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EP-3807543-B1 - RIVET-LIKE FASTENER AND COMPRESSION SEAL ASSEMBLY

EP3807543B1EP 3807543 B1EP3807543 B1EP 3807543B1EP-3807543-B1

Inventors

  • KNECHTGES, John, V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20190529

Claims (6)

  1. A rivet-like fastener assembly (20) adapted to be mounted in a hole (12) provided through a wall (15), said wall having a front wall surface (16) and an opposite rear wall surface (18), said fastener assembly comprising: an elongated tubular body (21) orientated about a central axis (x-x) and having a first end (33) and a second end (26); said body having an externally and radially extending head portion (23) adjacent said first end and adapted to engage a portion of said front wall surface about said hole to be axially retained by said front wall surface, and a hollow shank portion (24) extending axially from said head portion and adapted to extend through said hole; said shank portion having an internally threaded section (62) and an intermediate section (61) between said head portion and said internally threaded section; said head portion having a front head surface (33), a rear head surface (29-31), and an outer peripheral edge (32); said head portion having an inner radial section (40) having a first axial thickness (40A) between said front head surface and a first portion (29) of said rear head surface and an outer radial section (41) having a second axial thickness (41A) between said front head surface and a second portion (31) of said rear head surface, said first axial thickness being greater than said second axial thickness; said first portion (29) of said rear head surface being adapted to abut a portion of said front wall surface; an elastomeric seal (22), said seal comprising an annular seal adapted to have a compressed axial thickness (22A); said intermediate section of said shank comprises a thin-walled section (61) being at least partially defined between an inwardly-facing cylindrical surface (34) and an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface (28) concentric with said inwardly-facing cylindrical surface such that said thin-walled section has a first radial thickness (61A) between said inwardly-facing and outwardly-facing cylindrical surfaces; said thin-walled section (61) of said intermediate section of said shank portion being adapted to be deformed outwardly (65) to engage a portion of said rear wall surface (18) about said hole to be axially retained by said rear wall surface; said internally threaded section of said shank being at least partially defined between an inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface (36) and an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface (28) concentric with said inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface such that said internally threaded section has a second radial thickness (62A) between said inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface and said outwardly-facing cylindrical surface that is greater than said first radial thickness of said thin-walled section, characterized in that said head portion further comprises an intermediate radial section (42) between said inner radial section (40) and said outer radial section (41), said intermediate radial section having an intermediate inner frusto-conical surface (30) forming a part of said rear head surface between said first portion (29) of said rear head surface and said second portion (31) of said rear head surface; said elastomeric seal (22) being adapted to be compressed between said second portion (31) of said rear head surface and a portion of said front wall surface; and a plurality of protrusions (52) extending from said first portion (29) of said rear head surface of said head portion and a section of said shank portion adjacent said head portion, said protrusions adapted to be rotationally retained by said wall in use, and said protrusions (52) have an axial protrusion length (52A) from said first portion (29) of said rear head surface of said head portion that is greater than said second axial thickness (41A) of said outer radial section (41) of said head portion plus said compressed axial thickness (22A) of said seal less said first axial thickness (40A) of said inner radial section (40) of said head portion.
  2. The rivet-like fastener assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said intermediate section of said shank comprises an outwardly facing cylindrical surface having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially and inwardly extending flutes (51).
  3. The rivet-like fastener assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said second end of said elongated tubular body is closed.
  4. The rivet-like fastener assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said front head surface of said head portion is an annular surface.
  5. The rivet-like fastener assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion of said rear head surface of said head portion are annular surfaces.
  6. The rivet-like fastener assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an 0-ring having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said inner radial section of said head portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to the field of fasteners, and more particularly to an improved rivet-like fastener assembly. BACKGROUND ART US Patent No. 7,938,608 is directed to a wall surface protecting bolt supporting apparatus having a plate with an aperture and a sleeve extending from one side of the plate. A plurality of gripping members extend from the plate between the sleeve and the peripheral edge of the plate. US Patent Application No. 2005/201844 discloses a blind rivet nut with improved grip capability comprising a head portion and a hollow shank portion, with at least one line of weakness that is deformed in use to enhance grip. US Patent No 8,226,339 is directed to a spin resistant threaded insert having a head with an aperture and a hollow body. The underside of the head includes a plurality of radially extending knurls and a portion of the outside surface of the body includes a plurality of axially extending ribs. SUMMARY The present invention provides a rivet-like fastener assembly as set out in the claims. With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, an improved rivet-like fastener assembly (20) is provided that is adapted to be mounted in a hole (12) provided through a wall (15), the wall having a front wall surface (16) and an opposite rear wall surface (18), the fastener assembly comprising: an elongated tubular body (21) orientated about a central axis (x-x) and having a first end (33) and a second end (26); the body having an externally and radially extending head portion (23) adjacent the first end and adapted to engage a portion of the front wall surface about the hole to be axially retained by the front wall surface, and a hollow shank portion (24) extending axially from the head portion and adapted to extend through the hole; the shank portion having an internally threaded section (62) and an intermediate section (61) between the head portion and the internally threaded section; the head portion having a front head surface (33), a rear head surface (29-31), and an outer peripheral edge (32); the head portion having an inner radial section (40) having a first axial thickness (40A) between the front head surface (33) and a first portion (29) of the rear head surface and an outer radial section (41) having a second axial thickness (41A) between the front head surface (33) and a second portion (31) of the rear head surface, the first axial thickness being greater than the second axial thickness; the first portion (29) of the rear head surface adapted to abut a portion of the front wall surface; and an elastomeric seal (22) adapted to be compressed between the second portion (31) of the rear head surface and a portion of the front wall surface. The intermediate section of the shank comprising a thin-walled section (61) being partially defined between an inwardly-facing cylindrical surface (34) and an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface (28) concentric with the inwardly-facing cylindrical surface such that the thin-walled section has a first radial thickness (61A) between the inwardly-facing and outwardly-facing cylindrical surfaces; and the internally threaded section (62) of the shank being partially defined between an inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface (36) and an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface (28) concentric with the inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface such that the internally threaded section has a second radial thickness (62A) between the inwardly-facing threaded cylindrical surface and the outwardly-facing cylindrical surface that is greater than the first radial thickness (61A) of the thin-walled section. The thin-walled section of the intermediate section of the shank portion being adapted to be deformed outwardly (65) to engage a portion of the rear wall surface about the hole to be axially retained by the rear wall surface. The intermediate section of the shank may comprise an outwardly facing cylindrical surface having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially and inwardly extending flutes (51). The second end of the elongated tubular body may be closed. The rivet-like fastener assembly comprising a plurality of protrusions (52) extending from the first portion (29) of the rear head surface of the head portion and a section of the shank portion adjacent the head portion, the protrusions adapted to be rotationally retained by the wall. The seal comprising an annular seal adapted to have a compressed axial thickness (22A) and the protrusions may have an axial protrusion length (52A) from the first portion (29) of the rear head surface of the head portion that is greater than the second axial thickness (41A) of the outer radial section (41) of the head portion plus the compressed axial thickness (22A) of the seal (22) less the first axial thickness (40A) of the inner radial section (40) of the