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 - 67 . (canceled)
68 . A self-attaching nut, 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 generally surrounding said pilot portion including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall and an outer side wall, and an annular panel support face generally surrounding said outer side wall of said annular groove;
a first plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements adjacent said inner side wall of said annular groove each having a planar inclined top face;
a second plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements adjacent said outer side wall of said annular groove each having a planar inclined top face; and
said outer side wall of said annular groove including a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches.
69 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said inner side wall of said annular groove is inclined outwardly toward said panel support face and said top face of said second plurality of anti-rotation elements is inclined from said outer side wall to said bottom wall, whereby panel deformed against said inclined top faces of said second plurality of anti-rotation elements is deformed radially inwardly beneath said inner side wall of said annular groove.
70 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 68 , wherein said notches are channel-shaped opening into said annular groove, each notch having an outer face and opposed side faces.
71 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 70 , wherein said bottom wall of said annular groove is substantially perpendicular to an axis of said bore, said outer side wall is inclined radially inwardly from said bottom wall toward said pilot portion, and said outer wall of said notches is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall.
72 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 70 , wherein said outer face and said opposed side faces of said notches are planar.
73 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 70 , wherein said second plurality of anti-rotation elements are integral with said outer wall of said notches and extend radially from said outer wall to said bottom wall of said annular groove.
74 . A self-attaching nut, 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 generally surrounding said body portion including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall and an outer side wall, said inner side wall inclined outwardly toward said outer side wall of said annular groove, and an annular panel support face generally surrounding said outer side wall;
a first plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements adjacent said inner side wall of said annular groove each having a planar inclined top face;
a second plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements integral with said outer side wall of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements integral with outer side wall of said annular groove each having a planar top face inclined from said outer side wall toward said bottom wall; and
said outer side wall of said annular groove including a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches.
75 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 74 , wherein said first plurality of anti-rotation elements are located circumferentially between said second plurality of anti-rotation elements.
76 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 74 , wherein said notches are channel-shaped opening into said annular groove, each notch having an outer face and opposed side faces.
77 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 76 , wherein said outer side wall of said annular groove is inclined from said bottom wall radially inwardly toward said inner side wall and said outer wall of said notches is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall.
78 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 76 , wherein said outer wall and said opposed side walls of said notches are planar.
79 . The self-attaching nut as defined in claim 76 , wherein said second plurality of anti-rotation elements are integral with said outer wall of said notches.