US4769896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a metal-to-plastic joint
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1987-05-13
•
Granted: 1988-09-13
•
Expires: 2007-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A small metal member (50) is secured to a surface (32) of a plastic member (30) by lock tabs (54) bent into a recess (34) in the surface (32), and the plastic material of a central boss (38) in the recess (34) is bulk deformed over ends (68) of the lock tabs (54) forming a recessed joint (70).
Inventors
- 👤 Keith R. Denlinger
- 👤 William J. Rudy, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:32
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/60; B29C65/606; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B29C37/00; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C37/0085; B29C65/64; B29C66/00; B29C66/70; B29C66/74; B29C66/742; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81427; B29C66/81429; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8226; B29C66/82261; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/83221; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81415; B29C66/81417; B29K; B29K2705/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/34; B29L2031/3443; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49922; Y10T29/49925; Y10T29/49934; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/49943; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4924; Y10T403/4991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of forming a joint between a metal article and a plastic article comprising the steps of: forming a recess in a surface of a plastic article against which a metal article is to be secured, with a central boss extending upward in said recess; stamping a pair of facing lock tabs into the sheet of metal from which said metal article is formed, said lock tabs extending toward each other to free ends from respective spaced apart lock tab joints; placing said metal article against said surface of said plastic article such that said lock tabs are disposed over said recess with said central boss aligned with said free ends of said lock tabs; bending said lock tabs into said recess by rotating said lock tabs about said lock tab joints so that said free ends thereof are rotated past said central boss to be adjacent and beside said central boss; and bulk deforming material of said central boss over said free ends of said lock tabs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of forming a joint between a metal article and a plastic article comprising the steps of: forming a recess in a surface of a plastic article against which a metal article is to be secured, with a central boss extending upward in said recess; stamping a pair of facing lock tabs into the sheet of metal from which said metal article is formed, said lock tabs extending toward each other to free ends from respective spaced apart lock tab joints; placing said metal article against said surface of said plastic article such that said lock tabs are disposed over said recess with said central boss aligned with said free ends of said lock tabs; bending said lock tabs into said recess by rotating said lock tabs about said lock tab joints so that said free ends thereof are rotated past said central boss to be adjacent and beside said central boss; and bulk deforming material of said central boss over said free ends of said lock tabs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said recess is formed with sloping side walls and said lock tabs are bent against said sloping side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bending and said bulk deforming are performed by a work end of a tool in a single stroke.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1460145A
Cited
US2337239A
Cited
DE857868C
Cited
AT172176B
Cited
GB740933A
Cited
US2838703A
Cited
US3177561A
Cited
US3308225A
Cited
US3419297A
Cited
US4059897A
Cited
US4494898A
Cited
US4697340A
Cited
US4602831A
Cited
US4633559A
Cited
US4655515A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-13 | 1992-03-14 | 1992-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-13 | 1996-03-14 | 1996-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-03-14 | 2000-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |