said fastener comprises a standard square nut.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and said support strap including an opening therethrough, and said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said stud portion extending through said opening through said support strap.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and said support strap including an opening therethrough, and said fastener includes a stud portion protruding therefrom, said stud portion extending through said opening through said support strap.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 24, wherein said fastener comprises a standard square-headed bolt.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and a portion of said fastener being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and a portion of said fastener being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said fastener.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material being deformed into engagement with at least a portion of said fastener.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and at least a portion of said fastener and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material both being deformed into engagement with one another.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an assembly having a fastener secured to sheet material, said fastener having at least two opposite sides, the improvement wherein said sheet material includes an integral support strap offset relative to the remainder of said sheet material other than said integral support strap, said opposite sides of said fastener securingly engaging the remainder of said sheet material, whereby said fastener is secured to said sheet material and supported by said support strap, and at least a portion of said fastener and at least a portion of said remainder of said sheet material both being deformed into engagement with one another.
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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) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-08-03 | 1992-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-01 | 1995-08-03 | 1996-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-01 | 1999-08-03 | 2000-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |