Fastener with loop or hook

A threaded hook or eye loop has a tool receptacle at the end of the threaded shank with the hook or loop configured for rotary insertion with a power tool or hand tool that directly rotates the threaded shaft.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The field of inventions is threaded axial fasteners, such as screws or bolts, having loops, hooks or eyelets opposite the threaded end that is intended for insertion into objects, and more particularly those more specifically suitable for insertion with rotary driving tools, such as power tools.

Threaded fasteners and supports that end with an open loop, which is a hook, or a closed loop, such as eye bolts and the like, is usually inserted by hand into a pilot hole or threaded insert.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,016, issued to Schmid et al. on Oct. 12, 1993, describes such fasteners that can be inserted by power tool by placing the driver receptacle on the outside of the loop or hook, opposite the end of the threaded shank. However, this solution also makes it more difficult to align the fastener shank normal to the wall, which is co-axial with the pilot hole, to start insertion. This is most difficult with heavy, bulky or cumbersome power tools, especially in awkward orientation, which make it more likely for the user or tradesman to tilt the tool off axis. When the power tool is more distal from the shank tip, the torque lever arm increases to urge the shank to tilt prior to insertion. Accordingly, even such an improved fastener is best started by hand instead of using a power tool.

It would be an advantage to have such a loop or hook type fastener that can be both started and fully inserted with the same power tool.

It would be a further advantage if such fastener devices can be inserted with one hand frees, to provide greater worker safety and increase efficiency.

The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In the present invention, the first object is achieved by a method of installing a wall or ceiling mountable fastener, the method comprising the steps of providing a fastener having: a first eyelet loop having a rear surface that defines a first plane for making contact with receiving member, a front surface opposing the rear surface and a first inner channel extending from the front surface to the rear surface thereof for receiving a threaded fastener through a central axis of the first inner channel, the central axis being orthogonal to the first plane, a first downward portion connected at a proximal end to the first eyelet, and having a distal end opposite the proximal end, a second upward extending portion connected at a proximal end to the distal end of the first downward extending portion, and having a distal end opposing the proximal end that is disposed above the first eyelet, wherein a first sub-portion of the second upward extending portion that is at the level of first eyelet does not intersect the first central axis, a threaded shaft that has a threaded portion with a distal end that extends beyond the first eyelet in the direction opposite the second upward extending portion, the shaft having a proximal end opposite the distal end, a head coupled to the end of the threaded shaft that extends through the first inner channel being disposed on the opposing side of the first eyelet from the distal end of the thread shaft, wherein the head of the shaft has a means for receiving a rotary driver tool, wherein the threaded shaft and head are coupled to the fastener proximal to the first eyelet with a detachable adhesive, placing the distal end of the threaded shaft against the receiving member, engaging the head of the threaded shaft with the rotary driver tool, energizing the rotary driver tool to rotate the fastener and threaded shaft as a connected unit so the distal end of the threaded shaft penetrates the receiving member, continuing to energize the rotary driver tool to urge the rear surface of the first eyelet against receiving member at least until a sufficient rotary friction sufficient to disengage the adhesive connect of the threaded shaft and the head is applied by the rotary driver tool wherein the fastener no longer rotates with the head of the thread shaft as the rear surface of the first eyelet frictionally engage the receiving member.

A second aspect of the invention is characterized by such a method further comprising the steps of a) modifying the angular orientation of the fastener by manually urging at least one of the first downward and second upward portion thereof and b) energizing the rotary driver tool to rotate the threaded shaft until the rear surface of the first eyelet frictionally engages the receiving member to preclude further manual modification of the angular position of the fastener.

Another aspect of the invention is characterized by any such method wherein the first sub-portion of the second upward extending portion of the fastener has a larger inner diameter than the head of the threaded shaft.

The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1A through 17C, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved threaded fastener with loop or hook, generally denominated100herein.

In accordance with the present invention the threaded fastener with loop or hook100comprises a threaded shank110configured for insertion into a work piece at the distal end111a, with a hook or loop120attached toward or at the proximal end111b. The threaded hook or eye loop100has a tool receptacle130at the end111bof the threaded shank110with the hook or loop configured for rotary insertion with a power tool or hand tool that directly rotates the threaded shaft or shank110. The hook or loop120is configured so that the tool receiving member130at the proximal end can111bcan be accessed by the working end11of a linear drive tool10, which is connected outside the loop120. The loop120forms a hook when it is open in the top or distal end121, in which it does not reconnect or couple at the opposing end to the shank110.FIG. 10illustrates one embodiment of the fastener100, fromFIG. 1A-C, being inserted with the driving tool10in which the working end11thereof engage the tool receiving member130for rotating the fastener100to advance end111ainto the work piece to the left.

