SINGLE AND DOUBLE END RIVET

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a rivet and in particular relates to a single end rivet and a double end rivet. BACKGROUND

A rivet is a mechanical fastener used in order to mechanically join or affix two or more objects together. The rivet includes a head integral with a substantially cylindrical shaft. The shaft is attached at one end of the head and is often called as a tail. The shaft is adapted to be disposed through the holes formed in the associated sheets or plates or arms to be joined. One end of the shaft is adapted for deformation into tight locking engagement with the abutting sheet or plate. There are a variety of rivets designed in order to meet different cost, accessibility, and strength requirements. These include solid rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, grooved rivets, plastic rivets, tubular rivets, etc. Solid rivets are one of the commonly used fasteners. Solid rivet consists of the shaft and the head. Solid rivets generally have rounded heads. Blind rivets are tubular in structure and are supplied with a mandrel through the center. A blind rivet is inserted into a hole drilled through the parts to be joined. A drive rivet is a form of blind rivet that has a short mandrel protruding from the head that is driven in with a hammer to flare out the end inserted in the hole.

The different types of rivets available are typically used to affix only two abutting members. Further, the rivets provide a rigid fastening between the two abutting members. The fastening is rigid enough to disallow any movement of any member along the joint.

Therefore, there exists a need for a fastening means to affix more than two abutting members. Further, a fastening means to allow restricted movement of one or more abutting members members is desirable in certain implementations.

SUMMARY

The subject matter described herein relates to a rivet and in particular relates to a single end rivet and a double end rivet.

According to one aspect of the present subject matter, a single end rivet having a longitudinally extending body is described. The body of the single end rivet includes a head and a tail. The head is having a circular periphery. The tail has atleast one pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. The body of the single end rivet further comprises a first step and a second step. The first step has a circular periphery and the second step has atleast one pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. The cross section of the second step is greater than the cross section of the first step. The first step and the second step are formed between the head and the tail such that the cross section of the first step and the second step is greater than the cross section of the tail and less than the cross section of the head.

According to one more aspect of the present subject matter, a double end rivet is described. The double end rivet comprises a head and a pair of tails. The pair of tails includes a first tail and a second tail. The head of the double end rivet has a circular periphery. The first tail and the second tail have atleast one pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. In the double end rivet, the head is formed between the first tail and the second

tail such that the cross section of the head is greater than the cross section of the first tail and the second tail.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS: The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Fig.l shows a three dimensional perspective view of a single end rivet with respect to one embodiment of the present subject matter. Fig.2 shows an isometric view of a double end rivet with respect to another embodiment of the present subject matter.

Fig.3a and Fig.3b shows an exemplary implementation of the rivets of Fig.l and Fig.2.

Fig.4 shows a perspective view of a window regulator assembly with respect to another embodiment of the present subject matter. Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the centrally formed single end riveted joint between two cross arms and a lifting arm of the window regulator assembly of Fig.4.

Fig.6 shows a perspective view of the centrally formed double end riveted joint between two cross arms and a lifting arm of the window regulator assembly of Fig.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter is directed towards rivets that meet the aforesaid needs of providing an efficient fastening means to affix more than two abutting members and to allow restricted movement of one or more abutting members. According to one aspect of the present subject matter described herein, a single end rivet and a double end rivet is described.

The single end rivet has a longitudinally extending body. The body of the single end rivet comprises a head and a tail. The head of the single end rivet has a circular periphery. The end opposite of the head is called a tail. The tail includes a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. The body of the single end rivet further comprises a first step and a second step. The first step and the second step are formed between the head and the tail such that the cross section of the first step and the second step is less than the cross section of the head and greater than the cross section of the tail. The first step has a circular periphery and the second step has one pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. The cross section of the second step is greater than the cross section of the first step.

The double end rivet comprises a head and a pair of tails. The pair of tails, namely a first tail and a second tail is formed at the opposite ends of the head. The head has a circular periphery. The first tail and the second tail have a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces. The cross section of the head is greater than the cross section of the first tail and the second tail.

