# US 11,110,507 B2 · Convex portion, method of manufacturing convex portion, positioning structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,507 B2 - Document ID: US11110507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/520,818 - Filed: 2019-07-24 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Keisuke Iwakami - Inventors: Keisuke Iwakami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110507B2 ## CPC - B21D 28/26: in sheets or flat parts - B21D 19/088: {for flanging holes} - B21D 22/04: for dimpling (combined with perforating B21D28/24) - F16B 5/045: {without the use of separate rivets} - B32B 3/00: Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form - Y10T 428/24182: Inward from edge of web or sheet - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A convex portion projecting from a plate member includes a base, a convex body, and a guide. The base is part of the plate member. The convex body erects in a cylindrical shape from the base. The guide is at a top end of the convex body. The base includes a first inner circumferential surface, a second inner circumferential surface, and a third inner circumferential surface. The first inner circumferential surface is continuous with an inner circumferential surface of the convex body and extends in a direction opposite to an erecting direction of the convex body. The second inner circumferential surface is continuous with the first inner circumferential surface and intersects the erecting direction of the convex body. The third inner circumferential surface is continuous with the second inner circumferential surface and is larger in diameter than the first inner circumferential surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A convex portion projecting from a plate member, the convex portion comprising: a base being part of the plate member, a convex body erecting in a cylindrical shape from the base; and a guide at a top end of the convex body, the base including: a first inner circumferential surface that is continuous with an inner circumferential surface of the convex body and extends in a direction opposite to an erecting direction of the convex body; a second inner circumferential surface that is continuous with the first inner circumferential surface and intersects the erecting direction of the convex body; and a third inner circumferential surface that is continuous with the second inner circumferential surface and is larger in diameter than the first inner circumferential surface, and the convex body is above the third inner circumferential surface, a diameter of an outer circumferential surface of the convex body is equal to a diameter of the third inner circumferential surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The convex portion according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the convex body in the erection direction is larger than a plate thickness of the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The convex portion according to claim 1, wherein the convex body includes a convex base part continuous with the base and a convex top part continuous with the convex base part and the guide, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the convex base part includes a sheared surface, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the convex top part and the guide includes a material surface of the plate member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The convex portion according to claim 1, wherein the guide has a tapered surface that is tapered in a direction away from the convex body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A positioning structure comprising: a first plate portion being the plate member including the convex portion according to claim 1; and a second plate portion including a hole or a concave portion in which the convex portion fits. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of manufacturing the convex portion of claim 1, the convex body including a convex base part continuous with the base and a convex top part continuous with the convex base part and the guide, the method comprising: burring the plate member to form the convex top part and the guide; and shearing the plate member to form the convex base part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The convex portion according to claim 1, wherein the guide has an end surface such that an interior of the convex body is exposed, the guide being angled inward relative to the convex body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The convex portion according to claim 7, wherein a dimension of the convex body in the erection direction is larger than a plate thickness of the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The convex portion according to claim 7, wherein the convex body includes a convex base part continuous with the base and a convex top part continuous with the convex base part and the guide, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the convex base part includes a sheared surface, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the convex top part and the guide includes a material surface of the plate member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The convex portion according to claim 7, wherein the guide has a tapered surface that is tapered in a direction away from the convex body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A positioning structure comprising: a first plate portion being the plate member including the convex portion according to claim 7; and a second plate portion including a hole or a concave portion in which the convex portion fits.