Self tapping blind setting rivet assembly
AssigneeAsar Group, Inc.
InventorA. L. Pepper Aasgaard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-tapping, blind setting rivet assembly to secure two or more work pieces together and suitable for power or hand tool application. The rivet assembly comprises a rivet body having a hollow tubular sleeve and an enlarged flattened head. The rivet body surrounds a mandrel comprising a shank which is terminated in a screw tip. This screw tip punctures, spreads, and self-taps an aperture in the work pieces through which the rivet sleeve passes. The mandrel's shank may have a weakened area of reduced diameter adjacent to the screw tip which allows detachment of shaft following application of sufficient axial force to the shank. This application of force causes the tapered shoulder section of the screw tip to compress and deform the rivet sleeve which sets the rivet.
Claims11
A self-tapping, blind setting rivet assembly comprising:
- (a) a hollow rivet body having a tubular sleeve and an enlarged flattened head adapted to abut the surface of a work piece;
- and
- (b) a mandrel disposed longitudinally within said rivet body comprising a screw tip having a diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of said sleeve so that said sleeve may pass through an aperture formed by said self-tapping screw tip separating and folding one or more work pieces, a shoulder section adjacent to the screw tip having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said sleeve so that the shoulder section radially compresses and spreads the lower end of said sleeve as said mandrel is retracted rearward relative to said rivet body, and a shank having an area of reduced diameter spaced rearward from the shoulder section and sized to allow the screw tip and shoulder section of said mandrel to be detached from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank.
A process for securing work pieces together, comprising:
- (a) aligning one or more work pieces which are to be secured together;
- (b) pulling a blind setting rivet assembly having a hollow rivet body and a mandrel within said rivet body through said aligned one or more work pieces with a self-tapping screw tip wherein said mandrel includes a shoulder section adjacent to the screw tip having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said sleeve;
- and
- (c) setting said blind setting rivet assembly wherein said shoulder section radially compresses and spreads the lower end of said sleeve as said mandrel is retracted rearward relative to said rivet body and wherein said shank has an area of reduced diameter spaced rearward from the shoulder section and sized to allow the screw tip and shoulder section of said mandrel to be detached from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank, whereby said one or more aligned work pieces are at least partially secured together by said rivet assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.