Any implementation where three abutting members such as three arms need to be fastened can employ the single end rivet or the double end rivet for riveting.

In one implementation, each of the three arms, namely the first arm, second arm and third arm, have slots made on them along the joint that needs to be riveted. The first arm to be affixed to the first step of the single end rivet, is provided with a slot corresponding to the circular periphery of the first step while the second arm and the third arm to be affixed to the second step and the tail of the single end rivet, have the slots adapted to fit within the second step and the tail of the rivet. The pair of diagonally opposite flat faces of the tail and the second step allows the movement of second arm in the same direction as that of the third arm while the circular periphery of the first step permits rotational motion of the first arm with respect to the second arm and the third arm.

In another implementation, the three arms are riveted using the double end rivet. In this implementation the slots provided in the arms, as explained with respect to the single end rivet, are adapted to accomodate the double end rivet.

A typical application for the above described rivets is found within the structural parts of a window regulator assembly of an automobile. In one embodiment of the present subject matter, the single end rivet and the double end rivets are used in the window regulator assembly of an automobile.

Fig.l shows a three dimensional perspective view of a single end rivet 100 with respect to one embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in Fig.l, the single end rivet 100 has a longitudinally extending body. The body of the single end rivet 100 has a head 105 at one end and a tail 110 at the other end. The head 105 has a circular periphery. The tail 110 has a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces 125. The body of the single end rivet 100 further includes a first step 115 and a second step 120 formed

between the head 105 and the tail 110. The cross section of the first step 115 and the second step 120 is less than the cross section of the head 105 and greater than the cross section of the tail 110. The first step 115 has a circular periphery. The second step 120 also has a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces 130. The cross section of the second step 120 is greater than the cross section of the first step 115. The flat face 125 of the tail 110 and the flat face 130 of the second step 120 are aligned parallel to each other.

Fig.2 shows an isometric view of a double end rivet 200 with respect to another embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in Fig.2, the double end rivet 200 has a head 205 and a pair of tails. The head 205 has a circular periphery. The pair of tail includes a first tail 210 and a second tail 215. The first tail 210 and the second tail 215 have one pair of diagonally opposite flat faces 220,225 each. The flat face 220 of the first tail 210 is parallel to the flat face 225 of the second tail 215. The head 205 is formed between the first tail 210 and the second tail 215 such that the cross section of the head 205 is greater than the cross section of the first tail 210 and the cross section of the second tail 215.

Fig.3a and Fig.3b shows an exemplary implementation of the rivets of Fig.1 and Fig.2. As shown in Fig.3a and Fig.3b, a first arm 305a and 305b includes a first slot 310a and 310b formed at its centre. A second arm 315a and 315b having two ends includes a second slot 320a and 320b at one of its end. A third arm 325a and 325b having two ends includes a third slot 330a and 330b at one of its end.

In one embodiment as shown in Fig. 3a, the first slot 310a, the second slot 320a and the third slot 330a are designed to accommodate the single end rivet 100. The first slot 310a is adapted to fit within the first step 115 of the single end rivet 100. The second

slot 320a is adapted to fit within the tail 110 of the single end rivet lOO.The third slot 330a is adapted to fit within the second step 120 of the single end rivet 100. The flat face

125 of the tail 110 is parallel to the flat face 130 of the second step 120 and the first step 115 has a circular periphery. Therefore, when the first slot 310a, the second slot 320a and the third slot 330a are fastened by a single end rivet 100, the flat face 125 of the tail 110 and the flat face 130 of the second step 120 allow the second arm 315a to move in the same direction as that of the third arm 325a. The circular first step 115 of the single end rivet 100 enables the first arm 305a to achieve a rotational motion with respect to the second arm 315a and the third arm 325a. In another embodiment as shown in Fig. 3b, the first slot 310b, the second slot

320b and the third slot 330b are adapted to accommodate the double end rivet 200. The first slot 310b is adapted to fit within the head 205 of the double end rivet 200. The second slot 320b is adapted to fit within the first tail 210 of the double end rivet 200. The third slot 330b is adapted to fit within the second tail 215 of the double end rivet 200. The flat face 220 of the first tail 210 is parallel to the flat face 225 of the second tail 215. The head 205 has a circular periphery. Therefore, when the first slot 310b, the second slot 320b and the third slot 330b are fastened by a double end rivet 200, the flat face 220 of the first tail 210 and the flat face 225 of the second tail 215 allow the second arm 315b to move in the same direction as that of the third arm 325b, while the circular head 205 of the double end rivet 200 enables the first arm 305b to achieve a rotational motion with respect to the second arm 315b and the third arm 325b.

