Abstract:
A toggle bolt type connector has projecting locking members that extend and retract when a central drive shaft is rotated. The exterior of the connector has a body that is partially threaded to receive a nut so that two structures (eg. flanges, panels, plates, beams, etc.) can be pulled together by tightening the bolt when the locking members are in the extended position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to fasteners. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toggle bolt type fastener that can be used for holding or compressing multiple items together such as structural panels, flanges, or the like. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved toggle bolt type fastener device that features an outer body with an inner rotating shaft, rotation of the shaft moving a plurality of locking members between extended and retracted positions or between retracted and extended positions. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   Many types of fasteners have been patented that are designed to extend through multiple panels or wall members or through a single wall member. Such fasteners are designed to form a connection between multiple panels or between opposing sides of a particular panel or wall. Many of these fasteners are known as toggle bolts. Examples of patents disclosing toggle bolts and related fasteners are listed in the following table. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Pat. # 
               Title 
               Issue Date 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               1,169,635 
               Pipe Hanger 
               Jan. 25, 1916 
             
             
                3,312138 
               Expansion Shell for Rock Bolts 
               Apr. 04, 1967 
             
             
               3,946,636 
               Toggle Bolt 
               Mar. 30, 1976 
             
             
               4,047,462 
               Toggle Bolt 
               Sep. 13, 1977 
             
             
               4,079,655 
               Toggle Bolt 
               Mar. 21, 1978 
             
             
               4,453,845 
               Base Thrust Anchor Shell Assembly 
               Jun. 12, 1984 
             
             
               4,557,631 
               Off-Center Rock Bolt Anchor and Method 
               Dec. 10, 1985 
             
             
               5,108,240 
               Heavy Load Bearing Toggle Bolt 
               Apr. 28, 1992 
             
             
               5,865,559 
               Float Pins 
               Feb. 02, 1999 
             
             
               6,161,999 
               Toggle Bolt Device 
               Dec. 19, 2000 
             
             
               6,203,260 
               Toggle Bolt Assembly With Bolt 
               Mar. 20, 2001 
             
             
                 
               Centering Spacer 
             
             
               FR1236,439 
               Dispositif de soutenement par bil- 
               Jun. 07, 1960 
             
             
                 
               broche notamment pour plafonds de 
             
             
                 
