A fastener which includes a first portion of a shaft which defines threads, and a second portion of the shaft, which extends from the first portion of the shaft, includes a planar curved surface. A method for securing a fastener to an e-nut, which includes the step of inserting the fastener positioned within an e-nut into an opening defined by and which extends through at least two components to be secured together, wherein: a first portion of the shaft of the fastener defines threads; and a second portion of the shaft of the fastener, which extends from the first portion of the shaft, defines a curved planar surface.

A fastener assembly including a fastener body having a collar and a receiving column with a protrusion on an inner surface thereof, and a pin having a threaded section. The protrusion is configured to engage and cooperate with the threaded section.

A family of rivets including both blind and bucked-type rivets made at least partially from an amorphous metal alloy. A blind rivet includes a head portion and a tail portion. At least one of the head portion and the tail portion is configured to elastically deform to secure a first member in position relative to a second member. The head portion and the tail portion may include one or more deformable legs having an interface feature configured to engage with one of the first member and the second member. A bucked-type rivet assembly includes a formable member and an anvil. The anvil is configured to thermoplastically deform the formable member proximate to the second member by passing current through an electrical circuit that includes at least one of the formable member and anvil.

A blind rivet, for connecting workpieces, comprising a hollow, deformable rivet body with a bearing collar and a sleeve attached thereto, a rivet mandrel in the sleeve and extending through the bearing collar, having a tool holder head, and a sealing ring. The sealing ring is arranged between the bearing collar and the tool holder head and is made of a curable and not fully cured sealing material. During contraction of the blind rivet, the sealing ring is pressed axially towards the bearing collar by a tool that can be connected to the tool holder head or by a section of the rivet mandrel. The sealing ring is designed to flow radially and axially into gaps and spaces on the bearing collar and between the bearing collar and the workpieces while the sealing ring is compressed, and to adhere there.

A tubular beam with mechanically fastened end plates preferably includes a tubular member and at least one end plate. At least one cross plate may be secured within the tubular member with fasteners to strengthen thereof. The tubular member may have any suitable cross section including, square, rectangular, hexagonal, triangular or the like. A plurality of hand access openings, a plurality of beam fastening holes and a plurality of fastener holes are formed through a side wall of the tubular member. The end plate is attached to an end of the tubular beam with a plurality of fasteners. A fastener gusset may be formed in inside corners of the tubular member to accommodate a blind fastener hole for attaching the at least one end plate. Each end plate preferably includes a hand access opening, a plurality of plate fastening holes, and a plurality of blind fastener holes and/or fastener holes.

A connection system for connection of two or more overlapping layers of material includes: a rivet having a head and a stem, the head being configured to bear upon a surface of a first layer of said layers of material, the stem having an outer surface that includes a surface sculpturing and being configured for passing through said layers of material and projecting beyond them; and a washer configured to fit on said stem and configured to bear upon a surface of a last layer of said layers of material, said washer being deformable by axial compression from an undeformed condition where it fits on said stem with play, to a deformed condition where it fits on said stem in a condition of interference with said outer surface of the stem. Moreover described is a corresponding method for joining the layers of material using the connection system.

A rivet system comprises (i) a screw comprising a threaded shaft, (ii) a rigid sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough for receiving the threaded shaft, (iii) a deformable sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough; and (iv) a rigid base comprising a threaded hole on a first end of the rigid base, where the first end is configured to insert and advance into the hole of the deformable sleeve to allow the threaded hole of the rigid base to threadedly engage with the threaded shaft of the screw, and where the rigid base comprises an annular channel configured to receive at least part of the deformable sleeve when the first end of the rigid base is inserted and advanced into the hole of the deformable sleeve.

A fastening means having a blind rivet element and a sealing element, wherein the blind rivet element has a head portion and a shaft adjoining the head portion in an axial direction, wherein the shaft has an internal thread or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt and, between the internal thread or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion, a deformation portion for forming a closing head when the deformation portion is deformed. The sealing element has a closed lateral portion and a closed cover portion adjoining the lateral portion in the axial direction, wherein the lateral portion circumferentially encloses the shaft of the blind rivet element at least in the region of the deformation portion, and the cover portion is formed at an end of the shaft of the blind rivet element facing away from the head portion.

A fastener comprising a body having a first portion and a second portion is provided. The first and second body portions are adjustably connected such that the distance between the first body portion and the second body portion is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the body. A first flange is arranged on the first body portion and a second flange is arranged on the second body portion. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the first and second body portions together while permitting adjustment of the distance between the first and second body portions in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

A method of joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece is disclosed including securing a spark containment cap to the first workpiece, the cap comprising an electrically insulating washer and a cap body defining an air cavity. Once the cap has been secured, a tail of a fastener is inserted into the air cavity through the second workpiece, the first workpiece and the washer. Upon tightening the fastener, the tail of the fastener urges the washer against the first workpiece and the first and second workpiece are thereby clamped between the washer and a head of the fastener so as to form a joint. Advantageously, it has been found that forming a joint in this manner can help to better protect the joint from the effects of electrical arcing.