U.S. patent application number 10/234692 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-04 for self-attaching female fastener element, sealed fastener and panel assembly and method of forming same.
Invention is credited to Parker, John M., Wojciechowski, Stanley E..
Application Number | 20040042871 10/234692 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31977449 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040042871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wojciechowski, Stanley E. ;
et al. |
March 4, 2004 |
Self-attaching female fastener element, sealed fastener and panel
assembly and method of forming same
Abstract
A self-attaching female fastener such as a pierce nut having an
annular pilot, an annular flange surrounding the pilot and an
annular groove in the flange bearing surface surrounding the pilot,
wherein the bottom wall of the groove includes wedge-shaped
recesses dividing the groove bottom wall into segments having
parallel sides defined by the adjacent wedge-shaped recesses and
the inclined outer wall of the pilot is deformed radially during
installation to entrap and compact panel metal in the groove
forming a sealed secure installation having improved push-off and
anti-rotation strength.
Inventors: |
Wojciechowski, Stanley E.;
(Canton, MI) ; Parker, John M.; (Ann Arbor,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS, P.C.
THE PINEHURST OFFICE CENTER, SUITE #101
39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-5151
US
|
Family ID: |
31977449 |
Appl. No.: |
10/234692 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/181 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 37/068 20130101;
F16B 37/065 20130101; F16B 33/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/181 |
International
Class: |
F16B 037/04 |
Claims
1. A self-attaching female fastener element, comprising: an annular
pilot portion having a bore extending through an annular end face
of said pilot portion; an annular flange portion surrounding said
pilot portion having a generally planar annular bearing face
generally parallel to the plane of said end face of said pilot
portion; an annular groove in said bearing face of said flange
portion surrounding said pilot portion including an annular groove
bottom wall, a groove inner side wall adjacent said pilot portion
and an outer groove wall inclined from said annular groove bottom
wall toward said pilot portion defining a restricted opening in
said annular groove adjacent said annular bearing face of said
flange portion; and said annular groove bottom wall including a
plurality of circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped recesses
extending generally radially from said inner groove wall to said
outer groove wall, each recess having a generally planar recess
bottom wall spaced below the plane of said annular groove bottom
wall and opposed linear recess side walls extending generally
perpendicular to said annular groove bottom wall, and said recess
side walls diverging outwardly from said inner groove side wall to
said outer groove side wall, whereby said wedge-shaped recesses are
narrower adjacent said pilot portion then adjacent said annular
flange portion.
2. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
1, wherein said annular groove bottom wall between adjacent
wedge-shaped recesses is defined by parallel recess side walls of
adjacent wedge-shaped recesses.
3. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
1, wherein said recess side walls are defined by parallel lines
tangent to a circle generated from said bore, wherein said recesses
are wedge-shaped and said groove bottom wall between adjacent
wedge-shaped recesses is defined by said parallel lines.
4. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
1, wherein said inner groove side wall is inclined outwardly from
adjacent said groove bottom wall toward said inner groove wall.
5. A self-attaching female fastener element, comprising: an annular
pilot portion having a bore extending through a planar annular end
face of said pilot portion; an annular flange portion surrounding
said pilot portion having a generally planar annular bearing face
generally parallel to the plane of said planar annular end face of
said pilot portion; an annular groove in said annular bearing face
of said flange portion surrounding said pilot portion including an
annular groove bottom wall, an inner groove side wall adjacent said
pilot portion inclined outwardly from adjacent said groove bottom
wall and an outer groove wall inclined from said annular groove
bottom wall toward said pilot portion, wherein said inner and outer
groove side walls define a restricted opening of said annular
groove adjacent said annular bearing face; and said annular groove
bottom wall including a plurality of circumferentially spaced
generally radial wedge-shaped recesses each having a recess bottom
wall spaced below the plane of said annular groove bottom wall and
linear recess side walls, wherein said recess side walls are
defined by parallel lines tangent to a circle generated from a
central axis of said bore, whereby said recess side walls on
opposed sides of said recess diverge outwardly from adjacent said
pilot portion to adjacent said flange portion and said recess side
walls on opposed sides of said groove bottom wall between adjacent
recesses are parallel.
6. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
5, wherein said recess side walls are generally perpendicular to
said groove bottom wall.
7. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
5, wherein said recess bottom walls are planar.
8. The self-attaching female fastener element as defined in claim
5, wherein said recesses extend from said inner groove side wall to
said outer groove side wall.
9. A method of attaching a self-attaching female fastener element
to a metal panel, said self-piercing female fastener element
including an annular pilot portion having a planar end face and a
bore extending through said pilot portion through said planar end
face, an annular flange portion surrounding said pilot portion
having a generally planar annular bearing face generally parallel
to the plane of said end face of said pilot portion, and an annular
groove in said annular bearing face of said flange portion
surrounding said pilot portion having an annular groove bottom
wall, an inclined groove side wall adjacent said pilot portion
inclined outwardly from adjacent said groove bottom wall and an
inclined outer groove wall inclined from said annular groove bottom
wall toward said pilot portion defining a restrictive opening of
said annular groove adjacent said bearing face of said flange
portion, and said annular groove bottom wall including a plurality
of circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped recesses each including a
recess bottom wall spaced below the plane of said annular groove
bottom wall and opposed recess side walls extending generally
perpendicular to said annular groove bottom wall, wherein said
recess side walls diverge outwardly such that said wedge-shaped
recesses are narrower adjacent said pilot portion then adjacent
said annular flange portion, said method comprising the following
steps: driving said end face of said pilot portion against a metal
panel, piercing an opening through said metal panel and receiving
said pilot portion through said opening in said panel; driving an
annular portion of said panel surrounding said opening against said
annular groove bottom wall and against said recess bottom walls;
deforming said panel portion radially beneath said inclined inner
and outer side walls and substantially filling said wedge-shaped
recesses; and deforming an outer portion of said end face of said
pilot portion radially outwardly and axially against said panel
portion sealing said self-attaching female fastener element on said
panel.
10. The method of attaching a female fastener element to a metal
panel as defined in claim 9, wherein said recess side walls extend
generally perpendicular to said annular bearing face of said flange
portion, said method including deforming said panel portion against
said recess side walls.
11. A self-attaching female fastener element and panel assembly,
comprising: said female fastener element including an annular pilot
portion having a bore extending through an annular end face of said
pilot portion, an annular flange portion surrounding said pilot
portion having a generally planar annular bearing face generally
parallel to the plane of said end face of said pilot portion, and
an annular groove in said annular bearing face of said flange
portion surrounding said pilot portion including a groove bottom
wall, an inclined inner groove side wall adjacent said pilot
portion inclined outwardly from said groove bottom wall and an
inclined outer groove side wall inclined from adjacent said annular
groove bottom wall toward said pilot portion defining a restricted
opening of said annular groove adjacent said bearing face of said
flange portion and said annular groove bottom wall including a
plurality of circumferentially spaced generally radial wedge-shaped
recesses each having a recess bottom wall spaced below the plane of
said annular groove bottom wall and opposed linear recess side
walls extending generally perpendicular to said annular groove
bottom wall, wherein said recess side walls diverge outwardly from
adjacent said inner groove side wall to said outer groove side
wall; a metal panel having a first portion supported on said
bearing face of said flange portion and a second portion deformed
into said annular groove and said wedge-shaped recesses against
said groove bottom wall, said recess bottom wall, said recess side
walls and beneath said inclined inner and outer groove walls; and
an annular outer portion of said pilot portion deformed radially
outwardly and against said second portion of said panel sealing
said self-attaching female fastener element on said panel.
12. The self-attaching female fastener element and metal panel
assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said annular groove bottom
wall between adjacent wedge-shaped recesses is defined by parallel
said recess side wall of adjacent wedge-shaped recesses.
13. The self-attaching female fastener element and metal panel
assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said recess side walls are
defined by parallel lines tangent to a circle generated from a
central axis of said bore, whereby said recesses are wedge-shaped
and said groove bottom wall between adjacent wedge-shaped recesses
is generally rectangular.
14. The self-attaching female fastener element and metal panel
assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said recess bottom walls
are planer and parallel to said groove bottom wall.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to self-attaching female
fastener elements, particularly including pierce nuts, sealed
fastener and panel assemblies and methods of forming a sealed
female fastener and panel assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are various types of self-attaching female fastener
elements, including pierce nuts, which may be formed by cold
heading. However, such female fastener elements generally do not
form a sealed joint with a metal panel, particularly thin metal
panels such as now used by the automotive and appliance industries.
Further, pierce nuts formed by cold heading generally do not have
sufficient torque resistance for many applications, such as oil pan
nuts.
[0003] The prior art includes self-attaching female fasteners
formed by cold heading including a central annular pilot portion
having a bore extending through an annular end face of the pilot
portion, an annular flange portion surrounding the pilot portion
having a generally planar annular bearing face and an annular
groove in the annular bearing face of the flange portion
surrounding the pilot portion. During installation of the fastener
to a panel, the pilot portion is received through an opening in the
panel and a portion of the panel surrounding the opening is
deformed into the annular groove. Where the self-attaching female
fastener element is a pierce nut, the pilot portion projects above
the bearing face of the flange portion and the end face of the
pilot portion pierces an opening in the panel. The prior art also
includes various anti-rotation means including recesses and
protrusions in the bottom or side walls of the groove. However,
such anti-rotation means are generally not suitable for thin metal
panels and the pierce nuts generally do not form a sealed
joint.
[0004] There is, therefore, a long felt need for a self-attaching
female fastener element, particularly a pierce nut, which may be
formed by cold header techniques having sufficient torque
resistance particularly with thin metal panels and which forms a
sealed joint with the panel for applications requiring a sealed
joint including, for example, oil pan nuts and the like. The
self-attaching female fastener element, female fastener element and
panel assembly and method of forming a sealed joint of this
invention achieves these objects in a female fastener element which
may be formed by conventional cold header techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As set forth above, the self-attaching female fastener
element of this invention may be utilized as a self-piercing female
fastener to form a sealed joint between the female fastener and a
metal panel for applications requiring a sealed joint including,
for example, an oil pan nut or bung for a container of liquid. The
self-attaching female fastener element of this invention may also
be formed by cold header techniques, but provides improved
retention of the female fastener element in a panel and sufficient
torque resistance in a panel, particularly including relatively
thin metal panels such as used by the automotive and appliance
industries. The general configuration of the self-attaching female
fastener of this invention includes an annular central pilot
portion having a bore extending through an annular end face of the
pilot portion, an annular flange portion surrounding the pilot
portion having a generally planar annular bearing face which is
preferably parallel to, but spaced below the plane of the end face
of the pilot portion. Where the self-attaching female fastener
element of this invention is used as a pierce nut, the end face of
the pilot portion is also planar. The self-attaching female
fastener element also includes an annular groove in the bearing
face of the flange portion surrounding the pilot portion including
an annular groove bottom wall, a groove inner side wall adjacent
the pilot portion and an outer groove wall inclined from the
annular groove bottom wall toward the pilot portion defining a
restricted opening to the annular groove adjacent the bearing face
of the flange portion. In a preferred embodiment, the groove inner
side wall is also inclined from the groove bottom wall toward the
flange portion providing improved push-off strength for the
fastener and panel assembly.
