Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/197,215 for this invention was filed on Oct. 23, 2008 for which these inventors claim domestic priority. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed device relates generally to thin wall anchor devices, specifically threaded inserts and rivnuts (collectively “anchor devices”). The present device comprises an anchor device comprising a double sectioned head member, the head member comprising an upper head member which extends above the surface of a work piece. The upper head member is used to attach a structure to the work piece, where the upper head member is received by a slot or aperture of the structure, to make the attachment. The use of the present device may eliminate or reduce the need for separate fasteners to secure the structure to the work piece and may expedite the attachment of the structure to the work piece. In one embodiment, the anchor has a smooth bore and may be installed by means of a breakstem which shears upon application of a sufficient axial force. However, if desired, the disclosed anchor device may comprise threads such that a threaded fastener may be connected to the anchor device for either installing the anchor device and/or for providing threads if it desired to utilize the anchor device for attaching threaded fasteners as may be desired for securing the structure to the work piece. 
     It is known to attach a structure to the surface of a work piece by means of threaded fasteners which are made up into threaded anchors pre-installed within the work piece. Once holes have been created in the work piece, two steps are required to attach the structure. First, the threaded anchors are installed into the work piece by inserting the anchors into the existing holes and applying an axial force to the anchor to cause a portion of the body of the anchor to deform, thus retaining the anchor in the work piece. Second, the structure is attached to the work piece, typically by threaded fasteners which are made up into threads in the anchor. However, this process can be time consuming, can complicate assembly line fabrication of the completed article, and requires a separate fastener for each anchor. For example, for roof racks installed to the roofs of motor vehicles, the anchors are first installed in the roof of the vehicle. Second, the roof rack is attached to the roof of the vehicle with fasteners made up into each of the threaded anchors. In addition to the separate steps required to install the roof rack, this operation typically requires separate tools for installing the anchor devices and for attaching the roof rack to the vehicle roof with fasteners. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed device is a modified rivnut or threaded insert (hereinafter “anchor device”) for attaching a structure to a thin-walled work piece. The work piece will have a first side, for which access is available, and a second side, which may be a blind side where access is not available. It is to be understood that the term “work piece” as used in this specification refers to any material for which it is desirable to use any of the disclosed embodiments of this device. Typically, the materials for which embodiments of the disclosed anchor device has the greatest utility are blind applications for thin walled materials such as sheet metal or sheet plastic. In installations where there is only ready access to one side of a work piece, it is necessary to employ anchors which may be completely deployed and installed from the visible side of the work piece. 
     A particular application for which species of the disclosed invention may be utilized is for attaching components of a roof rack, typically the rails, or similar apparatus to the sheet metal top of a vehicle, such as an automobile. For the known method of installing the rails of a roof rack of an automobile, an opening is placed in the material of the vehicle roof by drilling or punching, and a threaded anchor device is installed within the resulting hole. The anchor device is thereafter installed by application of an axial force by reciprocation or rotation of a stud attached to a portion of the anchor device. The application of axial force causes a portion of the sleeve section of the anchor to deform into a bubble on the second side of the work piece, such that the thin wall of the work piece is sandwiched on the second side by the bubble and by the head of the anchor device on the first side, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the anchor from the work piece. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present apparatus does not necessarily require a fastener to secure the structure, such as the roof rack, to the work piece, such as the roof of the vehicle. The present anchor device comprises a double sectioned head comprising an upper head member and a lower head member. Once the anchor device is installed, the upper head member extends above the surface of the work piece a sufficient distance such that the upper head member may penetrate an aperture of the structure. The structure may comprise a slot where the slot has a first width which is larger than the diameter of the upper head member, and a second width, adjacent to the first width, the second width smaller than the diameter of the upper head member. Once the upper head member penetrates the first width of the slot, the structure and work piece may be manipulated to move the structure with respect to the work piece, or vice-versa, such that the upper head member abuts the portion of slot having the second (i.e., narrower) width. The structure may further comprise a “ramped” section from the first width to the second width, where tension is applied to the anchor device as the upper head member is manipulated from the first width to the second width, thus increasing the preload holding the structure to the work piece. 
     As an alternative method of installation, the anchor device may be simultaneously placed within an aperture of the structure and the hole in the work piece, such that the upper head of the anchor device, which has a larger diameter than the aperture in the structure, abuts the top surface of the structure, but the remainder of the anchor device, which depends from the bottom of the upper head, extends through the aperture of the structure, with sufficient length left for insertion of a sleeve section of the anchor device into the hole in the work piece. The anchor device is thereafter installed by activation of an installation tool which causes a portion of the sleeve section to be deformed on the blind side of the work piece creating a bubble. The anchor device attaches the structure to the work piece at the same time the anchor device is installed within the work piece. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed anchor device may include a deformable seal member, which seal member is adjacent to a shoulder formed by the terminus of the lower head of the device, wherein during installation the seal member deforms and is held between the work piece and the shoulder, thus creating a seal between the anchor device and the exterior surface of the work piece. In the case of a roof rack, the seal member prevents or restricts moisture from penetrating into the hole into which the sleeve member of the anchor device has expanded, thereby reducing corrosion of the anchor device and in the roof of the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
         FIG. 2  is a second isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
         FIG. 4  a top view of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a preinstalled hexagonal aperture in a work piece prepared to receive an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device after it has been installed in a work piece. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of a slot in a structure which may be utilized for insertion of the upper head of an embodiment of the disclosed anchor device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be appreciated that the dimensions, materials, finishes, etc., called out within the drawings are for specific species of the device, and are provided by way of example only. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the dimensions, materials, finishes or other detail set forth within the drawings. 
     Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of embodiment of the disclosed anchor device  10  in an uninstalled condition. It is to be appreciated that the disclosed anchor device  10  may be manufactured from carbon steel and various alloys in a cold-headed extrusion process, with no machining required. 
     Anchor device  10  comprises a double sectioned head member  12  and a sleeve section  14 . Double-sectioned head member  12  distinguishes the present invention from other anchor devices in that double-sectioned head member  12  comprises a lower head member  16  which depends from upper head member  18 . This configuration allows upper head member  18  to extend sufficiently above work piece W to allow a wall of a structure, such as a roof rack, to be contained between the bottom of upper head member  18  and the top surface of work piece W.  FIG. 6  shows how upper head member  18  extends away from work piece W after the anchor device  10 ′ has been installed. Head member  12  comprises a circular opening  20  which has a center axis L which coincides with the center axis of the anchor device  10 . Circular opening  20  extends through much of the entire length of the anchor device  10 , and may either terminate at a closed end  22 , or continue throughout the entire length of the device such that the device is open-ended. Head member  12  transitions into sleeve section  14  at shoulder  24 . 
     Sleeve section  14  comprises a mostly hollow body having a first section  26  and an axially adjacent second section  28 . First section  26  comprises a proximal end  30 , which transitions into head member  12 . First section  26  further comprises a distal end  32  wherein the first section  26  transitions into second section  28 , which is indicated by an increasing wall thickness of the sleeve section  14 . First section  26  comprises a collapsible counter-bore area  60  between proximal end  30  and distal end  32 . Sleeve section  14  will typically have a non-circular exterior shape to prevent the anchor device from rotating within the opening  34  of work piece W. For example, sleeve section  14  may have a hexagonal profile to correspond with the hexagonal opening  34  in work piece W indicated in  FIG. 5 . However, it is to be appreciated that other non-round exterior shapes will also work to prevent the sleeve section from rotating within the opening  34 . 
     Second section  28  comprises a hollow cylinder which may have a closed end  22 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , the thickness of wall  36  in the second section  28  is greater than the thickness of wall  38  of first section  26 , thereby allowing the first section to preferentially collapse as shown in  FIG. 6  when the anchor device  10  is installed by application of a linear force. Second section  28  may comprise threads  62 . In the utilization of the present device for attaching a roof rack to the top of a vehicle, an acceptable thread is an M6 thread. 
     An installed anchor device  10 ′ is shown in  FIG. 6 . The anchor device is typically installed in a opening  34  in a work piece W, where the work piece has a visible side  40  and a blind side  42 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , when the anchor device  10 ′ has been installed in work piece W, the installed anchor device is retained within the opening  34  of the work piece by the shoulder  24  of double-sectioned head member  12  on the visible side  40 , and bubble  44  which is formed on the blind side  42  by the collapse of first section  26 . Bubble  44  prevents the withdrawal of anchor device  10 ′ from the work piece W. 
     Anchor device  10  may further comprise a seal member  46  which is attached to or adjacent to shoulder  24  of head member  12 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , when anchor device  10 ′ is installed in work piece W, seal member  46 ′ plastically deforms between shoulder  24  and the surface of work piece W, creating a seal which restricts liquid flow into opening  34  to assist in avoiding corrosion in the work piece. Seal member  46  may comprise various elastomeric materials which have appropriate mechanical properties for plastically deforming and flowing upon being subjected to the compression applied between the shoulder  24  and the work piece W when the anchor device is installed by application of linear force. 
     The anchor device  10  is fabricated from metal and metal alloy materials which have mechanical properties suitable for plastic deformation, such that the first section will collapse yet the second section retains its integrity. Appropriate materials are various carbon steels and alloys. 
       FIG. 7  schematically shows a portion of a structure  50  which may be attached to work piece W with embodiments of the presently disclosed anchor device. The structure  50  has a top side, shown in  FIG. 7 , and a bottom side, which facially engages work piece W upon installation, and a slot  52 . Slot  52  comprises a first aperture  54  having a width larger than the diameter of upper head member  18 . Slot  52  has a second aperture  56 , which is connected to first aperture  54  by transition section  58 . The first aperture  54 , the second aperture  56  and the transition section  58  all extend from the top side through to the bottom side of structure  50 . Second aperture  56  is large enough to receive lower head member  16 , but smaller than the diameter of upper head member  18 , thus preventing the withdrawal of upper head member  18  from structure  50 . Once upper head member  18  has been inserted through first aperture  54 , the structure  50  being attached to the work piece W is thereafter slid along the surface of the work piece such that the integral head engages the portion of slot having the second (i.e., narrower) width. The top surface of structure  50  may comprise a ramp which, as the position of upper head member  18  changes from adjacent to first aperture  54  to second aperture  56 , applies stress to the installed anchor device  10 ′, thus further securing structure  50  to work piece W. 
     A structure  50 , such as a roof rack, may be attached to a work piece, such as the roof of a vehicle, by the following procedure. The anchor device  10  is placed within an opening  34  in the workpiece W. Axial force is applied by an installation tool to the anchor device  10  thereby deforming the first section  28 . The anchor device  10  may be installed with an installation tool which comprises a threaded stud, where the threaded stud is either rotated, thereby tightening into threads  62  located in the second section  28  of the anchor device, and thus imposing a linear force to the anchor device, causing the first section  28  to collapse as the rotation of the stud pulls the second section  28  toward the blind side  42  of the work piece. Alternatively, the linear force may be applied by reciprocation of the installation tool, such that the threaded stud is pulled toward the tool. As yet another alternative, the installation tool may be attached to a breakstem which is attached to the anchor device  10 , where the installation tool applies a longitudinal load to a breakstem attached within the anchor device, thereby causing the anchor device to deform until the breakstem shears upon application of sufficient applied axial force. In this embodiment, the anchor device  10  need not comprise threads for attaching a threaded stud. 
     Following installation of the anchor device  10 ′ in a work piece W as described above, upper head member  18  extends a sufficient distance from the work piece W so the upper head may engage slot  52  of the structure  50 . As can be appreciated, the thickness of structure  50  should be sized such that there is sufficient space for upper head member  18  to be received through first aperture  54  such that the bottom of upper head member  18  clears the top of structure  50 , and allowing the structure and/or the work piece to be moved with respect to the other such that upper head member  18  is adjacent to second aperture  56 , and most of lower head member  16  is disposed within section aperture  56 , with shoulder  24  engaging the work piece W. Structure  50  may comprise, among other things, a rail member of a roof rack for automobile or other vehicle. As can be appreciated, a rail member may have a plurality of slots, each slot corresponding to a upwardly protruding upper head member  18  of a species of the device. The rail member may be slid such that the smaller opening, second aperture  56 , is locked from upward movement and sideways movement by the upper head member  18 . If anchor device  10  comprises threads, threaded fasteners may be made up into the threads for securing additional structures as desired. 
     As an alternative method of installation, an embodiment of the anchor device  10  may be simultaneously placed within an aperture  56 ′ of structure  50  and the opening  34  in the work piece W, such that head member  12  of the anchor device, which has a larger diameter than the aperture  56 ′, abuts the top surface of the structure, with the sleeve section  14  of the anchor device extending through the aperture of the structure, with sufficient length left for insertion into the opening  34  of the work piece, and disposition of the first section  26  and the second section  28  on the blind side  42  of the work piece W. Once sleeve section  14  is within the opening  34  of the work piece, the anchor device  10  may be installed by activation of an installation tool, as described above. Thus, once a portion of the anchor device is deformed on the blind side of the work piece, the anchor device attaches the structure to the work piece at the same time the anchor device is installed within the work piece. 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 2