Torque resistant fastening element

• US 7,179,034 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PENN Automotive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
• Inventors: Ladouceur, Harold A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US10/271,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20040076489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 411/501, 411/181, 411/179, 411/107, 411/187, 411/188, 411161-163, 295/241, 295/12, 294/32, 294/322, 294/321
• US Class Current: 411/181
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/062 Pierce nut setting machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/002 Means for preventing rotation of screw-threaded elements F16B39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/062 by means of riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49835 with shaping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49837 of first part

Abstract

A fastening element capable of being attached to a panel by deforming the panel is disclosed. A barrel portion is tubular with an open free end and has an axis defining a circumference. A radial flange portion is integral with the tubular barrel portion opposite the free end and defines a circumferential surface. The radial flange portion includes a plurality of projections spaced apart and extending outwardly from the circumferential surface. Each of the projections defines at least one wall generally perpendicular to the circumference about the axis of the barrel portion.

Claims

1. A fastening element and panel assembly comprising:

a panel;

a fastening element having a barrel portion being tubular with an open free end and defining an axis having a circumference thereabout;

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion opposite said free end and defining a circumferential surface;

a post portion integral with said radial flange portion extending rearwardly from said barrel portion generally along an axis of said barrel portion having a threaded surface; and

said open free end of said barrel portion being deformed outwardly and upwardly into a hook shape and said panel being received by said deformed barrel portion thereby securing said fastening element to said panel, said circumferential surface of said radial flange portion permanently including projections spaced apart and extending outwardly from said radial flange portion deforming said panel, wherein each of said projections include at least one planar side surface extending generally perpendicular to said circumference about said axis defined by said barrel portion thereby preventing said fastening element from rotating about said axis relative to said panel.

2. A fastening element as set forth in claim 1, wherein said open free end of said barrel portion defines a piercing surface positioned distally from said radial flange portion.

3. A fastening element as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radial flange portion defines a generally planar surface between adjacent of said projections.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said projections defines a generally polygonal shape having at least one surface defining an obtuse angle to said generally planar surface.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one surface is defined by a plane extending radially outwardly from said axis defined by said barrel portion.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radial flange portion includes a diameter greater than a diameter of said barrel portion.

7. A fastening element as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said projections includes a generally arcuate surface defined by said diameter of said radial flange portion.

8. A method of attaching a fastening element in a panel, said fastening element having a barrel portion being tubular with an open free end and defining an axis, and having a radial flange portion integral with said panel portion opposite said free end defining a circumferential surface with a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly, each projection having at least one planar surface extending radially outwardly from said axis, including the steps of:

supporting at least one side of said panel;

driving said open free end of said barrel portion of said fastening element through said panel;

deforming a first portion of said panel circumscribing said barrel portion of said fastening element downwardly against said tubular barrel portion;

deforming said open free end of said barrel portion outwardly and upwardly around said first portion of said panel circumscribing said barrel portion thereby forming a generally U-shaped end portion of said barrel portion around said first portion of said panel;

deforming a second panel portion downwardly with said radial flange portion of said fastening element and into a space between each of said plurality of projections wherein said projections extend radially from said axis into said second panel portion permanently deforming said panel thereby preventing said fastening element from rotating about said axis relative to said panel portion.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further including the step of piercing a hole in said panel with said barrel portion.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 further including the step of deforming said first panel portion in said U-shaped end portion into an enlarged bead having a thickness generally greater than the thickness of said panel and having a height measured between said flange portion and said U-shaped end portion of said barrel portion greater than its width.

11. A self-attaching fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end;

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion adjacent said first end having an outer circumference including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections and planar surfaces between said spaced radial projections; and

each of said spaced radial projections including a planar, generally radial side face extending generally perpendicular to said outer circumference of said radial flange portion.

12. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said radial projections includes a cylindrical convex outer end face and said radial projections are circumferentially aligned forming a discontinuous generally cylindrical outer surface of said radial flange portion.

13. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 11, wherein said radial projections are equally circumferential spaced on said outer circumference of said radial flange portion a circumferential width greater than a circumferential width of said radial projections.

14. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 13, wherein said circumferential width of said radial projections is greater than a radial length of said radial projections.

15. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said radial projections includes opposed planar generally planar radial side faces and convex end faces.

16. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 11, wherein said self-attaching fastener is a male fastener having a shank portion integral with said first end of said tubular barrel portion coaxially aligned with said tubular barrel portion.

17. A self-attaching fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end;

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion adjacent said first end having an outer circumference including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections having a circumferential width less than a circumferential width of said radial flange portion between said radial projections; and

each of said radial projections including planar side faces on opposed sides of said projections extending generally radially and generally perpendicular to said outer circumference of said radial flange portion and convex end faces.

18. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said end faces of said radial projections are cylindrical and circumferentially aligned, forming a discontinuous cylindrical outer surface of said radial flange portion.

19. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 17, wherein said radial projections are equally circumferentially spaced on said outer circumference of said radial flange portion a circumferential width at least about twice said circumferential width of said radial projections.

20. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 19, wherein said circumferential width of said radial projections is greater than a radial length of said radial projections.

21. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 17, wherein said outer circumference of said radial flange portion includes planar surfaces between said circumferentially spaced radial projections.

22. A self-attaching fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end;

a radial flange portion integral with said tubular barrel portion adjacent said first end having an outer circumference including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections; and

each of said circumferentially spaced radial projections including opposed planar generally radial side faces extending generally perpendicular to said circumference of said radial flange portion, said radial projections circumferentially spaced on said outer circumference of said radial flange portion a circumferential width greater than a circumferential width of said radial projections measured between said planar generally radial side faces and each of said radial projections having a cylindrical end face, wherein said cylindrical end faces are circumferentially aligned to define a discontinuous cylindrical outer surface of said radial flange portion.

23. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 22, wherein said circumferential width of said radial projections is greater than a radial length of said radial projections.

24. A method of attaching a fastening element in a panel, said fastening element including a tubular barrel portion having an open free end and a radial flange portion opposite said open free end of said tubular barrel portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections, each radial projection having a planar generally radial side face and wherein said radial projections have a circumferential width less than a circumferential width of said radial flange portion between said circumferentially spaced radial projections forming outwardly opening radial recesses having a circumferential width greater than said circumferential width of said radial projections, said method comprising:

supporting a panel on a panel support surface of a die member including an annular die cavity having a frustoconical outer surface and a central die post;

aligning said tubular barrel portion with said central die post of said die member and driving said open free cad of said tubular barrel portion through an opening in said panel;

deforming a first portion of said panel circumscribing said tubular barrel portion into said annular die cavity against said central die post;

deforming said open free end of said tubular barrel portion in said annular die cavity around said first portion of said panel circumscribing said tubular barrel portion; and

deforming a second panel portion adjacent said first panel portion incrementally radially inwardly against an outer surface of said radial projections and into said outwardly opening radial recesses of said radial flange portion thereby preventing said fastening element from rotating about a longitudinal axis relative to said panel.

25. The method of attaching a fastening element in a panel as defined in claim 24, wherein said die member includes an arcuate surface between said panel support surface and said frustoconical outer face and said method including deforming said first panel portion around said arcuate surface into said die cavity with said first panel portion engaging an outer surface of said tubular barrel portion and said second panel portion spaced from said frustoconical outer surface of said annular die cavity, then deforming said second panel portion incrementally radially inwardly against a portion of said frustoconical outer surface adjacent said arcuate surface.

26. The method of attaching a fastening element in a panel as defined in claim 24, wherein said method includes piercing said opening in said panel by driving said open free end of said tubular barrel portion against an outer surface of said central die post of said die member.

27. The method of attaching a fastening element in a panel as defined in claim 24, wherein said method includes deforming said open free end of said tubular barrel portion radially outwardly and upwardly around said first portion of said panel forming a generally U-shaped end portion of said tubular barrel portion receiving said first panel portion adjacent said opening in said U-shaped end portion of said tubular barrel portion.

28. A self attaching fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end;

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion adjacent said first end of said tubular barrel portion having an outer circumference including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections; and

each of said spaced radial projections including opposed planar generally radial side faces extending generally perpendicular to said outer circumference of said radial flange portion and convex end faces.

29. A self-attaching male fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion adjacent said first end of said tubular barrel portion having an outer circumference including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections, each of said radial projections including a planar, generally radial side face extending generally perpendicular to said outer circumference of said radial flange portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally planar surfaces located between said radial projections; and

a threaded shank portion integral with said first end of said tubular barrel portion coaxially aligned with said tubular barrel portion.

30. A self-attaching fastener, comprising:

a tubular barrel portion having a first end and a second open free end; and

a radial flange portion integral with said barrel portion adjacent said first end of said radial flange portion having a discontinuous outer circumferential surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections, each of said radial projections having a planar generally radial side face extending generally perpendicular to a circumference of said radial flange portion, and a plurality of planar surfaces between said radial projections, wherein said planar surfaces each have a circumferential width greater than a circumferential width of said radial projections.

31. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 30, wherein each of said radial projections has a convex end face.

32. The self-attaching fastener as defined in claim 30, wherein said self-attaching fastener is a male fastener having a shank portion integral with said first end of said tubular barrel portion coaxially aligned with said tubular barrel portion.