Self-attaching nut

Abstract

A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel, comprising:
 a body portion having an end face, a central pilot portion projecting from said end face having a bore therethrough, an annular groove in said end face generally surrounding said pilot portion, and an annular panel support face generally surrounding said annular groove, said annular groove including an inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion, a bottom wall and an outer side wall adjacent said annular panel support face;   a plurality of circumferentially spaced channel-shaped generally radial notches in said outer wall of said annular groove extending into said annular panel support face and opening into said annular groove, each notch having an outer wall and opposed side walls; and   a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs integral with said outer wall of each of said notches extending toward said pilot portion.   
     
     
         69 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 68 , wherein said circumferentially spaced ribs are integral with said bottom wall of said annular groove and extend to adjacent said pilot portion, but are spaced from said pilot portion. 
     
     
         70 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 68 , wherein each of said ribs includes a planar top face inclined from said outer wall of said notches toward said bottom wall of said annular groove. 
     
     
         71 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 70 , wherein said planar top faces of said ribs are spaced from said bottom wall of said annular groove. 
     
     
         72 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 68 , wherein said self-attaching nut includes two circumferentially spaced generally radial ribs integral with said outer wall of said notches. 
     
     
         73 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 72 , wherein opposed faces of said generally radial ribs are relatively inclined. 
     
     
         74 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 73 , wherein said opposed relatively inclined faces of said ribs are inclined inwardly forming an opening between said ribs having a smaller width adjacent a top face of said ribs than adjacent said bottom wall of said annular groove. 
     
     
         75 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 72 , wherein said ribs are integral with said side walls of said channel-shaped notches. 
     
     
         76 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 68 , wherein said ribs extend generally radially into said annular groove integral with said bottom wall of said annular groove, each having a top end face spaced above a plane of said bottom wall of said annular groove. 
     
     
         77 . The self-attaching nut as defined in  claim 76 , wherein said ribs each include an end face opposite said pilot portion inclined inwardly and overlying said bottom wall of said annular groove.