Importance

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Abstract

A self-piercing fastener, such as a stud bolt, for attachment to a panel or the like. The fastener includes a fastener portion, such as a threaded shank, and a self-piercing and riveting end portion. The end portion includes a central recess enclosed by a self-piercing and riveting wall on at least opposed sides of the recess. The wall has an internal surface terminating in a sharp piercing edge at its distal end which is adapted to pierce an opening in the panel. The recess terminates in a bottom wall which is preferably spaced from the piercing edge of the wall a distance greater than the thickness of the panel. The fastener recess receives the slug pierced from the panel, which is deformed against the convex midportion of the bottom wall to engage the internal surface of the wall and the wall includes an arcuate drawing surface at the outer distal end adapted to draw the pierced panel edge toward the distal end of the wall as the panel in pierced, forming a mechanical interlock between the fastener and the panel.

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First Claim