Method for replacing a tacking fastener

Abstract

A temporary fastener that fastens two adjacent workpieces. The fastener includes a shank that extends through a hole of the workpieces. Extending from one end of the shank is a conical shaped head. The fastener also contains a pull stem which has a head located adjacent to the blind end of the shank. The stem head is pulled through the shank to expand and tightly fasten the shank to the workpieces. The fastener is removed by drilling through the head and the shank. The diameter of the conical shank head is smaller than the diameter of the drill so that part of the head does not become attached to the drill bit and scratch the workpiece. The conical shape of the head also reduces the volume of fastener material to further reduce the size and amount of chips produced during the drilling process. The tightly engaged shank prevents the fastener from rotating during the drilling operation.A method of replacing a tacking fastener that temporarily joins two adjacent workpieces with a permanent fastener to permanently join the workpieces. A drill bit is engaged with an inner channel of the temporary fastener at a head of the fastener. The drill bit has a diameter larger than the head diameter. The head, the shank, the first workpiece, and the second workpiece are drilled through to form a hole through the workpieces. The first workpiece and the second workpiece are joined with a permanent fastener through the hole.

1. A method for creating a hole for a permanent fastener which fastens a first workpiece to an adjacent second workpiece, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a tacking fastener that includes a shank which has an inner channel, a first end, a second end and a conical shaped head which extends from said first end, said tacking fastener further includes a stem that extends through said inner channel of said shank and has a head located adjacent to said second end of said shank;    b) drilling a first hole through the first and second workpieces;    c) inserting said shank and said stem into said first hole so that said stem head extends from the second workpiece and said conical shaped head is adjacent to the first workpiece;    d) pulling said stem head through said inner channel to expand said shank and secure said shank to the first and second workpieces; and,    e) drilling said conical shaped head, said shank and the first and second workpieces a drill bit that has a diameter larger than a diameter of said conical shaped head.    
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said stem head is deflected when said stem head is pulled through said inner channel of said shank. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said drill bit has a drill angle that is different than an angle of said conical shaped head. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of inserting a permanent fastener after step (e). 
     
     
       5. A method for creating a hole for a permanent fastener which fastens a first workpiece to an adjacent second workpiece, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a tacking fastener that includes a shank which has an inner channel, a first end, a second end and a shank head which extends from said first end, said tacking fastener further includes a stem that extends through said inner channel of said shank and has a head located adjacent to said second end of said shank;    b) drilling a first hole through the first and second workpieces;    c) inserting said shank and said stem into said first hole so that said stem head extends from the second workpiece and said shank head is adjacent to the first workpiece;    d) pulling said stem head through said inner channel to expand said shank and secure said shank to the first and second workpieces; and,    e) drilling said shank head, said shank and the first and second workpieces a drill bit that has a diameter larger than a diameter of said conical shaped head.    
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said stem head is deflected when said stem head is pulled through said inner channel of said shank. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of inserting a permanent fastener after step (e). 
     
     
       8. A method for creating a hole for a permanent fastener which fastens a first workpiece to an adjacent second workpiece, wherein the first workpiece has a flat outer surface, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a tacking fastener that includes a shank which has an inner channel, a first end, a second end and a conical shaped head which extends from said first end, said tacking fastener further includes a stem that extends through said inner channel of said shank and has a head located adjacent to said second end of said shank;    b) drilling a first hole through the first and second workpieces;    c) inserting said shank and said stem into said first hole so that said stem head extends from the second workpiece and said conical shaped head extends from the flat outer surface of the first workpiece;    d) pulling said stem head through said inner channel to expand said shank and secure said shank to the first and second workpieces; and,    e) drilling said conical shaped head, said shank and the first and second workpieces with a drill bit that has a diameter larger than a diameter of said conical shaped head.    
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said stem head is deflected when said stem head is pulled through said inner channel of said shank. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said drill bit has a drill angle that is different than an angle of said conical shaped head. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising, the step of inserting a permanent fastener after step (e). 
     
     
       12. A method of replacing a tacking fastener that temporarily joins a first workpiece and a second workpiece with a permanent fastener to permanently join the workpieces, said tacking fastener including a shank of a cylindrical shape with a first end and an opposing second end, a head having a head diameter joined to the shank at the first end, and an inner channel coaxial with and open at the head, said head placed adjacent to the first workpiece, said shank extending through the workpieces, said shank deformed adjacent to the second workpiece to join the workpieces, said method comprising:
   engaging a drill bit with the inner channel at the head, said drill bit having a diameter larger than the head diameter;        drilling the head, the shank, the first workpiece, and the second workpiece to form a hole through the workpieces; and        joining the first workpiece and the second workpiece with the permanent fastener, said permanent fastener extending through the hole.     
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the head diameter is about  0 . 13  inches and the drill bit is a # 20  size drill bit. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the head diameter is about  0 . 17  inches and the drill bit is a # 10  size drill bit. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the head diameter is about  0 . 21  inches and the drill bit is a #F size drill bit. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein deforming the shank includes expanding the second end. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein expanding the shank includes expanding a portion of the shank that is enclosed by the workpieces. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
   the shank includes a first portion that is enclosed by the workpieces and a second portion that extends from the second workpiece;        deforming the shank includes expanding the first portion of the shank to tightly engage the workpieces and expanding the second portion to bear against the second workpiece.     
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the inner channel of the tacking fastener is a cylindrical opening coaxial with the shank and extending from the second end to a surface of the head that is opposite to and furthest from the second end, and deforming the shank includes expanding the cylindrical opening to provide an open coaxial passage from the head to the second end. 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the tacking fastener is a tubular rivet. 
     
     
       21. The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the tubular rivet is constructed from an aluminum material.