Patent Publication Number: US-8534972-B2

Title: Waterproof screw bolt and a waterproof screw bolt combination

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a waterproof screw bolt and a waterproof screw bolt combination. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Screws are often used to join two separate members together through engaging holes defined in each member. In some situations, such as in an outdoor or in a wet environment, water can seep through the engaging holes. A typical method is to add a sealing washer under the head of the screw to prevent the water from seeping through the engaging holes. 
     However, unexpected deformation and breakage of the sealing washer may occur when the screw is applied. 
     Therefore, a waterproof screw and a waterproof screw bolt combination, which can overcome the above-mentioned problems, is needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a waterproof screw bolt according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a waterproof screw bolt combination. 
         FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of the waterproof screw bolt combination of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a waterproof screw  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a head  120  and a threaded shank  110  extending downwards from the head  120 . 
     The head  120  includes a top surface  121  and a bottom surface  122  opposite to the top surface  121 . The threaded shank  110  extends from the bottom surface  122 . 
     The bottom surface  122  defines a first ring-shaped groove  123  around the threaded shank  110 . The top surface  121  defines a through hole  124 . The through hole  124  runs through the head  120  from the top surface  121  to the bottom surface  122  and is in communication with the first ring-shaped groove  123 . The through hole  124  is configured to allow the first ring-shaped groove  123  to be filled with glue. 
     The top surface  121  further defines a screwdriver slot  125 . The screwdriver slot  125  is in communication with the through hole  124 . It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the head  120  of the waterproof screw  100  may be shaped as hexagonal column instead of defining the screwdriver slot  125  in the top surface  121 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a combination includes the waterproof screw  100 , a first member  200  and a second member  300 . 
     The first member  200  includes a contact surface  220 , a matching surface  230 , and a first engaging hole  210 . The first engaging hole  210  runs through the first member  200  from the contact surface  220  to the matching surface  230 . The contact surface  220  is used to contact with the head  120 . The matching surface  230  is used to match with the second member  300 . The second member  300  defines a second engaging hole  310  corresponding to the first engaging hole  210 . The waterproof screw  100  match in the first engaging hole  210  and the second engaging hole  310  to fasten the first member  200  to the second member  300  together. 
     The assembly method of the combination includes the following steps. 
     First, a second ring-shaped groove  221  is defined around the first engaging hole  210 . The second ring-shape groove  221  corresponds to the first ring-shaped groove  123 . 
     Second, the waterproof screw  100  is assembled into the first engaging hole  210  and the second engaging hole  310  to fasten the first member  200  to the second member  300 . At this time, the first ring-shaped groove  123  and the second ring-shaped groove  221  cooperatively define a ring-shaped channel  400  around the first engaging hole  210  between the bottom surface  122  and the contact surface  220 . Further, the width of the second ring-shaped groove  221  can be made slightly larger than the width of the first ring-shaped groove  123  to prevent dislocation between the first ring-shaped groove  123  and the second ring-shaped groove  221 . 
     Third, a glue is injected, such as epoxy resin, into the ring-shape channel  400  through the through hole  124 . 
     By the above steps, a sealing ring can be formed around the first engaging hole  210  between the bottom surface  122  and the contact surface  220 . Because the sealing ring is formed after the waterproof screw  100  is assembled, no deformation of the sealing ring occurs, a junction portion between the head  120  and the first engaging hole  210  is waterproofed. 
     Additionally, because of the existence of the sealing ring between the head  120  of the waterproof screw  100  and the contact surface  220  of the first member  200 , the waterproof screw  100  can not easily loosen on its own due to vibration. 
     Furthermore, because the screwdriver slot  125  defined in the head  120  of the waterproof screw  100  is in communication with the through hole  124 , to keep others from mistakenly removing the screw  100 , the amount of glue injected into the ring-shaped channel  400  can be increased to fill the screwdriver slot  125 . 
     It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the steps of defining the second ring-shaped groove  221  around the first engaging hole  210  in the contact surface  220  can be omitted. The first ring-shaped groove  123  and the contact surface  220  of the first member  200  cooperatively define the ring-shaped channel  400 . 
     It is to be understood that, the glue injected into the ring-shaped channel  400  and the screwdriver slot  125  may be further solidified to enhance the sealing effect. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.