CN102027245B

CN102027245B - Fastener

Info

Publication number: CN102027245B
Application number: CN200980117502XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马克·E·法里尔
Original assignee: EVENING STAR INVESTMENTS LLC
Current assignee: EVENING STAR INVESTMENTS LLC
Priority date: 2008-05-15
Filing date: 2009-05-15
Publication date: 2012-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-15
Also published as: CA2725466A1; EP2283240A1; CN102027245A; AU2009246103A1; EP2283240A4; JP2011521184A; WO2009140648A1

Abstract

A one-piece fastener made of high-strength steel for securing a workpiece to a metal substrate, comprising: an elongated, generally flat body defining a cavity extending substantially the length of the body; a crown The crown, at one end of the body, is formed by generally symmetrical halves extending outwardly from and integrally formed with the flat body. A gripping and gripping member is disposed within a cavity in the elongated body and is attached to the body at each end and defines at least first and second teeth extending outwardly such that the gripping and gripping member is rotated. A piercing tip is formed on opposite ends of the elongated body for creating an opening through the workpiece and the metal substrate, the piercing tip being formed by a plurality of incrementally widening steps progressively from the tip toward the width of the body.

Description

Fastening piece

Technical field

The present invention relates to fastening piece, more particularly, relate to and a kind of laminar workpiece (laminar work piece) is attached to the fastening piece of metal-based layer, this fastening piece inserts through utilizing suitable power tool.

Background technique

The present invention is to United States Patent(USP) No. 6,659, the improvement of the fastening piece shown in 700, and disclosed fastening piece is illustrated among Fig. 1 as existing technology in this U. S. Patent.The demand of the fastening piece of constructing puncturing certainly is well-known; Fastening piece from the puncture structure (for example can penetrate so not closely knit laminar workpiece material; Gypsum board, cement products (cementatious product), laminated glass fiber etc.) and they are connected to the supporting walls by the metal metal-based layer framework of light rank (for example, wall bone).Such fastening piece comprises and keeping and clamping member that this maintenance and clamping member have elasticity and can in the metal piercing process, move along a plane or between the plane, turn back to its primitive form then, thereby produce combined type friction and mechanical caging.There have been many years in thin slice to the various designs of the wall clamp structure of metallic walls bone (laminar-to-metal-studs).United States Patent(USP) No. 6,659 has been described a kind of improved type in 700, and is as shown in Figure 1.It comprises a kind of like this fastening piece, and this fastening piece has: bend to 90 (90) degree or near 90 (90) degree head 10; Flat elongate body 12 comprises at least one thin Elastic Teeth fork 14, twists at angle in the hole 15 that this tooth fork 14 is arranged in the main body and with respect to the plane of fastener body; The tooth that is identically formed 16 of the little equidistance on the edge of tooth fork 14; And sword shape tip 18, these are all formed by a slice foil.After inserting, via the speed that power tool produces, fastener body and tooth fork are being followed most advanced and sophisticated through so not closely knit workpiece material, the hole through being opened in metal-based layer by this tip then.The toothed tooth fork that runs into the resistance of parent metal wall bone rotate to be near with the parallel plane planeness of main body.After passing through metal-based layer, toothed tooth fork rotates gets back to its roughly original form, thereby makes tooth generation mechanical caging below metal-based layer.

Fastening piece penetrates the ability of bottom metal wall bone and resistance that it withdraws from from the metallic walls bone and depends on to a great extent and form the used material of fastening piece.Therefore, adopt high-intensity foil for example spring steel metal etc. expect.In order to be easy to make, use soft malleable material to expect, such material is shaped, cuts by conventional molds easily and be folding.Yet such product lacks enough carbon, can not and quench tempering then and strengthens fully through heating.Utilization can not allow thin fastener body to have enough integrities less than any technology of high tenacity (spring steel) and resist bending.In addition, mainly be that the tooth fork of torsion spring needs to keep the flexible material of these parts, so must use spring steel.

