US Patent 6988862 Rivet, riveted joint structure riveting apparatus, and riveting method

A rivet is provided which includes axially opposite end portions at least one of which is more likely to be deformed radially outwards than a remaining portion thereof, and the remaining portion is more resistant to a load applied in an axial direction of the rivet than the axially opposite end portions. As one example, the rivet includes a head portion and a cylindrical portion that extends from the head portion, and a recess is formed in the head portion so as to be open to a top surface of the head portion.