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

Claim 20:
21. 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, the punch portion comprising first and second perimeter surfaces, and an intermediate surface disposed therebetween, wherein the intermediate surface gradually and continuously inclines from the first perimeter surface to the second perimeter surface in the direction perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the second perimeter surface is radially offset from the first perimeter surface to define a recessed pocket in the punch portion;
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, the pilot embossment continuously extending about the punch portion in an uninterrupted manner, wherein the pilot embossment comprises a perimetric surface and an engagement surface, wherein the perimetric surface extends in the direction of the central axis, and wherein the engagement surface is annular in shape and extends in the direction perpendicular to the central axis, said engagement surface being configured to engage and plastically deform said metal substrate such that the metal substrate flows into the recessed pocket; and
a plurality of spaced apart lugs axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface and extending radially outwards from the perimetric surface of the pilot embossment, the plurality of spaced apart lugs collectively encircling the pilot embossment, wherein one of the lugs has a contact face configured to engage said metal substrate, and wherein the contact face is concave shaped,
wherein during installation of the self-clinching construction element to the metal substrate, the pilot embossment and said one of the lugs are dimensionally configured such that the metal substrate engages with the engagement surface of the pilot embossment prior to engaging the contact face.