The invention relates to a method of attaching a functional element to a sheet metal part. The functional element has a head part having a ring-shaped support surface and a tubular rivet section that is designed as self-piercing and that extends at the side of the support surface of the head part and away from said head part.

A self-punching functional element serves for fastening to a workpiece, in particular to a high-strength sheet metal part, and comprises a functional section; and a fastening section that has a contact surface for an engagement of a setting device, an end face remote from the contact surface, and an outer peripheral surface connecting the contact surface and the end face. The end face is radially outwardly bounded by a punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece, and at least one projection is provided at the outer peripheral surface adjacent to the contact surface, said projection rising from the outer peripheral surface in a radial direction and extending further outwardly in the radial direction than the punching edge.

A functional element for pressing into a workpiece comprises a functional section; and a fastening section having an abutment surface for introducing a press-in force into the functional element; a workpiece contact surface that is disposed opposite the abutment surface; and a sealing region for receiving displaced material of the workpiece, said sealing region being disposed between the workpiece contact surface and the functional section and forming a contact surface for the displaced material to seal a connection between the functional element and the workpiece, wherein the contact surface has a first part surface, which extends obliquely to an axial direction and which converges viewed in a press-in direction of the functional element, and a second part surface that adjoins the first part surface, that extends obliquely to the axial direction of the functional element, and that diverges viewed in the press-in direction of the functional element.

The present invention discloses a riveting method and a riveting structure. The riveting method comprises providing a plate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; forming a wall portion on the first side of the plate, the wall portion having a first recessed area at its first side and a second recessed area at its second side opposite to the first side; placing the fastener in the first recessed area so that the fastener is adjacent to the first side of the wall portion; and applying a force to the wall portion from the second side of the wall portion so that the wall portion is deformed so as to at least partially enclosed the fastener. This technical solution can avoid unwanted indentation on the back of the plate.

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 fastener assembly includes an elongated fastener body with a head end part. A propelling member supported on the fastener body, wherein the propelling member has a lengthened shape, wherein a portion of the lengthened shape extends around the head end part of the fastener body. A method of propelling the fastener assembly is also provided.

A busbar contact includes a contact ring and a fastening element. The contact ring has a contact surface at a distal end and a press-in flange projecting radially. The press-in flange has a cylindrical contact surface pointing radially outward.

An appliance mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket with first and second distal arms that flare outward in opposing directions from an attachment body and couple to a panel. The mounting bracket includes a pair of coupling members that extend from the attachment body toward the panel surface and distal ends that curve inward toward one another. A self-clinching nut has an undercut, serrated clinching ring, and base. The undercut and the serrated clinching ring are disposed within an aperture defined by the attachment body. A ladder rack has first and second sides coupled via an attachment wall. The first and second sides define protrusions that engage the pair of coupling members in an interference fit. The attachment wall defines a receiving hole that aligns with the aperture. A threaded fastener extends through the receiving hole and engages the self-clinching nut to fasten the ladder rack to the mounting bracket.

A piercing nut according to the present invention includes an internal thread 11, a ring-shaped punching part 12, a ring-shaped groove 16, and a bearing surface 17. The internal thread 11 is formed at the center of a nut main body 10. The ring-shaped punching part 12 protrudes around the outer periphery of the internal thread 11. The ring-shaped groove 16 is formed around the outer periphery of the ring-shaped punching part 12. The bearing surface 17 protrudes around the outer periphery of the ring-shaped groove 16. The height h of the ring-shaped punching part 12 is equal to or lower than the height H of the bearing surface 17 in the opposite manner to the conventional technique.

A caulking bolt includes a shank and a head, wherein a bearing face of the head has, along an outer circumference of the shank, a groove having a ring shape into which a crimped member is fitted. The caulking bolt includes projections and depressions for whirl-stop in the groove.