Patent Publication Number: US-2010129177-A1

Title: Connecting member

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a connecting member. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A means to connect two parts generally includes, for example, welding, surrounding fastener locking, and riveting the two parts together. 
     Generally, a typical connecting member, such as a surrounding fastener or a rivet includes a head portion and a body portion extending therefrom. A length of the body portion is substantially constant. Therefore, it is difficult to fix a first part on a second part tightly by two or more connecting members with a constant length because thicknesses from the first part to the second part on different points may be different. Furthermore, the use of different connecting members increases manufacturing costs. 
     Therefore, a new connecting member is desirable in order to overcome the described limitations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a connecting member. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the connecting member taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the connecting member in  FIG. 3  prior to being fully received in a part. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the connecting member after being received in the part shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of a second embodiment of a connecting member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a first embodiment of a connecting member  20  is shown. The connecting member  20  may be a rivet, and includes a body portion  22  and a head portion  26  formed on an end of the body portion  22 . The head portion  26  may be substantially hexagonal. 
     The body portion  22  may be substantially cylindrical. The body portion  22  defines a hole  224  substantially extending along a central axis Z-Z of the body portion  22  and a plurality of slots  228  in a sidewall of the hole  224 . A plurality of supporting portions  229  are formed as a result of the slots  228 . Adjacent slots  228  are separated by one corresponding supporting portion  229 . A line L-L parallel to the central axis Z-Z and passing a point X located along any one supporting portion  229  crosses at least one slot  228 . In other words, at least one slot  228  is above or below each supporting portion  229  along the longitudinal axis A-A of the body portion  22 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the slots  228  are curved, and a center of an arc defined by each slot  228  substantially coincides with the central axis Z-Z of the body portion  22 . The slots  228  may extend substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A-A of the body portion  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, each three adjacent slots  228  in a lateral axis B-B may be distributed in the body portion  22  evenly along a same circumference. However, there may be one, two, or more than three adjacent slots  228  distributed in the body portion  22  along the same circumference. 
     The body portion  22  defines a plurality of threads  225  extending partially in an inner surface of the hole  224 . The threads  225  may be adjacent to the head portion  26 . 
     Also referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in use, the body portion  22  is received in a hole (not labeled) of a first part  60  and a hole  701  of a second part  70 . Then the head portion  26  is subjected to an external force so as to be embedded into the first part  60  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Finally, a surrounding fastener  80  is inserted into the hole  224  in such manner that threads  81  of the surrounding fastener  80  engage with the threads  225  of the connecting member  20 , thereby fixing the second part  70  to the first part  60 . 
     If the first part  60  and the second part  70  have a smaller thickness at the connecting member  20  location, the body portion  22  deforms due to the slots  228 , and as a result, a total length of the body portion  22  is decreased. 
     In addition, the connecting member  20  can absorb external shock to protect itself due to the slots  228 . 
     It should be noted that the slots  228  may be defined in a middle portion of the body portion  22 . Alternatively, the head portion  26  and the threads  225  may be omitted or replaced by other configurations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment of a connecting member  30  of the present disclosure is shown, differing from the connecting member  20  in the inclusion of an elongated and curved body portion  32 . The body portion  32  defines a hole  324 . A sidewall of the hole  324  defines a plurality of slots  328  communicating with the hole  324 . A plurality of supporting portions  329  are formed as a result of the slots  328 . Adjacent slots  328  are separated by one corresponding supporting portion  329 . 
     Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the embodiments are not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.