The present disclosure relates to a blind fastener and a method of installation thereof. The blind fastener comprises a sleeve and a mandrel. The sleeve comprises a first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, and a cavity extending from the first sleeve end to the second sleeve end. The mandrel is configured to be at least partially received by the cavity of the sleeve. The mandrel comprises a first mandrel end disposed adjacent to the first sleeve end and comprising an enlarged portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of the cavity, a second mandrel end comprising a pull region, and a shank region extending intermediate the first mandrel end and the second mandrel end. The pull region comprises an axial length no greater than four times a diameter of the shank region and is configured to be engaged by an installation tool.

The invention is an incrementally adjustable rivet fixture used to join two or more items of varying thickness.

A method for joining a metal material element to a plastic material element, in particular a composite material including a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers for use in the construction of motor-vehicle components. The method involves providing one or more slots in a portion of the plastic material element. For each slot, a corresponding tab is provided in the metal material element, having a shorter width and length than a width and length of the slot. The metal material and plastic material elements are arranged in a position of mutual coupling where each tab is inserted through the corresponding slot and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the plastic material element. A laser beam is directed above the protruding end portion, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab that is welded above the plastic material element.

Combined sheets and a method of producing combined sheets. A combined sheet includes a main sheet including a first main indentation feature providing a first overhang over a first portion of the main sheet and a second main indentation feature providing a second overhang over a second portion of the main sheet. The combined sheet also includes a foundation sheet abutting the main sheet. The foundation sheet includes a first foundation indentation feature crimped to the first main indentation feature and a second foundation indentation feature crimped to the second main indentation feature. The first overhang and the second overhang provides overhangs in different directions to prohibit separation of the foundation sheet from the main sheet. The method of producing the combined sheet includes co-locating the main sheet to abut the foundation sheet and pressing one or more indentation punches for forming indentation features providing overhangs in different directions.

A self-piercing rivet for joining workpieces comprises: a head defining a head diameter, and a shank which defining a shank diameter. The shank on a foot end opposite to the head, partially defines an axial recess which has an axial depth. The shank further includes a flat surface portion or a circular cutter on the foot end. And an axial circular recess is partially defined in a transition portion between the head and the shank.

A shell including a central panel with an expandable bubble disposed thereon is provided. The use of an expandable bubble allows for an expandable rivet button and thereafter an expandable rivet that has an enhanced overlap of a tab body. Such an expandable rivet allows for the use of a metal sheet with a thinner base thickness.

To improve the visual probability of the quality of a fixed state of a fixing object fixed to a fixation item, the fixing object includes the supporting part having a hole and a groove formed in proximity to the hole. The groove is provided with a one-way open part, opened in a surface of the supporting part in which one exit of the hole is located and not opened in a surface of the supporting part in which the other exit of the hole is located, and the distance from the center of gravity of the hole to the portion of the groove that is farthest from the center of gravity of the hole is greater than the distance from the center of gravity to a side-surface portion in the hole that is closest to the groove without touching the groove.

The present invention is to provide a vehicular interior member in which three components can be strongly joined to each other and the weight can be reduced. A vehicular interior member is formed so that first and second components respectively made of thermoplastic resin, and a middle component arranged between the first component and the second component are joined to each other. The first component has a boss projecting to the second component side. The middle component has a through hole through which the boss is inserted. The second component has a through hole through which the boss is inserted, and a fitting portion projecting to the middle component side, the fitting portion being fitted to an edge portion of the through hole. The boss and the second component are welded to each other.

A rivet-like fastener assembly adapted to be mounted in a hole through a wall having front and rear surfaces and comprising a body having a head portion and a hollow shank portion extending axially from the head portion and having an internally threaded section and an intermediate section, the head portion having an inner radial section having a first axial thickness between a front head surface and a first portion of a rear head surface and an outer radial section having a second axial thickness between the front head surface and a second portion of the rear head surface, the first axial thickness being greater than the second axial thickness, the first portion of the rear head surface adapted to abut a portion of the wall, and an elastomeric seal adapted to be compressed between the second portion of the rear head surface and the wall.

There is provided a joint structure for a vehicle, the joint structure including: a plate-shaped first member; a plate-shaped second member, of which at least a portion is superposed with the first member in a plate thickness direction of the first member; plural crimped portions provided in a region at which the first member and the second member are superposed, the first member and second member being joined at the crimped portions by mechanical clinching from a side at which the first member is disposed; and a reinforcing portion provided at the first member, the reinforcing portion being inflected toward a substantially normal direction in a vicinity of the crimped portions.