US 6,659,700 B1 · Metal piercing fastener

Abstract

A metal piercing fastener for securing a light gauge sheet metal layer to metal/non-metal substrate layer(s) includes an elongated metal body having a crown at one end a sharpened and hardened tip at the other end defining a rigid metal penetrating region. The crown receives an impact blow from a tool for driving the rigid metal penetrating tip region in the substrates to be fastened. The metal body is equipped with one or more resilient tines each twisted at the base around its longitudinal axis and which can be integral or coupled to the metal body to optimize the gripping and clamping capability of the metal piercing fastener. The resilient tine may be equipped with protruding gripping and clamping elements on each side or with ribs on one of its outer surfaces to provide spring action gripping and clamping capability during fastening. The resilient tine is capable of deflection to conform to the physical constraints of the pierced substrate opening when passing through the pierced opening. The resilient tine is also capable of returning to its factory preset state of orientation when no longer constrained within the pierced substrate opening so as to grip and clamp the substrate layers being fastened between itself and the crown of the fastener.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A fastener for securing a plurality of laminar work pieces together, said fastener comprising:

(a) an elongated substantially flat body having first and second oppositely facing surfaces;
(b) a crown formed at one end of said elongated body;
(c) a piercing tip formed at an opposite end of said elongated body for generating an opening through the plurality of laminar work pieces;
and
(d) at least one laminar work piece gripping and clamping member on said elongated body adapted to be accommodated in at least one void provided within said elongated body between said crown and said piercing tip, said at least one gripping and clamping member having first and second side edges with said first side edge protruding in a direction outwardly from said first surface of said elongated body and said second side edge protruding in a direction outwardly from said second surface of said elongated body for engaging a surface defining said opening to lock the pierced laminar work pieces together.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Metal piercing fastener

Life of this patent

Metal piercing fastener

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24