Self-attaching nut
A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.
1 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel, comprising: a body portion having an end face, a central pilot portion projecting from said end face of said body portion having a bore therethrough, an annular groove in said end face of said body portion surrounding said pilot portion and an annular panel support face surrounding said annular groove, said annular groove including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall and an outer side wall extending to said annular panel support face, and a plurality of spaced radial ribs integral with said inner wall of said annular groove having a top face inclined to said bottom wall and continuing below said bottom wall in a radial channel formed in said bottom wall of said annular groove.
28 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 27 , wherein said outer side wall of said annular groove includes a plurality of spaced notches.
29 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 28 , wherein said plurality of spaced notches each include an outer wall extending from said bottom wall of said annular groove to said annular panel support face and opposed side walls.
30 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 27 , wherein said inner side wall of said annular groove is inclined toward said outer side wall.
31 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 30 , wherein said outer side wall of said annular groove is inclined toward said pilot portion.
32 - 67 . (canceled)
68 . A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel, comprising:
a body portion having an end face, a central pilot portion projecting from said end face having a bore therethrough, an annular groove in said end face of said body portion surrounding said pilot portion, and an annular panel support face surrounding said annular groove, said annular groove including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall, and an outer side wall adjacent said annular panel support face inclined toward said pilot portion; and
a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with said bottom wall and said inner side wall of said annular groove, each rib having a planar top face inclined from said inner side wall toward said bottom wall of said annular groove, whereby panel deformed against said inclined planar top faces of said radial ribs is deformed radially outwardly beneath said inclined outer side wall of said annular groove.
69 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said outer side wall of said annular groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial notches opening into said annular groove.
70 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 69 , wherein said radial notches are staggered circumferentially relative to said radial ribs, such that said radial notches are located radially between said radial ribs.
71 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 69 , wherein said radial notches are channel-shaped including side walls and an outer wall, and said self-attaching nut including a second plurality of radial ribs integral with said outer wall of said radial notches and said bottom wall of said annular groove extending radially inwardly toward said inner side wall of said annular groove.
72 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 71 , wherein said inner side wall of said annular groove is inclined radially outwardly toward said outer side wall and said second plurality of radial ribs each include a planar top face inclined downwardly toward said bottom wall, whereby panel deformed against said inclined planar top faces of said second plurality of radial ribs is deformed radially inwardly beneath said inclined inner side wall of said annular groove.
73 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said radial ribs integral with said inner side wall of said annular groove extend radially beyond a midportion of said bottom wall of said annular groove, and said self-attaching nut including a second plurality of radial ribs integral with said bottom wall and said outer side wall of said radial groove, said second plurality of radial ribs extending radially inwardly beyond a midportion of said bottom wall and overlapping said radial ribs integral with said inner side wall of said annular groove.
74 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said radial ribs extend radially to adjacent said outer side wall of said annular groove, but are spaced from said outer side wall.
75 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said top face of said radial ribs is inclined to said bottom wall and continuing below said bottom wall in a radial channel formed in said bottom wall of said annular groove.
76 . A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel, comprising:
a body portion having an end face, a central pilot portion projecting from said end face having a bore therethrough, an annular groove in said end face of said body portion surrounding said pilot portion, and an annular panel support face surrounding said annular groove, said annular groove including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall and an outer side wall; and
a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with said bottom wall and said inner side wall of said annular groove, each having a planar top face inclined from said inner side wall toward said bottom wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial notches in said outer side wall opening into said annular groove.
77 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 76 , wherein said radial notches are channel-shaped and staggered circumferentially relative to said radial ribs, such that said radial notches are located radially between said radial ribs.
78 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 76 , wherein said outer side wall of said annular groove is inclined inwardly toward said inner side wall and said radial ribs each include a planar top face inclined outwardly toward said bottom wall, whereby panel deformed against said planer top faces of said radial ribs is deformed radially beneath said inclined outer side wall.