Patent Publication Number: US-6213373-B1

Title: Plate-shaped fastener and driving jig for the same

Description:
This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 09/386,455, filed Aug. 31, 1999, pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a plate-shaped fastener used to mount various instruments and members to interior walls and ceilings of plasterboard by means of screws. 
     This invention also relates to a driving jig used to obliquely drive the plate-shaped fastener to mount a member or an instrument to a plasterboard wall or a ceiling surface. 
     A conventional means for mounting various instruments and members to a wall or a ceiling constructed so as not to be accessible to its back, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a plug  4  having a plurality of bendable legs  2  integrally formed at the tip of a flanged sleeve  1 , and provided with a nut member  3  at the tip of the group of bendable legs  2 . In use, a hole  5  is drilled in a ceiling or wall A, the plug  4  is inserted into the hole  5 , a screw inserted into the flanged sleeve  1  is threaded into the nut member  3  and tightened, the nut member  3  is pulled to bend the group of bendable legs  2  so that the plug  4  may not come off, the screw is pulled out, an instrument or member B is superposed on the ceiling or wall A, and a screw  6  is threaded through the instrument or member B into the nut member  3  to fasten the instrument or member B to the ceiling or wall A. 
     By the way, since such a plug  4  is prevented from coming off by bending the group of bendable legs  2  in the back of the ceiling or wall A, if the screw  6  is tightened strongly, co-turning tends to occur, so that no firm tightening force is obtainable, and also loosening tends to occur due to vibration. The resistance to pulling force is also weak. Moreover, since the plug is complicated in structure, the cost is high. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a plate-shaped fastener which is less likely to loosen by vibration, which provides tightening high in resistance to pulling force, and which is inexpensive in cost. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a driving jig which makes it possible to drive in the plate-shaped fastener accurately at a predetermined angle, and with which the plate-shaped fastener can be held so as not to come off during driving, whereby the plate-shaped fastener can be driven in easily and moreover, the screw position can be clearly indicated when fastening by a screw. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to this invention, there is provided a plate-shaped fastener having a fastener body formed from a metallic plate and formed with a hole adapted to threadedly engage a screw. 
     According to this invention, there is also provided a driving jig for a plate-shaped fastener used to drive the plate-shaped fastener having a hole for a screw, comprising a holder portion for movably containing the plate-shaped fastener in a guide path extending therethrough in a longitudinal direction, and a positioning plate portion integrally provided in a bent state at the tip of the holder portion and adapted to abut a driven surface of the plate-shaped fastener, the plate portion being provided with a tightening position indicating portion, a driving rod for driving the plate-shaped fastener inserted in the guide path of the holder portion, the holder portion being formed with an insertion hole for the driving rod, the holder portion being provided with resilient holding portions for the plate-shaped fastener inserted in the guide path, and a resilient holding portion for the driving rod inserted in the insertion hole. 
    
    
     Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A through 1C are perspective views showing different embodiments of plate-shaped fasteners; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a guide gauge used to drive the plate-shaped fastener; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing how the plate-shaped fastener is used; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing another example in which the plate-shaped fasteners are used; and 
     FIG. 5A is a plan view of the driving jig according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5B is its front view; 
     FIG. 5C is its bottom view; 
     FIG. 5D is a sectional view along arrow d—d of FIG. 5B; 
     FIG. 5E is a sectional view along arrow e—e of FIG. 5B; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the driving jig; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a driven state of a plate-shaped fastener using the driving jig; and 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional fastener. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of this invention are described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the plate-shaped fastener  11  has a fastener body  12  formed from a metallic plate such as a stainless steel plate and having holes  13  into which a screw is adapted to be threaded. The fastener body  12  has a pointed end  14  at one end of a rectangular portion  12   a,  and a straight or convex striking edge  15  for driving at the other end. The holes  13  are formed in the central portion of this fastener body  12 . 
     The plate-shaped fastener  11  of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A has its pointed end  14  formed by a forwardly protruding, narrow pointed portion  14   a , and inclined edges  14   b  connecting with the portion  14   a  on both sides. The holes  13  formed in the central part of the rectangular portion  12   a  are a large number of independent holes. 
     The plate-shaped fastener  11  of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1B has its pointed end  14  with inclined edges  14   b  on both sides. The hole  13  is an elongate hole elongated in the direction in which the fastener body  12  is driven in. 
     The plate-shaped fastener  11  of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 1C has its pointed end  14  with inclined edges  14   b  on both sides. The hole  13  is formed by arranging many circular holes along the driving direction of the fastener body  12  so as to overlap with each other. 
     FIG. 2 is a guide gauge  16  used when the above plate-shaped fastener  11  is driven into a wall. A holder  18  for the plate-shaped fastener  11  is integrally formed at an angle at one end of a flat plate  17  which is to be superposed on the wall or ceiling. A hole  19  for alignment with the screw-threading position is formed in the flat plate  17 . The holder  18  is formed by bending the flat plate  17  in half at its extended portion, and between its opposed surfaces, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is held in an inclined state with respect to the flat plate  17  so that it can be driven in. 