[0006] The bottom wall of the annular groove of the self-attaching
female fastener element of this invention includes a plurality of
circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped recesses extending generally
radially, preferably from the inner groove wall to the outer groove
wall, each having a bottom wall spaced below the plane of the
annular groove bottom wall and opposed linear side walls,
preferably extending generally perpendicular to the annular groove
bottom wall, wherein the recess side walls diverge outwardly from
the inner groove side wall to the outer groove side wall forming
the wedge-shaped recesses, wherein the recesses are narrower
adjacent the pilot portion than adjacent the annular flange
portion. Where the circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped recesses
extend from the inner side wall to the outer side wall of the
groove, the bottom wall is thus segmented by the wedge-shaped
recesses. In a preferred embodiment, the recess side walls are
defined by parallel lines tangent to a circle generated from the
nut bore, wherein the segmented groove bottom wall is defined by
parallel recess side walls of adjacent recesses and the recesses
are wedge-shaped. In the disclosed embodiment, the bottom wall of
the recesses is planar and spaced below the planar surface or
surfaces of the bottom wall of the groove which is also planar.
[0007] The method of attaching a female fastener element to a panel
of this invention, wherein the female fastener element is utilized
as a self-piercing female fastener or pierce nut, includes driving
the planar end face of the pilot portion against a metal panel,
thereby piercing an opening through the metal panel and receiving
the pilot portion through the panel opening, then driving an
annular portion of the panel surrounding the opening against the
annular groove bottom wall and against the recess bottom walls,
deforming the panel portion radially beneath the inclined inner and
outer side walls of the annular groove and against the recess
bottom walls, wherein the panel portion is received beneath the
inclined inner and outer groove side walls and against the recess
side walls forming a secure installation. In a preferred method of
attaching a self-piercing female fastener element to a panel,
wherein the joint formed between the female fastener element and
the panel is sealed, the method further includes deforming an outer
portion of the end face of the pilot portion radially outwardly and
axially against the annular panel portion received in the annular
groove, sealing the assembly. In the disclosed embodiment, the
female fastener element is attached to a panel with a die member or
die button having an annular lip and a cylindrical opening which
receives the slug pierced from the panel. In the disclosed method
of assembly, the cylindrical opening through the die button has an
internal diameter less than the external diameter of the pilot
portion, such that an annular external portion of the pilot portion
is deformed radially and axially forming an annular bead which is
deformed against the panel portion in the annular groove,
entrapping and compacting the annular portion of the panel in the
groove, thereby sealing the assembly and providing improved torque
resistance and push-off strength.
[0008] Other advantages and meritorious features of the
self-attaching female fastener element, sealed fastener and panel
assembly and method of this invention will be more fully understood
from the description of the preferred embodiments, the appended
claims and the drawings, a brief description of which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the
self-attaching female fastener element of this invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the self-attaching female fastener
element shown in FIG. 1 with an overlay of the geometry of the
bottom wall of the groove;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of FIG. 1 in the direction of view
arrows 3-3;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the self-attaching
female fastener element shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of the
self-attaching fastener of this invention during installation in a
panel illustrating the method of attaching a self-attaching
piercing nut of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] As set forth above, the self-attaching female fastener
element of this invention may be utilized as a self-piercing female
fastener or pierce nut wherein the female fastener element pierces
an opening in a metal panel and is attached in one stroke of a die
press. Alternatively, the self-attaching female fastener may be
utilized as a clinch nut, wherein the clinch nut is installed in a
prepierced panel opening. The preferred embodiments of the
self-attaching female fastener element of this invention may also
be formed by conventional cold heading techniques, but provides
superior joint integrity, particularly in thin metal applications
and may be used to provide a sealed nut and panel assembly by the
method of this invention illustrated in FIG. 5 discussed below.
