Patent Description:
In various cases, objects, such as plates or profiles, are fixed to building construction, such as to the ceiling, in a distance from the building construction. The adjustment of the plate to the building construction typically applies two nuts, each at another side of the plate. This fixing is disadvantaged in that one of the nuts is disposed behind the plate.

The method described above has not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the long felt need for convenient fixing of objects at a distance from the building structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for convenient fixing of objects at a distance from the building structure.

Each of <CIT> and <CIT> discloses a male thread containing a female thread. However, <CIT> discloses equal bindings of the male thread; and <CIT> does not disclose an internal thread configured for being bent.

<CIT> discloses a mounting plate for mounting a fagade on a wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

Aspects of the present invention are set out in the appended set of claims. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a nut (<NUM>), comprising:.

The character of the self-tapping thread (<NUM>) of not providing linear pacing in relation to the object (<NUM>) upon rotation therebetween upon completing the threading therebetween, may comprise a space (<NUM>) between an internal binding end (<NUM>) of the self-tapping thread (<NUM>) and an adjacent surface (<NUM>) of the nut (<NUM>), the space (<NUM>) being substantially larger than a thickness (<NUM>) of the object (<NUM>), for allowing the object (<NUM>) rotate within the space (<NUM>).

The nut (<NUM>) may further comprise an elastic washer (<NUM>), disposed in the space (<NUM>), for limiting movement between the self-tapping thread (<NUM>) and the object (<NUM>) upon completing the threading therebetween.

The character of the self-tapping thread (<NUM>) of not providing linear pacing in relation to the object (<NUM>) upon rotation therebetween upon completing the threading therebetween, may comprise an internal binding (44C) being thinner than the other bindings (44B),.

According to another aspect a system is provided, comprising a bolt (<NUM>), a nut (<NUM>), and a tool (<NUM>) for rotating the bolt (<NUM>) threaded into the inventive nut (<NUM>), upon rotating to the closing direction (<NUM>), and for releasing the bolt (<NUM>) therefrom upon rotating to the opening direction, the tool (<NUM>) comprising:.

thereby providing friction therebetween.

The gripping tool (<NUM>) may further comprise:.

thereby opening the male thread (<NUM>) from the second female thread (<NUM>) for releasing the tightening element (<NUM>), before opening the bolt (<NUM>).

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments ("best mode"), which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

<FIG> depicts a prior art self threading nut and a plate into which the nut is threaded.

The term "self-tapping thread" refers herein to a thread having a widening perimeter, for producing a thread in a substance by rotation of the thread in relation to the substance.

The term "self-tapping nut" refers herein to a nut having a self-tapping thread.

A prior art self-tapping nut includes a self-tapping thread, in which except for the external binding 44A, the widths <NUM> of all the bindings, including the internal binding 44D and the central bindings 44B are substantially equal; and the width <NUM> of each gap <NUM> between the bindings is substantially equal to the width <NUM> of the bindings.

The internal binding 44D reaches the surface <NUM> of head <NUM>.

Upon insertion of the self-tapping thread into a prefitted hole <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of a plate <NUM> having a thickness <NUM>, substantially equal to width <NUM> of gap <NUM>, the external binding 44A produces a local bending <NUM>, which enlarges further by the central bindings 44B.

Bending <NUM> inserts into gap <NUM> between the bindings (44A, 44B, 44D), and leads the threading, either to close the nut until the last binding 44D contacts surface <NUM> or a washer, or to open the thread.

<FIG> depicts a self threading nut according to one embodiment of the present invention, and a plate into which the nut is threaded.

In contrast to conventional self-tapping threads, the internal binding 44C of the self-tapping thread <NUM> of a nut <NUM> according to the present invention, does not reach the surface <NUM> of head <NUM>. There is no end to self-tapping thread <NUM>, i.e., there is a space <NUM>, along the entire width of the thread, between the internal binding 44C of self-tapping thread <NUM> and surface <NUM> of head <NUM>.

Production of space <NUM> forms the internal binding 44C of nut <NUM> to be thinner than that of bindings 44B.

