Patent ID: 6898836

Claim:
A method of securing a fastener connecting sleeve into a pre-formed tubular member, the method comprising: providing a pre-formed tubular member having opposing first and second walls and an open end; providing a fastener connecting sleeve having first and second open ends; inserting the connecting sleeve into an interior of the tubular member through the open end of the tubular member so that the opposing first and second open ends of the connecting sleeve are disposed adjacent to the first and second walls of the tubular member, respectively; initially piercing the first wall, without the assistance of a pre-punched hole in the first wall, by a first deforming element to form a first hole in the first wall and to form a first flange surrounding the first hole, the first hole being sized by the first deforming element to a final dimension for receiving a fastener extending through the first hole, the first flange projecting into the first open end of the connecting sleeve; and initially piercing the second wall, without the assistance of a pre-punched hole in the second wall, by a second deforming element to form a second hole in the second wall and to form a second flange surrounding the second hole, the second hole being sized by the second deforming element to the final dimension for receiving the fastener extending through the second hole, the second flange projecting into the second open end of the connecting sleeve; the first flange securing the first open end of the connecting sleeve in alignment with the first hole in the first wall and the second flange securing the second open end of the connecting sleeve in alignment with the second hole in the second wall to permit the fastener to pass through the first and second holes and through the connecting sleeve.