     The plate-shaped fastener of this invention has a structure as described above. We shall describe how to use it using FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     FIG. 3 shows how a member B is fastened to a wall member A using a single plate-shaped fastener  11 . In this case, the plate-shaped fastener  11  has a relatively long rectangular portion  12   a . By striking the striking edge  15  with a hammer from a point slightly spaced from the screw-tightening position, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is obliquely driven into the wall member A until the striking edge sinks below the surface of the wall member A and the pointed end  14  and the hole  13  protrude to the back of the wall member A. 
     When driving the plate-shaped fastener  11 , using the guide gauge  16  shown in FIG. 2, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is set in the holder  18  with the flat plate  17  superposed on the surface of the wall member A and the hole  19  aligned with the screw tightening position. In this state, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is driven in, and the guide gauge  16  is removed when the tip of the plate-shaped fastener  11  has penetrated by some distance, and driving is continued. Thus, the positioning of the screw tightening position relative to the hole  13  can be done accurately. 
     When the driving of the plate-shaped fastener  11  ends, the member B is superposed on the wall member A. When a screw  20  inserted through the member B is threaded into the wall member A, the screw  20  penetrates through the wall member and is threaded into the hole  13  of the plate-shaped fastener  11 . When the screw  20  is tightened, the portion of the plate-shaped fastener  11  protruding to the back of the wall member is pulled against the back of the wall member, so that this portion of the plate-shaped fastener  11  is bent and superposed on the back of the wall member. It is thus possible to fasten the member B to the wall member A with the wall member sandwiched between the member B and the plate-shaped fastener  11 . 
     FIG. 4 shows an example in which the member B is fastened to the wall member A using a plurality of plate-shaped fasteners  11 . In this case, each plate-shaped fastener has a relatively short rectangular portion  12   a . Each plate-shaped fastener  11  is driven obliquely outwardly into the wall member A so that the hole  13  will be located right under the screw tightening position. When the screws  20  are threaded through the member B superposed on the surface of the wall member A into the wall member, the screws  20  penetrate through the member B and member A into the holes  13  of the plate-shaped fasteners  11 . When the screws  20  are tightened, the member B are positioned, so that the plate-shaped fasteners  11  will become unmovable. A firmly tightened state is thus obtained. 
     In any of the examples, the driven portion of the plate-shaped fastener  11  is covered by the member B, so that a good finish is obtained. Since it is tightened by a screw  20  by driving in the plate-shaped fastener  11 , it is possible to obtain such a strong resistance to pulling force as to destroy the wall member A. 
     According to this invention, the plate-shaped fastener is formed with a hole for threading a screw. By driving it obliquely so that the hole is located right under the screw tightening position and by threading a screw, it is possible to easily fasten various members to a plasterboard. Since the plate-shaped fastener is formed from a metallic plate, the cost is low. Once driven in, it absorbs vibrations from outside and is effectively prevented from loosening after being tightened. 
     Also, since the plate-shaped fastener is driven in obliquely and fastened by a screw at the back of the plasterboard, tightening with high resistance to pulling force is assured. 
     By the way, since the plate-shaped fastener has to be driven obliquely into a plasterboard wall or ceiling surface while holding it by hand, not only is driving difficult, but also, it will come off easily if holding is insufficient. Driving into a ceiling surface is especially difficult. 
     Also, with the plate-shaped fastener, due to its structure, the portion with the screw hole is disposed in the back of a plasterboard wall or ceiling surface after driving, so that it is difficult to know the screw position when the member or instrument is fastened by a screw. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a driving jig according to the present invention used to drive this plate-shaped fastener into a plasterboard wall or a ceiling surface. 
     The driving jig  21  includes a holder portion  22  for movably containing the plate-shaped fastener, and a positioning plate portion  23  integrally provided in a bent state at the tip of the holder portion  22  and adapted to abut the surface into which the plate-shaped fastener  11  is driven. A tightening position indicating portion  24  is provided on this plate portion  23 . 
     The holder portion  22  has a top plate  25  in the form of an elongated metallic plate, and a substantially identically shaped bottom plate  26  superposed on the top plate and fixed thereto by welding or riveting. The plate portion  23  is formed integrally at the tip of the top plate  25  so as to be bent at a predetermined angle. An auxiliary plate portion  27  is integrally formed at the tip of the bottom plate  26  so as to be bent toward the opposite direction at a predetermined angle so that the plate portion  23  and the auxiliary plate portion  27  are in a common plane. 
     Between the top plate  25  and the bottom plate  26 , a guide path  28  in which the plate-shaped fastener  11  is receivable is formed to extend therethrough in the longitudinal direction. At the widthwise center of this guide path  28 , an insertion path  30  for a driving rod  29  for driving the plate-shaped fastener  11  inserted into the guide path  28  is formed so as to extend therethrough in the longitudinal direction. This insertion path  30  is formed cylindrically by bending the top plate  25  and the bottom plate  26  outwardly opposite to each other at a position corresponding to the central portion of the guide path  28 . 
