Nut and plate assembly

Abstract

A nut assembly includes a nut and a plate. The nut includes a portion disposed in the plate, through a hole in the plate. An outer surface of the nut is expanded outwardly to engage surfaces forming the hole. Axial compression is used in a method of the present invention for securing the nut in the washer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a nut and plate assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the nut and plate assembly shown in FIG. 1, illustrating an early stage of the assembly process;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating a final step in the assembly process; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, but illustrating an alternative step in the assembly process.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly comprising: a body of metal including a hole formed therein, said body having a first face and a second face and said hole extending through said body from said first face to said second face;said hole being defined by an edge surface extending between said first and second faces, said hole having a peripheral shape of a first size on said first face, and said hole having a similar peripheral shape of a smaller size on said second face;at least a portion of said edge surface tapering inwardly from said first face toward said second face; anda fastener disposed in said hole, said fastener having an outer surface conforming to said peripheral shape at said second face, and a portion of said outer surface being outwardly deformed against said edge surface.

2. The fastener assembly of claim 1, said body being a plate.

3. The fastener assembly of claim 1, said fastener being a nut.

4. The fastener assembly of claim 3, said body being a plate.

5. The fastener assembly of claim 1, said portion of said outer surface being outwardly deformed against said tapering portion of said edge surface.

6. A method of forming a fastener assembly, comprising: forming a hole in a metal body between a first face and a second face of the body;said forming the hole including forming a side edge of the hole having at least a portion thereof at an angle with respect to the first and second faces such that a size of the hole on the first face is larger than a size of the hole on the second face;positioning a fastener in the hole; andcompressing the fastener axially and deforming a portion of the fastener outwardly against the side edge of the hole.

7. The method of claim 6, said compressing including applying force in a plurality of discrete locations on at least one end of the fastener.

8. The method of claim 6, said compressing including applying axial force in a substantially continuous pattern against an end of the fastener.

9. The method of claim 6, said compressing including applying axial force against an end of the fastener near an edge thereof.

10. The method of claim 6, including providing said fastener as a nut.

11. The method of claim 6, including providing the fastener as a nut including a flange, and said positioning step including arranging the nut with the flange against a surface of the body.

12. The method of claim 6, said forming a hole being punching a hole.

13. A method of forming a nut and plate assembly, comprising: punching a hole through a plate from a first face to a second face of the plate;positioning a nut in the punched hole; andexpanding an outer surface of the nut against an edge of the hole by applying compressive force against the nut.

14. The method of claim 13, including applying force in a plurality of discrete locations on at least one end of the nut.

15. The method of claim 13, including applying axial force near a periphery of an end of the nut.

16. The method of claim 15, including applying said axial force in a substantially continuous force pattern against an end of the nut.

17. The method of claim 13, including inserting the nut into the hole from the first face to the second face, and abutting a flange of the nut against the first face.

18. The method of claim 17, including applying force in a plurality of discrete locations on at least one end of the fastener.

19. The method of claim 17, including applying axial force near a periphery of an end of the nut.

20. The method of claim 19, including applying said axial force in a substantially continuous force pattern against an end of the nut.