The invention relates to a joining element comprising a shaft to be placed into a component; a head provided at a first end of the shaft; and a punching element attached in a losable manner to a second end of the shaft remote from the head.

The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is configured for punching into a workpiece, comprising a head part forming a flange; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, and that has a peripheral punching edge, wherein the head part has a contact surface for contact with the workpiece, said contact surface at least sectionally surrounding the punching section at a radial outer side, and a boundary section that at least sectionally bounds the contact surface at the radial outer side and that extends away from the contact surface in the same direction as the punching section. The invention further relates to a component assembly comprising a self-punching functional element, and a workpiece.

A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there. Furthermore, an auxiliary joining part is claimed.

A self-clinching fastener for attachment to a plastically deformable metal panel includes a body portion with a central axis, the body portion has an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. A punch portion is coaxial with the central axis and extends from the body portion such that the annular-shaped surface encircles the punch portion, the punch portion includes an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis. A plurality of spaced apart lugs encircle the punch portion and axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface, one of the lugs has a contact face configured to engage the metal substrate, the contact face declining, relative to an imaginary horizontal plane on which the annular-shaped surface lies, in a radially outwards direction of the self-clinching fastener.

A multi-material boss, configured for fastening of a fastener thereto, being a feature of a die cast part, comprising a boss cylinder, an augmenting cylinder, and a filler metal layer is provided. The boss cylinder is made of the same material as the die cast part having a first hardness, and has a first interior. The augmenting cylinder is made of an augmenting material having a second hardness, is fixedly secured in the first interior of the boss cylinder, and has a second interior defined by a second cylindrical shaped wall, a base rim, and a second opening. The second hardness is greater than the first hardness. The fastener is fastened to the multi-material boss via the second opening of the augmenting cylinder having the higher liquidus temperature and greater hardness.

A multi-material boss, configured for fastening of a fastener thereto, being a feature of a die cast part, comprising a boss cylinder, an augmenting cylinder, and a filler metal layer is provided. The boss cylinder is made of the same material as the die cast part having a first hardness, and has a first interior. The augmenting cylinder is made of an augmenting material having a second hardness, is fixedly secured in the first interior of the boss cylinder, and has a second interior defined by a second cylindrical shaped wall, a base rim, and a second opening. The second hardness is greater than the first hardness. The fastener is fastened to the multi-material boss via the second opening of the augmenting cylinder having the higher liquidus temperature and greater hardness.

A suspension loop clamp consisting of a blind rivet nut, a metal strip, and a fastener. The blind rivet nut is inserted into the flat strip through a circular hole in the strip. The blind rivet is then plastically deformed by compression axially applied to both ends of the blind rivet nut from an unset condition to a set condition forming a radially outwardly protruding bulge, which serves to bind the blind rivet nut element to the strip. The blind rivet nut bulge and the loop clamp it is attached to are then additionally dented and thus deformed in a radial pattern so as to be zigzag in shape when viewed through a cross section. This stiffens the protruding bulge so as to restrict the blind rivet nut from reverting back to its original shape when a tensile load is applied opposite to the flange of the rivet nut. The strip of sheet metal is then formed longitudinally into a loop clamp which has bends with holes, at each end, through which a fastener is inserted to clamp the loop around a conduit.

Presented are protective covers for weldable fasteners, methods for making/using such cover-protected weldable fasteners, and motor vehicles with such covered fasteners welded to load-bearing structural members. A weldable fastener assembly includes a fastener, such as a weld-on nut or clip retainer, that is fabricated with a shank and a flange. One end of the shank has a fastener hole that receives therethrough a mating fastener, such as a bolt, screw, stud, or clip. The flange is formed, in whole or in part, from a weldable material for welding to a load-bearing panel or other structural support member. The flange may be integrally formed with and project radially outward from the shank. A protective cover is attached to the flange and covers the fastener hole. The protective cover is frangible and formed, in whole or in part, from a material designed to withstand the temperature at which the weldable material melts.

A suspension loop clamp consisting of a blind rivet nut, a metal strip, and a fastener. The blind rivet nut is inserted into the flat strip through a circular hole in the strip. The blind rivet is then plastically deformed by compression axially applied to both ends of the blind rivet nut from an unset condition to a set condition forming a radially outwardly protruding bulge, which serves to bind the blind rivet nut element to the strip. The blind rivet nut bulge and the loop clamp it is attached to are then additionally dented and thus deformed in a radial pattern so as to be zigzag in shape when viewed through a cross section. This stiffens the protruding bulge so as to restrict the blind rivet nut from reverting back to its original shape when a tensile load is applied opposite to the flange of the rivet nut. The strip of sheet metal is then formed longitudinally into a loop clamp which has bends with holes, at each end, through which a fastener is inserted to clamp the loop around a conduit.

A method and fastening device for use in heavy duty machinery for fastening a lining element to a surface of a body steel plate is disclosed. An assembly, a truck and a handling tool utilizing the method and fastening device is also disclosed.