Button Key

Applicant hereby claims the priority benefits under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 119, basing said claim of priority on related U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/648,490 filed May 16, 2024, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The present invention relates to metal forming dies, and particularly to the retention and orientation of die buttons associated methods.

Die buttons are hardened steel components used in metal stamping dies when punching holes in sheet metal parts. They are normally round in shape and can be held in place by various means including, but not limited to, press fit, headed, fastener, ball lock, keys, retainers, etc.

When punching a round hole in a metal part, the need to provide a means to orient the button is not needed, unless there is contour to the face of the button, then the button needs to be locked in its radial orientation. The same applies to a button that has a shape other than round to the hole being punched. When there is a shape to the hole being punched, a means to radially orient the button is needed. This is usually accomplished by providing a dowel slot on the outside of the button or a flat on the exterior of the button. Sometimes this flat is the full length of the button and other times it is only part way through the length of the button.

Stamping dies and the use of die buttons usually retain the button orientation with a key. A key maintains radial position to the button. Keys are usually square or rectangular in shape and are fitted into a machined pocket in the tool. The key is held in place by a fastener, usually a socket head cap screw. To remove the key, there is also a tapped hole in the key the same size as the socket head cap screw that holds the key in place. This is used to jack the key out of the slot and allow the removal of the button from the tool. While this has been the accepted practice for many years, the key is usually square or rectangular in cross section, but its length is such that the fastener hole and the tapped hole require the key to be long in length, thereby using valuable space in the tool.

Current button keys have a large footprint due to the need for key to be “long” due to the use of standard fasteners as well as use of a “jack screw” for removal. Current keys also typically have smaller fastener/threads due to available space. Machining the current keys is also more challenging due to the length of the key requiring the orientation to be parallel with the flat on the button. This makes the pocket more challenging to machine due to the“points” between the button pocket and the key slot. There are also multiple steps required to remove the key.

While such prior button keys have proven generally successful, further improvements and enhancements to the same, as well as metal forming dies generally, would be clearly advantageous, and are disclosed herein.

One object of the present invention is a die button assembly for attachment to a first die member in a metal forming die. The die button assembly has a die button body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The die button body has an opening in the top surface and a shoulder formed on the at least one outer wall. A key body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The key body has a fastener opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The fastener opening has a first width in the top surface, and a second larger width in the bottom surface. A groove extends circumferentially in the fastener opening, the groove being in a portion of the fastener opening having the first width. The fastener has a head section and a threaded shank. The fastener has a first groove extending circumferentially about an exterior surface of the head section and a second groove extending circumferentially about the exterior surface of the head section. The second groove has a smaller depth than the first groove. The first groove is positioned adjacent to the second groove and the first groove is closer to the threaded shank. A retainer ring is closely received and retained in the second groove on said fastener and the groove on the fastener opening in the key body when the fastener is coupled to the fastener opening in the key body. A portion of the bottom surface of the key body contacts the shoulder on the die button body.

Another object of the present invention is a die button assembly. The die button assembly has a die button body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The die button body has an opening in the top surface. A shoulder is formed on the at least one outer wall. The key body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The key body has a fastener opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the fastener opening has a first width in the top surface, and a second larger width in the bottom surface that tapers to the first width. A groove extends circumferentially in the fastener opening, the groove being in a portion of the fastener opening having the first width. The fastener has a head section and a threaded shank. The fastener has a first groove extending circumferentially about an exterior surface of the head section and a second groove extending circumferentially about the exterior surface of the head section. The second groove has a smaller depth than the first groove. The first groove is positioned adjacent to the second groove and the first groove is closer to the threaded shank. A retainer ring is closely received and retained in the second groove on the fastener and the groove on the fastener opening in the key body when the fastener is coupled to the fastener opening in the key body. A portion of the bottom surface of the key body contacts the shoulder on the die button body.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a die button assembly for attachment to a first die member in a metal forming die. The die button assembly has a die button body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The die button assembly has an opening in the top surface. A shoulder is formed on the at least one outer wall. A key body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one outer wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The key body has a fastener opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. A first groove extends circumferentially in the fastener opening, the first groove having the first width. The second groove extends circumferentially in the fastener opening, the second groove has a second width that is smaller than the first width. The second groove is positioned adjacent to the first groove and the second groove is closer to the bottom surface of the key body. The fastener has a head section and a threaded shank, and a groove extends circumferentially about an exterior surface of the head section. A retainer ring is closely received and retained in the groove on the fastener and the second groove on the fastener opening in the key body when the fastener is coupled to the fastener opening in the key body. A portion of the bottom surface of the key body contacts the shoulder on the die button body.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in the attached drawings. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference numeral() generally designates a die button assembly. The die button assemblyincludes a die button body, a key body, and a fastener. The fasteneris retained in the key bodyby a retainer ring. The die button assemblycan be secured into a die memberby use of a toolas illustrated in. The toolis illustrated as having a hexagonal tip that is received in the hexagonal openingin the fastener. Other non-hexagonal shapes may be used for the tip of the tooland the opening.

