Patent ID: 6234734
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: F16B

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:(a) positioning a component having an opening therein adjacent to a support member having an opening therein so that the openings are aligned, the support member having a wall with an interior surface bounding a hollow section, the opening of the support member extending through the wall to the hollow section;(b) passing an end of a blind fastener through the aligned openings of the component and the support plate such that at least a portion of the end of the blind fastener is freely disposed within the hollow section, the blind fastener comprising:(i) a slotted sleeve having a first end and an opposing second end, the slotted sleeve defining a compression groove at least partially encircling the slotted sleeve;(ii) an apertured sleeve head secured at the first end of the slotted sleeve;(iii) an elongated fastener extending through the sleeve head and slotted sleeve;(iv) a fastener head disposed on the fastener adjacent to the sleeve head; and(v) an expanding head disposed on the fastener adjacent to the second end of the slotted sleeve;(c) tightening the fastener head so that the expanding head is advanced into the second end of the slotted sleeve so as to radially outwardly bias the second end of the slotted sleeve without significantly axially compressing the slotted sleeve, the second end of the slotted sleeve being radially outwardly biased within the hollow section of the support member such that the second end of the slotted sleeve has an enlarged outer diameter greater than the diameter of the opening formed through the wall of the support member; and(d) further tightening the fastener head such that the slotted sleeve is axially compressed at the compression groove so that the component and support plate are pressed together between the apertured sleeve head and the radially outwardly biased second end of the slotted sleeve.