Assault only requires a belief by the person being assualted that they may be harmed. A swung fist without contact is an assault. An approach within range during a tirade can be an assault.
There may not have been consummation of the assault. Assault consummated by a battery means contact was made. Legal terms of art. Most people assume only battery is an assault, but assaults don’t require battery.
Thanks for the clarification.