Patent ID: 7179033

Claim:
A fastener nut for hydroformed parts comprising a nut body and a flat-sided locking ring carried by said nut body, said nut body adapted to receive a threaded fastener and having an integral flat-sided punch adapted to pierce and form an inwardly projecting flat-sided retention collar in a hydroformed part while the part remains in a die cavity and under internal hydroforming pressure, said nut body adapted to position said locking ring within said retention collar while positioning said punch beyond said retention collar to thereby prevent turning of said locking ring relative to said retention collar while allowing turning of said nut body relative to said locking ring, and said nut body and said locking ring adapted so that said locking ring on partial turning less than a complete revolution of said nut body with respect to said locking ring causes said locking ring to structurally interlock in a fully assembled position with said retention collar and thereby attach said nut to the hydroformed part while the part remains in the die cavity.