Patent ID: 6676353
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: F16B

Abstract:
A clip of fasteners for use in securing together two superimposed structural components, said clip comprising:a plastic strip in the form of a plurality of identical sleeves attached to one another in single file, each of said sleeves comprising (a) a cylindrical wall having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a top end and a bottom end, and (b) a series of fastener-gripping ribs formed integral with and extending radially inward from said wall, said fastener-gripping ribs having a top end that is spaced from said top end of said wall; and a series of fasteners each mounted in one of said sleeves, each of said fasteners comprising a shank having a tapered point at one end thereof and a head at a second opposite end thereof, said shank also having a drill portion comprising spiral cutting flutes that extend toward said head from said tapered point and a screw portion comprising a helical thread that extends from adjacent said flutes to adjacent said head, and said head extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said shank and having a top surface and a tapered surface, said top surface having means adapted for engagement by a driving tool for rotating said fastener in a direction to cause said drill portion to drill a hole in a workpiece and said threaded portion to screw into said substrate, and said tapered surface having a series of circumferentially spaced ribs adapted to function as cutting blades for cutting through said fastener-gripping ribs of said sleeves when rotated relative to said sleeves.