A joint structure comprises a first panel and a second panel joined together by mechanical clinching. The joint structure includes a join region that is formed so as to extend in an elongated shape by forming plural clinched portions in a given arrangement by mechanical clinching. At least one clinched portion of the plural clinched portions is clinched from an opposite panel side from other clinched portions of the plurality of clinched portions.

A panel assembly including a main panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first tab, a second tab, and an extension. The first tab defines a planar notch into which the extension is positioned to restrict movement of the first side panel and the second side panel.

A panel assembly including a main panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first tab, a second tab, and an extension. The first tab defines a planar notch into which the extension is positioned to restrict movement of the first side panel and the second side panel.

A clinch fastener with a single-element, unitary construction that does not require the preassembly of parts. The fastener provides a clamp load after installation and is fully formed by stamping the part from sheet metal. The fastener provides the necessary rigidity for a clinch attachment shank with the resilience of a head that will provide a residual clamp load to the attached panels. The fastener attaches two panels face-to-face by extending through aligned apertures in the panels. A shank undercut receives the cold flow of material from the second bottom panel while the panels are clamped against a resilient dome-shaped head of the fastener. The fastener may include a central axial well that receives the tip of a press punch during installation.

A joint structure is provided in which a first panel and a second panel are joined together by mechanical clinching. The joint structure includes a join region that is formed so as to extend in an elongated shape by forming plural clinched portions in a given arrangement by mechanical clinching. At least one clinched portion of the plural clinched portions is clinched from an opposite panel side from other clinched portions of the plurality of clinched portions.

A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member that is received by the first tubular member defining a coaxial relationship. The first tubular member defines a plurality of protuberances with each of the protuberances defining a side wall and the second tubular member defines a plurality of apertures with each of the apertures defined by a flange circumscribing the aperture and extending radially inwardly of second tubular member. Each aperture receives a protuberance so that the protuberance abuts the sidewalls of the aperture affixing the first tubular member to said second tubular member in a substantially fixed circumferential orientation.

A clinch fastener with a single-element, unitary construction that does not require the preassembly of parts. The fastener provides a clamp load after installation and is fully formed by stamping the part from sheet metal. The fastener provides the necessary rigidity for a clinch attachment shank with the resilience of a head that will provide a residual clamp load to the attached panels. The fastener attaches two panels face-to-face by extending through aligned apertures in the panels. A shank undercut receives the cold flow of material from the second bottom panel while the panels are clamped against a resilient dome-shaped head of the fastener. The fastener may include a central axial well that receives the tip of a press punch during installation.

A threaded fixing structure includes an inflating valve, a base and a sealing ring, the inflating valve is in threaded connection with the base, the sealing ring is arranged between the inflating valve and the base, after the threaded connection between the inflating valve and the base is completed, a fixed protrusion portion is formed on the surface, attached to the inflating valve, of the base by punching, and the fixed protrusion portion is sunken into the inflating valve to limit the relative rotation between the base and the inflating valve. Accordingly, the inflating valve and the base are limited and locked with each other through a fixing part, so that the relative rotation between the inflating valve and the base is avoided, the threaded connection between the inflating valve and the base is prevented from loosening.