Patent ID: 7581300

Claim:
A method for the attachment of a functional element ( 210 ) to a sheet metal part ( 212 ), wherein the method of attachment is one of liquid-tight attachment and gas-tight attachment, wherein the functional element ( 210 ) is provided with a hollow head part ( 210 a ) is pressed against the sheet metal part ( 212 ) supported by a die ( 214 ), wherein said hollow head part ( 210 a ) is deformed and said sheet metal part ( 212 ) is simultaneously formed into a cylindrical forming space ( 230 ), which has a base and is defined by shaped parts ( 216 ) of the die, wherein material of said sheet metal is formed into an undercut ( 324 ) made by deformation of the head part ( 210 a ), with the shaped parts being immovably held during the forming of said sheet metal part into said forming space, but being partly lifted out of the die for the removal of the functional element attached to the sheet metal part.