Patent ID: 7003861

Claim:
A method of making and using a die assembly used for forming a joint between sheets of material, the die assembly having die blades, an anvil, and a flexible annular member with radially spaced apart first and second walls with a channel therebetween, the method comprising: (a) positioning the die blades adjacent a periphery of the anvil; (b) securing the die blades to the anvil by positioning the flexible annular member concentrically around the die blades; (c) applying a radially inward retaining force on the die blades with one of the walls of the flexible annular member, said retaining force retaining the die blades adjacent the anvil while still allowing radial movement of the die blades; (d) flexing the first wall of the flexible annular member relative to the second wall of the flexible annular member when the die blades move outwardly; and (e) allowing debris to exit the channel between the walls of the flexible annular member.