Fig.4 shows a perspective view of a window regulator assembly with respect to one embodiment of the present subject matter. The window regulator assembly comprises

a lifting arm 405, a first support arm 410 and a second support arm 415. The lifting arm 405 has a first end and a second end. A movable channel 420 is slidably connected to the first end of the lifting arm 405. A sector gear 425 is pivotally connected to the second end of the lifting arm 405. A first slot is provided at the centre of the lifting arm 405. The first support arm 410 has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first support arm 410 is slidably connected to the movable channel 420. The second end of the first support arm 410 includes a second slot. The second support arm 415 has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second support arm 415 is slidably connected to a fixed support channel 430. The second end of the second support arm 415 includes a third slot. The first slot, the second slot and the third slot are fastened either by a single end rivet 100 or by a double end rivet 200.

Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the centrally formed single end riveted joint between the first support arm 410, the second support arm 415 and the lifting arm 405 of the window regulator assembly of Fig.4. The lifting arm 405 includes a first slot 505 formed at its centre to accommodate the passage of a single end rivet 100. The first slot 505 is adapted to fit within the first step 115 of the single end rivet 100. A second slot 510 at the second end of a first support arm 410 and a third slot 515 at the second end of the second support arm 415 are provided to accommodate the passage of the single end rivet 100. The second slot 510 is adapted to fit within the tail 110 of the single end rivet 100. The third slot 515 is adapted to fit within the second step 120 of the single end rivet 100. The tail 110 and the second step 120 include a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces 125,130 each. The flat face 125 of the tail 110 is parallel to the flat face 130 of the second step 120. Therefore, when the first support arm 410 is affixed onto the tail 110 and the

second support arm 415 is affixed onto the second step 120, the first support arm 410 moves in the same direction as that of the second support arm 415. The first step 115 of the single end rivet 100 has a circular periphery. Thus, when the first slot 505 of the lifting arm 405 is fitted within the first step 115 of the single end rivet 100, due to the circular periphery of the first step 115, the lifting arm 405 achieves a rotational motion with respect to the first support arm 410 and the second support arm 415. Thereby reduces the occurrence of jamming between the lifting arm 405, the first support arm 410 and the second support arm 415.

Fig.6 shows a perspective view of the centrally formed double end riveted joint between the first support arm 410, the second support arm 415 and the lifting arm 405 of the window regulator assembly of Fig.4. The first slot 505, provided on the lifting arm 405, accommodates the passage of a double end rivet 200. The first slot 505 is adapted to fit within a head 205 of the double end rivet 200. A second slot 510 at the second end of the first support arm 410 and a third slot 515 at the second end of the second support arm 415 are provided to accommodate the passage of the double end rivet 200. The second slot 510 is adapted to fit within the first tail 210 of the double end rivet 200. The third slot 515 is adapted to fit within the second tail 215 of the double end rivet 200. The first tail 210 and the second tail 215 include a pair of diagonally opposite flat faces 220,225 each. The flat face 220 of the first tail 210 is parallel to the flat face 225 of the second tail 215. The head 205 has a circular periphery. Therefore, when the first slot 505, the second slot 510 and the third slot 515 are fastened by the double end rivet 200, the flat faces 220 of the first tail 210 and the flat faces 225 of the second tail 215 allows the first support arm 410 to move in the same direction as that of the second support arm 415. While the

circular head 205 of the double end rivet 200 enables the lifting arm 405 to achieve a rotational motion with respect to the first support arm 410 and the second support arm 415.

Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the subject matter, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the subject matter. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.