Insert moldable ratchet rivet assembly

An insert moldable ratchet rivet assembly of a unitary construction for securing a plurality of panels together, said rivet assembly comprising:

• a drive-pin including a body portion having a triangular shape;
• said body portion having a plurality of segments which are spaced apart from each other to form flattened surfaces therebetween;
• each of said flattened surfaces being provided with a plurality of lengthwise-spaced horizontal teeth;
• a rivet housing having a head flange and a shank, said rivet housing being formed integrally with and surrounding said body portion of said drive-pin;
• said rivet head flange having a front surface and a rear surface;
• said rivet shank being formed of a plurality of split wall portions extending substantially from the rear surface of said rivet head flange and being joined together at their other end by a continuous wall member;
• said plurality of split wall portions being spaced apart from each other to provide slots therebetween which are formed by said plurality of segments on said body portion of said drive-pin, said plurality of split wall portions being disposed over a corresponding one of said flattened surfaces to provide a plurality of lengthwise-spaced lateral teeth which engagingly mate with said horizontal teeth on said flattened surfaces;
• said rivet shank being insertable through aligned openings in said plurality of panels so the rear surface of said rivet head flange engages an outer surface of said plurality of panels;
• and
• said drive-pin being moved positively relative to said rivet head flange and said aligned openings to releasably disengage said horizontal teeth on said flattened surfaces from said lateral teeth so that said rivet split wall portions flex outwardly to engage an inner surface of said plurality of panels.

An insert moldable ratchet rivet assembly of a unitary construction for securing a plurality of panels together, said rivet assembly comprising:

• a drive-pin insert having a body portion;
• said body portion having a plurality of segments which are spaced apart from each other to form recessed flattened surfaces therebetween;
• each of said flattened surfaces being provided with a plurality of lengthwise-spaced horizontal teeth;
• a rivet housing having a head flange and a shank, said rivet housing being formed integrally with and surrounding said body portion of said drive-pin insert;
• said rivet head flange having a front surface and a rear surface;
• said rivet shank being formed of a plurality of split wall portions extending substantially from the rear surface of said rivet head flange;
• said plurality of shank wall portions being spaced equally apart from each other to provide slots therebetween which are formed by said plurality of segments on said body portion of said drive-pin insert, said plurality of shank wall portions being disposed over a corresponding one of said flattened surfaces to provide a plurality of lengthwise-spaced lateral teeth which engagingly mate with said horizontal teeth on said flattened surfaces;
• said rivet shank being insertable through aligned openings in said plurality of panels so that the rear surface of said rivet head flange engages an outer surface of said plurality of panels;
• said drive-pin insert being moved positively relative to said rivet head flange and said aligned openings to releasably disengage said horizontal teeth on said flattened surfaces from said lateral teeth so that said rivet shank wall portions flex outwardly to engage an inner surface of said plurality of panels;
• and
• a plurality of double-spaced horizontal teeth disposed inside said annular flange which are wider than said plurality of lengthwise-spaced horizontal teeth so as to permit the drive-pin insert to be moved axially with a reduced initial force, thereby facilitating installation.