Patent ID: 7159289

Claim:
A fastener forming apparatus for connecting a plate to an end portion of a rod, the fastener forming apparatus comprising: a base; a die structure carried by the base, the die structure having a first surface and a recess opened through the surface, and the end portion of the rod being disposed partially in the recess and projecting beyond the first surface; a compression pedestal carried by the base, the compression pedestal being constructed and arranged to move between a biased extended state and a compressed state; a stamping structure spaced from the base and die structure, the stamping structure being constructed and arranged to move with respect to the die structure; an initial contact position of the stamping structure wherein the compression pedestal is in the extended state, and the stamping structure is in contact with the end portion; an intermediate position of the stamping structure wherein the stamping structure is spaced closer to the die structure and the compression pedestal than when the stamping structure is in the initial contact position, the compression pedestal is in the extended state, and the end portion has plastic deformation; and a stamped position of the stamping structure wherein the stamping structure is spaced closer to the die structure than when the stamping structure is in the intermediate position, the plate contacts the first surface of the die structure, and the compression pedestal is driven to the compressed state.