The die button bodyhas a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer wallincludes curved surfaces. However, the outer wallcould include multiple sections, flat sections, and/or be generally cylindrical. The die button bodyincludes an openingin the top surface. The die button bodyhas a shoulderon the outer wall. The shouldercan be formed adjacent to a flat sectionin the outer wall.

The key bodyhas a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer wall. The outer wallcan be a single wall or can include multiple sections. A fastener openingextends through the key bodyfrom the top surfaceto the bottom surface. The fastener openingincludes a first width closer to the top surfaceand a wider, second width by the bottom surface, as illustrated in. The second width can taper to the first width. The key bodyhas a groovein the fastener opening. The grooveis located in the portion of the fastener openingthat has the first width.

The fastenerhas a head sectionand a threaded shank portion. The head sectionhas a first grooveand a second groovein the exterior surface of the head section. The first grooveand the second grooveextend circumferentially about the exterior surface of the head sectiongiven that the head sectionis illustrated as being generally cylindrical. However, the head sectioncan have a non-cylindrical exterior surface, and the grooves,could have non-circular shapes. The first grooveis positioned closer to the threaded shank portion. The first grooveand second grooveare positioned adjacent to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the second groovehas a smaller depth than the first groove.

A retainer ringis used to couple the fastenerin the fastener openingof the key body. As illustrated in, the assembly of the fastenerto the key bodyinvolves placing the retainer ringin the second grooveand pulling the head sectionof the fastenerthrough the bottom surfaceof key body. The wider second width and taper in the fastener openingpermits the advancement of the head sectionwithin the fastener opening. As the head sectionmoves toward the top surface, the retainer ringwill eventually reach the groovein the fastener opening. The retainer ringthen moves from the second grooveto the first groove(second image on right side of). Once the fastenerreceives pressure from the top of the fastener(as illustrated in the far right image in), the retainer ringwill move back to the second groove. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer ringis a split ring (such as a metal C-ring) that can expand and contract. Other types of retainers can be used.

Once the fasteneris coupled to the key bodyby the retainer ring, the key bodycan be used to secure the die button bodyin a die member. A die button body apertureis formed in die member. The die button body aperturehas a shoulderthat contacts the bottom surfaceof the die button bodywhen the die button bodyis installed in the die member. The die button body aperturecan include a more narrow sectionbelow the shoulder. A key body apertureis also formed in the die member. The key body apertureincludes a threaded sectionthat receives a portion of the threaded shankof the fastener. A shoulderin the key body aperturecontacts the bottom surfaceof the key bodywhen the key bodyis installed in the die member. A portion of the bottom surfaceof the key bodycontacts the shoulderof the die button bodyto retain the die button bodyin the die memberonce the fastener has secured the key bodyin the key body aperture. The key body apertureis illustrated as being adjacent to the die button body aperturein die member.

A different embodiment is shown in. In that embodiment, the fastener openingin the key bodyhas two grooves (,), and the head sectionof the fastenerhas a single groove. The retainer ringis used to couple the fastenerto the key bodyas illustrated in. The retainer ringis inserted at the bottom surfaceof the key body. As the fasteneris inserted through the bottom surfaceof the key body, the retainer ringis pushed down into the second groovein the fastener opening. The retainer ringthen moves down to the deeper first groove(closer to the top surfaceof the key body) and engages the grooveon the head sectionof the fastener(second image on right side of). Once pressure is applied on the top surface of the fastener, the retainer ringthen moves to the second groove(i.e., the groove with the smaller width) that is positioned closer to the bottom surfaceof the key body. This combined key bodyand fastenercan then be used to secure the die button bodyto a die membersimilar to the embodiment shown in.

The die button bodyand the key body (,) can be made of any length or width of material. Typically these parts are made from a single piece of metal. The shapes of the surfaces of the die button bodyand key body (,) can be changed to include tapered surfaces, non-cylindrical sections, cylindrical sections, flat surfaces, and different diameters/widths/lengths.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the present disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” or “operably coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “connected” or “operably connected” (in all of its forms, connect, connecting, connected, etc.) generally means that one component functions with respect to another component, even if there are other components located between the first and second component, and the term “operable” defines a functional relationship between components.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the present disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that, unless otherwise described, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating positions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.