Patent Publication Number: US-2020284286-A1

Title: Self-Drilling Ground Screw

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/814,020 filed on Mar. 5, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to self-drilling ground screws. More particularly, the present invention pertains to self-drilling ground screws having a threaded portion and a drill bit portion along a shaft thereof, wherein a pointed protrusion extends from a distal end of the shaft. 
     Many people, such as electricians, carpenters, and handymen, regularly install grounding connections. These grounding connections are typically important to provide safety and functionality to various electrical systems and the like. Generally grounding connections are made by drilling into a substrate, such as an electrical box, and then subsequently screwing a ground screw into the hole, and then affixing a ground wire to the ground screw. This can take a significant amount of time and be quite labor intensive, as the user must change tools and equipment several times during the process, moving from a drill, to a screwdriver, and then securing a ground wire to each screw in the process. Therefore, a device that allows user to simultaneously drill a pilot hole for the ground screw and affix the ground screw to the substrate is desired. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing ground screws. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ground screws now present in the known art, the present invention provides a self-drilling ground screw wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when securing a ground screw within a substrate while simultaneously drilling a pilot hole for the screw. 
     The present device comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a head is affixed to the proximal end. The shaft comprises a threaded portion and a drill bit portion, wherein threading is disposed about the shaft along the threaded portion. The drill bit portion comprises spiral cutting edges therealong. A protrusion extends from the distal end, wherein the protrusion tapers from the distal end to a point to aid in drilling a pilot hole. 
     In some embodiments, the self-drilling ground screw further comprises a flange extending orthogonally from a base of the head, the flange configured to rest flush against a substrate when the screw is secured thereto such that a grounding wire can be secured thereunder. In this embodiment, the flange includes a planar lower surface. In another embodiment, the flange includes a rounded upper side. 
     In some embodiments, a plurality of cutouts is disposed on the head, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is configured to operably engage a screwdriver therein. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of cutouts is selected from a group including, but not limited to, a flathead cutout, a Phillips head cutout, and a hex cutout. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of cutouts is concentric. In another embodiment, the head comprises a hexagonal cross-section configured to be operably engaged by a wrench. In some embodiments, the protrusion comprises a diameter less than that of the drill bit portion. In yet another embodiment, the protrusion is concentric with the shaft. In some embodiments, the threading comprises a fin cut having angular sides of equal length. In another embodiment, the threaded portion extends along a majority of a length of the shaft. In other embodiments, the protrusion further comprises a spiraling shape defining cutting edges thereon. In yet another embodiment, the cutting edges of the protrusion and the spiral cutting edges of the drill bit portion are angularly offset. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. 
         FIG. 5  shows a close-up view of the threading of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the self-drilling ground screw. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. The self-drilling ground screw  11  comprises a shaft  12  having a proximal end  13  opposite a distal end  14 . A head  15  is disposed on the proximal end  13 , wherein the head  15  is configured to operably receive a tool thereon to facilitate securement of the self-drilling ground screw  11  within a substrate, such as an electrical box, ground surface, or the like. A flange  27  extends orthogonally from the head  15  at a position adjacent to the proximal end  13 , wherein the flange  27  is configured to rest flush against the substrate when the self-drilling ground screw  11  is secured therein. In this way a grounding wire can be secured beneath the flange  27  to provide a grounding connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange  27  comprises a hollow interior, however, in alternate embodiments, the flange  27  comprises a solid construction to improve durability thereof, while providing a planar lower surface against which a grounding wire can rest to properly provide a grounding connection. A protrusion  20  extends from the distal end  14 , wherein the protrusion  20  is configured to form a pilot hole within the substrate to facilitate easier drilling therethrough. In some embodiments, an entirety of the self-drilling ground screw  11  comprises a conductive material such that a proper grounding connection is formed when a grounding wire is affixed thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a side view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. The shaft further comprises a threaded portion  16  and a drill bit portion  17  thereon. The threaded portion  16  comprises threading  18  helically wrapped about the shaft therealong, wherein the threading  18  is configured to removably secure the shaft within the substrate. The drill bit portion  17  comprises a spiraling form factor defining spiral cutting edges  19  thereon. The spiral cutting edges  19  are configured to remove material from a substrate to define a hole therein akin to traditional drill bits. In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded portion  16  extends along a majority of the shaft. In this way, maximal securement within the substrate is ensured. In some embodiments, the threading  18  is aligned with the spiral cutting edges  19  at a transition between the threaded portion  16  and the drill bit portion  17 , such that installation of the self-drilling ground screw within a substrate readily transitions between drilling therethrough and securing therein. In this way, a singular rotational force applied to the self-drilling ground screw forms the hole in which the ground screw is simultaneously secured. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the protrusion  20  tapers opposite the distal end of the shaft to define a point  21  thereon. The point  21  is configured to initiate the drilling process within the substrate. In this way the protrusion  20  forms an initial pilot hole within the substrate to properly seat the drill bit portion  17  therein, such that the hole can be widened to a desired size to receive the threaded portion  16  therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion  20  is aligned with the shaft, such that the shaft and the protrusion  20  are concentric. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the head  15  further comprises a flange  27  extending orthogonally from a base  28  of the head  15 . In some embodiments, the flange  27  comprises a planar lower surface  30  configured to rest flush against the substrate when the ground screw is secured therein. In this way, the flange  27  can operably receive a grounding wire thereunder, allowing a user to create a ground connection therewith. This allows a greater area of the grounding wire to be in contact with the flange  27  than in embodiments having a flange  27  with a hollow interior as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the flange  27  further comprises a rounded upper side  29 , wherein the rounded upper side  29  provides additional durability to the flange  27 , preventing deformation thereof during the installation process. In this way, the s is ensured a solid grounding connection is formed, as consistent contact with a grounding wire is made thereby. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a top plan view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. In the illustrated embodiment, the head  15  further comprises a hexagonal cross-section, such that the head  15  is configured to operably engage a wrench. Furthermore, in the shown embodiment, the head  15  includes a plurality of cutouts therein, wherein the plurality of cutouts are each configured to operably engage an operable end of a screwdriver. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of cutouts comprise a flathead cutout  23 , a Phillips head cutout  24 , and a hex cutout  25 , however alternate cutouts configured to receive other typical screwdriver heads known in the art are also contemplated. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of cutouts are disposed concentrically within the head  15 , such that each cutout produces an evenly distributed rotational force through the ground screw. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of cutouts is disposed at a different depth within the head  15 , such that each of the cutouts is readily identifiable. In this way, the user can utilize various different tools for providing rotational force to the head  15  in order to simultaneously drill and secure the ground screw within a substrate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. The protrusion  20  is disposed on the distal end of the shaft and tapers to form a point  21  thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion  20  is disposed concentrically with the drill bit portion  17  to provide proper positioning for a pilot hole to be expanded by the drill bit portion  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion  20  comprises a spiral cress-section similar to the drill bit portion  17 , such that the spiral of the protrusion  20  defines additional cutting edges thereon. The additional cutting edges further aid in the formation of the pilot hole. In the shown embodiment, the spiraling of the protrusion  20  is angularly offset from the spiraling of the drill bit portion  17 , such that the material expunged from the substrate by the protrusion  20  to form the pilot hole can be evacuated along the drill bit portion  17 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a close-up view of the threading of an embodiment of the self-drilling ground screw. In the illustrated embodiment, the threading  18  comprises a fin cut, such that the threading  18  includes angular sides  26  having equal lengths. In this way, the threading  18  is configured to provide greater securement within the substrate. Alternatively, other forms of threading  18  known in the art are contemplated and may be used to comply with desired characteristics thereof. Additionally, certain safety requirements, building codes, and regulations, such as the National Electrical Code (NEC), may require specific types of threading  18  to be used. 
     In one exemplary use, the user identifies where along a substrate a grounding screw must be installed and places the point of the protrusion at that location. The user then engages the head of the ground screw with a tool, such as a wrench or screwdriver, to impart rotational force through the shaft such that a pilot hole is formed by the protrusion. The drill bit portion of the ground screw then widens the pilot hole to a desired diameter to receive the threaded portion therein. The threading is then secured within the hole immediately following the hole is drilled, such that the user is not required to switch tools. A grounding wire can then be secured beneath the head or flange in order to provide a proper grounding connection. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.