Upon insertion of self-tapping thread <NUM> into the prefitted hole <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of plate <NUM> having the thickness <NUM>, substantially of the gap <NUM>, the external binding 44A produces the local bending <NUM> of plate <NUM>, which enlarges further by the central bindings 44B.

Bending <NUM> of plate <NUM> inserts into gap <NUM> between the bindings (44A, 44B, 44C), and leads the threading, to provide linear motion of closing nut <NUM>. Once bending <NUM> reaches space <NUM>, the linear movement ceases.

Since the internal binding 44C is relatively thin, upon further closing of nut <NUM>, bending <NUM> of plate <NUM> bends the end <NUM> of the internal binding 44C. Thus, the internal binding 44C no longer leads bending <NUM> of plate <NUM> within gap <NUM>, even upon rotating nut <NUM> to be opened.

Thus, nut <NUM> is rotatable in relation to plate <NUM>, even though nut <NUM> is not releaseable from profile <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the nut of <FIG>, and the metal plate or profile for fixing the screw thereinto, and a bolt.

Nut <NUM> preferably includes an elastic washer <NUM>, disposed in the space <NUM> between the internal binding 44C of self-tapping thread <NUM> and surface <NUM> of head <NUM>. Elastic washer <NUM> is intended for limiting movement between the self-tapping thread <NUM> and plate/object <NUM> upon completing the threading therebetween. The limiting of the movement avoids vibrations.

Nut <NUM> includes a female thread <NUM> for threading thereinto a bolt <NUM> having a male thread <NUM> fitting thereto; head <NUM> including a plurality of surfaces <NUM>, such as hex surfaces for rotating nut <NUM>; and the self-tapping thread <NUM>, for producing bending <NUM>, depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the prefitted hole <NUM> of plate or profile <NUM>.

Self-tapping thread <NUM> is hollow and includes female thread <NUM> allowing inserting bolt <NUM> therethrough, as depicted in <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts the first, second and third step, for fixing of the profile of <FIG> to a wall or to a ceiling by the nut of <FIG>.

At the first step, the installer fixes nut <NUM> to profile <NUM>. As explained in <FIG>, nut <NUM> is free to rotate in relation to profile <NUM>, even though nut <NUM> is conventionally not releaseable from profile <NUM>.

At the second step, the installer fixes a wall plug <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM> or wall or other building structure.

At the third step, the installer screws thread <NUM> (depicted in <FIG>) of bolt <NUM> into female thread <NUM> (depicted in <FIG>) of nut <NUM> in relation to nut <NUM>. While threading bolt <NUM> into nut <NUM>, head <NUM> of nut <NUM> is to be held by a spanner <NUM>. Typically, washer <NUM> may be sufficient for not requiring spanner <NUM> for not allowing rotation of nut <NUM> this case. The installer further rotates bolt <NUM> into wall plug <NUM> until being fixed thereto.

At the end of the third step, bolt <NUM> does not allow changing the distance <NUM> between wall or ceiling <NUM> and profile <NUM>, since bolt <NUM> is not any more rotatable.

<FIG> depicts the fourth step of adjusting of the distance of the profile to the wall or ceiling of <FIG>.

At the fourth step, the installer rotates nut <NUM> in relation to bolt <NUM> (which is not any more rotatable), for adjusting the distance of profile <NUM> to ceiling <NUM>.

At the fifth step, the installer may remove the screw driver from bolt <NUM>, and may cut the remainder of bolt <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a tool for rotating the long bolt, and for later releasing the long bolt from the tool.

A one-directional rotating tool <NUM> may grip bolt <NUM>, upon rotating bolt <NUM>, through the one-directional rotating tool <NUM>, towards the ceiling; and may release bolt <NUM> upon "attempting" to rotate bolt, through the one-directional rotating tool <NUM>, to the opposite direction. An electric screw driver <NUM> may rotate the bottom element <NUM> of one-directional rotating tool <NUM> via a hex element <NUM> of bottom element <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded view of the tool of <FIG>.

