Patent Description:
In order to level a post or a railing during installation, nuts mounted on a threaded rod are commonly used. The nuts provide a support for the item that is to be levelled, and they can be adjusted by rotation. However, using levelling nuts requires a gap between the base and the item that is to be levelled which is sufficiently wide so as to receive the nut. In addition, the nut has to accessible by a torqueing tool.

<CIT> discloses a method according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for installing an attachment part that can provide particularly fast, easy and versatile levelling on a concrete or masonry substrate.

This object is achieved by a method for installing an attachment part according to claim <NUM>.

Accordingly, there is provided a method for installing an attachment part on a concrete or masonry base, which base is provided with a bore, in which.

Amongst others, the invention is based on the finding that a grout shell can stabilize a bore in a concrete or masonry substrate, such that it is possible to screw a concrete-tapping or masonry-tapping levelling screw into and out of the substrate, preferably repeatedly, for levelling purposes, whilst maintaining particularly efficient engagement with the substrate. Based on this finding, it is proposed to provide a levelling screw intended to be anchored in a concrete or masonry base, the levelling screw having a support structure for supporting the attachment part. Accordingly, levelling is performed by a screw mechanism formed between the levelling screw on the one hand and the concrete or masonry base on the other hand. Accordingly, no levelling nut is required between the attachment part and the base, which can permit a particularly compact assembly. Thus, particularly fast, easy and versatile levelling can be achieved.

The attachment part could for example be a base plate, e.g. of a post or a railing. The hardenable grout can, for example, be a radically hardenable grout or an epoxy grout. The hardenable grout can be arranged within the bore in a readily mixed state, or in an unmixed state. In the latter case, the insertion of the levelling screw might cause initial mixing of the grout (preferably also rupturing of the containers that contain the grout components). The bore is preferably generally cylindrical. In particular, it might be manufactured by boring.

The first screw thread is connected to the shank and winds around the shank, which shank is, in particular, generally cylindrically. The first screw thread and the shank might be monolithic, but they might also be separate parts. Additional screw threads might be arranged on the shank. The at least one first screw thread taps the base as the shank screw is screwingly inserted into the bore, i.e. the at least one first screw thread creates a mating thread in the wall of the bore as the shank screw is screwingly inserted into the bore. Tapping could include cutting action, reaming action, or both.

The levelling screw is unscrewed out of the bore after the shank has been is screwingly inserted into the bore and into the hardenable grout that is arranged within the bore. The levelling screw is only partially unscrewed, i.e. the shank remains within the bore and preferably also within the grout at the end of this process. Unscrewing preferably includes rotating the shank in the unscrewing direction of the at least one first screw thread. Since the shank is connected to the attachment part support, unscrewing of the shank moves the attachment part support away from the base.

Throughout this document - wherever the terms "axially", "longitudinally", "radially" and "circumferentially" are used, they can refer, in particular, to the longitudinal axis of the shank, which might coincide with the longitudinal axis of the mounting stud if present.

Preferentially, the attachment part is placed on the attachment part support before the levelling screw is partially unscrewed out of the bore. Accordingly, the attachment part support can be raised together with the attachment part resting thereon away from the base as the levelling screw is unscrewed out of the bore. This can further facilitate the method.

Preferably, the levelling screw has a mounting stud, and the mounting stud is arranged in an attachment part hole that is provided within the attachment part. This can provide particularly easy and reliably connection between the attachment part and the levelling screw. The mounting stud is connected to the attachment part support. The shank and the mounting stud, respectively, project from the attachment part support on opposite sides thereof. In particular, the mounting stud and the shank can be arranged coaxially.

