Patent Publication Number: US-2017370400-A1

Title: Fastener for Corrugated Sheet

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to fastening of corrugated sheets and more particularly to a fastener for a corrugated sheet having a sealing member fastened between a support and a corrugated sheet so that a fastened structure can be waterproof, moreover, splayed hooks fastened in a steel member capable of greatly increasing the structural strength of both the support and the corrugated sheet, thereby withstanding heavy rain and winds. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many patios, factories and buildings have corrugated sheet roofs. A corrugated sheet roof has the functions of preventing rain from entering the building, preventing sunlight from directly entering the building, and being a heat barrier. The corrugated sheet roofs are easy to construct and inexpensive. Typically, a corrugated sheet and a structure attached thereto are fastened by threaded fasteners (e.g., screws). Only the threaded shank of the screw is through the corrugated sheet and thus it is not sufficiently secure. It is possible that in clement weather rain may enter the building through the joining portion of the screw and the corrugated sheet. To the worse, strong winds may blow the corrugated sheet away to not only damage the building but also hurt or even kill people. 
     Thus, the need for improvement exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a fastener for a corrugated sheet comprising a corrugated sheet including a plurality of through holes; at least one support mounted on a top of the corrugated sheet; at least one steel member mounted on a bottom of the corrugated sheet; a cylindrical assembly including a plurality of elongated, plate shaped fastening members assembled as a hollow cylinder, each fastening member tapered to one end to form a hook at one end and having a curved groove on an outer surface, and a curved trough on the outer surface at the other end of the fastening member, the curved troughs assembled to form an annular recess; a retainer ring secured to the annular recess; a ring-shaped elastic member secured to the curved groove; and a washer; a threaded bolt driven through the washer, the retainer ring, the fastening members, the support, and the corrugated sheet into the steel member; an expansion nut having a multi-sided outer surface and moveably secured to the threaded bolt; and a ring-shaped first sealing member fastened between and by the support and the corrugated sheet and disposed on each through hole; wherein the threaded bolt is secured to the expansion nut which is surrounded by the hooks prior to driving through the support. 
     Preferably, the expansion nut includes a plurality of spaced flats and a plurality of raised portions each between two adjacent flats, the expansion nut tapered to one end facing the retainer ring. 
     Preferably, further comprises a second sealing member fastened below the washer, and a sleeve mounted between the second sealing member and the retainer ring, and wherein one end of the sleeve urges against the retainer ring and the other end thereof urges against the second sealing member. 
     Preferably, the corrugated sheet further includes a plurality of top risers disposed under the support, and wherein the through holes are disposed through the top risers respectively. 
     Preferably, the steel member has a longitudinal section of C, H, L, or circle. 
     Preferably, the support includes an upright extending mount configured to threadedly secure to a sheet member. 
     Preferably, the first sealing member is a pad made of thermoplastic. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastener for corrugated sheet according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the fastener; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, longitudinal sectional view of the fastener; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled fastener; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of a fastener according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the sleeve; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, longitudinal sectional view of the fastener, a support, the first sealing member, a corrugated sheet, and a steel member to be assembled; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled fastener, the support, the first sealing member, the corrugated sheet, and the steel member; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  showing the fastener mounted on a roof made of corrugated sheet, the fastener being expanded, and further secured to a sheet member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a fastener for corrugated sheet in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
     A cylindrical assembly  50  includes a plurality of elongated, plate shaped fastening members  51  assembled as a hollow cylinder, the fastening member  51  tapered to one end to form a hook  52  at one end and having a curved groove  53  on an outer surface adjacent to the position that the fastening member  51  tapers, and a curved trough  54  on the outer surface at the other end of the fastening member  51 , the curved troughs  54  assembled to form an annular recess  55 ; a retainer ring  57  secured to the annular recess  55 ; and a ring-shaped elastic member  56  secured to the curved groove  53 . 
