Serviceable fastener with a removable head

A process for removably affixing a first panel to a second panel using a fastener comprising the steps of:

• 1) coaxially aligning a first panel hole in the first panel with a second panel hole in the second panel while the first panel and second panel are in contact with each other;
• 2) inserting the fastener body through the first panel hole in the first panel and the second panel hole in the second panel with a head of the fastener adjacent to the first panel;
• and
• 3) deforming the fastener such that a deformed area of the body is created by axially pulling a mandrel that extends axially through the body on the side opposing a mandrel head such that the mandrel head creates the deformed area by compressing and plastically deforming the body, wherein the body constrains the second panel between the deformed area and a shoulder and the first panel is constrained between a the second panel and a head of the fastener.

A panel assembly comprising:

• a) a first panel;
• b) a second panel;
• and
• c) a fastener comprising:
• i) a body having:
• A) a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter,
• B) a second cylindrical portion with a second diameter,
• C) a shoulder between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion,
• D) an exterior threaded portion, and
• E) a cylindrical hole extending along an axis of the body;
• ii) a mandrel having:
• A) a shank, and
• B) a mandrel head at an end of the shank;
• and
• iii) a head having an opening defined by an interior threaded portion;
• wherein the mandrel shank at least partially occupies the cylindrical hole of the body;
• wherein the mandrel head is located outside of the body and opposite of the exterior threaded portion of the body;
• wherein the exterior threaded portion of the body and the interior threaded portion of the head are engaged to removably secure the body to the head;
• wherein a deformed area results on the body when the shank of the mandrel opposite of the mandrel head is pulled axially such that the mandrel head is pulled toward the head;
• wherein the first cylindrical portion of the body occupies a first panel hole in a first panel and the second cylindrical portion of the body occupies a second panel hole in a second panel;
• wherein the second hole in the second panel is smaller in diameter than the first diameter of the first cylindrical portion of the body;
• wherein the second panel is permanently mechanically constrained between the shoulder of the body and the deformed area of the body;
• and
• wherein the first panel is removably constrained between the head of the fastener and the second panel.