Preferentially, a drive is provided on the mounting stud, wherein insertion of the shank into the bore and into the hardenable grout that is arranged within the bore includes rotating the levelling screw by imparting torque on the drive. This can further facilitate installation. In particular, the drive is arranged at a sufficient large distance from the attachment part support so that the drive is accessible when the mounting stud is arranged in the attachment part hole and when the attachment part rests on the attachment part support. This can further facilitate handling. In particular, the drive can be arranged at a rear end of the mounting stud (which rear end is located distal to the attachment part support), which improves versatility. The drive can for example be a hex drive or another type of polygonal drive. It can be both an internal drive or an external drive, but an external drive might be advantageous. The torque might be imparted on the drive by means of a manual wrench or a power tool, which might also be part of a robot.

Advantageously, a nut is placed on the mounting stud so as to clamp the attachment part in between the attachment part support and the nut, in particular after partially unscrewing the levelling screw out of the bore. This can provide both a particularly easy and reliable connection. The mounting stud is preferably provided with at least one second screw thread for engaging the nut.

The hardenable grout is preferably at least partially hardened before the levelling screw is partially unscrewed out of the bore. Hardening can include any suitable method of activating the hardening mechanism of the hardenable grout. In a particularly easy to perform embodiment, it could include allowing a certain hardening time to elapse. The hardening can further improve support of the levelling screw and thus performance. A complete hardening might also be envisaged, but it has been found that only partial hardening might be sufficient.

A levelling screw can, in particular, be used in a method according to the invention. In particular, the leveling screw comprises:.

In particular, the at least one first screw thread is a concrete tapping and/or masonry tapping thread, i.e. it has properties, in particular hardness, to imprint a mating thread into a concrete or masonry substrate, respectively. In some embodiments, the mating thread in the base that corresponds to the at least one thread might be partly pre-tapped by a separate tapping tool before the shank is screwingly inserted into the bore.

Features that are described here in connection with the method can also be used in connection with the levelling screw and features that are described here in connection with the levelling screw can also be used in connection with the method.

In particular, the attachment part support can project radially over the mounting stud, so as to provide a geometric stop for the attachment part. Preferably, the attachment part support is a flange, in particular a disc shape flange. This can provide particularly good support at low manufacturing effort. The attachment part support project, preferentially, radially also over the shank and/or the at least one first screw thread.

At least one second screw thread for attaching a nut to the mounting stud can advantageously be provided on the mounting stud. As already hinted at above, this can provide particular good and reliable engagement of the attachment part.

A drive can preferably be provided on the mounting stud. The drive can e.g. be a hex drive and/or can be provided at a rear end of the mounting stud. In particular, the drive can be configured as described in connection with the method above.

A ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter of the at least one first screw thread to the pitch of the at least one first screw thread can be between <NUM> and <NUM>, in particular between <NUM> and <NUM>, at least in some regions of the at least one first screw thread, more preferably at least in some regions of the at least one first screw thread located near the tip end of the shank, most preferably throughout the at least one first screw thread. These are typical dimensions for concrete and/or masonry tapping screw threads.

The shank and the mounting stud are preferably monolithic, i.e. they consist of one piece, without joints or seams. This can be advantageous in view of manufacturing. For example, the shank and the mounting stud can be formed by rolling and/or upsetting a piece of wire. On the other hand, the shank and the attachment part support are preferably non-monolithic with respect to one another. Accordingly, the shank is separate from the attachment part support, and these pieces are joined together as separate parts. The mounting stud and the attachment part are thus preferably also non-monolithic with respect to one another. Providing the attachment part support as a separate part can again be advantageous in view of manufacturing. It is particularly preferred that the attachment part support is a washer that rests on a shoulder provided on the shank. This can allow particularly efficient manufacturing. Preferentially, the shoulder is conical, for particularly good centering of the attachment part support.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, which are depicted schematically in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> schematically illustrate subsequent steps of a method for installing an attachment part using a levelling screw.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a levelling screw that can be used for the method shown in <FIG>.

As can be taken from <FIG>, the method sequence starts with a base <NUM>, which consists of concrete or masonry, and which has at least one bore <NUM> provided therein. The bore <NUM> could e.g. be formed by drilling the base <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a quantity of hardenable grout <NUM> is then placed within the bore <NUM>. For example, the grout <NUM> could be a two-component grout, and it can be placed within the bore <NUM> in a mixed state or in an unmixed state (i.e. in the form of two separate components).

