Patent ID: 7232283

Claim:
A fastener for fastening together a pair of thin gauge sheet metal members, comprising: a pointed end portion for forming apertures within the thin gauge sheet metal members as said fastener is inserted through the thin gauge sheet metal members; a head portion; and a shank portion interposed between said pointed end portion and said head portion and defined around a longitudinal axis; wherein said shank portion comprises a spiral-threaded shank portion extending from a first axial position, disposed immediately upstream of said pointed end portion, to a second axial position substantially adjacent to said head portion, and comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced spiral threads disposed upon said spiral-threaded shank portion such that each one of said plurality of circumferentially spaced spiral threads extends substantially from said first axial position to said second axial position, and at a predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shank portion, for forming corresponding threads upon annular wall portions of the thin gauge sheet metal members, which surround the apertures defined within the thin gauge sheet metal members, as a result of the insertion of said pointed end portion of said fastener through the thin gauge sheet metal members, and a plurality of substantially linear arrays of nibs formed only upon axially rearward regions, of said plurality of circumferentially spaced spiral threads disposed upon said spiral-threaded shank portion, which extend from a third axial position, intermediate said first and second axial positions, to said second axial position substantially adjacent to said head portion, for engaging the annular wall portions of the thin gauge sheet metal members which surround the apertures defined within the thin gauge sheet metal members so as to effectively lock said fastener within the thin gauge sheet metal members and enhance the pull-out resistance of said fastener with respect to the thin gauge sheet metal members so as to securely fasten the thin gauge sheet metal members together.