IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,196,242
Granted Patent B2
US 12,196,242 · App. 17/260,917 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Fastening component, assembly method and assembly device

Inventors: Maxime Grojean (Commercy, FR); Alex Grojean (Commercy, FR)
F16B25/0057F16B5/02F16B25/0021F16B25/0073F16B25/0094
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,196,242
App. No.
17/260,917
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This fastening component, which is intended to assemble a first part and a second part, includes a body extending longitudinally along an axis, a head configured to allow the fastening component to be rotated about the axis, and a tip connected to the body. The body has a side wall including fastening means configured to fasten the body to the first and second parts. The tip has a side wall having a shape different from that of a surface of revolution. The tip and the body are connected by a cleavable area configured to be broken in order to detach the tip from the body.

Claims (38)

1. A fastening component intended for assembly of a first part and a second part, wherein the fastening component comprises:

a body extending longitudinally along an axis,

a head configured to allow a rotation of the fastening component about the axis, and

a drilling tip linked to the body, wherein

the body has a lateral wall comprising a fastener configured to fasten the body to the first part and the second part,

the drilling tip has a lateral wall of a shape distinct from that of a surface of revolution, wherein the drilling tip has a non-threaded tapered distal end, from the non-threaded tapered distal end of the drilling tip, an increasing cross section of an elliptic, ovoid, or polygonal shape, and

the drilling tip and the body are linked by a divisible area configured to be broken in order to detach the drilling tip from the body, wherein the drilling tip includes one or more radially protruding elements which radially protrude from the lateral wall of the drilling tip, and

wherein the divisible area is an annular groove interposed between the fastener of the body and the one or more radially protruding elements of the drilling tip.

2. The fastening component according to claim 1 , wherein the divisible area is a portion of smaller section.

3. The fastening component according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises one or several radially protruding element(s) arranged at a pitch decreasing in a proximal direction, and/or the drilling tip has one or several radially protruding element(s) of a diameter increasing in the proximal direction.

4. The fastening component according to claim 1 , wherein at least the drilling tip comprises an outer surface of a higher hardness, a higher thermal resistance and a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component.

5. The fastening component according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

6. A method for assembling a first part and a second part via a fastening component, wherein the fastening component comprises: a body extending longitudinally along an axis, a head configured to allow a rotation of the fastening component about the axis, and a drilling tip linked to the body, wherein the body has a lateral wall comprising a fastener configured to fasten the body to the first part and the second part, the drilling tip has a lateral wall of a shape distinct from that of a surface of revolution, wherein the drilling tip has a non-threaded tapered distal end, from the non-threaded tapereda distal end of the drilling tip, an increasing cross section of an elliptic, ovoid, or polygonal shape, and the drilling tip and the body are linked by a divisible area configured to be broken in order to detach the drilling tip from the body, wherein the drilling tip includes one or more radially protruding elements which radially protrude from the lateral wall of the drilling tip, and wherein the divisible area is an annular groove interposed between the fastener of the body and the one or more radially protruding elements of the drilling tip, the method comprising the steps of:

rotating the fastening component about the axis;

drilling the first and second parts by means of the drilling tip; and

breaking the divisible area after the drilling tip has drilled the first and second parts.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein breaking of the divisible area comprises application, on the drilling tip, of a force having a component orthogonal to the axis.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the force is of a variable direction.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the method comprises shaping a collar around the body of the fastening component.

10. An assembly device intended for implementation of the method according to claim 6 , the device comprising:

a bearing tool configured to cause breakage of the divisible area of the fastening component after the drilling tip of the fastening component has drilled the first and second parts,

a counter anvil having a housing intended to shape a collar around the body of the fastening component.

11. The fastening component according to claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises one or several radially protruding element(s) arranged at a pitch decreasing in a proximal direction, and/or the drilling tip has one or several radially protruding element(s) of a diameter increasing in the proximal direction.

12. The fastening component according to claim 11 , wherein at least the drilling tip comprises an outer surface of a higher hardness, a higher thermal resistance and a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component.

