THREADED FASTENER AND CONNECTOR

A screw includes a head having and a stem with spaced apart threads. The thread of the thread of the screw includes flat spots and sloped section, and is sized, such that it can securing attach through a hole in the pegboard without damaging the hole despite the thread being wider than the hole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multiple use threaded fastener, or screw. In particular, the invention relates to a reusable fastener designed to secure to various surfaces and to connect various items thereto, including for use with pegboard and display materials such as promotional posters, displays, and brackets attached to pegboard, most preferably in a retail environment. Of course, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention is not necessarily so limited.

BACKGROUND

In many environments material is commonly affixed to open wall space, an in particular in retail environments promotional and marketing displays are used with various goods. Conventionally, these materials, which can include posters, displays, products, brackets, hardware, or other materials, are affixed to a backing adapted for repeated display and removal of the items.

A common type of backing is referred to as a pegboard gondola (seeFIG. 1), which consists of a durable material with a pattern of perforations located in a predetermined pattern fixed to a footing and used for display and product shelving. Connectors, fasteners, or brackets are designed to attach to the pegboard in a secure and releasable manner. Also, due to the fact that these displays are frequently changed the connectors and fasteners must be capable of removal to allow for such updates.

A variety of prior art connectors exist. These include a device having a generally flat head connected to an extended body that is sized to be captured in the spaced apart holes of the pegboard. If display material is attached to the gondola, then the connectors pass through holes in the material to be displayed and then the connectors fasten into the pegboard and thereby provide a reasonably stable mounting mechanism. Such connectors include so called “canoe clips.” The head of the clip is flat without any indentations or grooves for removal. In fact, the clips do not include any particular structural elements to allow for removal. When the display is replaced the clips are pulled or pried out of place, normally in a destructive manner, thrown away and new clips are used for the next display. In this manner the clips are disposable and not suitable for reuse, and can damage the holes they are inserted into.

Another such device is the “Christmas tree clip.” These clips also contain a head and body, however, in this case the body includes a plurality of teeth circularly disposed around the axis of the body, each tooth comprised of a circumferential flange angled to resist removal after insertion. Again, the clips do not include any convenient means for removal, and are therefore designed for one-time disposable use, and can damage the holes when removed.

While these prior art clips are generally inexpensive plastic articles, ultimately the cost of continued replacement of used clips becomes very significant. Furthermore, the environmental impact of disposable clips is detrimental. Additionally, because these clips are not designed to be removed easily, over time they damage the pegboard requiring further costs and expense.

Another use of such clips is to assemble displays, and in particular assembly of cardboard or corrugated display material. One such prior art device is known as the “Viking clip,” which is comprised of plastic and consists of a flathead screw with a nut or wing nut that affixes to the threaded body of the screw. The threads are minimal, and have a diameter less than the diameter of the hole. The Viking clip, however, requires manipulation from both sides of the assembly since the nut must be placed on the screw after the screw is placed through the hole in the assembly. Frequently, given the size of the assemblies, this requires two people to perform the assembly—one in the front and one in the back to affix the nut.

Conventional threaded screws are not suitable for these purposes, especially with pegboard gondolas. Screws secure by embedding the edge of the threads into the side of the holes. Screws of this type cannot be used with pegboard gondolas because repeated removal and insertion of a screw will destroy the holes making them unable to retain the screw, and eventually require replacing the gondola as more and more holes are destroyed. Thus, while screws are very effective fasteners they heretofore have not been suitable for use with pegboard displays like gondolas.

Accordingly, a need exists for a fastener or clip that overcomes the difficulties of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the Figures, various configurations of a screw10are shown. The screw10includes a head12of various types and a stem14having spaced apart threads16.FIG. 2shows a first view of the screw10.FIG. 3shows a side view of the screw10, where the screw10is rotated 90° clockwise from the position of the clip10inFIG. 2.

The threads16of the clip10have a number of unique features. Each complete turn of the threads16includes three flat edges18. The flat edges18are shown inFIG. 2. The flat edges18have peaks20between and at the ends of the flat edges18. The flat edges18follow the general contour of a conventional curved thread, but instead of a continuous curved edge to the thread16the edge is comprised of discrete flat segments. The three flat edges18for each turn of the thread16are located generally on one side of the screw10, the other side of the screw10(seeFIG. 3) shows the thread16with a conventional curved edge.

The thread16has a diameter, measured along the line marked “Diameter” displayed inFIG. 2(the line is included to show the direction of the diameter, and is not meant to represent the actual diameter). The actual diameter of the thread will vary depending if the diameter is measured from a flat edge18or peak20—the diameter measured from a flat edge18is less than the diameter measured from the peak20.

The threads16of the screw10also include sloped sections22, above and below the thread16(SeeFIG. 2). The sloped sections22are oriented on the stem14of the screw10so that an upper sloped section22has an end24that is directly above (vertically) an opposite end25of a lower sloped section22. In this manner an upper and lower sloped sections22on a particular thread16are offset along a longitudinal axis of the thread16. The ends of the sloped sections22opposite to the ends indicated at24,25inFIG. 2, generally line up with the peaks20that form the ends of one flat section18.

