Blind Rivet Element

Abstract

A blind rivet element has a head portion and a shank adjacent to the head portion in an axial direction. The shank has an internal thread or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt and a deformation portion between the internal thread or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion for forming a closing head when the deformation portion is deformed. The head portion has a radially outer region formed spaced apart from the shank in a radial direction. The head portion has at least one first protrusion protruding in the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion, and/or the head portion has at least one second protrusion protruding counter to the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion.

Claims

1. A Blind rivet element having a head portion and a shank adjacent to the head portion in an axial direction, wherein the shank has an internal thread or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt, and a deformation portion between the internal thread or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion, for forming a closing head when the deformation portion is deformed, wherein the head portion has a radially outer region formed spaced apart from the shank in a radial direction, wherein the head portion has at least one first protrusion protruding in the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion, and/or wherein the head portion has at least one second protrusion protruding counter to the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion.

2. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein a radial distance between the respective protrusion and the shank is at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, in particular at least 75% of a radial distance between an outer edge of the head portion and the shank.

3. The blind rivet element according to claim 2, wherein the at least one first protrusion and/or the at least one second protrusion are/is formed on the outer edge of the head portion.

4. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein, in a projection in the axial direction, the head portion has a recess adjacent to the at least one first protrusion and/or has a recess adjacent to the at least one second protrusion.

5. The blind rivet element according to claim 4, wherein the respective recess is adjacent in the clockwise direction to the at least one first protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction, and/or the respective recess is adjacent in the clockwise direction to the at least one second protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction.

6. The blind rivet element according to claim 5, wherein the head portion is free from a recess adjacent anticlockwise to the at least one first protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction, and/or the head portion is free from a recess adjacent anticlockwise to the at least one second protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction.

7. The blind rivet element according to claim 4, wherein the respective recess is adjacent anticlockwise to the at least one first protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction, and/or the respective recess is adjacent anticlockwise to the at least one second protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction.

8. The blind rivet element according to claim 7, wherein the head portion is free from a recess adjacent in the clockwise direction to the at least one first protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction, and/or the head portion is free from a recess adjacent in the clockwise direction to the at least one second protrusion in a viewing direction in the axial direction.

9. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first protrusion and/or the at least one second protrusion are/is formed by local deformation of a region of the head portion, in particular by stamping or bending over the region.

10. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first protrusion and/or the at least one second protrusion have/has a protruding cutting edge and/or a protruding point.

11. The blind rivet element according to claim 10, wherein the cutting edge extends substantially in the radial direction.

12. The blind rivet element according to claim 10, wherein the at least one first protrusion and/or the at least one second protrusion have/has a first cutting face and a second cutting face which is inclined with respect to the first cutting face, wherein a contact line of at least one of the first cutting face and the second cutting face forms the cutting edge of the protrusion.

13. The blind rivet element according to claim 12, wherein the first cutting face encloses a first angle with a plane formed perpendicularly to the axial direction and the second cutting face encloses a second angle with said plane, wherein the value of the second angle is smaller than the value of the first angle, and wherein the second cutting face faces the recess.

14. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein the blind rivet element has a plurality of first protrusions and/or a plurality of second protrusions, wherein the plurality of first protrusions and/or the plurality of second protrusions are/is formed in an encircling direction about an axis formed in the axial direction, and wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are formed in an alternating manner in the encircling direction.

15. The blind rivet element according to claim 1, wherein the head portion has a greater extent in the axial direction in the region of the first protrusion and/or in the region of the second protrusion than in adjacent regions of the head portion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0038] The invention present will be explained in more detail in the figures below on the basis of exemplary embodiments without being restricted thereto.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a view according to the arrow I in FIG. 2.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the blind rivet element in a view according to the arrow II in FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the blind rivet element in a partially sectioned illustration according to the line III-III in FIG. 2.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a partial region of the blind rivet element according to the circle IV in FIG. 3.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows the blind rivet element according to the arrow V in FIG. 3.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a side view.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a partial region of the blind rivet element according to FIG. 6.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a side view.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a side view.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows the blind rivet element according to FIG. 9 in a partially sectioned illustration.

[0049] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a state after deformation of a deformation portion.

[0050] FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of a blind rivet element of the present invention in a side view.

