Self-punching fastener for pressing into a metal sheet which achieves optimal safety against rotation and pressing out

Abstract

A self-punching fastener ( 10 ), which in a way is safe against rotation and pressing out and which can be pressed into a metal sheet member ( 40 ) having an annular body, the side of which facing the metal sheet has radially disposed projections ( 15, 25 ), which, during the pressing-in, are pressed into the metal sheet member ( 40 ) and thereby secure the fastener ( 10 ) against rotation, wherein in the center an interior thread ( 11 ) is positioned and, wherein on the side facing the metal sheet member ( 40 ) in the set state there is provided an annular depression ( 12 ) into which the material displaced during the setting is pressed.

1 - 6 . (canceled).  
     
     
         7 . A self-punching fastener ( 10 ) for pressing into a metal sheet ( 40 ) that achieves optimal safety against rotation and pressing out, said self-punching fastener comprising: 
 an annular body having a side that faces the metal sheet ( 40 ) when said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) is pressed into the metal sheet ( 40 ) and set;    projections ( 15 ,  25 ) radially positioned on said side of the annular body that faces said metal sheet ( 40 ), said projections ( 15 ,  25 ) being pressed into said metal sheet ( 40 ) during pressing in of said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) to secure said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) against rotation;    an interior thread ( 11 ) positioned in a center of said annular body;    an annular depression ( 12 ) on said side of the annular body that faces the metal sheet ( 40 ) into which a displaced material of said metal sheet ( 40 ) is pressed when said self-punching fastener is pressed into said metal sheet ( 40 ) and set, said annular depression ( 12 ) being limited by a collar ( 14 ) positioned on an outer rim of said annular depression ( 12 ) and by a collar-shaped projection ( 13 ) positioned about said annular depression ( 12 ) in a direction of said interior thread ( 11 );    wherein said projections ( 15 ,  25 ) are evenly distributed and radially positioned in said annular depression ( 12 ) substantially on said outer rim of said annular depression ( 12 ) at said collar ( 14 ) and not positioned in said annular depression ( 12 ) at said collar-shaped projection ( 13 );    wherein said collar-shaped projection ( 13 ) is shaped as to punch a hole into said metal sheet ( 40 ) during setting of said self-punching fastener ( 10 ), said hole having a diameter of said collar-shaped projection ( 13 );    wherein said collar ( 14 ) has an undercut ( 17 ) with respect to annular depression ( 12 ) which receives said material of metal sheet ( 40 ) during the pressing in of said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) to lock said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) against axial pressing out.    
     
     
         8 . The self-punching fastener ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said collar-shaped projection ( 13 ) has a height that is adapted to a gauge of the metal sheet ( 40 ) to be punched.  
     
     
         9 . The self-punching fastener ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said collar-shaped projection ( 13 ) has an undercut ( 16 ) with respect to annular depression ( 12 ) which receives said material of the metal sheet ( 40 ) during the pressing in of said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) to achieve a locking of said self-punching fastener ( 10 ) against axial pressing out.  
     
     
         10 . The self-punching fastener ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein annular depression ( 12 ) has a bottom face which is inclined from an interior to an exterior of said annular depression ( 12 ) in the direction of said metal sheet ( 40 ).