     The abovementioned driving rod  29  is used to drive forwardly the plate-shaped fastener  11  inserted in the guide path  28 . Its length is substantially equal to or longer than the holder portion  22 . 
     The holder portion  22  is provided with resilient holding portions  31  for the plate-shaped fastener  11  inserted in the guide path  28 , and a resilient holding portion  32  for the driving rod  29  inserted in the insertion path  30 . By these resilient holding portions  31 ,  32 , the plate-shaped fastener  11  and the driving rod  29  inserted in the holder portion  22  are held so as not to fall out even if the holder portion  22  stands vertically. 
     These resilient holding portions  31 ,  32  are formed by inserting a resilient metallic plate  34  between the top and bottom plates  25  and  26  at a portion corresponding to a window hole  33  formed in the bottom plate  26 , and providing the resilient metallic plate  34  with spring pieces  35  which serve as the resilient holding portions  31 , on both sides facing the guide path  28 , and a spring piece  36  which serves as the resilient holding portion  32 , at a position facing the insertion path  30 . 
     The resilient metallic plate  34  has a semicircular portion  37  which covers the missing portion of the insertion path  30  due to the formation of the window hole  33 . 
     The tightening position indicating portion  24  provided on the plate portion  23  is formed by a pointed pin which is driven into the surface of the wall A (FIG.  7 ), and is arranged to correspond to the hole  13  for a screw for tightening the plate-shaped fastener  11 . This indicating portion  24  serves to fix the driving jig  21  to the wall surface, but may simply be a round hole. 
     The driving jig  21  of this invention is structured as described above. In order to fasten a member or instrument B to a plasterboard wall A or a ceiling surface using the plate-shaped fastener  11  and the screw, first, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is inserted into the guide path  28  of the holder portion  22 . The driving rod  29  is then inserted into the insertion path  30 , and the plate-shaped fastener  11  is pushed forward by driving the driving rod  29  until the tip of the plate-shaped fastener  11  arrives at the tip of the holder portion  22  (FIG.  5 A). 
     In this state, the plate-shaped fastener  11  is urged and held by the resilient holding portion  31 , and the driving rod  29  is held by the resilient holding portion  32 , so that they will not drop irrespective of the position of the driving jig  21 . 
     Holding by hand the driving jig  21  in which are set the plate-shaped fastener  11  and the driving rod  29 , as shown in FIG. 7, the plate portion  23  is superposed on the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface to which a member or an instrument is to be fixed, the indicating portion  24  is driven in at the screw tightening position. 
     Now the driving jig  21  is positioned with respect to the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface, so that due to the angle between the holder portion  22  and the plate portion  23 , the plate-shaped fastener  11  held by the holder portion  22  is positioned at a predetermined angle relative to the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface. When the driving rod  29  is driven in by striking it with a hammer in this state, the plate-shaped fastener  11  to which the tip of the driving rod  29  is abutting is pushed forward while being guided by the holder portion  22 , and driven into the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface at its pointed end  14  at an angle. 
     When the tip of the driving rod  29  reaches the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface and the plate-shaped fastener  11  is completely driven in, the latter has penetrated through the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface in an inclined state, so that the pointed end  14  protrudes a predetermined length from the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface. This completes the driving step of the plate-shaped fastener  11 . By pulling out the indicating portion  24 , the driving jig  21  can be removed from the wall A or ceiling surface. 
     A member or an instrument is superposed on the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface so that its screw hole aligns with a hole from which the indicating portion  24  has been removed. A screw inserted into the screw hole is threaded into the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface. When the tip of the screw which penetrated through the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface is inserted into the thread-engagement hole  13  of the plate-shaped fastener  11  at the back of the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface, the portion of the plate-shaped fastener  11  protruding to the back of the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface will be bent and superposed onto the back of the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface. Thus, with the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface sandwiched between the member or instrument and the bent portion of the plate-shaped fastener  11 , the member or instrument is fastened to the plasterboard wall A or ceiling surface by tightening the screw. 
     Since the plate-shaped fastener  11  is guided by the holder portion  22  of the driving jig  21 , driving can be done accurately at a desired inclination angle with respect to the plasterboard wall or ceiling surface. Also, since the plate-shaped fastener  11  and the driving rod  29  are held resiliently in a set state in the driving jig  21 , they will not come off irrespective of its position. In particular, a member or an instrument can be fixed to a ceiling surface without difficulty. 
     According to this invention, since the insertion path for the driving rod is formed in the holder portion, and the resilient holding portion for the plate-shaped fastener and that for the driving rod are formed, it is possible to drive the plate-shaped fastener accurately into a plasterboard wall or ceiling surface at a required angle. 
     Also, since the screw threading position can be found accurately due to the screw position indicating portion on the plate portion, by making this indicating portion in the form of a pointed pin, the driving jig can be easily positioned, so that the plate-shaped fastener can be driven in stably.