Clinch-type fastener member
First Claim
1. A joint comprising:
- first and second workpieces, each said workpiece being formed from a material and having an aperture defined by an inner wall therethrough;
a fastener member seated within at least said aperture through said first workpiece, said fastener member having a first portion and a second portion which defines a shank portion, said first portion having a protuberance thereon which protrudes outwardly from an underside of said first portion, said shank portion having structure defining a retaining groove thereon proximate to said first portion, said protuberance on said first portion engaging a top surface of said first workpiece and deforming the material of which said first workpiece is formed to cause the material to flow into said retaining groove during rotational engagement of said fastener member in said aperture through said first workpiece, said fastener member being deterred from axial movement relative to said first workpiece after said material of which said first workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove, said fastener member being capable of rotational movement relative to said first workpiece after said material of which said first workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove; and
means associated with said fastener member for attaching said fastener member to said second workpiece.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel clinch-type fastener member is engaged through first and second workpieces to form a mechanically locked joint which is highly resistant to vibrational loosening. The fastener member has a first portion and a second portion defined by a shank portion which extends therefrom. The first portion has a protuberance, formed from a ring, thereon which extends outwardly therefrom. The shank portion has a projection, formed from a ring, spaced a predetermined distance from the first portion to define a retaining groove. To engage the fastener member with the workpieces, the fastener member is rotated into engagement therewith. The protuberance on the first portion engages a top surface of the first workpiece and rotational and compressive forces are applied to the fastener member thereby causing the protuberance to deform the first workpiece material to cause the material to flow into the retaining groove provided of the fastener member. The projection on the shank portion generally contacts the first workpiece such that when the deformed material flows into the retaining groove, the deformed material is captured between the projection and the first portion.
66 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A joint comprising:
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first and second workpieces, each said workpiece being formed from a material and having an aperture defined by an inner wall therethrough; a fastener member seated within at least said aperture through said first workpiece, said fastener member having a first portion and a second portion which defines a shank portion, said first portion having a protuberance thereon which protrudes outwardly from an underside of said first portion, said shank portion having structure defining a retaining groove thereon proximate to said first portion, said protuberance on said first portion engaging a top surface of said first workpiece and deforming the material of which said first workpiece is formed to cause the material to flow into said retaining groove during rotational engagement of said fastener member in said aperture through said first workpiece, said fastener member being deterred from axial movement relative to said first workpiece after said material of which said first workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove, said fastener member being capable of rotational movement relative to said first workpiece after said material of which said first workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove; and means associated with said fastener member for attaching said fastener member to said second workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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7. A joint comprising:
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first and second workpieces, each said workpiece being formed from a material and having an aperture defined by an inner wall therethrough, at least said aperture of said second workpiece includes an internal thread; a fastener member seated within at least said aperture through said first workpiece, said fastener member having a first portion and a second portion which defines a shank portion, said first portion having a protuberance thereon which protrudes outwardly from an underside of said first portion, said shank portion having structure defining a retaining groove thereon proximate to said first portion, said protuberance on said first portion engaging a top surface of said first workpiece and deforming the material of which said first workpiece is formed to cause the material to flow into said retaining groove during rotational engagement of said fastener member in said aperture through said first workpiece; and means associated with said fastener member for attaching said fastener member to said second workpiece comprising a threaded end portion of the fastener member, said threaded end portion being engaged with said second workpiece to bring said first portion of said fastener member into clamped engagement.
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9. A fastener member for engagement with a workpiece being formed from a deformable material, said fastener member comprising:
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a first portion, said first portion having a protuberance thereon which protrudes outwardly from an underside of said first portion; and a second portion having structure defining a retaining groove thereon proximate to said first portion, wherein upon engagement of said fastener member with an aperture provided through the workpiece, said protuberance on said first portion engages a top surface of the workpiece and deforms the material of which the workpiece is formed to cause the material of which the workpiece is formed to flow into said retaining groove during rotational engagement of said fastener member with the workpiece, said fastener member being deterred from axial movement relative to the workpiece after the material of which the workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove, and said fastener member being capable of rotational movement relative to the workpiece after the material of which the workpiece is formed has flowed into said retaining groove. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of forming a joint comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing first and second workpieces, each said workpiece being formed from a material and having an aperture defined by an inner wall therethrough; (b) providing a fastener member having a first portion and a second portion being defined by a shank portion, said first portion having a protuberance thereon which protrudes outwardly from an underside of said first portion, said shank portion having structure defining a retaining groove thereon proximate to said first portion; (c) providing means associated with said fastener member for attaching said fastener member to said second workpiece; (d) initially engaging said fastener member with said first and second workpieces by using said means associated with said fastener member; (e) engaging said protuberance on said first portion with a top surface of said first workpiece; and (f) applying rotational and compressive forces on said fastener member thereby causing said protuberance to deform the material of which said first workpiece is formed to cause said material to flow into said retaining groove provided on said fastener member to provide a mechanical interlock between said fastener member and said first workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification