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US 5,476,351 AGranted
Method and apparatus for forming a head on a fastener and a fastener formed therefrom
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJohn Binder, Henry W. Schniedermeier, Lawrence S. Shelton, Henry A. Sygnator, William L. Gabriel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a head, having a controlled predetermined shape, on an end of an elongate member, such as a wire, which is formed into a fastener, where an end portion of the wire is secured in a predetermined position and axially compressed so as to expand a predetermined amount of wire material radially outwardly and thereby form the head on the wire, and where material flow is directed during axial compression so as to provide the controlled predetermined shape of the head.
Claims14
A fastener, comprising:
- a shank;
- and
- a head integral with said shank and formed by axial compression of the material comprising an end portion of said shank, and including a plurality of rib means, disposed parallel with respect to each other, disposed parallel with respect to a diameter of said head, and formed upon said head during said axial compression of said end portion of said shank for controlling the direction of flow of said material comprising said end portion of said shank, and for accommodating said material comprising said end portion of said shank, as said material comprising said end portion of said shank is expanded radially outwardly with respect to said shank of said fastener during said axial compression of said end portion of said shank and said formation of said head upon said shank such that said head has a predetermined configuration and wherein said head is substantially centered with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.