A levelling screw <NUM> is then provided. The levelling screw <NUM> comprises an attachment part support <NUM> which is intended to prop up an attachment part <NUM>, such as a column base. In the shown embodiment, the attachment part support <NUM> is a disc-like, circular flange. However, other shapes, having for example concave or convex surfaces, and/or non-circular outlines, can also be envisaged. The attachment part support <NUM> provides a rest for the attachment part <NUM>.

The attachment part support <NUM> has a first side <NUM> and a second side <NUM>, wherein the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM>, respectively, are opposite sides of the attachment part support <NUM>. In the present embodiment, they are flat sides, but as already mentioned, other shapes are also feasible, such as convex shapes.

The levelling screw <NUM> furthermore comprises a, generally cylindrical, shank <NUM>, which projects from the attachment part support <NUM> at the first side <NUM> of the attachment part support <NUM>. The levelling screw <NUM> furthermore comprises at least one first screw thread <NUM>, which is arranged on the shank <NUM>, and which surrounds the shank <NUM> in generally helically manner. The first screw thread <NUM> and the shank <NUM> can be monolithic, but they could also be separate parts. The first screw thread <NUM> can be strictly helical, or also deviate from a strict mathematical helix. It can be continuous, but also broken, for example in order to provide cutting teeth. The first screw thread <NUM> is able to tap, in particular cut, a corresponding mating thread in the concrete or masonry base <NUM>. The first screw thread <NUM> has an outer thread diameter dtr. At least near the tip end of the shank <NUM>, a ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter dtr of the first screw thread <NUM> to the pitch ptr of the first screw thread <NUM> is between <NUM> and <NUM>, in particular between <NUM> and <NUM>. At least one additional screw thread might be provided on the shank <NUM> for additional functionality. The attachment part support <NUM> radially projects over the shank <NUM> and thus forms a shoulder at the rear end of the shank <NUM>.

The levelling screw <NUM> furthermore comprises a, generally cylindrical, mounting stud <NUM>, which projects from the attachment part support <NUM> at the second side <NUM> of the attachment part support <NUM>. The mounting stud <NUM> is intended to be plugged into an attachment part hole <NUM> that is provided within the attachment part <NUM>, wherein the attachment part hole <NUM> is in particular a through hole. The attachment part support <NUM> radially projects over the mounting stud <NUM> and thus forms a shoulder at the front end of the mounting stud <NUM>. This shoulder is intended for delimiting plugging of the mounting stud <NUM> into the attachment part hole <NUM>, and the shoulder thus forms a support for the attachment part <NUM> when the mounting stud <NUM> is located within the attachment part hole <NUM>.

The mounting stud <NUM> is provided with at least one second screw thread <NUM>. The second screw thread <NUM> is intended for screwingly receiving a nut <NUM>, which nut <NUM> locks the attachment part <NUM> against the attachment part support <NUM>.

The mounting stud is provided with a drive <NUM>, which is intended for mating with a torqueing tool for imparting torque in the mounting stud <NUM> and thus on the entire levelling screw <NUM>. In the present case, the drive <NUM> is provided at the rear end of the mounting stud <NUM>, which is that end of the mounting stud that is distal with respect to the attachment part support <NUM>. This provides particularly good access. In the present embodiment, the drive <NUM> is, by way of example, an external hex drive, but other drive shapes can also be used, which mate with the intended torqueing tool. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment part support <NUM> could form a drive for mating with a torqueing tool.

