US 5,208,974 A · Apparatus for attaching a fastener to sheet material

Abstract

An apparatus is employed for forming an attachment of a threaded fastener or other item to a deformable sheet material by a clinching technique, preferably without shearing the sheet material in the area of the interlocking attachment of the fastener with the sheet material. As a result, a secure, interlocked, joint is formed to which other items can be threadably secured, with such joint being leakproof in some embodiments. Such leakproof fastener assembly is especially advantageous in the manufacture of fluid-containing products or other applications where a leakproof construction is necessary or desirable. In other embodiments, however, where such leakproof feature is not needed or is undesirable, the invention still provides an improved, secure, interlocked attachment of a fastener to a sheet material item, wherein the sheet material item is a single layer item or a multiple layer item.

Claims66

Dependent claims

An apparatus for forming an attachment of an item to a sheet material, said item having an attachment portion with a lateral face and a transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means defining an opening therein, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening without shearing said sheet material and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said fixed anvil to laterally deform said first part of said sheet material portion generally laterally outwardly in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said lateral deformation occuring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion, said die means including a number of die members defining said opening, said die members being laterally movable relative to one another generally laterally outwardly away from one another in response to said lateral deformation.

An apparatus for forming an attachment of an item to a sheet material, said item having an attachment portion with a lateral face and a transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means defining an opening therein, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening without shearing said sheet material and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said fixed anvil to laterally deform said first part of said sheet material portion generally laterally outwardly in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said lateral deformation occurring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion, said apparatus including stripper means for holding said sheet material in place between said punch means and said die means during the forming of said attachment and for holding said interlocked item and said sheet material portion substantially in contact with said die means while said punch means is moved longitudinally away from said die means after said item is attached to said sheet material.

An apparatus for forming an attachment of a fastener to a sheet material, said fastener having an attachment portion with a lateral face and a transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means including a number of die members defining an opening therebetween, said die members being generally laterally movable relative to one another, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means and said die means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said anvil to laterally deform said first part of said sheet material portion generally laterally outwardly and to deform a second part of said sheet material portion against said transverse edge in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said die members being movable generally laterally outwardly away from one another in response to said lateral deformation, said lateral deformation occurring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion;
and
resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said die members generally laterally toward one another.

2 more elements

An apparatus for forming an attachment of a fastener to a sheet material, said fastener having an attachment portion with a lateral face and a transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means including a number of die members defining an opening therebetween, said die members being generally laterally movable relative to one another, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means and said die means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said anvil to laterally deform both said first part of said sheet material portion and said attachment portion generally laterally outwardly and to deform a second part of said sheet material portion against said transverse edge in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said die members being movable generally laterally outwardly away from one another in response to said lateral deformation, said lateral deformation occurring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion;
and
resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said die members generally laterally toward one another.

2 more elements

An apparatus for forming an attachment of a fastener to a sheet material, said fastener having an attachment portion of a generally conical shape with a lateral face and a tapered transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means including a number of die members defining an opening therebetween, said die members being generally laterally movable relative to one another, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means and said die means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said anvil for laterally deforming said first part of said sheet material portion generally laterally outwardly and to deform a second part of said sheet material portion against said transverse edge in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said die members being movable generally away from one another in response to said lateral deformation, lateral deformation occurring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion;
means for forcibly urging a second part of said sheet material portion generally laterally inwardly to engage said tapered transverse edge of said attachment portion in order to form said longitudinal interlock;
and
resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said die members generally laterally toward one another.

3 more elements

An apparatus for forming an attachment of a fastener to a sheet material, said fastener having an attachment portion of a generally conical shape with a recessed lateral face and a tapered transverse edge thereon, said apparatus comprising:

punch means;
die means including a number of die members defining an opening therebetween, said die members being generally laterally movable relative to one another, and a fixed anvil disposed within said opening and defining the bottom thereof;
press means for forcibly moving said punch means and said die means generally longitudinally toward one another with said attachment portion and said sheet material therebetween in order to force said attachment portion and a portion of said sheet material into said opening and for forcibly pressing said attachment portion and a first part of said sheet material portion generally longitudinally against said anvil for laterally deforming said first part of said sheet material portion generally laterally outwardly and for forcibly urging said first part of said sheet material portion into said recess on said lateral face in order to longitudinally interlock said attachment portion with said sheet material, said die members being movable generally away from one another in response to said lateral deformation, said lateral deformation occurring without shearing said first part of said sheet material portion;
means for forcibly urging a second part of said sheet material portion generally laterally inwardly to engage said tapered transverse edge of said attachment portion in order to form said longitudinal interlock;
and
resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said die members generally laterally toward one another.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for attaching a fastener to sheet material

Life of this patent

Apparatus for attaching a fastener to sheet material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims66