Patent ID: 7617584

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a fastener of metal comprising the steps of: providing a mounting plate of metal with generally opposed side portions and an aperture through the plate and the generally opposed side portions; inserting a rod of metal through the aperture of the plate so that an end portion of the rod extends beyond one of the side portions of the plate; gripping and clamping and supporting a portion of the circumference of the rod adjacent to and spaced from the other side portion of the plate; engaging an electrode with the end portion of the rod which extends beyond the one side portion of the plate; through the electrode applying an electric current to the rod to heat the end portion to a hot forming temperature; moving the electrode to apply to the rod through the one end portion of the rod a compressive force forming essentially simultaneously a head on the one end portion of the rod engaging the one surface portion of the plate and a profusion engaging the other surface portion of the plate with the plate firmly engaged between them by plastically deforming the heated end portion of the rod; and subsequently cooling the rod to provide a fastener with an interference fit of the plate between the head and the protrusion of the rod to firmly and permanently attach the rod to the mounting plate.