A male thread <NUM> of hex element <NUM> is permanently fixed to a female thread <NUM> of the bottom element <NUM>.

Upon rotating hex element <NUM> to the closing direction depicted by arrow <NUM>, the male thread <NUM> of bolt <NUM> is inserted into a female thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> of tool <NUM>.

Male thread <NUM> of bolt <NUM> and female thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> of gripping tool <NUM> are tightened one towards the other by a tightening element <NUM>, being pressed by the bottom element <NUM>.

Rotation of the bottom element <NUM> rotates a male thread <NUM> thereof into a female thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM>.

This rotation of the bottom element <NUM> also presses the central element <NUM>, named above the "tightening element".

Central element <NUM> presses male thread <NUM> of bolt <NUM> outside from female thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> of tool <NUM>, thereby providing friction therebetween, thus making the separation between them difficult.

In addition to this difficulty, upon rotating hex element <NUM> opposite to arrow <NUM>, male thread <NUM> opens in relation to female thread <NUM> thereof before male thread <NUM> of bolt <NUM> opens in relation to female thread <NUM> of top element <NUM>; this, since the pace <NUM> of threads <NUM> and <NUM> is significantly larger than the pace of threads <NUM> and <NUM>.

Thus, threads <NUM> and <NUM> have an easier opening extent, since threads <NUM> and <NUM> have smaller friction length and area therebetween than the friction length and area of threads <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, threads <NUM> and <NUM> open, one from the other, by a smaller pressure than any other thread in the system, and therefore it opens first.

<FIG> is an assembled view of the tool of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the tool of <FIG>, including the nut and the bolt of <FIG>.

The opening of thread <NUM> of the bottom element <NUM> from thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> does not separate the bottom element <NUM> from the top element <NUM>, due to a protrusion <NUM> of the bottom element <NUM> and a protrusion <NUM> of the top element <NUM>, being blocked one by the other.

The opening of thread <NUM> of the bottom element <NUM> from thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> releases the tightening of male thread <NUM> of bolt <NUM> towards female thread <NUM> of the top element <NUM> by central element <NUM>, thus releasing bolt <NUM>.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:.

In the description herein, the following references have been mentioned:
The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

Claim 1:
A nut (<NUM>), comprising:
- a female thread (<NUM>) for threading a bolt (<NUM>) thereinto;
- a head (<NUM>) surrounding said female thread (<NUM>), for holding said female thread (<NUM>), for allowing rotating the bolt (<NUM>) in relation to said female thread (<NUM>); and
- a self-tapping thread (<NUM>), for threading said nut (<NUM>) through an object (<NUM>), said self-tapping thread (<NUM>) not providing linear pacing in relation to the object (<NUM>) upon rotation therebetween upon completing the threading therebetween,
wherein said self-tapping thread (<NUM>) comprises said female thread (<NUM>) for threading the bolt (<NUM>) therethrough, thereby allowing connecting said nut (<NUM>) to the object (<NUM>) and then moving the bolt (<NUM>) in relation to the object (<NUM>) either by rotating the bolt (<NUM>) in relation to said nut (<NUM>), or by rotating said nut (<NUM>) in relation to the object (<NUM>), thereby allowing fixing the object (<NUM>) to a building structure (<NUM>) at an adjustable distance (<NUM>), and
wherein said character of said self-tapping thread (<NUM>) of not providing linear pacing in relation to the object (<NUM>) upon rotation therebetween upon completing the threading therebetween, comprises an internal binding (44C) being thinner than a central binding (44B), and
wherein said self-tapping thread (<NUM>) further comprises a space (<NUM>) disposed between said internal binding (44C) and an adjacent surface (<NUM>) of said head (<NUM>), thereby upon rotating said nut (<NUM>) in relation to said object (<NUM>) in a closing direction (<NUM>), a bending (<NUM>) in a hole (<NUM>) in said object (<NUM>) bends an end (<NUM>) of said internal binding (44C), thereby removing said bending (<NUM>) of said object (<NUM>) from a gap (<NUM>) between the central and internal bindings (44B, 44C) of said self-tapping thread (<NUM>).