A deformable insertion fastening arrangement for insertion into a planar ply structure and for retention thereon by subsequent deformation, including a retention component having a passthrough opening passing through it along a passthrough axis and having a fastening configuration for fastening a further component thereonto; the retention component having at least two portions that are radially displaceable relative to the notional passthrough axis that passes centrally through the passthrough opening, the retention component, when considered in its undeformed initial state, is embodied segmentedly in a circumferential direction around the passthrough axis; at least two segments, constituting the radially displaceable portions, being connected to one another by at least one connecting configuration deformable in a circumferential direction; at least one segment being displaceable in a radial direction away from the passthrough axis against a shape inertia force of the at least one connecting configuration, accompanied by enlargement of the passthrough opening.

A screwboss including a base, a main body, an opening into an end of the main body, distal from the base for fixing a threaded fastener thereinto. The screwboss further includes at least one rib adjoining the base and the main body to support the main body in an upstanding position. At least one rib extends from the main body at a position offset from a radial line from a center axis of the opening and toward a tangent from the opening.

A screwboss including a base, a main body, an opening into an end of the main body, distal from the base for fixing a threaded fastener thereinto. The screwboss further includes at least one rib adjoining the base and the main body to support the main body in an upstanding position. At least one rib extends from the main body at a position offset from a radial line from a center axis of the opening and toward a tangent from the opening.

A fastener including an elongated shaft extending between first and second shaft ends, with a tip provided at the first shaft end, and a thread region provided between the tip and the second shaft end; and a head with a drive region arranged at the second shaft end. The fastener also incudes a first annular undercut area in an underside surface of the head, where the first annular undercut area is configured and arranged to receive material that has flowed from a substrate during installation of the fastener into the substrate, and a second annular undercut area in the underside surface of the head, where the second annular undercut area is located radially outwardly of the first annular undercut area. Additionally, an annular sealing member is provided within the second annular undercut area, where the annular sealing member makes sealing contact with an upper surface of the substrate.

A fastener including an elongated shaft extending between first and second shaft ends, with a tip provided at the first shaft end, and a thread region provided between the tip and the second shaft end; and a head with a drive region arranged at the second shaft end. The fastener also incudes a first annular undercut area in an underside surface of the head, where the first annular undercut area is configured and arranged to receive material that has flowed from a substrate during installation of the fastener into the substrate, and a second annular undercut area in the underside surface of the head, where the second annular undercut area is located radially outwardly of the first annular undercut area. Additionally, an annular sealing member is provided within the second annular undercut area, where the annular sealing member makes sealing contact with an upper surface of the substrate.

A method of permanently attaching a fastener to a plastically deformable panel includes placing a fastener shearing edge in contact with a first surface of a panel and a die assembly in contact with an opposite second surface of the panel, and penetrating the fastener shearing edge through the panel to create a hole. The fastener shearing edge is driven into a swage formed as a recess in an end face of the die assembly to deform the fastener shearing edge outwards along the swage and into contact with the second surface of the panel. A bent portion of the panel is trapped between the deformed fastener shearing edge abutting the second surface of the panel and a tapered flange formed on an outer surface of the fastener that abuts the first surface of the panel. A die assembly and driving mechanism for attaching the fastener is also provided.

A method of permanently attaching a fastener to a plastically deformable panel includes placing a fastener shearing edge in contact with a first surface of a panel and a die assembly in contact with an opposite second surface of the panel, and penetrating the fastener shearing edge through the panel to create a hole. The fastener shearing edge is driven into a swage formed as a recess in an end face of the die assembly to deform the fastener shearing edge outwards along the swage and into contact with the second surface of the panel. A bent portion of the panel is trapped between the deformed fastener shearing edge abutting the second surface of the panel and a tapered flange formed on an outer surface of the fastener that abuts the first surface of the panel. A die assembly and driving mechanism for attaching the fastener is also provided.

A fastening system is configured to securely couple a fastened component to a mating structure using a fastener with a shaft. The fastening system includes a compression limiting sleeve and a spring element. The compression limiting sleeve has an axial hub, a base, and a sleeve outer wall. The axial hub extends perpendicularly from the base and is configured to receive the shaft of the fastener. The sleeve outer wall extends from the base. The spring element has a central portion and a spring element outer wall. The central portion includes a central opening and at least one coupling feature. The central opening is configured to receive the shaft of the fastener. The at least one coupling feature is configured to engage the axial hub of the compression limiting device.

A fastening system is configured to securely couple a fastened component to a mating structure using a fastener with a shaft. The fastening system includes a compression limiting sleeve and a spring element. The compression limiting sleeve has an axial hub, a base, and a sleeve outer wall. The axial hub extends perpendicularly from the base and is configured to receive the shaft of the fastener. The sleeve outer wall extends from the base. The spring element has a central portion and a spring element outer wall. The central portion includes a central opening and at least one coupling feature. The central opening is configured to receive the shaft of the fastener. The at least one coupling feature is configured to engage the axial hub of the compression limiting device.

The invention provides a radially expanding fastener/alignment plug assembly for use with a torque power tool, the assembly including: a sleeve member (10), insertable into a hole of an object, having radial expansion elements with inner surface portions which are tapered towards a first end; an expanding member (20), insertable in the sleeve member, having an outer surface portion which is tapered towards a first end, cooperating with the inner tapered surface portions of the radial expansion elements of the sleeve member; and a displacement member (30) formed between a second end of the sleeve member and a second end of the expanding member. Advantageously, the assembly is self-reacting allowing an actuation torque to be applied to and reacted upon to create high levels of pulling and expansion force without the need for an external reaction point.