Patent ID: 7650681

Claim:
A method of fastening together workpieces using a blind rivet, the method comprising: (a) using a blind rivet having a hollow central body segment, a tool-side flange and a blind-side end; (b) creating a hole in the workpieces with countersunk depressions in tool-side and blind-side surfaces of the workpieces; (c) inserting the rivet body segment and the blind-side end in the hole; (d) applying an axial setting force to the rivet body by use of a removable head having a conical shoulder, the head being mounted on an elongated shaft operably extending through the rivet body segment; (e) compressing the tool-side flange of the rivet into the countersunk depression in the tool-side surface of the workpieces, wherein all of the tool-side flange is substantially flush with or below the tool-side surface after setting, the tool-side flange having a greater wall thickness between its inside and outside diameters than the wall thickness of the body segment both before and after setting; (f) deforming the blind-side end of the rivet outwardly into the countersunk depression in the blind-side surface of the workpieces, wherein all of the blind-side end is substantially flush with or below the blind-side surface after setting; (g) the workpiece hole being radially larger than the central body segment of the rivet prior to setting, and radially expanding the central body segment of the rivet within the workpiece hole during setting; and (h) a bore of the rivet body segment being unobstructed after setting.