SELF-ATTACHING FEMALE FASTENER, DIE SET AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT

摘要

A self-attaching fastener (20) for thick panels having a pilot (22) and a groove (34) in a flange portion (30) including an inclined outer wall (38) and a bottom wall having an inclined portion (42) extending to the outer face (36) of the pilot (22) and a concave surface (46) in the outer face (36) of the pilot (22) adjacent the bottom wall (42). A die set (60, 60A, 60B) for various panel thicknesses each having a projecting lip (64, 64A, 64B) including an end face (76, 76A, 76B) and first and second inclined faces (78, 78A, 78B, 80, 80A, 80B) which deform the panel (84) against the inclined bottom wall (42) and beneath the concave surface (46) of the pilot (22). And, a method of attaching the fastener (20) to a metal panel (84), wherein the die lip (64, 64A, 64B) deforms a panel against the inclined bottom wall portion (42) adjacent the pilot portion (22), inwardly into the concave surface (46) and outwardly beneath the groove outer wall (38).