| 摘要 |
A self-attaching fastening element, such as a nut fastener, having a body portion and an integral annular riveting barrel portion. The body portion includes axial grooves and, in the preferred embodiment of the nut-type fastener, the body portion includes a radial flange and the grooves extend radially from the body portion into the flange portion. In the most preferred embodiment, the body portion is polygonal and the axial grooves are located in the juncture of adjacent flat surfaces. The method of attaching the self-attaching fastening element of this invention to a panel includes forming an opening in the panel coaxially aligned with the barrel portion having a diameter less than the barrel portion, driving the barrel portion into the panel, thereby drawing a cone-shaped portion in the panel receiving the body portion, driving the body portion into the cone-shaped panel portion, deforming the panel portion into the body portion and the axial grooves. The free end of the barrel portion may be simultaneously deformed radially to form a mechanical interlock with the panel. Where the body portion includes a radial flange, the flange is driven into the panel and the panel is driven into the radial grooves, preventing relative rotation of the fastening element in the panel.
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