Traditionally, for such fastening piece, head becomes some forms to form through making material from the top curved of fastener body.The invention of introducing the fastening piece of such head forms in punching operation through bending.Head can be T, L or U-shaped, but produces through bending process all.These forms produce sharp edges (being formed the crooked essence of head by flat metal) along at least two sides.These sharp edges pierce through the top layer of so not closely knit laminar workpiece, have got rid of this header type thereby accept standard from industry.Have been found that the fastener head that the thin slice of being come by bending forms, the thickness of fastener material is at the softest laminar workpiece for example in the gypsum board and unsuccessful.Head no matter be towards a direction or towards two opposite directions, all have along the sharp edges of whole three sides and pierces through the laminar workpiece ply of paper at gypsum board top, thereby causes the head of this form not accepted in industry.Even the fastener material of multilayer self bending is employed in the radius that their extended spot farthest forms, the edge of head also still comprises this sharp edges of 90 degree so that pierce through the top paper of gypsum board material.

Another problem of existing technology is that metal by a slice is the tip design of sword shape from the fastening piece that punctures.Have been found that the tip of existing sword form is departed from by attached material basic unit when from puncture tip penetrating metal basic unit, so that reach the degree that surpasses the plasticity (memory) of metal.Therefore, metal can not turn back to its primitive form, and the result is at the metallic walls bone be fastened between the workpiece material of wall bone and form the gap.This causes unacceptable lax secure engagement in the industry.Have been found that above-mentioned situation will take place when any type of tip in a continuous operation makes the slot that is penetrated broaden width to fastener body.

Another problem of existing technology is, processed and comprised that the fastening piece that punctures certainly of flexible distortion tooth fork is the attachment area between fastener body and the tooth fork by a slice metal.If tooth fork connect be big width and bending moment near attachment area, then should the zone possibly stand tearing of attachment area because of the power of the moment of torsion that in installation process, applies or rupture, thereby destroy the integrity that tooth is pitched.

Another problem of the invention of the fastening piece that punctures certainly with toothed tooth fork of existing technology is that sometimes, thin parent metal (thinner than 25gage) and softer metal (that is aluminium) can not provide and suitably launch required rigidity or the resistance of tooth fork.Therefore, toothed tooth fork perhaps cuts metal-based layer, perhaps isolates metal-based layer, thereby on the desired accurate point of each tooth, removes material from the opening or the slot that form, to realize mechanical caging.

Another problem of existing technology is; Process and comprise the fastening piece of puncture certainly of flexible distortion tooth fork by a slice metal; Wherein have many less equidistance and the tooth that is identically formed on the tooth fork edge; This tooth is unsuccessful allowing tooth to pitch aspect the correct work, and they can not locking correctly below the bottom of metal-based layer.In the fastening piece of existing technology, tooth is designed to for the thickness of the workpiece material that is fastened to the metallic walls bone, do not have difference.That is to say that the workpiece material of multiple different-thickness (within the specific limits) can use identical fastening piece attached, and no matter tooth along the location of tooth fork how.For many little teeth, think that when fastening piece stopped, two relative arbitrarily teeth were with " interlock ".Have been found that now this can not take place.This design of tooth prong through metal-based layer pierce through opening the time do not provide tooth fork to launch to return then (rotation) seamlessly transitting to almost original position.Originate in bottom tooth fork attachment or near the less tooth it and do not allow suitable expansion; And these stick identical tooth upwards as sawtooth at tooth; Laterally the incision metal-based layer pierces through in the slot; Rather than at expanded position through slot, thereby each tooth desired accurate from slot removal material so that mechanical caging to be provided.In addition, when fastening piece stopped in installation process, tooth maybe be in by the pierced holes that produces from puncture tip.Said tooth does not allow tooth fork to rotate the almost previous position of getting back to it, does not allow to be positioned at the mechanical caging state that tooth below the metallic walls bone is implemented in below, metallic walls bone bottom yet.In addition, these less teeth are not enough in the supporting that the downside that requires maximum to withdraw from the metal-based layer of resistance provides.

Another problem of existing technology is that by the fastening piece of puncture certainly that a slice metal forms, in the secondary fabrication processes of fastening piece, fastening piece can lump or become mutual coiling, thereby can not suitably heat-treat, electroplate and put in order fastening piece.The place of greatest problem is when most advanced and sophisticated self major part of fastening piece is inserted into the internal cavity around the tooth fork of another fastening piece.For the fastener body thickness of existing technology, tooth fork and hole are so little, do not have technology only to form anti-nested arrangement by the profile punching press that is present in the material in the hole that is stamped.

