Patent ID: 11931945
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. A method of forming a plurality of fasteners, the method comprising:
extruding a continuous strip of material, the continuous strip of material defining a base portion, a tip portion, and a stem portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion;
removing a portion of material from the continuous strip of material along the tip portion such that a plurality of tip portions are separated from each other and spaced apart, each tip portion having at least one flexible tab; and
extruding the continuous strip of material through a foaming die, wherein the flexible tabs are elastically displaced away from the base portion during a foaming process such that a foam material fills a cavity within the foaming die and forms a sealing element around the stem portion.