Leak proof joint
AssigneeTech-Line Engineering Co.
InventorLouis C. Schleicher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clinch joint of the leak proof type and method and apparatus for forming several joint embodiments is disclosed. The joint retains overlapping sheets of deformable material together by simultaneously drawing nested cup-shaped cavities formed out of the plane of the sheets having a central spot and a continuous wall region extending from the spot to the cavity periphery. The region of the sheets adjacent the cavity periphery is pinched together causing the cavity walls to inwardly radially deform, securely interlocking the sheets firmly together. Alternative embodiments of the joint additionally squeeze the cavity spots together outwardly radially deforming the spot material to further interlock the nested cavities.
Claims19
A leak proof joint for fastening sheets of deformable material together, said joint comprising:
- a first and second sheet of deformable material having overlapping portions with an initial first and second thickness in which are respectively formed first and second cups coaxially nested one within the other and aligned along a common axis, each of said cups having an open top, a central spot and a continuous wall region extending from the central spot to the respective open top, said overlapping portions further being plastically deformed into a substantially flat annular outboard region surrounding each cup open top to reduce the thickness of said sheets to sufficiently deform said cup wall regions into interlocking relation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.