Disclose various forms of fastening pieces in the document of following existing technology, some of them comprise the metal piercing ability:

Patent No. inventor

1,338,988 Kinoshita

1,417,818 Frost

1,934,134 McChesney

2,110,959 Lombard

2,155,893 Fulton

2,168,854 Agnew

2,319,058 Hansman

2,353,579 Miller

2,382,474 Gambo

2,530,229 Clark

2,543,212 Waara

2,564,643 Hall

2,614,450 Oltz etc.

2,740,505 Flora

2,751,052 Flora

2,958,562 Jones

3,618,447 Gains

3,675,958 Duffy

3,800,653 Barth etc.

3,882,755 Enstrom

3,973,295 Janke

3,983,779 Dimas

5,152,582 Magnuson

5,597,280 Stern

5,846,019 Kuhns

FR1.202.255

192,492 Britain's provisional specifications, submit to March 11 nineteen twenty-one, and accept May 2 nineteen twenty-three.Like this; The metal fastenings of puncture certainly that needs a kind of solid memder to constitute in the industry by high duty metal, said fastening piece comprises the head of one, the top paper that this head does not have sharp edges and can not cut the gypsum board material; Said fastening piece has puncture tip; This puncture tip will little by little, incrementally form opening in metal-based layer, and can not make metal-based layer depart from the elastic range above it, and said fastening piece has clamping and the gripping member as annex that forms with this fastening piece; This fastening piece provides grasping and the bigger rotation of clamping member and can stress application cause adhering zone to tear or rupture; Fastening piece be included in grip with locking component on isolated tooth, this will allow the workpiece material of different size to be attached to metal-based layer, and allow in fastening piece, to form anti-nested arrangement.

Summary of the invention

The fastening piece of single type is processed by high tensile steel, is used for workpiece is fixed to metal-based layer, and it comprises elongated roughly flat main body, first and second and first and second side margin that this main body has first and second ends, arranges on the contrary.Guan Ding is formed by roughly half one of symmetry of stretching from first and second facing epitaxies of main body; Puncture tip is formed on second end of main body; Be used for incrementally producing opening at metal-based layer, at least one grasping and clamping member are positioned on the main body, are used for workpiece and metal-based layer are locked together.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of the fastening piece of existing technology;

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of fastening piece of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the front elevation according to the fastening piece of major component structure of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the side view of fastening piece shown in Figure 2;

Fig. 5 illustrates the fastening piece of Fig. 2 and the front elevation of intermediate section structure;

Fig. 6 is the side view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 illustrates the progressive stamping part that is used to form fastening piece of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is the partial view of fastening piece of the present invention, and it illustrates in greater detail puncture tip;

Fig. 9 is the partial view of fastening piece of the present invention, specifically shows the mode of clamping and gripping member formation with reference to the grasping tooth on it;

Figure 10 illustrates the fastening piece of the present invention that the workpiece of first size is attached to the metallic walls bone;

Figure 11 illustrates workpiece is attached to metal-based layer, and wherein workpiece has littler size;

Figure 12 illustrates anti-nested member and is formed on the fastening piece of the present invention; And

Figure 13 illustrates the selected embodiment of fastening piece of the present invention, and it comprises clamping and gripping member, and this clamping and gripping member extend on the whole length that is arranged for the hole that receives this clamping and gripping member basically.