13. The fastening component according to claim 12 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

14. The fastening component according to claim 2 , wherein at least the drilling tip comprises an outer surface of a higher hardness, a higher thermal resistance and a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component.

15. The fastening component according to claim 14 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

16. The fastening component according to claim 3 , wherein at least the drilling tip comprises an outer surface of a higher hardness, a higher thermal resistance and a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component.

17. The fastening component according to claim 16 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

18. The fastening component according to claim 2 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

19. The fastening component according to claim 3 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

20. The fastening component according to claim 4 , wherein the drilling tip, or a distal portion of the drilling tip, is directly mounted on a remainder of the fastening component and comprises a material distinct from a material of the remainder of the fastening component.

21. An assembly device intended for implementation of a method for assembling a first part and a second part via a fastening component, wherein the fastening component comprises: a body extending longitudinally along an axis, a head configured to allow a rotation of the fastening component about the axis, and a drilling tip linked to the body, wherein the body has a lateral wall comprising a fastener configured to fasten the body to the first part and the second part, the drilling tip has a lateral wall of a shape distinct from that of a surface of revolution, wherein the drilling tip has, from a distal end of the drilling tip, an increasing cross section of an elliptic, ovoid, or polygonal shape, and the drilling tip and the body are linked by a divisible area configured to be broken in order to detach the drilling tip from the body, wherein the drilling tip includes one or more radially protruding elements which radially protrude from the lateral wall of the drilling tip, and wherein the divisible area is an annular groove interposed between the fastener of the body and the one or more radially protruding elements of the drilling tip, the method comprising the steps of:

rotating the fastening component about the axis;

drilling the first and second parts by means of the drilling tip; and

breaking the divisible area after the drilling tip has drilled the first and second parts, the device comprising:

a bearing tool configured to cause breakage of the divisible area of the fastening component after the drilling tip of the fastening component has drilled the first and second parts,

a counter anvil having a housing intended to shape a collar around the body of the fastening component.

Priority Claims (1)
FR 18/56582 · Jul 17, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210262511A1 · Aug 26, 2021
References Cited (30)
US 3530760A · Lindstrand · 1970 [cited by examiner]
US 3978760A · Muenchinger · 1976 [cited by examiner]
US 4958972A · Shinjo · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 6443680B1 · Bodin · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 7143497B2 · Panasik et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7367768B2 · Mcgovern et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 10221880B2 · Zach et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20140277188A1 · Poulos · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20160199967A1 · Stahl · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 1549901A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 1914427A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 105164432A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011109815A1 · 2013 [cited by examiner]
DE 102014012142A1 · 2016 [cited by examiner]
EP 370674A · 1990 [cited by examiner]
EP 0370674A1 · 1990 [cited by applicant]
FR 1428786A · 1965 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2006039412A2 · 2006 [cited by examiner]
FR1428786A English translation (Year: 1965). [cited by examiner]
DE-102014012142-A1 English translation (Year: 2016). [cited by examiner]
DE-102011109815-A1 English translation (Year: 2013). [cited by examiner]
English Translation to International Search Report for Application No. PCT/FR2019/051799. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/FR2019/051799. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/FR2019/051799. [cited by applicant]
Article 94(3) Communication dated Jan. 30, 2023; EP App. No. 19 759 644.8; 2 pages (non-English). [cited by applicant]
First Office Action and Search dated Mar. 9, 2022; CN Application No. 201980047887; 17 pages (English translation Included). [cited by applicant]
Opinion dated Mar. 29, 2019; FR Application No. 1856582; 6 pages (non-English). [cited by applicant]
Search Report dated Mar. 29, 2019; FR Application No. 1856582; 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Second Office Action and Search dated Oct. 17, 2022; CN Application No. 201980047887; 15 pages (English translation included). [cited by applicant]
Third Office Action dated Mar. 10, 2023; CN Application No. 201980047887; 4 pages (Non-English). [cited by applicant]