| PEM MANAGEMENT, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20110097172 | Clinch Pin Fastener - A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110072630 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURE FOR A PLASTIC-CAPPED PANEL FASTENER - A captive panel fastener is manufactured by first overmolding a plastic cap around the head of a screw, the cap having a cylindrical plastic skirt extending downwardly beyond the base of the screw head and formed with a circular opening at the bottom. After a compression spring is placed around the shank of the screw, the screw is pressed against a top surface of a ferrule to a point where the capped-skirt extends downwardly below a ferrule flange. At that point, heat and pressure are applied radially inwardly around the periphery of the plastic skirt along its bottom edge until it is permanently deformed to a point where the bottom of the skirt is smaller in diameter than the ferrule flange. The screw is thereby captivated to the ferrule between extended and retracted positions. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110020092 | QUICK ACTING PANEL FASTENER - A panel fastener is comprised of two separately formed interacting parts: a panel retainer and an actuator pin. The retainer is fashioned from sheet metal using progressive stamping technology. The retainer and pin work together to create a fastener for securing two panels together that can semi-permanently snap into the first panel and then be clamped onto and then selectively removed from the second panel. Attachment to the second panel is obtained by expanding and later released by contracting the legs of the retainer by rotating a cammed expander pin between self-locking positions. A head of the expander pin can be configured for hand actuation, tool-only actuation, or both. The retainer is fashioned from sheet metal using progressive stamping technology. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20100296255 | TWO-PIECE HEAT SINK STUD - A fastening system for a heat sink mounted on a circuit board utilizes a self-clinching stud assembly constructed by axially interfitting two flat sheet metal members. Each member has forked ends which when axially plugged together in criss-cross fashion create a unified fastener with side structures that can permanently clinch into a heat sink. After attachment to the heat sink, the stud presents two opposite attachment ends with tines which extend from the top and bottom of the heat sink. As finally assembled, a fan attaches to the top end of the studs above the heat sink while the opposite end of the stud which extends from the bottom of the heat sink passes through the circuit board to attach to a retaining leaf spring which presses against the back side of the board. Thus, all of the components are joined by a single stud. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100202826 | SNAP-IN PIVOT PIN FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS - A universal joint employs snap-in press pins to rotatably secure the center knuckle with the surrounding drive shaft cup providing a simplified assembly process. The press pins install flush or sub-flush with the outside of the steering shaft cup. A snap-lock feature permits one-direction axial movement only. Each snap pin includes a barb-like tapered flange with a lead-in ramp to aid installation. Once installed, a radially extending base on the backside of the flange abuts the inside wall of the drive shaft cup. A locking clip may be employed to prevent removal of the snap pin. The locking clip includes two axially extending legs with barbs located at the end of each leg, said legs being resiliently biased outwardly and abutting an inside wall of said drive shaft cup when fully engaged with the pin. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100202825 | SNAP-IN PIVOT PIN FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS - A universal joint employs snap-in press pins to rotatably secure the center knuckle with the surrounding drive shaft cup providing a simplified assembly process. The press pins install flush or sub-flush with the outside of the steering shaft cup. A snap-lock feature permits one-direction axial movement only. Each snap pin includes a barb-like tapered flange with a lead-in ramp to aid installation. Once installed, a radially extending base on the backside of the flange abuts the inside wall of the drive shaft cup. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100129174 | PIERCING STANDOFF - A piercing fastener is attachable to a panel without a hole by penetrating its surface. The fastener further includes means for attachment of a device to it so that the fastener acts as an intermediate component attaching the device to the panel. The fastener has either male or female attachment means and further includes an outside surface extending from a top end to a bottom end. Near the bottom end, a reinforcement collar includes an annular top surface for receiving a downward pressing force to install the fastener into the panel. A displacer and undercut are located immediately below the collar to effect and receive a cold flow of deformed panel material to secure the fastener to the panel. A plurality of axially extending circumferential teeth are located immediately below the undercut and comprise triangular knurls with sharp edges which penetrate the sheet as the fastener is applied. The bottom of the fastener terminates in a sharp circular cutting edge for penetrating the panel. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20090257843 | PLASTIC-METAL HYBRID STANDOFF - A hybrid clinch-type standoff consists of two component parts, a metal core base and a overmolded plastic barrel. The base has a through-bore and a displacer flange at the bottom. A first undercut is located immediately above the flange and extends upwardly along an outside surface of the base for providing clinch attachment of the base to a substrate. A frustoconical ramp convergent in the upward direction lies along the outer surface of the base is and is located directly above the first undercut. An axially extending segmented ring with circumferential teeth is located at the top of the base. The overmolded plastic tubular barrel composed of plastic fills the second undercut and surrounds the segmented ring. The barrel has an inner portion including a threaded inner wall which extends downardly inside the through-bore to a point flush with the bottom of the flange. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090071351 | Dual Force Ram Drive for a Screw Press - Precise motion of the ram of a fastener press is controlled by high torque and low torque motors for high speed/low force and high force pressing of the ram by the ram, respectively. The high torque motor means drive passes through a bidirectional overrunning clutch. The clutch is controlled by the relative motion of the two separate motor drive speeds of which are regulated by a controller. The clutching motion is therefore controlled only by the relative speed of its drive versus driven components. This provides an extremely smooth and responsive transition between high speed/low force and low speed/high force operation of the ram so that the pressing cycle can be as fast and efficient as possible. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090070978 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL INSERTION FORCE OF A FASTENER PRESS - Force data is monitored by a strain gauge during a preparatory setup operation of an insertion process during which a sample fastener is installed into a host material by a fastener press. Mathematical algorithms are utilized to determine an optimal insertion force, while a predetermined insertion velocity is maintained throughout the installation process regardless of the force required. With the ram velocity held constant, the insertion force is measured during the installation process and compared to the elapsed time to obtain a force slope. A data point on the force slope which corresponds to the point at which the force slope abruptly increases is captured and recorded as the optimal insertion force. This optimal force is then used by the press for all fasteners/host-material installations of the sample type. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20080314194 | CLINCHING LINEAR SLIDE DEVICE - The present invention permits linear slide motion as well as rotational motion between two sheets or panels of metal. This linear rail system utilizes clinching end stays to hold a loop of wire taut in a milled or stamped slot in a sheet metal panel. The loop of wire is stretched in the milled slot, being wrapped through the undercuts of the clinching end stays. When the stays are pressed into the milled slot with the wire in place, the wire is locked in due to the cold flow of metal around it. The taut spring wire captivates a round follower with flanges above and below the wire runs. The follower is then free to move linearly and rotate in the panel. This follower is self-clinching and can attach a second sheet to the assembly by pressing a hole in the second sheet onto the follower. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080302162 | COLD-HEADED STANDOFF - A process for cold forging a metal fastener such as a self-clinching standoff includes a punch and die set at the final head trimming station which produces the shear burr only on the underside of the fastener head where it is not visible after installation. A knock-out pin which is reciprocal within the bore of the punch forcibly ejects the fastener through a passage in the die to a point beyond an opposite side of the die. A stripper sleeve which is reciprocal about the outside surface of the punch then moves from a retracted position over the end of the punch pushing a residual scrap ring from around the outside of the punch. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080206013 | ROTATABLE CAPTIVATED NUT - A rotatably captive clinch nut includes a body having an axial threaded bore and a flange forming a base of the nut body. The flange includes a surface on a bottom side thereof preferably unitary therewith for providing a bearing surface of reduced friction. A displacer unitary with the nut body is located directly below the flange and has an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the flange. A tubular flared shank unitary with the nut body extends coaxially from the displacer and includes a neck immediately adjacent the displacer, forming an undercut area between the outside of the shank and an underside of the displacer. The neck may include an axially extending cylindrical portion so that the thickness of the displaced material in the region of the undercut is substantially less than the axial length of the nut. | 08-28-2008 |