[0051] FIG. 13 shows the blind rivet element according to FIG. 12 in a sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0052] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a blind rivet element 1 according to the present invention. The blind rivet element 1 has a head portion 2 and a shank 3 adjacent to the head portion 2 in an axial direction Z. The shank 3 is designed here as a partial hexagon, wherein the shank 3 at its end facing away from the head portion 2 has a cross section tapering in the axial direction Z. As a result, the insertion of the blind rivet element 1 with the shank 3 moving forward into a setting hole is facilitated.

[0053] The shank 3 has an internal thread 4 and a deformation portion 5 between the internal thread 4 and the head portion 2, wherein the deformation portion 5 is formed here by a material weakening, namely a smaller wall thickness of the shank 3 in the region of the deformation portion 5. This can be seen in particular from FIG. 3. The deformation portion 5 serves for forming a closing head 6 (see, FIG. 11) when the deformation portion 5 is deformed. The blind rivet element 1 is connected to a further component typically in such a manner that the blind rivet element 1 is first of all placed in a pre-manufactured hole or in a pre-manufactured receiving opening of the component and is then riveted in the component with a suitable tool by the blind rivet element 1 being deformed in the region of the deformation portion 5 in such a manner that the closing head 6 is formed on that side of the component which faces away from the head portion 2. The tool which is used typically has a rotatable and axially displaceable threaded mandrel. The threaded mandrel is screwed from the head portion side into the internal thread 4 of the blind rivet element 1, which is designed as a blind rivet nut, and is then displaced axially in such a manner that the deformation portion 5 is compressed and thus forms a counter flange in the form of the closing head 6 between the start of the internal thread 4 and the lower side of the component. The closing head 6 together with the head portion 2, which is arranged on the upper side of the component, anchors the blind rivet element 1 in the component. The threaded mandrel of the setting tool is subsequently unscrewed. The internal thread 4 of the blind rivet element 1 is then available as a receptacle for a fastening means, for example a screw.

[0054] The head portion 2 of the blind rivet element 1 has a radially outer region 15, wherein the radially outer region 15 is formed spaced apart in a radial direction from the shank 3. A radially inner region 16 of the head portion 2 is formed between the radially outer region 15 and the shank 3 of the blind rivet element 1. The radially outer region 15 and the radially inner region 16 are defined in FIG. 5 by a dotted line which delimits the radially inner region 16 from the radially outer region 15.

[0055] The head portion 2 has three first protrusions 7 protruding in the axial direction Z and three second protrusions 8 protruding counter to the axial direction Z, wherein the first protrusions 7 and the second protrusions 8 are formed exclusively in the radially outer region 15 of the head portion 2. The radially inner region 16 of the head portion 2, by contrast, is free from protrusions.

[0056] The first protrusions 7 and the second protrusions 8 are formed here on the outer edge of the head portion 2. A radial distance between the respective protrusion 7, 8 and the shank 3 is at least 60% of a radial distance between the outer edge of the head portion 2 and the shank 3.

[0057] The first and second protrusions 7, 8 are arranged in an encircling manner about an axis of the blind rivet element 1 that is formed in the axial direction Z, wherein the arrangement here is rotationally symmetrical, wherein a cardinal number n is identical to the number of the first or second protrusion 7, 8, and therefore the cardinal number here is n=3.

[0058] In a projection in the axial direction Z, the head portion 2 has a respective recess 12 adjacent to the respective first protrusion 7 and adjacent to the respective second protrusion 8. The respective recess 12 is adjacent anticlockwise to the respective first protrusion 7 or to the respective second protrusion 8. In the other direction, namely in the clockwise direction, the head portion 2 is free from a recess adjacent to the respective first protrusion 7 or adjacent to the respective second protrusion 8.

[0059] The respective recess 12 has the advantage that material which is displaced by means of the blind rivet element 1 when the blind rivet element 1 is introduced into a setting hole of the component and/or when a further component is screwed to said first component can be received in said recessed region. Owing to the head portion 2 being free from a recess in the other direction, the respective protrusion 7, 8 is supported in the tangential direction by the non-recessed part of the head portion 2.

[0060] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 5, this configuration of the head portion results in a saw-blade-like outer contour of the head portion 2 in a viewing direction in the axial direction Z.