     There are further provided with a first sealing member  70  put on a peripheral surface of the retainer ring  57 ; a second sealing member  42  disposed on the first sealing member  70 ; a washer  41  disposed on the second sealing member  42 ; a threaded bolt  40  driven through the washer  41 , the second sealing member  42 , the retainer ring  57 , and the fastening member  51  to have an open end proximate to the hooks  52 ; and an expansion nut  60  having a multi-sided outer surface and moveably secured to the bolt  40 . The expansion nut  60  is surrounded by the hooks  52 . 
     The expansion nut  60  includes a plurality of spaced flats  601  and a plurality of raised portions  602  each between two adjacent flats  601 . The expansion nut  60  tapers to one end facing the retainer ring  57 . 
     A person may threadedly move the expansion nut  60  along the threads of the bolt  40  by splaying the hooks  52  apart until the expansion nut  60  is disposed at a position proximate to the elastic member  56  with the raised portions  602  urging against an inner surface of the fastening member  51 . As a result, the fastening member  51  is fastened. 
     Preferably, both the first and second sealing members  70 ,  42  are made of a waterproof material to prevent water from entering the fastening member  51  through the retaining ring  30 . Otherwise, the fastener may be rusted. 
     Preferably, both the first and second sealing members  70 ,  42  are shaped as a ring and implemented as a pad made of thermoplastic. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , a fastener for corrugated sheet in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following: 
     A sleeve  80  is mounted between the second sealing member  42  and the retainer ring  57 . That is, one end of the sleeve  80  urges against the retainer ring  57  and the other end thereof urges against the second sealing member  42 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8  again, in a fastening operation, a person may drive the threaded bolt  40  through the washer  41 , the second sealing member  42 , the sleeve  80 , the retainer ring  57 , the fastening member  51 , a support  20 , the first sealing member  70 , a corrugated sheet  10 , and a steel member  30  to have an open end proximate to the hooks  52 ; and next threadedly move the expansion nut  60  along the threads of the bolt  40  by splaying the hooks  52  apart until the expansion nut  60  is disposed at a position proximate to the elastic member  56  with the raised portions  602  urging against an inner surface of the fastening member  51 . As a result, the fastener, the support  20 , the corrugated sheet  10 , and the steel member  30  are fastened together. 
     The support  20  includes an upright extending mount  21  configured to threadedly secure to a sheet member  90 . The corrugated sheet  10  includes a plurality of top risers  12  (only one shown in the figures) disposed under the support  20  and a plurality of through holes  11  each through the top riser  12 . The steel member  30  has a longitudinal section of C (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), H, L or circle. 
     Preferably, a bottom of the corrugated sheet  10  is fastened on the steel member  30 , a top thereof is secured to the support  20 , and the first sealing member  70  is fastened between and by the support  20  and the top riser  12 . 
     Prior to fastening, positions of the support  20 , the corrugated sheet  10  and the steel member  30  to be drilled should be chosen. Thereafter, in a next fastening operation the cylindrical assembly  50  can be driven through the support  20 , the corrugated sheet  10  and the steel member  30 . Also, the first sealing member  70  is clamped by and between the support  20  and the corrugated sheet  10 . Next, the threaded bolt  40  is driven through the second sealing member  42  into the cylindrical assembly  50  and threadedly move the expansion nut  60  along the threads of the bolt  40  by splaying the hooks  52  apart by bending the fastening member  51  at the curved grooves  53  and expanding the elastic member  56  until the expansion nut  60  is disposed at a position proximate to the elastic member  56  with the raised portions  602  urging against an inner surface of the fastening member  51 . Finally, the support  20  is threadedly secured to a structure, for example, a cooling tower, a water tank, a solar panel, or a satellite dish. As a result, the fastening operation is completed. 
     The provision of the sleeve  80  between the second sealing member  42  and the retainer ring  57  allows the fastener to secure to a structure having a greater thickness. Also, the first sealing member  70  is put on the sleeve  80 . 
     It is noted that the first sealing member  70  is fastened between the support  20  and the corrugated sheet  10  so that the fastened structure can be waterproof. Moreover, the splayed hooks  52  fastened in the steel member  30  can greatly increase the structural strength of both the support  20  and the corrugated sheet  10 . Thus, persons and equipment in a building can be protected. Also, the building can withstand heavy rain and winds. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.