Aligner for use with a staked fastener

• US 20110239426A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clark A. Denslow
• Original Assignee: Clark A. Denslow
• Inventors: Denslow, Clark A.
• Application Number:
  US13/066,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/271
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0009 Cutting out
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/009 after shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/10 using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/601 using extra riveting elements, i.e. the rivets being non-integral with the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7802 Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/41 Joining substantially flat articles B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7392 characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/80 General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81429 comprising a single tooth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/06 Solid rivets made in one piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49915 Overedge assembling of seated part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49943 : Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5118 : Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53717 : Annular work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 : Aligner or center

Abstract

An aligner and a method for its use in staking a fastener. More specifically, the aligner guides a tip of a staking tool in some portion of a staking operation properly into alignment with a clinch portion of a staked fastener. As a result, the clinch portion is shaped into a head of a generally higher quality than would otherwise occur.

Claims

1. An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:

a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and

a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a through bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,

wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation.

2. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the housing has a base and the base is at an angle that supports wobbling of the staking tool.

3. The aligner of claim 2 further including a hold-down connected to the housing and having a bottom, the bottom being at an angle such that the bottom supports wobbling of the staking tool.

4. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the interior surface has an angle that supports wobbling of the staking tool.

5. The aligner of claim 1 further including a flash trap positioned in the housing.

6. The aligner of claim 1 further including a depression defined by the base.

7. The aligner of claim 1 further including a hold-down connected to the housing.

8. The aligner of claim 7 wherein the hold-down has a bottom and the housing has a base and the bottom is positioned above the base.

9. The aligner of claim 7 wherein the hold-down is a pair of cooperating appendages extending outwardly from the housing.

10. The aligner of claim 1 further including a stop, the stop being positioned in the channel for positioning the base in the channel.

11. The aligner of claim 1 further including a stop and a keeper connected to the housing and positioned in the channel for securing the base in the channel.

12. The aligner of claim 1 further including an observation slit defined by the housing.

13. The aligner of claim 12 wherein the observation slit has an open end.

14. The aligner of claim 1 further including a chamfer in the channel for assisting placement of the tip therein.

15. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the base is of a material suitable for use as a supplemental material for use with a fastener of a suitable material to create a unified multi-part head.

16. The aligner of claim 1 further including a positioner.

17. The aligner of claim 16 wherein the positioner includes a protrusion that interacts with another hole through which another staked fastener will be placed, such that the bore aligns with a hole through which the staked fastener is placed.

18. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the interior surface is angled to permit wobbling of the tip when inserted therein.

19. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the housing has a bottom, and the bottom has an angle relative to the housing that permits the aligner to be wobbled when the tip is inserted therein.

20. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the housing as an exterior surface and further including a grasp positioned on the exterior surface.

21. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the housing and the base are made in a single process such that the housing and base are one piece.

35. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the base is secured in the housing.

36. The aligner of claim 35 wherein the bore is a through bore.

37. The aligner of claim 1 wherein the bore is a through bore.

22-34. -34. (canceled)

38. An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:

a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and

a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,

wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation and

further including a hold-down connected to the housing, and

wherein the hold-down has a bottom and the housing has a base and the bottom is positioned above the base.

39. An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:

a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and

a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,

wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation

wherein the base is of a material suitable for use as a supplemental material for use with a fastener of a suitable material to create a unified multi-part head.