Fastener construction with internal support for spaced portions of structural member

In a structural system including a plurality of structural workpieces to be secured together said system comprising at least one structural workpiece of a C-channel construction having a pair of spaced apart channel flanges extending generally parallely from opposite ends of a center plate, said channel flanges having aligned openings in an area spaced from said center plate at which said flanges are generally not supported to fully accept the predetermined magnitude of clamp load,

• a fastener like member including a pin member and a support sleeve and adapted to be installed in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve, said pin member having an elongated shank with an enlarged pin head at one end, said support sleeve being of an elongated cylindrical construction adapted to be located on said pin shank and having a preselected length at least generally no less than the distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having an outer surface of a size to be moved through said one of said aligned openings of said one of said flanges in a generally clearance relationship,
• head forming means at said one end of said pin member for radially outwardly deforming said support sleeve at its end proximate to said one end of said pin member for forming an enlarged sleeve head for engaging the inner surface of said one of said flange members around said one of said aligned openings,
• said preselected length of said sleeve member locating said proximate end of said sleeve member substantially within the confines of the space between said flanges and substantially out of said one of said aligned openings prior to the formation of said enlarged sleeve head,
• said head forming means being axially movable relative to said support sleeve in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve for forming said enlarged sleeve head,
• load bearing means comprising a bearing surface on said support sleeve at a location generally spaced from its proximate end by said distance between said flanges for engaging the inner surface of the other of said flanges around the other of said aligned openings,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the proximate open end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of the one of the plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said load bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said two plate members,
• and securing means for securing said pin and support sleeve together with said predetermined clamp load between said flanges being reacted through said support sleeve.

In a fastening system for securing structural workpieces together at a predetermined magnitude of clamp load said system comprising at least one structural workpiece of a C-channel construction having first and second spaced apart channel flanges extending generally parallely from opposite ends of a center plate, said channel flanges having first and second aligned openings, respectively, in an area spaced from said center plate at which said flanges are generally not supported to fully accept the predetermined magnitude of clamp load,

• first and second connecting plate members for connecting said one structural workpiece to another structural workpiece, said first and second connecting plate members adapted to be located on the outer surfaces of said first and second flanges, respectively, and each having a plate opening adapted to be located in line with the associated one of said aligned openings through said flanges,
• a fastener including a pin member and a support sleeve and adapted to be installed in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve, said pin member having an elongated shank with an enlarged pin head at one end, said support sleeve being of an elongated cylindrical construction adapted to be located on said pin shank and having a preselected length at least generally no less than the internal distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having an outer surface of a size to be moved through said plate opening of said first plate member and said first of said aligned openings of said first of said flanges in a generally clearance relationship,
• head forming means at said one end of said pin member for radially outwardly deforming said support sleeve at its end proximate to said one end of said pin member for forming an enlarged sleeve head for engaging the inner surface of said first of said flange members around said first of said aligned openings,
• said preselected length of said sleeve member locating said proximate end of said sleeve member substantially within the confines of the space between said flanges and substantially out of said one of said aligned openings prior to the formation of said enlarged sleeve head,
• said head forming means being axially movable relative to said support sleeve in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve for forming said enlarged sleeve head,
• load bearing means comprising a bearing surface on said support sleeve at a location generally spaced from its proximate end by said distance between said flanges for engaging the inner surface of said second of said flanges around said second of said aligned openings,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the proximate open end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of said first of said plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said plate members,
• and securing means for securing said pin and said support sleeve together with said predetermined clamp load between said flanges and said plate members being reacted through said support sleeve with the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members and said pin head being substantially out of axial engagement with said support sleeve,
• said pin shank having a generally straight portion of generally uniform enlarged diameter of a length at least around the combined thickness of said one of said flanges and said connecting plate member located proximate said pin head, a tapered portion proximate to said straight portion tapering generally from the enlarged diameter of said straight portion to a reduced diameter shank portion, said head forming means comprising said tapered portion with said tapered portion being axially movable into said support sleeve at its proximate end to form said enlarged sleeve head,
• said enlarged diameter straight portion being of a diameter to be received in said first of said aligned openings and said first plate opening with a limited clearance,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the open, proximate end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of the one of the plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said two plate members,
• said preselected length of said support sleeve being generally equal to said distance between said flanges,
• said load bearing means being said end of said support sleeve opposite to said proximate end of said support sleeve,
• said pin shank extending through said aligned openings and said plate opening,
• said securing means comprising a lock groove structure on that portion of said pin shank located outside of said other of said flanges and a collar member operatively engageable with said lock groove structure and being swaged into said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together.