[0015] The embodiment of the self-attaching female fastener element
20 illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, includes a generally
cylindrical body 22 having spaced flats 24 and a tubular barrel
portion 26 best illustrated in FIG. 4. The self-attaching female
fastener element further includes a central annular pilot portion
28 having an annular end face 30 and a cylindrical bore 32 which is
preferably threaded, as shown. Alternatively, the bore may be
unthreaded for receipt of a thread forming or thread rolling male
fastener or plug as described below in regard to applications of
the self-attaching female fastener of this invention. The female
fastener element 20 further includes an annular flange portion 34
surrounding the pilot portion 28 having a planar annular bearing
face 36. Where the self-attaching female fastener element 20 of
this invention is utilized as a pierce nut, the annular end face 30
of the pilot portion is preferably planar and the annular bearing
face 36 and may be spaced below the plane of the end face 30 as
best shown in FIG. 3 or the planar surfaces may be coplanar. An
annular groove 38 is defined in the bearing face 36 of the flange
portion 34 which includes an inner groove side wall 40 adjacent the
pilot portion 28, which may also form an outer wall of the pilot
portion, an outer groove side wall 42 and a bottom groove wall 44.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer groove side
wall 42 is inclined inwardly from the bottom wall 44 toward the
pilot portion 28 as best shown in FIG. 3 and the inner groove side
wall 40 is inclined outwardly from the bottom groove wall 44 toward
the flange portion as also shown in FIG. 3. Although in a preferred
embodiment, both the inner and outer groove side walls are inclined
as shown in FIG. 3 to improve retention of the female fastener
element 20 on a panel, the inner groove side wall 40 may also be
cylindrical. The inclined inner and outer side walls 40 and 42 form
a restricted opening of the annular groove 38, sometimes referred
to as a "re-entrant groove" by those skilled in this art.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the self-attaching female
fastener element 20 of this invention, the bottom groove wall 44
includes a plurality of wedge-shaped circumferentially spaced
recesses 46 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The wedge-shaped recesses 46
each include a recess bottom wall 48 and opposed recess side walls
50. The recess side walls 50 diverge outwardly, such that the
wedge-shaped recesses 46 are narrower adjacent the pilot portion 28
than adjacent the flange portion 34. In a preferred embodiment, the
bottom wall 48 of the wedge-shaped recesses 46 are planar and
spaced below the plane of the bottom groove wall 44. Where the
recesses 46 extend from the inner groove side wall 40 to the outer
groove side wall 42, as shown, the circumferentially spaced
wedge-shaped recesses 46 thus interrupt the bottom groove wall 44
forming circumferentially spaced segments. An alternative
explanation is that the groove includes a plurality of spaced
bottom groove walls 48 between adjacent wedge-shaped
circumferentially spaced recesses 46.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom groove wall segments
44 between adjacent wedge-shaped recesses 46 are generally
rectangular except for the arcuate inner and outer portions which
join the inner groove side wall 40 and the outer groove side wall
42. The geometry of the generally rectangular bottom groove wall
segments 44 and the wedge-shaped recesses 46 is explained in FIG.
2. As shown in FIG. 2, the segments of the bottom groove wall 44
between the wedge-shaped recesses 46 are defined by parallel lines
A and B tangent to a circle C generated from the axis D of the bore
32 through the end face 30 of the pilot portion 28. As shown in
FIG. 2, the parallel lines A and B are coincident with the recess
side walls 50 of adjacent wedge-shaped recesses 46, such that the
segments of the bottom groove wall 44 are defined by parallel lines
defined by the side walls 50 of adjacent wedge-shaped recesses 46
and the recess side walls 50 of the circumferentially spaced
recesses 46 diverge outwardly forming wedge-shaped recesses 46
between the generally rectangular bottom wall segments 44. As will
be understood, however, the bottom groove wall segments 44 are
actually segments of an annulus having arcuate inner and outer side
walls. In the most preferred embodiment, the planar bottom groove
wall segments 44 and the wedge-shaped circumferentially spaced
recesses 46 are planar, such that the recess bottom walls 48 are
parallel to the segments of the bottom groove wall 44 but spaced
below the plane of the segments of the bottom groove wall 44 as
shown.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates the method of installation or method of
attaching the self-attaching female fastener element 20 illustrated
in FIGS. 1 to 4, wherein the female fastener element 20 is utilized
as a pierce nut. As set forth above, the self-attaching female
fastener element 20 may also be used as a clinch nut, wherein the
panel metal is pierced prior to attachment. The female fastener
element 20 is cross-sectioned in FIG. 5 the same as FIG. 3.