The loop120is configured in the various embodiments with means for clearance of a tool to axially rotate the shank110. These configurations, explained in greater detail below, allow the insertion and driving of threaded hooks and eye bolts with a power tool. They also facilitate the alignment of the driving tool and threaded fastener100normal to the attachment surface. In selected embodiments, the threaded portion of the fastener100is stabilized by the driving tool. In such an embodiment, the bore135in the loop120extends around and maintains alignment of the driving tool working end parallel to the bore130walls and the central axis112of the threaded shank110.

In the case of simple linear drive tool, such a screw drivers and electric screw drivers, a conventional hook or loop would preclude the drive shaft of the tool from reaching the tool receiving portion130and also being aligned with the axis112of the shank110, as the shank axis112and tool axis need to be co-linear for rotating the shank about its axis.

In the various embodiment of the instant invention this is overcome in two alternative methods in which the hook or loop120either is offset sideways to allow driver access, or has a bore135to receive the driver.

The outward loop120extends at least below the lower vertical extent (reference line114inFIG. 1C) of the shank110as it extends away from the shank114. This provides a large loop120with significant support or holding capacity and strength.

In an alternative embodiment ofFIGS. 2, 5, 8, 9 and 11, the loop120is connected to the shank110between the first end111aand the second end111b, to leave an extending portion115beyond the first connection of the loop120. Thus, portion115extends toward an opposing end of the loop120.

In some embodiments (FIGS. 5, 7 and 9A-C) the extending portion115of the shank110has a polygonal opening116and the depth of the polygonal opening116extends no further than the connection117of the loop120to the shank110. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 2the extending portion115can have a bolt head118for receiving a driving tool. Limiting the initiation of the loop120until beyond the opening116avoids the loss of material to the opening or recess130from weakening the strength of the loop120, or provides a stronger loop120for the amount of material used. In other words, an opening placed within the path between the shank110and the loop120reduces the cross-section of the stress bearing portion of the fastener100when an object is supported by the loop120.

As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8A-C,9A-D and12, and more particularly the expanded portion of theFIG. 9AinFIG. 9D, the loop120and shank110are optionally separable. In these embodiments, threaded shank110has an annular recess113proximal to the second end111bwith the recess113having a first diameter D1, and the portions of the shank110adjacent the annular recess113each having a third diameter D3 that is larger than the first diameter. The loop120has a channel125with a second diameter D2 greater than the first diameter and less than the third diameter. Hence, the annular recess113of the shank110is retained within the channel125.

A means for clearing the axial extension of the shank110is the bore135in the loop120that is disposed at the intersection of an outward extension from the primary axis112. In the embodiments in which the shank110and loop120are separable, the channel125and bore130would co-align to a common cylindrical axis112with the shank110. An alternative means for clearing the axial extension of the shank110is shown inFIGS. 3A-Cand4A-C, in which the fastener110deploys an oblique angular displacement of the portion of the loop120that is opposite the axial extension of the shank110toward the distal portion of the loop120. The angular displacement can be defined with respect to a reference plane401containing the outward portion of the loop112which is at an oblique angle with respect to the shank axis112.

In order to maintain maximum strength of the loop120, in the more preferred embodiment the portion of the loop120having the bore135bulges outward to maintain the same cross-section area as the portions of the loop120between the bore135and the shank110

InFIG. 3A-C, the loop120is open at the top, but avoids interfering with the driver hole by extending laterally after reaching a low point, and then on rising extends laterally in the opposing direction before rising above tool end130. Hence, loop120is composed of 3 attached segments120a,120band120c, which terminates in end121.

InFIG. 4A-C, the loop120is closed, but avoids interfering with the driver hole130by extending laterally after reaching a low point, and then rising as it extends laterally in the opposing direction until above shank end111b, but the extends downward to connect just forward of shank end111b.

