Harold A Ladouceur

US Patent:

RE38061, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Jan 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/044163

Inventors:

Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI

Assignee:

FabriSteel Products, Inc. - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B21D 3900

US Classification:

29509, 29512, 29521, 295241, 294321

Abstract:

The method of attaching a fastening element to a metal panel within a panel opening using a die member having an annular concave die cavity. The fastening element includes a tubular riveting portion and a radial flange portion and a fastening portion. The internal and external surfaces of the tubular riveting portion are relatively uniformly inclined toward the radial flange portion such that the thickness of the tubular riveting portion at the free end is less than the thickness adjacent the radial flange portion. In the preferred embodiment, the internal surface of the tubular riveting portion is cylindrical and the external surface is slightly conical tapering inwardly toward the free end to reduce the force required to radially deform the free end of the tubular portion radially outwardly. Further the outer surface of the radial flange portion is generally polygonal having arcuately radially inwardly concave side surfaces spaced by relative thin convex arcuate edge surfaces reducing the force required to drive the flange portion into the panel during final installation of the fastening element. The method of this invention includes driving the free end of the tubular barrel portion through an opening in the panel into the die member, thereby deforming the free end of the barrel portion radially outwardly and deforming the radial flange portion into the panel.

US Patent:

6631827, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

May 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138446

Inventors:

Dale H. Goodsmith - Brighton MI
Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI
David W. Sickels - Plymouth MI

Assignee:

FabriSteel Products, Inc. - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B65H 500

US Classification:

221238, 221239, 221251, 221270

Abstract:

A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

US Patent:

6893198, May 17, 2005

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/691921

Inventors:

Yvan A. Couillais - Livonia MI, US
Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

FabriSteel Products, Inc. - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B037/04

US Classification:

411181, 29525

Abstract:

A self-attaching female fastener having a generally cylindrical body including opposed annular ends, a bore extending through the annular ends of the body including an inclined frustoconical outer surface and a radial flange portion integral with the body midway between the opposed ends having parallel outer surfaces surrounding the body. The fastener is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the bore longitudinal axis. The parallel surfaces of the flange include radial grooves spaced from the body and the outer surface of the flange is tapered inwardly to a rounded outer edge. The installation method includes receiving either end of the body through an opening in the panel, which may be pierced by the annular end, deforming the annular outer periphery of the flange toward the end of the body received through the panel opening forming an annular groove surrounding the body and deforming an annular portion into the annular groove.

US Patent:

6925698, Aug 9, 2005

Filed:

Aug 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/637446

Inventors:

Dale H. Goodsmith - Brighton MI, US
Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
David W. Sickels - Plymouth MI, US

Assignee:

FabriSteel Products, Inc. - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B23P011/00

US Classification:

294321, 29505, 2952501, 29798, 29818, 292435, 221238, 221239, 221251

Abstract:

A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

US Patent:

6954976, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Jul 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626974

Inventors:

Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

FabriSteel Products, Inc. - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B23P011/00

US Classification:

294322, 29505, 29798, 292835

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

US Patent:

6997659, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Mar 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/811658

Inventors:

John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411179, 411180

Abstract:

The self-attaching female fastener of this invention includes a re-entrant groove having a V-shaped bottom wall including relatively inclined bottom faces of equal width having an arcuate apex centered beneath the restricted opening to the groove. A die drives a panel portion through the restricted groove opening against the bottom faces, driving the panel portion into the apex and inwardly beneath the inclined inner side wall and outwardly beneath the inclined outer side wall of the groove, resulting in a better installation and accommodating a wider range of panel thicknesses. The V-shaped bottom wall also centers and balances the rolls during the rolling process resulting in a more accurate cross-section of the fastener.

US Patent:

7152294, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/691847

Inventors:

Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corp. - Muscle Shoals AL

International Classification:

B23P 11/00

US Classification:

294321, 29432, 29505, 29509, 29512, 411179, 411180, 411523, 411502

Abstract:

A symmetrical self-attaching female fastener including a body having a bore, and identical integral tubular barrel portions extending from opposed ends of the body coaxially aligned with the bore. The installation method includes driving either barrel portion through an opening in a panel, which may be formed by piercing the panel with the barrel portion, and simultaneously deforming both barrel portions radially outwardly and inwardly, wherein one barrel portion entraps the panel and the other exposed barrel portion is folded at an acute angle relative to the bore to reduce the overall length of the assembly.

US Patent:

7152297, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

Jun 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/858622

Inventors:

Harold A. Ladouceur - Livonia MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Muscle Shoals AL

International Classification:

B21D 39/00

US Classification:

29505, 294322, 411179, 411180

Abstract:

A self-attaching fastener for thick panels having a pilot and a groove in a flange portion including an inclined outer wall and a bottom wall having an inclined portion extending to the outer face of the pilot and a concave surface in the outer face of the pilot adjacent the bottom wall. A die set for various panel thicknesses each having a projecting lip including an end face and first and second inclined faces which deform the panel against the inclined bottom wall and beneath the concave surface of the pilot. And, a method of attaching the fastener to a metal panel, wherein the die lip deforms a panel against the inclined bottom wall portion adjacent the pilot portion, inwardly into the concave surface and outwardly beneath the groove outer wall.