Embodiment

With reference to accompanying drawing, more specifically,, fastening piece 20 of the present invention is shown with perspective view with reference to accompanying drawing 2.Fastening piece 20 comprises flat elongate body 22, and main body 22 has first end 24 and second end 26.Main body 22 comprises first planar surface or face 28 and second planar surface or the face 30 that are positioned at the opposition side of flat elongate body 22.Main body also comprises first side edge 32 and second side edge 34.What first end 24 of contiguous main body was arranged is hat top 37, and hat top 37 is by forming from roughly symmetrical the first half ones 36 that first planar surface 28 and second planar surface 30 extend radially outwardly and the second half ones 38 respectively.Second end 26 in main body 22 is formed with puncture tip 40, and, existing to clamp and gripping member (clamping and gripping member) 42, clamping and gripping member 42 are connected to flat main body 22 in each end of clamping and gripping member 42.Grasping and clamping member 42 comprise first tooth 44, are reduced at the less root width shown in 46 from the initial root width shown in " W " through the width that makes grasping and clamping member and form this first tooth 44.From first tooth 44 towards Guan Ding to top offset is second tooth, 48, the second teeth 48 from the second root width 46 upwards and stretch out.

Tooth

44 and 48 is used for the piece-holder of different in width is arrived metal-based layer.Other details of each parts of the fastening piece 20 shown in Fig. 2 and is carried out more detailed description below shown in remaining figure.

Fig. 3 is the front elevation of fastening piece shown in Figure 2, and Fig. 4 is its side view.Shown in Fig. 3 and 4, the symmetric halves 36 of Guan Ding with 38 through being arranged in flat elongate body 22 first and

second side margin

32 and 34 places first be with 50 and second to be with 52 to be connected mutually.With 50 and 52 crooked about 180 degree of intermediate portion at them, as especially shown in Fig. 4, thereby make two symmetric halves of Guan Ding aligning that becomes, make them extend radially outwardly from the first and second flat faces 28 and 30.As at the perspective view of Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 4, illustrate especially; First and second symmetric halves 36 of Guan Ding and 38 outer periphery are bowed shape; As shown in 54, thereby eliminated any sharp edges in the surface that to thrust the wallboard that is secured to the metallic walls bone as stated.

Like what in Fig. 3, illustrate in further detail, grasping and clamping member 42 are arranged in the hole 54, and hole 54 is formed on the substantial middle of flat main body 22.Grasping and clamping member and main body 22 are integrally formed, and are connected to main body 22 in its lower end 56: contiguous second end 26 but from puncture tip 40 displacements.Second end 24 that is connected contiguous main body 22 of the upper end 58 of grasping and clamping member but be spaced from.Grasping and clamping member 42 also limit hole 60, and hole 60 extends upward towards the point that is close to first tooth 44 from the position of the connection of contiguous its lower end 56 basically.Like Fig. 2, shown in 3 and 4, grasping and clamping member 42 be twisted or rotation so that

tooth

44 and 48 stretches out from first and second 28 and 30 of main body 22.Fastening piece of the present invention is formed by high-strength material, is preferably formed by spring steel, and is thin; That is, form, make when it is inserted through metal-based layer with the mode thinner than the thickness of main body 22; Move the flat position that it will be tending towards in the hole of main body 22; But when it pauses, it will turn back to Fig. 2, the position shown in 3 and 4, thereby workpiece clamp is tightened to the metallic walls bone.Through in grasping and clamping member 42, hole 60 being set, making the distortion of grasping and clamping member and untie to become easily, and eliminated any possibility that grasping and clamping member fracture at

tie point

56 and 58 places with main body.

Now more particularly with reference to Fig. 5,6 and 7; The scheme that solves above-mentioned head design problem is half one 36 and 38 that the top drawing forming from the material that forms fastener body goes out two symmetries of head; One of them half one is another almost mirror image and the top that is arranged in second half head, and is as shown in Figure 6.If allow to keep whole head top surface, then when crooked when locating head half top surface will rupture, and two head, half one will split.The reason that bending area can rupture is, work-hardening has taken place in the deep-drawn manufacturing process.Solution is the relief of 62 forms of the hole in the join domain of center as shown in Figure 5.But; Final head exterior lateral area does not have work-hardening; So; Be arranged on the side around the head this hole of leap and BENDING PROCESS with crooked after two connecting bands or

