Patent ID: 11913488
Assignee: RB&W MANUFACTURING LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 17:
18. A self-clinching construction element for attachment to a plastically deformable metal substrate, the self-clinching construction element comprising:
a body portion with a central axis, the body portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction of the central axis, and an annular-shaped surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis;
a punch portion being coaxial with the central axis and extending from the body portion, the punch portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis;
a pilot embossment being coaxial with the central axis and extending from the body portion such that the pilot embossment is concentrically disposed between the annular-shaped surface and the punch portion; and
a lug axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface and extending radially outwards from the pilot embossment,
wherein during installation of the self-clinching construction element to the metal substrate, the pilot embossment and the lug are dimensionally configured such that the metal substrate engages with the pilot embossment prior to engaging the lug, and
wherein the pilot embossment is configured such that as the metal substrate engages the pilot embossment, the metal substrate plastically deforms and flows radially inwards into a recessed pocket defined in the outer peripheral surface of the punch portion.