In a fastening system for securing structural workpieces together at a predetermined magnitude of clamp load said system comprising at least one structural workpiece of a C-channel construction having first and second spaced apart channel flanges extending generally parallely from opposite ends of a center plate, said channel flanges having first and second aligned openings, respectively, in an area spaced from said center plate at which said flanges are generally not supported to fully accept the predetermined magnitude of clamp load,

• first and second connecting plate members for connecting said one structural workpiece to another structural workpiece, said first and second connecting plate members adapted to be located on the outer surfaces of said first and second flanges, respectively, and each having a plate opening adapted to be located in line with the associated one of said aligned openings through said flanges,
• a fastener including a pin member and a support sleeve and adapted to be installed in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve, said pin member having an elongated shank with an enlarged pin head at one end, said support sleeve being of an elongated cylindrical construction adapted to be located on said pin shank and having a preselected length at least generally no less than the internal distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having an outer surface of a size to be moved through said plate opening of said first plate member and said first of said aligned openings of said first of said flanges in a generally clearance relationship,
• head forming means at said one end of said pin member for radially outwardly deforming said support sleeve at its end proximate to said one end of said pin member for forming an enlarged sleeve head for engaging the inner surface of said first of said flange members around said first of said aligned openings,
• said preselected length of said sleeve member locating said proximate end of said sleeve member substantially within the confines of the space between said flanges and substantially out of said one of said aligned openings prior to the formation of said enlarged sleeve head,
• said head forming means being axially movable relative to said support sleeve in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve for forming said enlarged sleeve head,
• load bearing means comprising a bearing surface on said support sleeve at a location generally spaced from its proximate end by said distance between said flanges for engaging the inner surface of said second of said flanges around said second of said aligned openings,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the proximate open end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of said first of said plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said plate members,
• and securing means for securing said pin and said support sleeve together with said predetermined clamp load between said flanges and said plate members being reacted through said support sleeve with the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members and said pin head being substantially out of axial engagement with said support sleeve,
• said pin shank having a generally straight portion of generally uniform enlarged diameter of a length at least around the combined thickness of said one of said flanges and said connecting plate member located proximate said pin head, a tapered portion proximate to said straight portion tapering generally from the enlarged diameter of said straight portion to a reduced diameter shank portion, said head forming means comprising said tapered portion with said tapered portion being axially movable into said support sleeve at its proximate end to form said enlarged sleeve head,
• said enlarged diameter straight portion being of a diameter to be received in said first of said aligned openings and said first plate opening with a limited clearance,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the open, proximate end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of the one of the plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said two plate members,
• said pin shank extending through said aligned openings and said plate opening,
• said preselected length of said support sleeve being greater than said distance between said flanges, said load bearing means on said support sleeve being located a distance from said proximate end of said support sleeve generally equal to said distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having a reduced diameter extension portion extending from said load bearing means through said second aligned opening of said second flange and through said plate opening in said second connecting member,
• said securing means comprising a lock groove structure on that portion of said pin shank located outside of said other of said flanges and a mating means on said extension portion of said support sleeve and being operatively engageable with said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together,
• said extension portion being swaged into said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together.

In a fastening system for securing structural workpieces together at a predetermined magnitude of clamp load said system comprising at least one structural workpiece of a C-channel construction having first and second spaced apart channel flanges extending generally parallely from opposite ends of a center plate, said channel flanges having first and second aligned openings, respectively, in an area spaced from said center plate at which said flanges are generally not supported to fully accept the predetermined magnitude of clamp load,

• first and second connecting plate members for connecting said one structural workpiece to another structural workpiece, said first and second connecting plate members adapted to be located on the outer surfaces of said first and second flanges, respectively, and each having a plate opening adapted to be located in line with the associated one of said aligned openings through said flanges,
• a fastener including a pin member and a support sleeve and adapted to be installed in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve, said pin member having an elongated shank with an enlarged pin head at one end, said support sleeve being of an elongated cylindrical construction adapted to be located on said pin shank and having a preselected length at least generally no less than the internal distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having an outer surface of a size to be moved through said plate opening of said first plate member and said first of said aligned openings of said first of said flanges in a generally clearance relationship,
• head forming means at said one end of said pin member for radially outwardly deforming said support sleeve at its end proximate to said one end of said pin member for forming an enlarged sleeve head for engaging the inner surface of said first of said flange members around said first of said aligned openings,
• said preselected length of said sleeve member locating said proximate end of said sleeve member substantially within the confines of the space between said flanges and substantially out of said one of said aligned openings prior to the formation of said enlarged sleeve head,
• said head forming means being axially movable relative to said support sleeve in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve for forming said enlarged sleeve head,
• load bearing means comprising a bearing surface on said support sleeve at a location generally spaced from its proximate end by said distance between said flanges for engaging the inner surface of said second of said flanges around said second of said aligned openings,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the proximate open end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of said first of said plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said plate members,
• and securing means for securing said pin and said support sleeve together with said predetermined clamp load between said flanges and said plate members being reacted through said support sleeve with the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members and said pin head being substantially out of axial engagement with said support sleeve,
• said pin shank having a generally straight portion of generally uniform enlarged diameter of a length at least around the combined thickness of said one of said flanges and said connecting plate member located proximate said pin head, a tapered portion proximate to said straight portion tapering generally from the enlarged diameter of said straight portion to a reduced diameter shank portion, said head forming means comprising said tapered portion with said tapered portion being axially movable into said support sleeve at its proximate end to form said enlarged sleeve head, said enlarged diameter straight portion being of a diameter to be received in said first of said aligned openings and said first plate opening with a limited clearance,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the open, proximate end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of the one of the plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said two plate members,
• said pin shank extending through said aligned openings and said plate opening,
• said preselected length of said support sleeve being greater than said distance between said flanges, said load bearing means on said support sleeve being located a distance from said proximate end of said support sleeve generally equal to said distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having a reduced diameter extension portion extending from said load bearing means through said second aligned opening of said second flange and through said plate opening in said second connecting member,
• said securing means comprising a lock groove structure on that portion of said pin shank located outside of said other of said flanges and a mating means on said extension portion of said support sleeve and being operatively engageable with said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together,
• said lock groove structure comprising a spline having a helical thread form,
• said spline having crests and roots,
• said mating means on said extension portion being a section with a generally smooth reduced diameter bore of a diameter less than the diameter of said crests of said spline of said lock groove structure,
• said spline being moved into engagement with said bore of said section as said pin member is moved axially relative to said sleeve member to form said enlarged sleeve head, said spline forming mating threads in said bore of said section in response to said relative axial movement.