In particular, the mounting stud <NUM> and the shank <NUM> are arranged coaxially. The attachment part support <NUM> is located, axially, between the shank <NUM> and the mounting stud <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the mounting stud <NUM>, the shank <NUM> and the attachment part support <NUM> are monolithic, but separate parts could also be envisaged. In particular, as shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of a levelling screw <NUM> can be envisaged in which the mounting stud <NUM> and the shank <NUM>, and possibly also the respective screw threads, are monolithic, whereas the attachment part support <NUM> is a separate part (for example a washer), which for example rests on a ring shoulder <NUM> provided on the shank <NUM> or/and the mounting stud <NUM>. Preferentially, the shoulder <NUM> is conical, for particularly good centering of the attachment part support <NUM>. A flat shoulder <NUM> embodiment can however also be envisaged. The levelling screw of <FIG> can be used as an alternative to the levelling screw shown in <FIG> when performing the method of <FIG>.

The shank <NUM> of the levelling screw <NUM> is screwed into the bore <NUM> in the base <NUM> by rotating the levelling screw <NUM> in a screw-in direction, preferably by imparting torque on the drive <NUM>, which causes the first screw thread <NUM> to engage the base <NUM> and to tap a mating thread into the base <NUM>, and which causes the shank <NUM> to dip into the hardenable grout <NUM>. In case where the grout <NUM> is a multi-component grout <NUM> which has been previously inserted into the bore <NUM> in an unmixed state, dipping-in of the shank <NUM> will cause initial mixing of the grout <NUM>. In any case, dipping-in causes displacement of the grout <NUM> so that the grout <NUM> forms a grout shell that surrounds the shank <NUM>. The grout <NUM> is then allowed to at least partially harden, so as to obtain an at least partly hardened grout shell. Depending on the hardening mechanism of the grout <NUM>, this might be achieved by waiting a certain hardening time, or by other means. The resulting configuration is shown in <FIG>.

An attachment part <NUM> is then placed on the attachment part support <NUM>. More particularly, the mounting stud <NUM> of the levelling screw <NUM> is inserted into and led through the attachment part hole <NUM> in the attachment part <NUM>, until the attachment part <NUM> abuts on the attachment part support <NUM>. The mounting stud <NUM> has a greater length as compared to the attachment part hole <NUM>, so that the drive <NUM> sticks out of the attachment part hole <NUM> when the attachment part <NUM> rests on the attachment part support <NUM>.

Subsequently, the levelling screw <NUM> is partly unscrewed out of the bore <NUM> and out of the hardened grout shell, by rotating the levelling screw <NUM> in a direction of rotation opposite to the screw-in direction, preferably by imparting torque on the drive <NUM>, which drive <NUM> sticks out of the attachment part hole <NUM>. This rises the attachment part <NUM> that rests on the attachment part support <NUM> away from the base <NUM> and therefore allows levelling of the attachment part <NUM>. In particular, unscrewing of the levelling screw <NUM> out of the bore <NUM> might result in a cavity <NUM> being formed in the grout shell. The resulting configuration is shown in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
Method for installing an attachment part (<NUM>) on a concrete or masonry base (<NUM>), which base (<NUM>) is provided with a bore (<NUM>), in which
- a hardenable grout (<NUM>) is arranged within the bore (<NUM>),
- a levelling screw (<NUM>), which has an attachment part support (<NUM>) for supporting the attachment part (<NUM>), a shank (<NUM>), which is connected to the attachment part support (<NUM>), and at least one first screw thread (<NUM>), which is arranged on the shank (<NUM>), is provided,
- the shank (<NUM>) is screwingly inserted into the bore (<NUM>) and into the hardenable grout (<NUM>) that is arranged within the bore (<NUM>), wherein the at least one first screw thread (<NUM>) taps the base (<NUM>) as the shank (<NUM>) is screwingly inserted into the bore (<NUM>), and
- the attachment part (<NUM>) is placed on the attachment part support (<NUM>),
characterized in that
- following the insertion of the shank (<NUM>) into the bore (<NUM>) and into the hardenable grout (<NUM>) that is arranged within the bore (<NUM>), the levelling screw (<NUM>) is partially unscrewed out of the bore (<NUM>), thereby raising the attachment part support (<NUM>) away from the base (<NUM>).