[0061] The respective first protrusion 7 and the respective second protrusion 8 here have a protruding cutting edge 9, wherein the cutting edge 9 extends substantially in the radial direction. The cutting edge 9 of the respective protrusion 7, 8 is formed here by the respective protrusion 7, 8 having a first cutting face 10 and a second cutting face 11 which is inclined with respect to the first cutting face 10, wherein a contact line of the cutting faces 10, 11 forms the cutting edge 9 of the respective protrusion 7, 8 (see, FIG. 7).

[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first cutting face 10 encloses a first angle α with a plane formed perpendicularly to the axial direction Z and the second cutting face 11 encloses a second angle β with said plane, wherein the value of the second angle β is smaller than the value of the first angle α. The second cutting face 11 faces the recess 12. The angle γ enclosed by the cutting faces is preferably between 80° and 120°. By contrast, the angles α and β are preferably both smaller than 90°.

[0063] The three first protrusions 7 and the three second protrusions 8 are formed here in an alternating manner in the encircling direction. Thus, a first protrusion 8 is followed in the encircling direction by a second protrusion 7 and the second protrusion 7 by a first protrusion 8.

[0064] The respective first protrusion 7 and the respective second protrusion 8 are formed here by local deformation of a region of the head portion 2, wherein, in order to form the respective protrusion 8, a partial region of the head portion 2 has been cut into here and then bent over.

[0065] As can be seen in particular from the views of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the head portion 2 has a greater extent in the axial direction Z in the region of the respective first protrusion 7 and in the region of the respective second protrusion 8 than in adjacent regions of the head portion 2. In this respect, the respective protrusion 7, 8 is designed in such a manner that the head portion 2 has an increased material thickness in the respective region of the protrusion 7, 8. This has the advantage that, when the blind rivet element 1 is introduced into the component or when a further component is connected by means of the blind rivet element 1, that region of the head portion 2 which is opposite the respective protrusion 7, 8 in the axial direction Z or counter to the axial direction Z prevents deformation of the protrusion 7, 8 in the axial direction Z or counter to the axial direction Z, in particular the opposite region of the head portion 2 is supported on the respective other component and thereby prevents axial deformation of the respective protrusion 7, 8.

[0066] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the blind rivet element 1, wherein said second embodiment differs from the first embodiment essentially by the length of the shank 3.

[0067] The third embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 8, differs from the second embodiment essentially in that the blind rivet element 1 in the deformation region 5 has holes 17 penetrating the shank 3 in the radial direction, wherein the holes 17 are arranged in an encircling manner, and wherein a flat face of the shank 3 designed as a partial hexagon in each case has a hole 17.

[0068] The fourth embodiment of the blind rivet element 1 that is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from the third embodiment of the blind rivet element 1 essentially by the configuration of the head portion 2. The fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 merely has first protrusions 7 and no second protrusions 8. The first protrusions 7 are formed here by deformation of the head portion 2 in the axial direction Z, namely by a stamping operation. As a result, the head portion 2 in each case has a corresponding offset 18 opposite the first protrusion 7.

[0069] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the blind rivet element 1 in a state placed into a first component 19, thus in a deformed state of the deformation portion 5, wherein, furthermore, a second component 20 is connected by means of a fastening means (not shown), here a screw which is screwed into the internal thread 4 of the blind rivet element 1. As can be seen from FIG. 11, the head portion 2 is arranged between the two components 19, 20, wherein, owing to the action of force during the setting of the blind rivet element 1 and during the tightening of the fastening means, the protrusions 7, 8 penetrate into the first component 19 or into the second component 20. This firstly achieves a particularly high resistance of the blind rivet element 1 to torsion and secondly a possible coating of the first component 19 or of the second component 20 is penetrated, for example in order to achieve an electrical connection between the blind rivet element 1 and the first component 19 or the second component 20 and in this way between the two components 19, 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the protrusions 7, 8 are in turn formed by axial stamping.

[0070] The embodiment of the blind rivet element 1 which is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 differs from the previous embodiments of the blind rivet element 1 essentially in that the shank 3 has a connecting portion 13 for a threaded bolt 14, wherein the threaded bolt 14 is connected here to the blind rivet element 1 in the region of the connecting portion 13. The deformation portion 5 is formed here between the connecting portion 13 for the threaded bolt 14 and the head portion 2.