Cold head stamped fastener inserts including selectively removable tangs

#The present invention relates to fastener inserts and, more particularly, to fastener inserts including a cold head stamped detent to form selectively removable tangs, an apparatus for cold head stamping fastener inserts and methods of manufacturing cold head stamped fastener inserts.

#Fastener inserts of varying design for maintaining a fastener within a tapped hole or nut assembly are commonly employed. The use of such fastener inserts offer many advantages including, by way of non-limiting example, providing a more balanced distribution of dynamic and static loads throughout the length of engagement between fasteners and the substrate.

#To facilitate the disposition of the fastener insert within a tapped hole or nut, often such inserts are provided with a selectively removable tang. The tang typically includes a notch which is milled, sheared, cut or ground into the insert which allows the tang to be broken off. Once the fastener insert is properly positioned within the tapped hole or nut, pressure is exerted on the tang which causes the tang to break away from the fastener insert body and provide an unencumbered passageway for the insertion of a fastener.

#The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view demonstrating the steps of manufacturing a cold head stamped fastener insert;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first cold head stamping apparatus useful in forming cold head stamped fastener inserts;

#The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the process of cold head notching a fastener insert to provide a readily removable tang is demonstrated. A wire formed from a desired alloy such as stainless steel, by way of non-limiting example, is provided. The wire which is generally preformed to the desired circumferential geometry through a die head 10 is advanced throughout the fastener insert production process by a known automated feeding apparatus (not shown).

#The wire is further advanced to a cold head stamping station 12 wherein at least one detent of predetermined shape and depth is provided in the wire. Under a preferred embodiment, as will be described in greater detail below, the wire is optionally provided with a marking at the cold head stamping station or at a separate cold head stamping station which can serve as a product and/or source identifier for the resulting fastener insert.