The screw10is most particular designed to be inserted into holes in pegboard26. Even more particularly, the threads of the screw10are spaced such that the length23one complete turn of the thread16is substantially the same distance as the length23of the hole in the pegboard26(See numeric indicator23onFIGS. 3 and 4).

As mentioned the configuration of the screw10gives it a number of unique properties during operation. The screw10is used in combination with pegboard26of the type used on the gondola shown inFIG. 1, however, the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The pegboard26includes a plurality of holes therein into which the screw10can be inserted and removed, without damage to the holes. This is accomplished despite the fact that the diameter of the threads16of the screw10is wider than the diameter of the hole in the pegboard26into which the screw10fits.

Normally, the diameter of a screw is wider than the hole it will be inserted into by design so that the threads will embed into the side of the hole securing the screw, however, in the case where the screw needs to be inserted and removed repeatedly into a relatively soft material such as pegboard this is not desirable. In particular, with a gondola this can destroy the pegboard and thereby the gondola.

The screw10cannot be inserted straight into the hole in the pegboard26without damaging the hole because the diameter of the threads16is wider than hole when the screw10is perpendicular to the plane pegboard16. The screw10therefore enters the hole in the pegboard26at angle (seeFIG. 4). Because the length23of one complete thread16along the stem14of the screw10is substantially the same as the length23of the hole, and because the flat edges18are generally on one side of the screw10, the screw10threads into the hole at this angle. This allows the wider diameter of the threads16to be narrowed enough to fit into the hole.

In other words, as the screw10is threaded into the hole, and one complete thread16has entered the hole, the flat edge18of one thread16enters the hole as the flat edge18of the lower thread16begins to exit the hole—having a flat edge18always in the hole reduces the diameter of the thread16. Also, as a lower sloped section22of one thread16enters the top of the hole the lower sloped section22of the adjacent thread leaves the hole at the bottom of the hole—also reducing the diameter of the thread16. Because of the alignment of the sloped sections22along the base14(described above), the point at which one lower sloped section22enters the hole and the upper sloped section22of the adjacent thread16exits the hole is at a point where the middle of a flat edge18of one thread16enters the hole and the flat edge18of the adjacent thread16exits the hole. The combination of the flat edges18and the sloped sections22always in contact with the entry and exit point of the hole narrows the diameter of the thread16to fit in the hole of the pegboard26. Inside the hole, a flat edge18is always in contact with the side of the hole, and a curved edge opposite thereto is in contact with the opposite side of the hole, again, presenting a reduced diameter of the thread16inside the hole.

This continues until the screw10is completely inserted into the hole (seeFIG. 5). As this happens, the bottom of the head12of the screw is pressed up against the top of the pegboard26, which straightens out the screw10. The peak20on the thread16that has just exited the bottom of the hole is driven over the edge of the lip on the bottom of the hole, and the upper part of the same portion of the topmost thread16(which is not sloped and so provides no relief from the diameter of the thread16) forms a clamp that secures the screw10in the hole. The diameter between the peak20and the curved section23of the thread16immediately above the peak20, represents the full diameter of the thread16, which forces the peak20slightly out of the bottom of the hole and securely over the lip of the bottom of the hole—without damaging the inside of the hole because this tight full diameter fit only occurs at the end of insertion of the screw10and the pressure is relieved at the moment the screw10is withdrawn.

FIGS. 6 and 7shows a nut28for use with the screw10. The nut28includes an internal thread30, and two opposing grips32. The nut28can be threaded onto the screw10. For example, after the screw10has been secured to the pegboard26, the nut28can be attached to provide additional securement, or to affix material between the pegboard26and the nut28. The grips32provide a convenient means to affix or remove the nut28.

The thread32of the nut28comprises slightly less than one complete turn of the thread16. This allows the nut28to be produced with an open molding process, as opposed to a closed molding process. With open molding the molding material is open to the air and can cure quickly. If the thread32is much more than one full thread, then it cannot be produced using open molding and must be closed molded, which increases the cost and time necessary to produce the nut32. The reduced size of the thread32of the nut28also assists in ease of manufacture if the nut32is produced through a metal stamping process.

The screw10is shown in the Figures with a thumb screw head12, however, the head12can be of other types. The head12can be flat, or can include a standard or Phillips slot for use of a screwdriver, or can be shaped for use of an Allen or hex head wrench.

FIG. 8shows a screw10with an elongated body46, that allows the head12of the screw to project away from the surface to which is attached to create dimensional effects or to mount items away from surface to which it is attached. The screw10also includes a threaded top42, with a notch44, and a cap40that threads onto the top42. The screw10shown inFIG. 8provides additional structure to attach material to the head12of the screw.

The screw10and nut12can be made from multiple types of material include plastics, or metal.

The screw10is of various widths and lengths to accommodate, most preferably, different width and depth of holes in pegboard26. Most preferably, the screw10is sized to accommodate ¼ inch pegboard. Of course, the screw10is not necessarily limited to use with pegboard26, and the thread can be sized to be used with different sized holes.

In the foregoing manner the screw10substantially overcome the problems of the prior art by providing a devise that is designed for releasable but yet is a secure attachment to surfaces. Further, the screw10does not damage the hole into which it is inserted even though it uses a thread16that is wider than the hole, therefore avoiding the damage associated to surfaces associated with the prior art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.