Oil pan assembly including laminate and clinch nut

1. A container assembly comprising:

i) a container having a cavity for holding a fluid and including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion includes a laminate material including a first aluminum sheet having a surface facing the cavity of the container, a second aluminum sheet having a surface facing an outside of the container, and a polymeric layer interposed between the first and second metal sheets;

ii) an opening in the bottom portion extending through the first and second aluminum sheets for draining the fluid from the container;

iii) a clinch nut attached to at least one of the first and second aluminum sheets extending only into the cavity, and being configured for receiving a drain plug that seals the opening and provides a primary seal to prevent flow of the fluid;

iv) the drain plug, wherein the drain plug has a threaded shaft for sealing the opening and a flange surface; and

v) an elastomeric seal contacting the flange surface of the drain plug and the outside surface of the second aluminum sheet;

wherein the container assembly is an oil pan assembly;

wherein the elastomeric seal includes a sealing portion and a spacer portion connected to the sealing portion, wherein the spacer portion spaces and positions the sealing portion away from a region under the clinch nut.

2. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clinch nut is attached to both the first and second aluminum sheets.

3. The container assembly of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the first aluminum sheet to a thickness of the second aluminum sheet is from about 0.33 to about 3.

4. The container assembly of claim 3 , wherein the polymeric layer has a thickness of about 0.001 mm to about 0.2 mm.

5. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric layer has a thickness that is about 15% or less of a total thickness of the laminate material.

6. The container assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first and second aluminum sheets have a combined thickness of about 0.5 mm or more to about 4 mm or less.

7. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clinch nut is an aluminum clinch nut.

8. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clinch nut has a passage with internal threading and includes 3 or more turns of the threading.

9. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clinch nut includes a first portion that is a stove pipe portion and extends into the cavity.

10. The container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first portion has a height of about 15 mm or less as measured in a vertical direction from a top surface of the laminate to a top edge of the first portion.

11. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the laminate has a stamped configuration.

12. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drain plug includes:

a threaded shaft for screwing into the clinch nut;

a head portion configured for receiving a tightening tool;

an elastomeric washer in contact with a flange portion of the drain plug and positioned so that the flange portion applies a force to the elastomeric washer for forming a seal between the flange portion and an outside surface of the bottom of the container.

13. The container assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flange portion has a diameter of about 10 mm or more.

14. The container assembly of claim 12 wherein

i) a ratio of a diameter of the elastomeric washer to a diameter of the shaft of the drain plug is about 2 or more; and/or

ii) a ratio of a diameter of the flange of the drain plug to a diameter of the shaft of the drain plug is about 2 or more.

15. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clinch nut includes a coated steel.

16. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the container assembly includes a coated steel drain plug.

17. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shaft of the drain plug and/or the stove pipe of the clinch nut is formed of a mixed metal.

18. A container assembly comprising:

i) a container having a cavity for holding a fluid and including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion includes a laminate material including a first aluminum sheet having a surface facing the cavity of the container, a second aluminum sheet having a surface facing an outside of the container, and a polymeric layer interposed between the first and second metal sheets;

ii) an opening in the bottom portion extending through the first and second aluminum sheets for draining the fluid from the container;

iii) a clinch nut attached to at least one of the first and second aluminum sheets extending only into the cavity, and being configured for receiving a drain plug that seals the opening and provides a primary seal to prevent flow of the fluid;

iv) the drain plug, wherein the drain plug has a threaded shaft for sealing the opening and a flange surface; and

v) an elastomeric seal contacting the flange surface of the drain plug and the outside surface of the second aluminum sheet;

wherein the container assembly is an oil pan assembly;

wherein an attachment of the clinch nut to the first aluminum sheet forms a seal around an entire circumference of the opening, and the elastomeric seal forms a seal away from an area affected by the clinch nut.

19. The container assembly of claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric seal includes a sealing portion and a spacer portion connected to the sealing portion, wherein the spacer portion spaces and positions the sealing portion away from a region under the clinch nut.

20. The container assembly of claim 19 , wherein the elastomeric seal of the drain plug forms a secondary seal entirely outside of the affected area of the clinch nut, wherein the secondary seal contacts the aluminum outer surface of the container only at a flat area.