Patent ID: 6974292

Claim:
A fastener comprising: a shank having a central structure with a distal end and a base end and a pair of curved, flexible flanges secured at a leading edge thereof to the central structure of the shank on opposing aides thereof, each of the flanges curving away from the central structure of the shank, a trailing edge of each flange extending generally unsupported between the distal end of the shank and the base end of the shank, each of the flanges defining a shoulder adjacent the base end of the shank; a head secured to the base end of the central structure of the shank in generally perpendicular relation thereto, a top portion of the trailing edge of each of the respective flanges being fixedly secured to the head of the faster by a tab that extends between and fixedly interconnects the flange and the head of the fastener, the head and the flanges of the fastener being constructed and arranged for receiving and retaining a panel therebetween; and a cored-out section formed into the central structure of the shank such that as the shank of the fastener is inserted into a bore formed through the panel, inwardly directed forces applied to the flanges are transmitted from the flanges to the central structure of the shank which then deforms Into the cored-out section thereof so as to lower the force required to insert the fastener into the bore formed through the panel.