AN ADJUSTABLE FASTENER

Abstract: An adjustable fastener (1) for joining two structural members which, preferably, consist of a door or window sash (10) and a surrounding stationary building structure (13). The fastener comprises an externally threaded stem (2) and a head (3) which is, preferably, polygonal. The fastener has a through hole (7) in its longitudinal direction, which at least in the lower portion of the stem, is also polygonal. Head (3) is provided with a stop (8) for a screw head or the like, and the underside of the head is provided with one or a number of cutting edge(s) (4, 4', and 5, 5', resp.).

Description: An adjustable fastener The present invention relates to an adjustable fastener for use in joining two structural members, preferably consisting of a door or window sash and a surrounding stationary build¬ ing structure. It is known to use adjustable fastening means in connection with mounting sashes frames or the like in adapted openings in building structures of various kinds. Such adjustable fastening means are, inter alia disclosed in NO-PS No. 152 807 and No. 155 784, the inventor in the latter cases being the same as in the present patent application. In the mentioned patents the fastening means in principle consists of a hollow internally threaded holder member, which is mounted in an adapted through hole in a sash or a frame to be joined with a surrounding building structure, and on the side facing the building structure. Holder member is firmly locked in a desired position by the aid of an additional locking ring, or by holder member proper being provided with a locking member. Fastening means according to known technology, further¬ more, comprise a load transmitting member, which is threaded externally to be screwed into said holder member, and which comprises a head to sit in contact with the surrounding building structure. Load transmitting member also has a through hole which is completely or partly designed with a polygonal cross section, and which adjacent said head is provided with a stop member for the head of a screw which may be inserted from, the other side of the sash into load transmitting member, thus, to be screwed into the building structure to secure the load transmitting member to said structure, when said screw is not tightened so as to lock load transmitting member firmly to the building structure, it is possible to rotate load transmitting member in one or the other direction by inserting a tool into the hole on the in¬ side of the sash, and to engagement with the polygon hole of load transmitting member. In this manner the distance between sash and surrounding building structure may be adjust¬ ed. It will readily be understood that all four external sides of the sash or frame must be provided with at leaεt one adjustable fastening means of the mentioned kind. The above mentioned kind of fastener means is used in connect¬ ion with sashes and frames of wooden material. As regards relatively heavy and large sashes, etc. the known fastening means, besides providing a flexible and adjustable connection they also provide a very strong connection. It would, obvious¬ ly be advantageous if manufacturers of doors and windows could deliver sashes and frames with mounted fasteners. Previously, this was, however, not the case, due to the fact that the fastening means project from respective sashes or frames, inter alia, with heads of the load transmitting members, which prevents efficient stapling for storage and transport. This, in turn, caused the adjustable fastening means to be mounted at the contractors' , and commonly directly on the building site. As regards most smaller and more lightweight sashes, frames, etc. of wooden materials, sufficient stability proved to be achieved when the load transmitting member is mounted directly in a pre-threaded hole in respective sash or frame, i.e. without use of a holder member which is preferably of metal. In this case the load transmitting member proper, thus, constitutes ehe adjustable fastener, which is the designation used below. It is an object of the present invention to be able to mount such fasteners, which only comprise the load transmitting member proper, on respective sashes and frames in such a manner that no part of the fastener projects. An obvious manner to achieve this, would be to drill a groove in advance in the external portion of the hole in the frame, etc., which is adapted to the head of the fastener. In this manner it would be possible to screw the fastener so far into the hole that its head is completely recessed in the additional drilled groove. This would, however, entail an additional drilling operation and would, thus, have to be regarded as a disadvantage. According to the present invention the above mentioned object is achieved in a simple manner by the fact that a fastener is provided, which substantially consists of an externally threaded stem, and a head which is preferably polygonal, which fastener has a through hole in its longitudinal direct¬ ion, which at least in the lower portion of the stem is poly¬ gonal and which in the head portion is provided with a stop for a screw head, or the like. The fastener is substantially characterized by the fact that the underside of its head is provided with one or a number of cutting element(s). When the fastener is screwed into an adapted threaded hole in a sash, frame, etc., and is screwed so far that said head engages the surface of a sash or frame, said cutting edge(s) be screwed into the sash, frame, etc. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention two or more diametral and vertical cutting edges are provided on the external edge portion of the head, as well as two or more radial cutting edges, which are slightly more shallow than said diametral and vertical cutting edges, radially provided. When the head is screwed into the surface of the sash or frame, the external vertical cutting edges will, thus, engage first and cut the surface to form a circular groove. Then the radial cutting edges will engage and cut material inside said circular groove. In order to avoid that wooden chips which are cut off below the head of the fastener will be forced out onto the side of the head, where wooden chips would tear and damage, especial¬ ly the edge of the drilled groove, the fastener head is according to a preferred embodiment provided with one or a number of, preferably, radial recesses. In this manner cut off wooden material will automatically be discharged when the head is screwed into the sash, frame, etc. An embodiment of the invention is disclosed in more detail below, inter alia by the aid of drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the fastener as well as a screw, and Figure 2 shows the fastener and screw mounted for joining a door or window sash with a surrounding building structure. Figure 1 shows the screw 9 and, furthermore, fastener 1 with powerful self-cutting threads 2. From the lower faces of head 3 and from the external edge portion of head 3 two diametrally opposed and vertical cutting edges 4,4' project. 5 designates a radial cutting edge which is slightly more shallow than cutting edges 4, 4'. On the opposite side of the head (partly visible) a corresponding radial cutting edge 5* is provided. 6 designates a radial recess in the head, and on the opposite side of the head (not shown) there is a corresponding recess 6' . Head 3 of the fastener is polygonally designed, and the same goes for the lower portion of through hole 7 in the fastener. Figure 2 shows a fastener in a inished mounted state. Fasten¬ er 1 is mounted in a through hole 11 in sash structure 10, which is of a soft material, preferably wood. Originally, and during storage, transport, etc. the fastener head 3 was screwed into and, thus, recessed in a self-made groove 12 in sash 10. From this recessed position fastener 1 with head 3 is screwed slightly out of the sash during mounting, so that head 3 contacts the stationary building structure 13. This adjustment of fastener 1 is either achieved by insertion of a tool through hole 11 in the sash for engagement with polygon¬ al head 7 of fastener 1, or by the aid of a tool through the slot between sash 10 and building structure 13 for engagement with polygonal head 3 of the fastener. When the fastener is adjusted, and has its head 3 in contact with building struct¬ ure 13, the fastener is firmly attached to the building structure by the aid of a screw 9, the head of which is made to contact stop 8 in hole 7 of fastener 1.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. An adjustable fastener (1) for joining two structural members which preferably constitute a door or window sash (10) and a surrounding stationary building structure (13), fastener (1) consisting of an externally threaded stem (2), and a head (3) which iε preferably polygonal, and with fastener (1) being provided with a through hole (7) in its longitudinal direction, which hole is polygonal, at least in the lower portion of the stem, and which in the head portion is provided with a stop (8) for a screw head, or the like, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the underεide of head (3) iε provided with one or a number of cutting edge(s) (4, 4' and 5,5', resp. ) . 2. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that head (3) is provided with one or a number of recess(es) (6), preferably being radial. 3. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that two or more cutting .edges (4,4') are provided diametrally opposed and vertically on the external edge portion of head (3), and that two or more cutting edges (5,5') are provided radially. 4. A fastener as stated in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the vertical cutting edges (4,4') project further out than said radial cutting edges (5,5').

Inventors: EDVARDSEN TERJE, EDVARDSEN, TERJE
Applicants: IGELA AS, IGELA A/S
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E06B1
IPC codes: E06B1, F16B5, F16B35, F16B37