A rivet for fastening workpiece members, the rivet including a body comprising a shank extending in a first, longitudinal direction and a head extending in a second, substantially transversal direction, a bore being defined through the shank and the head of the body; and, a stem comprising a main longitudinal portion arranged for insertion into said bore, and an enlarged portion arranged for radially expanding the shank when the enlarged portion is forced into said bore to fasten the workpiece members; the rivet being configured for insertion into respective apertures formed in the workpiece members; and the rivet being further configured such that when the workpiece members are fastened, the head of the body of the rivet is displaced relative to the shank to engage with the stem to lock the stem in place relative to the body and/or the workpiece members.

A fastener for retaining a bolt in a hole in a structure, comprising a bushing integrally formed with and extending from the bottom surface of a retainer, the bushing being dimensioned for insertion into the hole in the structure and having a wall thickness ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches, wherein the bushing is configured to be expanded within the hole, thereby securely coupling the expanded bushing within the hole of the structure and anchoring the retainer to the surface of the structure surrounding the hole. A tool for installing a fastener, comprising a tapered mandrel configured for insertion within a fastener situated within a hole of the structure, a drive mechanism configured to retract the mandrel through the fastener and thereby expand the fastener, and a force sensor configured for measuring a force applied by the drive mechanism to retract the mandrel through the fastener.

A rivet for fastening workpiece members, the rivet including a body comprising a shank extending in a first, longitudinal direction and a head extending in a second, substantially transversal direction, a bore being defined through the shank and the head of the body; and, a stem comprising a main longitudinal portion arranged for insertion into said bore, and an enlarged portion arranged for radially expanding the shank when the enlarged portion is forced into said bore to fasten the workpiece members; the rivet being configured for insertion into respective apertures formed in the workpiece members; and the rivet being further configured such that when the workpiece members are fastened, the head of the body of the rivet is displaced relative to the shank to engage with the stem to lock the stem in place relative to the body and/or the workpiece members.

A method is provided for producing a common connecting opening in two components, at least one of which is made from a plastically deformable material. In the method, at least the edge region of a first prefabricated opening of the first component is softened in order subsequently to introduce a mandrel which displaces the material softened by the heating so that a common connecting opening having a predetermined diameter is obtained.

A fastener for retaining a bolt in a hole in a structure, comprising a bushing integrally formed with and extending from the bottom surface of a retainer, the bushing being dimensioned for insertion into the hole in the structure and having a wall thickness ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches, wherein the bushing is configured to be expanded within the hole, thereby securely coupling the expanded bushing within the hole of the structure and anchoring the retainer to the surface of the structure surrounding the hole. A tool for installing a fastener, comprising a tapered mandrel configured for insertion within a fastener situated within a hole of the structure, a drive mechanism configured to retract the mandrel through the fastener and thereby expand the fastener, and a force sensor configured for measuring a force applied by the drive mechanism to retract the mandrel through the fastener.

A blind tacking rivet includes a stem and a sleeve. The stem includes a body and a stem head. The stem head is removable from the body. The stem head deforms a portion of the sleeve during removal of the stem head. The stem head may be discarded or may be embedded within the sleeve.

A rivet nut fastener has a cylindrical nut having a length that extends from a proximal end having an outwardly extending flange, through a central portion, to a distal end; a bore that extends into the nut accessible through an opening at the proximal end to an internally threaded portion of the bore adjacent the distal end of the nut; and a spiral structure mounted on an exterior portion the distal end of the nut. The nut is shaped to be inserted through the aperture, along with the spiral structure, such that the central portion may be compressed so that the length of the nut is reduced, thereby compressing the spiral structure to form a support structure, such that the support structure and the flange together clamp the wall therebetween so that the rivet nut fastener is securely mounted on the wall.

A method is provided for producing a common connecting opening in two components, at least one of which is made from a plastically deformable material. In the method, at least the edge region of a first prefabricated opening of the first component is softened in order subsequently to introduce a mandrel which displaces the material softened by the heating so that a common connecting opening having a predetermined diameter is obtained.

A fastening system includes a fastener having a bolt with a pull portion having at least one pull groove, and an outer sleeve having a head with an inner face, the bolt being inserted within the sleeve. The fastening system includes a fastener installation tool having a puller with at least one tooth and a front face. The inner face of the head of the sleeve is angled at an included angle measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastener, while the front face of the puller of the fastener installation tool is angled at an included angle measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the puller. The included angles are chosen to match or be substantially the same. The front face of the puller of the fastener installation tool is adapted to engage the inner face of the outer sleeve of the fastener when the fastener installation tool engages the fastener, and the inner face of the outer sleeve facilitates the receipt of the front face of the puller and the alignment of the at least one tooth of the puller with the at least one pull groove of the bolt by allowing the puller to shift forward or backward to facilitate such alignment.

A blind tacking rivet includes a stem and a sleeve. The stem includes a body and a stem head. The stem head is removable from the body. The stem head deforms a portion of the sleeve during removal of the stem head. The stem head may be discarded or may be embedded within the sleeve.