Method of attaching a functional element; die; functional element; component assembly
AssigneeProfil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsRichard Humpert, Jiri Babey, Oliver Diehl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of attaching a functional element (10, 210), in particular a fastener element to a sheet metal part (12, 212), optionally in liquid and/or gas-tight manner, is characterized in that the functional element (10, 210, 410) is pressed against the sheet metal part (12, 210, 410) supported by a die (14, 114, 214, 414) and sheet metal material (13) is pressed by means of at least one movably mounted shaped part (16, 116, 216, 416) of the die (14, 114, 214, 414) into an undercut (18, 218, 418) of the functional element (10, 210, 410). The disclosure also claims a die, a functional element, and a component assembly comprising the functional element and a sheet metal part.
Claims7
1-47. (Cancelled)
A functional element attachable to sheet metal material in a liquid and gas-tight manner comprising:
- an undercut defining a thread with at least one thread turn having features interrupting said thread and said sheet metal material deformable radially inwardly of said thread thereby forming said liquid and gas-tight attachment between said functional element and said sheet metal material.
A functional element attachable to sheet metal material and comprising an undercut defined by a thread, said sheet metal material being deformed in use radially inwardly of said thread thereby forming said attachment between said functional element being a threaded pin having a substantially constant outer diameter and being adapted for connection to said sheet metal material in the region of a portion of said thread defining said undercut, said functional element having features at said portion providing security against rotation and arranged eccentrically relative to a longitudinal axis of said functional element, said features providing security against rotation being at least one of recesses and raised portions engaging said sheet metal material and interrupting said thread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.