Richard Edward Ward

US Patent:

6994500, Feb 7, 2006

Filed:

May 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/439526

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Flat Rock MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
John M. Parker - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kerry V. Boggs - South Lyon MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411180, 411179, 411188

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.

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:

7011584, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/691677

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B21D 53/24

US Classification:

470 25, 470 21, 470 22, 470 87

Abstract:

A method of forming a female fastener including rolling a body portion strip having a midportion and flange portions on opposed sides of the midportion, piercing spaced openings through the midportion, cutting the strip to length between the openings, cold forming a separate generally cylindrical pilot portion having a length greater than the width of the midportion and a diameter greater than the opening through the midportion, preferably including radial splines, and press fitting the pilot portion through the opening in the midportion. The self-attaching female fastener thus includes a rectangular body portion and a generally cylindrical pilot portion having an end face spaced above a plane of the midportion and may be formed of a harder metal than the body portion.

US Patent:

7066700, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Jan 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/758906

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Flat Rock MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
John M. Parker - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kerry V. Boggs - South Lyon MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411180, 411188

Abstract:

A self-attaching fastener including a central pilot, an annular flange surrounding the pilot including an annular groove having bottom, inner and outer side walls, wherein the bottom wall includes a first plurality of spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face inclined above the bottom wall and a second plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face oppositely inclined below the bottom wall and a method of attachment which avoids distortion of the thread cylinder of a female fastener.

US Patent:

7112024, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Mar 25, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/089891

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Flat Rock MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
John M. Parker - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kerry V. Boggs - South Lyon MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411180, 411188

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.

US Patent:

7112025, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/262263

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Flat Rock MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
John M. Parker - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kerry V. Boggs - South Lyon MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411180, 411188

Abstract:

A self-attaching nut including a central pilot portion, a flange portion surrounding the pilot portion having an end face including an annular groove in the end face having inclined inner and outer side walls and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with the outer side wall extending beyond a midportion of the bottom wall, but spaced from the inner side wall. In one embodiment, the top faces of the radial ribs is inclined to adjacent the inner side wall of the annular groove and in another embodiment, the radial inner ends of the ribs are spaced above the plane of the bottom wall and include an inwardly inclined face.

US Patent:

7258518, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Jul 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/189685

Inventors:

Richard P. Ward - Canton MI, US
Harold T. Woods - Flat Rock MI, US
John J. Vrana - Rochester Hills MI, US
John M. Parker - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kerry V. Boggs - South Lyon MI, US

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Muscle Shoals AL

International Classification:

F16B 37/04

US Classification:

411180

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.

US Patent:

7367893, May 6, 2008

Filed:

May 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/122629

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Whitesell International Corporation - Taylor MI

International Classification:

B21D 53/24

US Classification:

470 25, 470 26, 470 91, 470 95, 470 96, 470109

Abstract:

An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.