Patent ID: 8192125
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: B25B,E04B,E04G,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of connecting a plurality of layers of a structure using a helically profiled fastener comprising a twisted wire body including a common axial core and a protruding helix using a drive adapter having a substantially rigid and non-yielding body, said method including: engaging a tail end of the adapter with an impact-energy driving machine; sliding the fastener into a recess in a leading end of the drive adapter; aligning the fastener to a host material layer; energizing the fastener with the impact-driving machine via the adapter, whereupon the fastener is impelled by a series of impacting forces to windingly cut helical grooves into the host material layer and onwards into a subsequent layer, wherein the fastener includes a driving shank portion that is elongate and comprises a reduced diameter; wherein the recessed leading end of the adapter comprises: (i) a maximum external diameter that is smaller than the cross-sectional circumscribed diameter of the fastener; and, (ii) a wall thickness that is between 10% and 25% of the cross-sectional circumscribed diameter of the fastener, and wherein the leading end of the drive adapter follows the helix into the host material layer during said energizing step, said method further comprising, after said energizing step, removing the adapter from the fastener's driving shank portion leaving the driving shank portion recessed or countersunk in the host material.