belt

50 and 52 that two head, half one is kept together kept their integrity, and can not rupture or split.Deep-drawn technology is in gradual stamping process (progressive-stamping process), to form each head half one with a plurality of steps, all makes material more near final form, like 64 among Fig. 7,66,68, shown in 70 and 72 each time.Each head half one is formed with level and smooth outer arc edge 54.When head half bending at top when cooperating with second half one, between two and half ones, need attachment point.After the bending of top header half, the lug 74 that is attached to its bottom is press fit in the matching hole 76 in the fastener body, thereby fastener head half one is fixed together.In addition, the material of other lug form every side extension of half one from the head.This extra lug can be used for the head of curved cooperation of coming is further anchored to main body,, passes through the matching hole in the main body through the major part compression (perhaps " the stake formula engages ") that makes lug that is.After two and half ones of head were fixed together, two connecting bands can remain on their bending position (extending in above-head), and were as shown in Figure 3, perhaps can in another step, fracture also swaged forging together, and this moment is concordant with the head top.

Now more specifically with reference to Fig. 8, the solution of the problem that most advanced and sophisticated metal-based layer of above-mentioned fastening piece or wall bone depart from is most advanced and sophisticated 78 through introducing, and this tip 78 penetrates at the tip and reduces departing from of wall bone in the process, thereby allows it to turn back to its original form.Such fastening piece tip is " step " tip, because its form is to have a plurality of steps that make progress.The tip originates in the narrow angled puncture tip 80 with

straight flange

82 and 84, and step-like ground is outwards to the most advanced and

sophisticated plane

86 and 88 that broadens gradually.Each step has from a last step to next

angled transition part

90,92 of pace more.Transition part can tilt, as 94, shown in 96, to carry out sharp cutting, can not be so also.But after the transition between step, the side of each step is parallel to the

side

32,34 of fastening piece.Perhaps, the side margin of each step in the puncture tip 78 can slope inwardly towards the longitudinal axis 98 of main body, as 100, shown in 102, and turns back to its original position between the step that allows metal-based layer to penetrate at the tip.The purpose of these steps is to allow the metal piercing that increases progressively.The metal initial tip that has angle and narrow guidance tip to introduce via minimum width penetrates.Then, the side that is parallel to main body or intilted tip and then passes the hole that is produced by initial breakthrough, and can not cause any further deflection of metal.During " pause " of this millisecond, two things take place: metal-based layer does not also have deflection to surpass its plasticity point, and metal-based layer further penetrates the home position that turns back to it before if having time at the tip.After this penetrated, the hole passed through to the transition region of next step and little by little widens.In metal-based layer, penetrate formation with subsequently hole and be gradually and increase progressively, thereby avoid the excess divergence of metal-based layer.The permission material turns back to its primitive form, and its integrity is kept in the fastening between workpiece and the metal-based layer.

Now more specifically with reference to Fig. 9, show and clamp and solution that gripping member is torn or ruptured to the attachment point place of main body at it.This realizes that through forming hole 60 this hole 60 is positioned at attachment area 106 also a little above it, upwards towards Guan Ding.This internal cavity 60 produces bifurcated at attached position, thereby produces two legs 108,110.When clamping and gripping member rotation in installation process, these legs 108,110 are used as independently torsion bar, and they are twisted into different radians on different plane.This has reduced the stress on the attachment area 106 and has eliminated the problem of main body 104 attached inefficacies.

