A blind rivet-nut having an annular-flange-like setting head and a hollow shaft for securing a blind rivet-nut in an opening of a carrier. The hollow shaft has a free end having a threaded portion for receiving a threaded element of a tensioning tool. A clamping portion adjacent to the setting head forms a bead-like deformation when the tensioning tool is used to clamp the carrier between the bead-like deformation and the setting head. A threadless shaft portion is formed between the clamping portion and the threaded portion. The threadless shaft portion is threaded by a thread self-rolling or thread self-tapping fastener. The fastener is received in a positive-locking manner when the fastener is screwed into the thread formed on the previously threadless shaft portion. A method is also disclosed for securing a component to a carrier by a blind rivet-nut.

A blind rivet-nut having an annular-flange-like setting head and a hollow shaft for securing a blind rivet-nut in an opening of a carrier. The hollow shaft has a free end having a threaded portion for receiving a threaded element of a tensioning tool. A clamping portion adjacent to the setting head forms a bead-like deformation when the tensioning tool is used to clamp the carrier between the bead-like deformation and the setting head. A threadless shaft portion is formed between the clamping portion and the threaded portion. The threadless shaft portion is threaded by a thread self-rolling or thread self-tapping fastener. The fastener is received in a positive-locking manner when the fastener is screwed into the thread formed on the previously threadless shaft portion. A method is also disclosed for securing a component to a carrier by a blind rivet-nut.

The present invention relates to a blind rivet nut allowing an easy automated setting comprising a head forming a flange, a shank comprising a head end, a foot end and a cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis (X) from the head end to the foot end, the bore having a first bore segment near the foot end and a second bore segment near the head end, the wall surrounding the second bore segment forming a deformable region of the shank and having an external wall diameter, the foot end having a foot end diameter, wherein the foot end of the shank comprises a tapered chamfer making a foot end angle of 21 to 25 degrees with the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the ratio of the foot end diameter to the external wall diameter is between 0.65 and 0.82.

A self-attaching fastener includes a substantially polyhedral head portion defining a longitudinal axis. The head portion is circumscribable by a first cylinder having a head diameter. The first cylinder is coaxial to the longitudinal axis. A central pilot portion substantially defines a pilot polyhedron extending from the head portion along the longitudinal axis. The central pilot portion is circumscribable by a second cylinder having a pilot diameter smaller than the head diameter. The second cylinder is coaxial to the longitudinal axis. The central pilot portion has a perimetric wall with rectangular faces of the pilot polyhedron. The rectangular faces are defined in respective planes that are parallel to the longitudinal axis. A planar panel support surface is defined on the head portion. The planar panel support surface defines a closed substantially polygonal planar margin at a perimeter of the planar panel support surface.

A cable lug or functional part in combination with a nut is provided. The cable lug or functional part has a tubular receiving portion for a cable, an integrally formed flat part connecting portion connected to the tubular receiving portion, the flat part connecting portion having a hole therethrough defined by a wall said hole having a central axis. The nut includes a body having an undercut. The nut is held captively and rotatably on the flat part connecting portion. The nut does not pass through the flat part connecting portion is held by a reshaped holding material portion of the flat part connecting portion which projects into the undercut. The reshaped holding material portion is accommodated in the undercut, and an axial clearance is provided between the reshaped holding material and the wall which defines the hole.

A fastener for thin panels has a shank with a deformable collar which works in conjunction with a configured mating panel to produce enhanced attachment forces, especially in the case of very thin panels. The mating panel is prepared with a round mounting hole with cross-cut openings or slots. The panel is stamped into a conical section in a preparatory step before installation to provide the fastener with snap-in engagement prior to final pressing. The fastener shank has an undercut located immediately below the collar which is snapped into the prepared hole. Once snapped in, a punch and flat anvil are used to press the deformable band of the fastener tightly against the prepared panel, capturing the panel rigidly between the deformable band and a base of the fastener. During pressing, the material of the fastener collar will also flow into the slots of the panel to prevent rotation.

Disclosed are systems and methods for attaching interior furnishings in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system can include an anchor having a rivet nut, a bolt for engaging the rivet nut, and a railing that can be fastened to the anchor with the bolt. In certain embodiments, the anchor can include a main plate having a rivet nut, a backer plate having press nuts, and screws suitably configured to engage the press nuts and facilitate a movement of the backer plate towards the main plate. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured to fit into and removably attach to a factory cutout of a wall of the vehicle.

A method and apparatus for fastening structures. A first end of a body is placed into a hole on a first side of the structures. The body has an outer surface with a noncircular cross-section. A nut element is positioned on a flange at a second end of the body. A bolt is moved into a channel at the first end of the body towards the nut element on the flange on the second end of the body on the first side the structures. The bolt and the nut element are fastened to each other.

A fastener having a damping function with which at least a first and a second component can be connected via a screw connection. The fastener consists of the following components: an elastically deformable outer sleeve, a support sleeve arranged therein and a screw sleeve with telescopic portion arranged in the outer sleeve. When establishing the connection between the components, the outer sleeve folds, whereby the support sleeve and the screw sleeve are moved into each other.

In a method for connecting a press-in bolt with a metal sheet, the metal sheet is positioned upon a cover element of a joining tool. The press-in bolt is forced by the joining tool in a pilot hole of the metal sheet as the metal sheet is supported by the cover element in its capacity as a die, until a head portion of the press-in bolt rests upon one side of the metal sheet and the cover element is pressed upon a shaft portion of the press-in bolt and radially deformed to rest upon another opposite side of the metal sheet.