Aligner for use with a staked fastener

Abstract

An aligner and a method for its use in staking a fastener. More specifically, the aligner guides a tip of a staking tool in some portion of a staking operation properly into alignment with a clinch portion of a staked fastener. As a result, the clinch portion is shaped into a head of a generally higher quality than would otherwise occur.

1 . An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:
 a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and   a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a through bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,   wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation.   
     
     
         2 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a base and the base is at an angle that supports wobbling of the staking tool. 
     
     
         3 . The aligner of  claim 2  further including a hold-down connected to the housing and having a bottom, the bottom being at an angle such that the bottom supports wobbling of the staking tool. 
     
     
         4 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface has an angle that supports wobbling of the staking tool. 
     
     
         5 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a flash trap positioned in the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a depression defined by the base. 
     
     
         7 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a hold-down connected to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The aligner of  claim 7  wherein the hold-down has a bottom and the housing has a base and the bottom is positioned above the base. 
     
     
         9 . The aligner of  claim 7  wherein the hold-down is a pair of cooperating appendages extending outwardly from the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a stop, the stop being positioned in the channel for positioning the base in the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a stop and a keeper connected to the housing and positioned in the channel for securing the base in the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including an observation slit defined by the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The aligner of  claim 12  wherein the observation slit has an open end. 
     
     
         14 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a chamfer in the channel for assisting placement of the tip therein. 
     
     
         15 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the base is of a material suitable for use as a supplemental material for use with a fastener of a suitable material to create a unified multi-part head. 
     
     
         16 . The aligner of  claim 1  further including a positioner. 
     
     
         17 . The aligner of  claim 16  wherein the positioner includes a protrusion that interacts with another hole through which another staked fastener will be placed, such that the bore aligns with a hole through which the staked fastener is placed. 
     
     
         18 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface is angled to permit wobbling of the tip when inserted therein. 
     
     
         19 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a bottom, and the bottom has an angle relative to the housing that permits the aligner to be wobbled when the tip is inserted therein. 
     
     
         20 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the housing as an exterior surface and further including a grasp positioned on the exterior surface. 
     
     
         21 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the housing and the base are made in a single process such that the housing and base are one piece. 
     
     
         22 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the base is secured in the housing. 
     
     
         36 . The aligner of  claim 35  wherein the bore is a through bore. 
     
     
         37 . The aligner of  claim 1  wherein the bore is a through bore. 
     
     
         38 . An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:
 a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and   a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,   wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation and   further including a hold-down connected to the housing, and   wherein the hold-down has a bottom and the housing has a base and the bottom is positioned above the base.   
     
     
         39 . An aligner for use in a staking operation of a staked fastener comprising:
 a housing having an interior surface defining a channel with an entrance, the channel dimensioned to accept a tip of a staking tool, and   a base positioned within the channel, the base defining a bore dimensioned to accept a clinch portion of a staked fastener,   wherein the channel and bore are aligned one to the other such that the tip can be guided by the channel into alignment with the clinch portion within the base during a staking operation   wherein the base is of a material suitable for use as a supplemental material for use with a fastener of a suitable material to create a unified multi-part head.