The loop120is optionally open or closed, as shown inFIG. 4A-C,5A-C,6A-C,FIG. 15andFIG. 17A-C. It should be appreciated that to form a hook of reasonable proportion to support or hold items, the open loop120preferably extends above the shank110after extending below it.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 11the fastener is fabricated from one or more elongated members with circular cross-sections are bent or forged to form mirror image mating pairs121and121′ of split hook shaped preform that are attached to the threaded shank110after forming. The portion of the loop120having the bore135is defined by convex outward bow121/121′cof each mating pair121and121′ between the proximal121/121′aand distal ends121/121b. The portion of the each elongated member adjacent proximal ends121/121′aare bent to a semi-circular shape for attachment to the shank111just below the bolt head118, where they are preferably joined thereto by at least one weld128. Additional welds128′ and128″ join the mating halves121and121′ at the distal ends121/121′band between the proximal end121/121′aand the bore135defined by the gap between arced segment121cand121′c. The shank head118having the Philips style receiving driver slot extends beyond the proximal end connection of the completed loop120to the shank110circa weld128.

FIG. 12is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the fastener100loop is similarly fabricated to the embodiment ofFIG. 11, that is from one or more elongated members, which preferably have a circular cross-sections. Fastener100inFIG. 12then receives a screw110in the eyelet or channel125. However, when 2 preforms are used they need not be welded to the screw or shank below the head118, but rather welded to each other at128″ to form an eyelet125below the shank head118. The eyelet125can also be formed by bending a single wire or deformable elongated member around the shank110, with the portions on opposing sides of the bend then being deformed to form mirror image half121/121′ as inFIG. 11, which are similar joined by welds128′ and128″.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 13A-Cthe fastener100has the same general shape as the embodiments ofFIGS. 11 and 12, but is formed by molding or casting. The screw110is separate and hence can be removed from the eyelet or channel125. More preferably, as shown inFIG. 14, the screw110is attached directly or proximal the eyelet or bore125, such as at lower edge125b, with a weak adhesive material1401so it does not fall out during initially placement during use. When the fastener100is initially attached with a power tool the entire fastener100will first spin as the screw110is rotated by the power tool driver. However, when the upward facing eyelet edge125areaches and is then further urged against the wall or ceiling surface the screw110will then break free of this temporary adhesive1401and continue to rotate but the loop portion120will cease to rotate. This permits the full tightening of the screw110in the wall or ceiling, but the angular or rotation orientation of the loop120can still be adjusted to a final position by hand before fully inserting the screw110. The adhesive is optionally a water or solvent based organic polymer type adhesive such a Locktite® brand resins, or is a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive1401need not be placed around the entire periphery of the screw head, the eyelet125or a particular eyelet surface, such as125aor125b. It should be apparent that stronger adhesives can be deployed when it is desired to continuously rotate the screw110and loop120together. The assembly with an adhesive1401simplified fabrication by allowing different manufacturing methods for each component, and the mixing of different screws depending on the nature of the wall or ceiling surface the device100is to be attached to.FIG. 15-17Cillustrate alternative embodiments in which the adhesive1401is used with other shape hooks and closed hooks or loops to detachably mount the screw110to the eyelet125.

The loop in this embodiment (FIG. 13A-CandFIG. 14) the loop120has several portions, with a flat portion at bore135and eyelet or channel opening125, and curved and optional some flat portion there between. Preferably loop120has a curvilinear loop portion122that extends between eyelet125for receiving the threaded shank111and the planar ring structure that defines the bore135for receiving the driver of the bolt or shank head118. The portions of the loop120adjacent to bore135and on opposing sides thereof are co-planar with the planar ring structure that defines the bore135or second eyelet. In this preferred embodiment a linear segment124extends from the planar ring structure about bore135to the end of the hook121.

It should be appreciated from these embodiment that the loop120can have multiple segments of which some or all are at least part curvilinear in shape or polygonal shaped. For example, inFIG. 3A-CandFIG. 4A-C, portion of the loop1120are curvilinear proximal to the connected shank end111b, while the portion opposite the shank axis112have a polygonal shape.

It should also be appreciated from the various embodiments described above and illustrated herein that the second end111bof the shank110can have a recess130to accept any type driver end fitting, such as a Philips head drivers, a “TORX”® drivers, square driver or a hexagonal driver, as well as an external bolt head in place of the recess130. The bolt head can also be combined with a driver receiving recess130. Hence the head of the threaded shank or shaft can have various means for receiving rotary driving tools.

It should be understood that the inclusion of various optional features and aspects of the invention in one embodiment does not preclude their use in other and additional embodiments of the invention. Hence, while the invention has been described in connection with various preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.