[0019] As set forth above, the female fastener element 20 may be
attached to a metal panel 52 to form a sealed joint with the panel
as shown in FIG. 5. The female fastener element 20 is installed in
a panel 52 by a die member 54 commonly referred to as a "die
button." The die button 54 is normally attached to a lower die shoe
or die platen of a press (not shown) and the female fastener
element 20 is received in an installation head (not shown) in the
upper die shoe (not shown). However, as will be understood by those
skilled in this art, the orientation of the die button 54 and the
self-attaching female fastener element 20 can be reversed. The die
button 54 generally includes a cylindrical body portion 56 having a
cylindrical opening 58 which receives the panel slug 60. The die
button further includes an annular lip 62 having an inclined or
frustoconical outer surface 64 and a radius 66 which joins the
inclined outer surface 64 with the end face 68 of the die button.
The panel 52 is pierced between the leading edge of the opening 58
through the die button 54 and the end face 30 of the pilot portion
28. The annular lip 62 then deforms an annular panel portion 70
surrounding the pierce panel opening into the annular groove 38 in
the bearing face 36 of the flange portion 34, as shown. In a
preferred embodiment, wherein the self-attaching female fastener
element 20 forms a sealed joint with the panel 52, the internal
diameter of the cylindrical opening 58 is less than the external
diameter of the pilot portion 28, such that the inclined inner wall
40 of the annular groove 38 is inelastically and permanently
deformed radially outwardly and axially as shown in FIG. 5, forming
an integral annular bead or lip 72 which entraps the annular panel
portion 70 in the annular groove 38 and compacts the panel portion
70 beneath the inclined inner and outer side walls 40 and 42 as
shown in FIG. 5 forming a sealed joint between the female fastener
element 20 and the panel 52. During the installation, the panel
portion 70 is also deformed against the bottom groove wall segments
44 and the recessed bottom walls 48, substantially filling the
wedge-shaped recesses 46 in contact with the recess side walls
50.
[0020] The female fastener element 20 and panel assembly
illustrated in FIG. 5 thus provides a secure sealed female fastener
element and panel assembly which may be used for many applications
including, for example, an oil pan nut or bung for a container
containing a liquid requiring a sealed joint between the female
fastener element and a panel. The wedge-shaped circumferentially
spaced recesses 46 prevent rotation of the fastener element 20 on
the panel 52, particularly when the annular panel portion 70 is
compacted into the annular groove 38 against the recess bottom and
side walls 48 and 50 by the integral annular bead 72 and the bead
72 entraps the panel portion 70 and assures full contact with the
inclined inner and outer side walls 40 and 42 of the annular groove
38 providing superior push-off strength. The barrel portion 26
increases the length of the threaded bore 32. In a preferred
embodiment, the barrel portion 26 has a diameter substantially less
than the diameter of the flange portion 34 to reduce the overall
weight of the female fastener element and provides a bearing
surface. As will be understood by those skilled in this art, the
installation head (not shown) normally attached to the upper die
shoe of a die press (not shown) generally includes a plunger 74
which drives the female fastener element 20 into the panel 52 and
the die button 54 is retained in a fixture 76 in the lower die shoe
as described above.
[0021] As will be understood by those skilled in this art, various
modifications may be made to the self-attaching female fastener
element 20, the method of attaching the female fastener element and
the fastener element and panel assembly of this invention with the
purview of the appended claims. For example, the female fastener
element 20 may be utilized in various applications requiring a
female fastener in a panel and is not limited to the sealed
fastener and panel assembly illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the die
button 54 deforms the pilot portion 28, forming the integral radial
bead or lip 72, although this is a preferred installation for a
sealed female fastener and panel assembly and provides improved
integrity for the joint. Further, although a preferred embodiment
of the fastener element 20 includes an inclined inner side wall 40
of the annular groove 38, the side wall 40 may also be cylindrical.
The flats 24 on the cylindrical body 22 assist retention of the
fastener element during threading of the bore 32 but are not
required, particularly when the bore 32 is unthreaded, as described
above. Having described preferred embodiments of the female
fastener element, panel assembly and method of this invention, the
invention is now claimed as follows.
* * * * *