In a fastening system for securing structural workpieces together at a predetermined magnitude of clamp load said system comprising at least one structural workpiece of a C-channel construction having first and second spaced apart channel flanges extending generally parallely from opposite ends of a center plate, said channel flanges having first and second aligned openings, respectively, in an area spaced from said center plate at which said flanges are generally not supported to fully accept the predetermined magnitude of clamp load,

• first and second connecting plate members for connecting said one structural workpiece to another structural workpiece, said first and second connecting plate members adapted to be located on the outer surfaces of said first and second flanges, respectively, and each having a plate opening adapted to be located in line with the associated one of said aligned openings through said flanges,
• a fastener including a pin member and a support sleeve and adapted to be installed in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve, said pin member having an elongated shank with an enlarged pin head at one end, said support sleeve being of an elongated cylindrical construction adapted to be located on said pin shank and having a preselected length at least generally no less than the internal distance between said flanges,
• said support sleeve having an outer surface of a size to be moved through said plate opening of said first plate member and said first of said aligned openings of said first of said flanges in a generally clearance relationship,
• head forming means at said one end of said pin member for radially outwardly deforming said support sleeve at its end proximate to said one end of said pin member for forming an enlarged sleeve head for engaging the inner surface of said first of said flange members around said first of said aligned openings,
• said preselected length of said sleeve member locating said proximate end of said sleeve member substantially within the confines of the space between said flanges and substantially out of said one of said aligned openings prior to the formation of said enlarged sleeve head,
• said head forming means being axially movable relative to said support sleeve in response to a relative axial force applied between said pin member and said support sleeve for forming said enlarged sleeve head,
• load bearing means comprising a bearing surface on said support sleeve at a location generally spaced from its proximate end by said distance between said flanges for engaging the inner surface of said second of said flanges around said second of said aligned openings,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the proximate open end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of said first of said plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said plate members,
• securing means for securing said pin and said support sleeve together with said predetermined clamp load between said flanges and said plate members being reacted through said support sleeve with the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members and said pin head being substantially out of axial engagement with said support sleeve,
• said pin shank having a generally straight portion of generally uniform enlarged diameter of a length at least around the combined thickness of said one of said flanges and said connecting plate member located proximate said pin head, a tapered portion proximate to said straight portion tapering generally from the enlarged diameter of said straight portion to a reduced diameter shank portion, said head forming means comprising said tapered portion with said tapered portion being axially movable into said support sleeve at its proximate end to form said enlarged sleeve head, said enlarged diameter straight portion being of a diameter to be received in said first of said aligned openings and said first plate opening with a limited clearance,
• said enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface at the open, proximate end of said sleeve head engaging the inner surface of the one of the plate members with said support sleeve defining a substantially columnar structure between said end surface of said enlarged sleeve head and said bearing surface of said load bearing means for reacting the clamp load between said two plate members,
• said preselected length of said support sleeve being generally equal to said distance between said flanges,
• said load bearing means being said end of said support sleeve opposite to said proximate end of said support sleeve,
• said pin shank extending through said aligned openings and said plate opening of said second connecting plate member,
• said securing means comprising a lock groove structure on that portion of said pin shank located outside of said other of said flanges and a mating means operatively engageable with said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together,
• said load bearing means comprising a second enlarged sleeve head having a generally tulip configuration with the end surface of said second enlarged sleeve head being in load bearing engagement with the inner surface of said second flange around said second aligned opening,
• said securing means comprising a collar member having a sleeve portion engageable with the end of said support sleeve opposite said proximate end and movable onto said opposite end for forming said second enlarged sleeve head and with said mating means comprising a second sleeve portion on said collar member operatively engageable with said lock groove structure for securing said pin and support sleeve together.