Now more specifically with reference to Figure 12; Through only two or three teeth are being provided apart from fastener head predeterminable range place; Successfully solved the problem that adopts many little equally spaced grasping teeth that are identically formed to cause, said distance is the clamping that reduces and the gripping member root of level and smooth (not having tooth) between the tooth.Compared with prior art separately the tooth of bigger distance can form widelyer, higher, thereby increase their shear strength, at the metal-based layer downside that pierces through bigger bearing surface is provided simultaneously, thereby obtains the bigger resistance that withdraws from.Tooth is difform, and bottom tooth 44 (thicker workpiece) is relative with top tooth 48 (thin workpiece).Bottom tooth 44 is formed by the Extreme breadth of clamping and gripping member main body 104 root areas, passes through the vertical plane perpendicular to the side cutting main body 104 of main body 104 then, thereby reduces the root width of main body 104.The extreme lateral transcondylar 106,108 that forms the relative bump subsequently of tooth is a little outwards given prominence to from the root width of main body 104, and makes progress, thereby at the top of the tooth that is basically perpendicular to main body 104 sides small arc (cup-shaped) is provided, and crooked terminal point.This helps to make the power that withdraws to point to the end of tooth.Top tooth 48 connects in the root that reduces 110 its bottom section body of beginning 104; Said root 110 outwards advances to longitudinal end (radius end) 112,114 shrilly; Said longitudinal end 112,114 almost inwardly overturns perpendicular to fastener body 22 sides, is connected with main body 104 roots up to it.This structure of tooth 48 also is that the top that is basically perpendicular to the tooth of main body 104 sides provides small arc (cup-shaped) shape, and crooked terminal point.First tooth 44 that gets into the pierced holes in the metal-based layer is preset, shown in figure 10 for thicker workpiece (just 5/8 " or 3/4 ").Because process by maximum main body 104 roots, so it follows clamping easily and gripping member gets in the metal aperture that pierces through, thus the expansion (rotation) of beginning grasping and clamping member.If when this tooth during below, the bottom through metal-based layer fastening piece to finish to install; Then be positioned at the main body that reduces 104 roots directly over this bottom tooth 44; And the hole of any tooth, allow main body 104 successfully to return (rotation) and get back to almost its original position.If second tooth 48 on top is by the preset thin workpiece (just 1/4 " or 3/8 ") that is used for; Shown in figure 11, so, first tooth 44 of bottom is through the pierced holes in the metal-based layer; Be main body 104 roots that reduce then, the acute angle of second tooth, 48 bottoms promotes the rotation of this second tooth then.The longitudinal end of this second tooth helps " discovery " and the pierced holes through metal-based layer.The top of this tooth 48 (perpendicular to body rim) also has small arc (cup-shaped) shape.This helps to make the power that withdraws to point to the end of this tooth 48.The tooth of this second type can be turned back above second tooth with level and smooth main body 104 roots that reduce, if expect fastening even thinner workpiece.But the principle of grasp is: the distance of extruding metal 116,118 that the level and smooth distance that reduces main body 104 roots between the tooth must be minimum forms in the process for penetrating at the tip shown in the distance of metal thickness and Figure 10 and 11.

Through in hole 54, forming anti-nested lug (anti-nesting tab) 120,122,124 and 126 (Figure 12), found solution to the nested problem of fastening piece.Because traditional tool processes that gradual punching press is adopted requires minimum thickness, in stamping process, keeping its integrity, so it is current and infeasible to stamp out the profile of form of the anti-nested lug in the zone that extends to hole 54.Therefore, lug must form via making the material of main part attenuation and being expressed in the zone, hole.Material through attenuation and extruding can not be from clamping and the gripping member acquisition, because this member has been thinned to the degree that further material can not be provided.In addition, will hinder its performance along any protuberance of main body 104.These anti-nested lugs be arranged to so near with successfully prevent common manufacture process (for example, heat treatment, tempering or make fastening piece form continuous volume with the magazine that is inserted into power tool in) in fastener head or tip be inserted in another.

In order to maximize the use of fastening piece of the present invention in the metal of thinner than 25 gage and softer (for example aluminium) than steel, the toothed clamping and the gripping member of the above-mentioned type shown in Figure 13, it has the hole of the major part distance of the main body of extending upward 104 length.The design of this main body 104 comprises the hole, center 128 that forms two legs.When main body 104 was rotated in installation process, these legs had bigger " moment ", were used as independently torsion bar, and the different radian of distortion provides bigger elasticity on different plane, thereby correctly in thinner and softer material, rotates.

Like this, disclose a kind of single type fastening piece of being processed by high tensile steel that is used for workpiece is fixed to metal-based layer, it has overcome the problem of carrying out the existing technology fastening piece of similar functions.

