Patent ID: 7287944

Claim:
A male self-riveting fastener element for attachment to a panel, comprising: a generally cylindrical shank portion; a radial flange portion integral and coaxially aligned with said shank portion having a diameter greater than said shank portion; a tubular barrel portion integral and coaxially aligned with said radial flange portion having a diameter smaller than said radial flange portion and greater than said shank portion, said tubular barrel portion having a smooth cylindrical outer surface and a free open end, and said radial flange portion having an annular radial surface adjacent to and surrounding said tubular barrel portion; said tubular barrel portion having an axial length measured between said annular radial surface of said radial flange portion and said free open end of said tubular barrel portion equal to or less than sixty percent of an outer diameter of said smooth generally cylindrical outer surface of said tubular barrel portion; and said male self-riveting fastener formed of a high strength carbon steel having a hardness of greater than 30 Rockwell on the C-scale for high performance applications requiring increased strength and said tubular barrel portion plastically deformable radially outwardly from a longitudinal midportion to rivet said self-riveting fastener to a panel without cracking.