US 11,931,945 B2
Extruded sealed fastener
Paul Kenneth Dellock, Northville, MI (US); Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); and David Brian Glickman, Southfield, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/074,856.
Prior Publication US 2022/0118668 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 48/12 (2019.01); B29C 44/32 (2006.01); B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/155 (2019.01); B29C 48/16 (2019.01); B29C 48/88 (2019.01); B29C 48/885 (2019.01); F16B 2/22 (2006.01); F16B 21/08 (2006.01); B29K 21/00 (2006.01); B29K 75/00 (2006.01); B29K 77/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 48/12 (2019.02) [B29C 44/332 (2016.11); B29C 48/0012 (2019.02); B29C 48/0022 (2019.02); B29C 48/155 (2019.02); B29C 48/16 (2019.02); B29C 48/885 (2019.02); B29C 48/911 (2019.02); F16B 2/22 (2013.01); F16B 21/086 (2013.01); B29K 2021/003 (2013.01); B29K 2075/00 (2013.01); B29K 2077/00 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7282 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a plurality of fasteners, the method comprising:
extruding a continuous strip of material, the continuous strip of material defining a base portion, a tip portion, and a stem portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion;
removing a portion of material from the continuous strip of material along the tip portion such that a plurality of tip portions are separated from each other and spaced apart, each tip portion having at least one flexible tab; and
extruding the continuous strip of material through a foaming die, wherein the flexible tabs are elastically displaced away from the base portion during a foaming process such that a foam material fills a cavity within the foaming die and forms a sealing element around the stem portion.