Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Headed fastener element – Having plastically flowable or deflectable end – e.g. – rivet,...
Patent
1995-04-19
1998-01-06
Meyers, Steven N.
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Headed fastener element
Having plastically flowable or deflectable end, e.g., rivet,...
411502, 411 21, 411 61, 403248, 403279, F16B 1908, B25G 300
Patent
active
057047529
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a zero insertion force rivet device.
More precisely, the present invention relates to a rivet device for assembling together two or more parts provided with orifices in alignment to enable the parts to be fastened together by means of a rivet without it being necessary to exert significant force to put the rivet into place in the orifices.
In particular, in the field of mounting a surface mount type connector on printed circuit cards, it is necessary to have rivets that ensure adequate centering of the two parts to be assembled together while nevertheless ensuring that the two parts are securely fastened together in the rivet insertion direction.
When mounting a connector of this type on a card, it is common practice to use robots, in which case it is essential to avoid any need to exert significant force to put a connector that is prefitted with two rivets into place on the printed circuit card, since otherwise the robot will engage a safety cutout, i.e. it will stop the assembly operation. In addition, it is necessary for the resulting assembly to be capable of withstanding forces, in particular forces due to plugging and unplugging connection pins, and also forces due to possible mishandling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a rivet device that enables the parts that are to be assembled to be properly centered, that enables the parts to be clamped effectively against one another, and that requires only very limited force for inserting the rivet into the orifices provided through the parts.
To achieve this object, the rivet device of the invention is characterized in that it comprises: substantially in the plane orthogonal to the axis of said body; and being constituted by an elastically deformable strip cut out in said body, extending in the direction of the axis of the body, and having a first end secured to the first end of said body and a second end secured to the second end of said body, each strip having folds such that in an initial state a portion of said strip projects into the inside of said body, and such that in a deformed state said strip projects outside said body, the distance along the axis of said body between said collar and the projecting portions of said strips in the deformed position being substantially equal to the thickness of the set of parts to be assembled together as measured in the direction of the common axis of their orifices.
It will thus be understood that inserting the rivet device requires force that is very limited since the locking elements project into the inside of the rivet body, and not to the outside thereof. However, in a subsequent operation, the locking strips are deformed in such a manner as to cause a portion thereof to project outside the body, forming an interfering catch, thereby preventing the rivet from being extracted.
In a preferred embodiment, the collar is in the form of a truncated cone whose half-angle at the apex is less than 90.degree., the apex of the truncated cone lying outside said body.
It can thus be seen that during deformation of the locking strips to form the external projections, the collar can be deformed slightly to compensate for tolerances on the design thicknesses, and to ensure that the two parts are properly clamped together in the rivet insertion direction.
In another preferred characteristic, the body and the collar include a slot lying in a half-plane extending from the axis of the body, thereby enabling the diameter of the body to adapt to the diameter of the orifices in the parts. This disposition makes it possible to compensate for possible dispersion in the dimensions of the orifices of the parts to be assembled together and to ensure automatic centering of the two parts relative to the axis of the rivet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiti
REFERENCES:
patent: 2340423 (1944-01-01), O'Shaughnessy, Jr. et al.
patent: 2400142 (1946-05-01), Tinnerman
patent: 2826110 (1958-03-01), Lemelson
patent: 3232161 (1966-02-01), Fernberg
patent: 3269251 (1966-08-01), Bass
patent: 3710674 (1973-01-01), Tabor
patent: 4244661 (1981-01-01), Dervy
patent: 4927287 (1990-05-01), Ohkawa et al.
patent: 5083942 (1992-01-01), Hahn
patent: 5259689 (1993-11-01), Arand et al.
patent: 5261772 (1993-11-01), Henringer et al.
patent: 5266052 (1993-11-01), Phillips, II
Amphenol Socapex
Meyers Steven N.
Pham Tuyet-Phuong
LandOfFree
Zero insertion force rivet device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Zero insertion force rivet device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Zero insertion force rivet device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2323758