Claims

1. A one-piece fastener made of high strength steel for securing a workpiece to a metal substrate, said fastener comprising:

a) an elongated generally flat body having first and second ends, oppositely disposed first and second faces, and first and second side edges;

b) a crown formed from substantially symmetrical first and second halves adjacent said first end of a flat body extending from said first and second sides of said flat body, respectively. a second face extending outwardly, said first and second halves being integrally formed with said flat body;

c) a piercing tip formed at said second end of said elongated body for creating an opening through the workpiece and metal substrate; and

d) at least one gripping and clamping member located on said elongated body between said crown and said piercing tip for locking the workpiece and metal substrate together, and

wherein said flat body defines a first aperture through the body extending along its length from adjacent said crown to adjacent said piercing tip, said grasping and clamping member Disposed within the first cavity and attached to the body at each end of the first cavity, the gripping and gripping member defines a grip and gripping member extending longitudinally at its center. the second hole.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the flat body defines a hole therethrough, and one of the first and second halves includes a tab, the tab is inserted into the hole to secure the one of the first and second halves to the body.

3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein said first and second halves are interconnected by first and second straps respectively disposed on said first and second side edges, said straps A bend of 180° is defined in their middle portion.

4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the first and second halves form a radially outwardly extending crown of generally circular shape having a smooth arcuate perimeter.

5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the piercing tip comprises a plurality of incrementally widened steps, wherein the starting step has a width that is narrower than the width of the body and is substantially parallel to On the sides of the first and second side edges, the width of the second step is larger than the initial step but smaller than the width of the main body, and the second step has a width substantially parallel to the first and second The side of the side edge.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , comprising: between said second step and said side of said starting step and between said side of said second step and An angled transition between the side edges of the body.

7. The fastener of claim 6, wherein said angled transition between each of said steps is sloped.

8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein said gripping and gripping member includes first and second spaced apart teeth extending outwardly, said teeth being located at a distance from said crown by said The thickness of the workpiece and the base layer is determined, the width of the first tooth is equal to the width of the gripping and clamping member, and the first tooth is formed by reducing the width of the gripping and clamping member, The second aperture begins at a location adjacent the point of attachment to the body at the piercing tip and extends toward the crown and terminates at the first tooth.

9. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the second aperture extends substantially the entire length of the gripping and clamping member.

10. The fastener of claim 5, wherein the side of the initial step or the side of the second step, or the side of the initial step and the side of the second step The sides are angled inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the flat body of the fastener.

11. The fastener of claim 1, further comprising at least first and second anti-nesting tabs extending into said first cavity.

12. The fastener of claim 11, wherein the nesting tab is formed from the material of the flat body of the fastener.

13. The fastener of claim 8, wherein said second teeth extend outwardly from said reduced width of said grasping and clamping member and are positioned further than said first teeth. close to the crown.

14. The fastener of claim 9, wherein each of said teeth has an outwardly and upwardly extending arm defining an arcuate upper surface and a curved terminus.

15. A one-piece fastener made of high strength spring steel for securing a workpiece to a metal substrate, said fastener comprising:

(a) an elongated generally flat body having first and second ends, oppositely disposed first and second faces, and first and second side edges; said body defining a a majority of longitudinally extending first apertures;

(b) a crown formed of substantially symmetrical first and second halves respectively extending from said first end of said flat body adjacent said first end of said flat body; and a second surface extending outwardly, said first and second halves being integrally formed with said flat body;

(c) a piercing tip having a plurality of incrementally wider steps, wherein an initial step has a width that is narrow compared to the width of said body and sides substantially parallel to said first and second side edges, a second step having a width greater than the initial step but less than the width of the body, the second step having sides substantially parallel to the first and second side edges; and

(d) gripping and clamping members disposed within said first cavity and attached to said body at each end of said first cavity, said grasping and clamping members defining longitudinally at their center A second aperture extends through the gripping and clamping member.

16. The fastener of claim 15, wherein said gripping and gripping member includes first and second spaced apart teeth extending outwardly, said teeth being located at a distance from said crown by said The thickness of the workpiece and the base layer is determined, the width of the first tooth is equal to the width of the gripping and clamping member, and the first tooth is formed by reducing the width of the gripping and clamping member, The second aperture begins at a location adjacent the point of attachment to the body at the piercing tip and extends toward the crown and terminates at the first tooth.

17. The fastener of claim 16, wherein said first and second halves of said crown form a radially outwardly extending crown having a substantially circular shape. a smooth arcuate perimeter and first and second bands formed on the first and second side edges of the body, respectively, the bands bordering an opening formed in the body, and the bands are Their middle parts form a 180° bend.