               galeries de mines 
             
             
               DE1092415 
               Anke fur den Ankerausbau 
               Nov. 10, 1960 
             
             
               DE1936360 
                 
               May 1970 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved toggle bolt type device or fastener that can be used to join two members together such as a pair of panels, structures, flanges or the like. For example, the present invention can be used to join two spool pieces with pipe flanges together (see  FIG. 13 ) wherein each of the flanges has an opening of a selected diameter. The fastener of the present invention can extend through the openings for holding or fastening the two flanges together. 
   The apparatus includes an elongated body having first and second end portions and a central, longitudinal bore that is partially threaded. A first end portion of the body has a socket and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, radially extending slots that communicate with the socket. 
   A shaft extends through the bore of the body and has respective first and second end portions that communicate with the body end portion. The shaft is partially externally threaded and rotates relative to the body. The partially externally threaded portion of the shaft engages an internally threaded portion of the body at the bore. 
   A plurality of locking members are attached to the shaft at a first end portion of the body. The locking members can be attached to a plate mounted to the first end portion of the shaft. 
   The locking members are movable between extended and retracted positions responsive to a rotation of the shaft. Rotating the shaft in either of two selected direction can either move the locking members from an extended to a retracted position or from a retracted to an extended position. 
   In the locking position, the locking members extend radially beyond the outer surface of the body and the selected diameter. This enables the projecting, locking members in the extended position to engage one side of a selected member or members to be held together (wall, panels, flanges, etc). A fastener such as a nut is then connectable to the body at a partially externally threaded portion and opposite the locking members. The nut can then be tightened against the locking members so that compression can be applied to the shaft for holding the selected structures, flanges, panels together or for attaching the apparatus to a selected structure (wall, flange, beam, etc). 
   The apparatus of the present invention can be used to form an attachment to a wall, panel, beam, plate, slab or other structure by inserting the body through an opening in the selected structure when the locking members are retracted and then moving the locking members to an extended position so that they can form an attachment to the selected structure at one end portion of the opening (see  FIGS. 9–11 ). At the opposite end portion of the opening, the nut can be attached to the body and threadably engaged thereto for supplying compression to the body and for holding and anchoring the entire apparatus into a selected position at the opening (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view taken along lines  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an end view taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 4–4A  are sectional views taken along lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial, perspective, exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along lines  6 — 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 9–11  are sectional elevation views of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a sequence of attachment to a pair of panels, each having an opening, the openings being aligned; 
       FIG. 12  is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the extension member; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective, partially cut away elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing it in use with the extension of  FIG. 12  and holding two spool pieces together at ring type joint weld neck flanges. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1–11  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  11  in FIGS.  1  and  9 – 11 . Fastener apparatus  10  includes a body  11  that has external threads  12  and a central longitudinal bore  13 . The external threads  12  can be provided of a first diameter along a majority of the length of the body  11 . A second threaded portion  28  is of a smaller diameter than the threaded portion  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As will be described hereinafter, an extension  35  can attach at threads  28 . 
   A shaft  14  is mounted in the central longitudinal bore  13  of body  11 . Shaft  14  has external threads  15  that engage internal threads of central longitudinal bore  13 . In this fashion, when the shaft  14  is rotated, it also moves a slight distance linearly because of the engagement of the external threads  15  of shaft  14  and the internal threads of body  11  at central longitudinal bore  13 . This threaded engagement functions as a stop in one (clockwise) direction. 
   Shaft  14  has a threaded end portion  16  that receives locking nut  17 . The opposite end portion of shaft  14  provides end portion  27  having a tool receptive socket  26 . 
   A circular plate  18  is shown in  FIGS. 1–5  having a plurality of pegs  22  and a central internally threaded opening  19 . A plurality of locking members  20  are mounted respectively on the plurality of pegs  22  as shown in  FIGS. 3–5 . Each locking member  20  has a pivot hole  21  that enables the locking member to be pivotally mounted upon a peg  22 . In  FIG. 4 , the rotating plate  18  can be provided with three locking members  20 . In  FIG. 4A , the plate  18 A can be provided with two pegs  22  and two locking members  20  as shown. 
   Body  11  has a socket  24  at one end portion thereof and a plurality of slots  23  that communicate with socket  24  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The socket  24  is receptive of the locking members  20  when they are in the retracted position of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  4 A and  6 . When the locking members  20  are moved to an extended position as shown in  FIG. 7 , the locking members  20  extend through slots  23  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 8 , the slots  23  extend radially and are circumferentially spaced as shown. 
   A wrench  29  (see FIGS.  6  and  9 – 11 ) can be used to move the locking members  20  between the retracted position of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  4 A and  6  to the extended position of  FIG. 7 . The wrench  29  can, for example, be an allen wrench that fits a hexagonal socket or other like tool receptive socket  26  at end portion  27  of shaft  14 . By rotating the wrench  29  in the direction of arrow  48  in  FIG. 6  (counterclockwise) the shaft  14  engages the threaded portion of body  11  with its own threads  15 , rotating plate  18  and pegs  22 . A canning surface  25  on body  11  at socket  24  combine with the curved shape of each of the locking members  20  causes the locking members to move to the extended position of  FIG. 7  when shaft  14  is rotated counter clockwise relative to body  11 . 
   During use, the apparatus  10  is first placed in the retracted position of  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  4 ,  4 – 8  and  9  and then inserted through a selected opening such as the aligned openings  33 ,  34  as shown in  FIG. 9 . First member  31  can have an opening  33 . Similarly, second member  32  can have an opening  34  so that the fastener of the present invention can be used to hold the first member  31  and second member  32  together. 
   After the body  11  passes through both openings  33 ,  34  as shown in  FIG. 9 . wrench  29  can be used to move the locking members  20  to the extended position of  FIG. 10 . In this position, the locking members  20  extend well beyond the diameter of openings  33 ,  34  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Nut  30  can then be attached to body  11  at external threads  12 . Rotation of nut  30  enables compression to be generated against the panels  31 ,  32  as the nut  30  is moved closer to the projecting locking members  20  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The nut  30  is tightened against the projecting locking members  20 . 
   In  FIG. 12 , an extension  35  is shown that can be added to the body  11  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Extension  35  has a body  36  with a central longitudinal bore that receives shaft  37 . A socket  38  at one end portion of body  36  provides internal threads  49 . Body  36  has external threads  39 . Shaft  37  has end portion  40  with a tool receptive socket  26  that can be a hexagonal shape such as the socket  26  of shaft  14 . End portion  41  of shaft  37  can be a hexagonal projecting portion that engages tool receptive socket  26  of body  11  when extension is to be used. In order to connect extension  35  to body  11 , the external threads  28  of body  11  engage the internal threads  49  of extension  35 . This connection can be seen in  FIG. 13 . 
   In  FIG. 13 , a pair of spool pieces  44 ,  45  are to be joined together. Each of the spool pieces  44 ,  45  provides a pipe flange such as, for example, a ring type joint weld neck flange. The spool piece  44  has flange  42 , the spool piece  45  has flange  43 . Each of the flanges has bolt openings through which the apparatus  10  of the present invention is inserted for forming a connection. The flange  42  has bolt hole opening  46 . The flange  43  has bolt opening  47 . As with the illustration in  FIGS. 9–11 , the combination of body  11  and extension  35  are placed through the openings  46 ,  47  as shown in  FIG. 13 . A wrench  29  has then used to rotate shaft  37  which is connected to shaft  14  and also rotates it. In this fashion, the projecting locking members  20  can be moved to the extended position so that they extend will beyond the diameter of bolt hole opening  46  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Nut  30  can then be added to the external threads  39  of extension  35  as shown in  FIG. 13  and tightened for pulling the flanged spool pieces  44 ,  45  together as indicated schematically by arrows  51  in  FIG. 13 . The present invention can be used to join structures, such as spool pieces together in crowded areas (eg. oil platforms, refineries) wherein access to each flange may be limited making conventional tools useless. 
   PARTS LIST 
   The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Part No. 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               fastener apparatus 
             
