Assembly For and Method of Affixing a Fastener to a Panel

• Main Author: Fahy Trevor
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.12.2016
• Subjects: BLASTING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

Attachment of a rectangular clinch fastener is achieved with the panel receiving hole side-gaps at least partially closed by features incorporated into the installation tooling. Panel displacement features are added to the face of the installation anvil tool to draw from the panel material and move this material inwardly up against the side face of the fastener thus greatly closing the receiving hole side gaps. The anvil features include two raised displacer protrusions extending above the pressing surface of the anvil aligned with the non-clinching side edges of a rectangular tool well. The anvil features have a trapezoidal shape with a slanted face facing inwardly such that upon installation the panel is deformed to close or greatly reduce the length of the unwanted side edge gaps.