Patent ID: 6954976

Claim:
A method of attaching a fastener to a deformable metal panel, said fastener having generally parallel channel-shaped grooves, each groove having a bottom wall, opposed side walls, a mid-portion and opposed open end portions, said method comprising the following steps: locating said panel on a die member including an end face, an opening through said end face and generally parallel lips adjacent said opening projecting from said end face, each of said lips including a contact face, a mid-portion having a width less than a width of said grooves and opposed end portions having a width less than said mid-portion; locating said fastener opposite said panel with said fastener grooves aligned with said lips of said die member; driving said fastener against said panel, thereby driving said lips of said die member against said panel and said lips driving portions of said panel into said grooves and against said bottom wall; and further driving said contact face of said lips against said panel on said bottom wall of said grooves and said mid-portion of said lips deforming said panel longitudinally toward said open end portions of said grooves and laterally toward said side walls of said grooves.