             
               11 
               body 
             
             
               12 
               external threads 
             
             
               13 
               central longitudinal bore 
             
             
               14 
               shaft 
             
             
               16 
               threaded end portion 
             
             
               17 
               locking nut 
             
             
               18 
               circular rotating plate 
             
             
               19 
               opening 
             
             
               20 
               locking member 
             
             
               21 
               locking member pivot hole 
             
             
               22 
               peg 
             
             
               23 
               slot 
             
             
               24 
               socket 
             
             
               25 
               cam surface 
             
             
                   25A 
               cam surface 
             
             
               26 
               tool socket 
             
             
               27 
               end portion 
             
             
               28 
               external threads 
             
             
               29 
               wrench 
             
             
               30 
               nut 
             
             
               31 
               first member 
             
             
               32 
               second member 
             
             
               33 
               opening 
             
             
               34 
               opening 
             
             
               35 
               extension 
             
             
               36 
               body 
             
             
               37 
               shaft 
             
             
               38 
               socket 
             
             
               39 
               external threads 
             
             
               40 
               end portion 
             
             
               41 
               end portion 
             
             
               42 
               pipe flange 
             
             
               43 
               pipe flange 
             
             
               44 
               spool piece 
             
             
               45 
               spool piece 
             
             
               46 
               bolt hole 
             
             
               47 
               bolt hole 
             
             
               48 
               arrow 
             
             
               49 
               internal threads 
             
             
               50 
               external threads 
             
             
               51 
               arrow 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.