US 5,309,618 A · Method of attaching a female fastener assembly to a panel

Abstract

A method of attaching a fastener assembly to a member is disclosed. The fastener assembly includes a male fastener element which is fastened to a female fastener element wherein the male fastener element is adapted to engage and pierce through a panel. The female fastener element is adapted to rivet itself to the panel thereby forming a secure mechanical interlock between the female fastener and the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the female and male fastener include threaded surfaces which cooperatively engage one another thereby permitting the male fastener to be easily removed and used to fasten a structural member, or the like to the female fastener/panel assembly. While the fastener assembly is particularly suited for self-piercing applications, it may be used equally well in pre-pierced panel applications.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of attaching a fastener assembly to a panel, said fastener assembly including a female fastener element and a male fastener element, said female fastener element having a body portion having an axial bore therethrough and a panel riveting portion integral with said body portion, said male fastener element including a shank portion retained within said axial bore of said female fastener and a quill portion integral with said shank portion, said quill portion extending beyond said panel riveting portion of said female fastener element, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) placing said quill portion of said male fastener adjacent said panel;
(B) passing said quill portion through said panel,
(C) then, after step (B), driving said panel riveting portion of said female fastener through said panel,
(D) radially deforming said panel riveting portion of said female fastener thereby entrapping said fastener assembly in said panel.

1 more element

A method of attaching a female fastener assembly to a panel, said female fastener assembly including a female fastener element and a male fastener element, said female fastener element including a body portion having an axial bore therethrough and a generally annular riveting portion extending from said body portion, said male fastener element including a shank portion extending through said female fastener element body portion axial bore and releasably attached therein and an intergal quill portion extending beyond said female fastener element riveting portion, said method comprising the following steps:

(A) assembling said female fastener element on said male fastener element by disposing said male fastener element shank portion into said female fastener element axial bore and releasably attaching said male fastener element therein;
(B) driving said male fastener element quill portion against said panel piercing an opening in said panel and driving said quill portion through said panel;
and
(C) driving said female fastener element riveting portion into said panel opening and radially deforming said riveting portion to secure said female fastener element in said panel opening.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

07/774,437Filed 10 Oct 1991 · continuation in part

Priority

DE 30039082 Feb 1980

Granted

10 May 1994

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B23P 19/062
Screw or nut setting or loosening machines: pierce nut setting machines
F16B 35/06
With specially-shaped head or shaft in order to fix the bolt on or in an object: specially-shaped heads
F16B 37/062
By means of welding or riveting: by means of riveting
F16B 37/065
By means of riveting: by deforming the material of the nut

Family

Serial229,274Parent of this division · filed 28 Jan 1981

Serial504,074Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Jun 1983

Serial563,833Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Dec 1983

Serial657,570Parent of this division · filed 4 Oct 1984

Serial773,387Parent of this division · filed 6 Sep 1985

Serial869,507Parent of this division · filed 2 Jun 1986

Serial892,017Parent of this division · filed 1 Aug 1986

Serial69,804Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Aug 1987

Serial111,966Parent of this division · filed 21 Oct 1987

Serial196,209Parent of this division · filed 19 May 1988

Serial271,123Parent of this division · filed 14 Nov 1988

Serial457,060Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Dec 1989

Serial491,925Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Mar 1990

Serial485,099Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Mar 1993

US 5,092,724 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,072,518 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 4,893,394 AParent of this division

US 4,831,698 AParent of this division

US 4,810,143 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 4,700,470 AParent of this division

US 4,610,072 AParent of this division

US 4,555,838 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 4,543,701 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 4,459,073 AParent of this continuation-in-part

Serial229,274Parent of this continuation

US 4,915,558 AParent of this division

US 4,765,057 AParent of this division

US 4,633,560 AParent of this division

Serial563,833Parent of this division

US 5,309,618 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method of attaching a female fastener assembly to a panel

Life of this patent

Method of attaching a female fastener assembly to a panel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13