Steel stud anchor
11692579 · 2023-07-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16B25/0042
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y10T29/49963
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F16B25/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/0073
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/103
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/0021
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B21/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04F13/0832
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F16B25/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/0031
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/0078
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/0057
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F16B25/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04F13/08
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
A metal anchoring fastener fastens millwork onto walls constructed with wall cladding fastened to steel studs. The load typical of a loaded cabinet is borne by the steel stud anchors owing to the mate between the profile of the steel stud anchor and the layers of millwork and wall cladding and steel stud that said anchor penetrates. The pitch of the thread adorning the profile of the steel stud anchor progresses non-linearly along the length of said shaft, the shaft is generally non-linear in profile, and the thread profile is non-uniform along the length of said shaft. The anchor can also support a secondary screw concentrically penetrating the void at the center of the anchor, in order to hang loads from a wall, with or without millwork. Predrilling of the holes can enable installation of these zinc anchors.
Claims
1. A metal steel stud anchor for use with a steel stud comprising a head, a shaft and a pointed tip: wherein the shaft is conically shaped and extends from the head to the pointed tip, with the shaft having a top grooved zone adjacent to the head and a threaded portion adjacent to the grooved zone and extending to the pointed tip, said threaded portion having threads for forming a comma shaped opening in the steel stud as the anchor is screwed through the steel stud, such that the opening is wider at one end and is slightly elongated to one side at an opposing end, wherein the shaft diameter has a non-linear progression along the length of the shaft.
2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein a pitch and a radius of the threads is defined by Formula I and Formula II as follows:
Radius=((Zp/Lt)Pv×(R max−R min))+R min Formula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)×(P max−P min))+P min Formula II wherein Zp is a Position along the thread, Lt is a Length of the threaded section of the shaft, Rmax is a Maximum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a head end of the anchor, Rmin is a Minimum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a tip of the anchor, Pmax is a Maximum Pitch at the head end of the anchor, Pmin is a minimum Pitch at an end of the pointed tip of the anchor Pv is a Power value.
3. The anchor of claim 2, wherein Lt is from about 1.0″ to about 3.5, Rmax is from about 0.125″ to about 0.375″, Rmin is from about 040″ to about 0.1875″, Pmax is from about 0.1875″ to about 0.625, Pmin is from about 0.040″ to about 0.1875″, and Pv is from about 1.0 to about 5.0.
4. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion has an auger zone proximal to the tip having threads for stretching a hole in the steel stud and for pushing debris out of the way as the fastener is inserted through the steel stud and has a wedge zone proximal to the auger zone for further enlarging a hole in the steel stud and having threads for forming an increasing rim around the hole in the steel stud formed from the steel stud material to wedge the anchor in the steel stud and prevent it from jumping over threads of the threaded shaft so it does not strip the steel stud anchor.
5. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the steel stud anchor is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.
6. The anchor of claim 1, wherein a maximum thread height occurs adjacent to the top grooved zone.
7. The anchor of claim 1, wherein at a location of maximum thread height, the threads are from about 1/16″ thick to about 3/16″ thick.
8. A metal steel stud anchor for use with a steel stud comprising a head, a shaft and a pointed tip: wherein the shaft is conically shaped and extends from the head to the pointed tip, with the shaft having a top grooved zone adjacent to the head and a threaded portion adjacent to the grooved zone and extending to the pointed tip, said threaded portion having threads for forming a comma shaped opening in the steel stud as the anchor is screwed through the steel stud, such that the opening is wider at one end and is slightly elongated to one side at an opposing end, wherein the shaft diameter has a non-linear progression along the length of the shaft, and wherein the shaft has a concave curved profile.
9. The anchor of claim 8, wherein a pitch and a radius of the threads is defined by Formula I and Formula II as follows:
Radius=((Zp/Lt)Pv×(R max−R min))+R min Formula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)×(P max−P min))+P min Formula II wherein Zp is a Position along the thread, Lt is a Length of the threaded section of the shaft, Rmax is a Maximum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a head end of the anchor, Rmin is a Minimum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a tip of the anchor, Pmax is a Maximum Pitch at the head end of the anchor, Pmin is a minimum Pitch at an end of the pointed tip of the anchor Pv is a Power value.
10. The anchor of claim 9, wherein Lt is from about 1.0″ to about 3.5, Rmax is from about 0.125″ to about 0.375″, Rmin is from about 040″ to about 0.1875″, Pmax is from about 0.1875″ to about 0.625, Pmin is from about 0.040″ to about 0.1875″, and Pv is from about 1.0 to about 5.0.
11. The anchor of claim 8, wherein the threaded portion has an auger zone proximal to the tip having threads for stretching a hole in the steel stud and for pushing debris out of the way as the fastener is inserted through the steel stud and has a wedge zone proximal to the auger zone for further enlarging a hole in the steel stud and having threads for forming an increasing rim around the hole in the steel stud formed from the steel stud material to wedge the anchor in the steel stud and prevent it from jumping over threads of the threaded shaft so it does not strip the steel stud anchor.
12. The anchor of claim 8, wherein the steel stud anchor is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.
13. The anchor of claim 8, wherein a maximum thread height occurs adjacent to the top grooved zone.
14. The anchor of claim 8, wherein at a location of maximum thread height, the threads are from about 1/16″ thick to about 3/16″ thick.
15. A metal steel stud anchor for use with a steel stud comprising a head, a shaft and a pointed tip: wherein the shaft is conically shaped and extends from the head to the pointed tip, with the shaft having a top grooved zone adjacent to the head and a threaded portion adjacent to the grooved zone and extending to the pointed tip, said threaded portion having threads for forming an increasing rim around a hole in the steel stud, said increasing rim formed by the folding of the steel stud material to wedge the anchor in the steel stud and prevent the steel stud from jumping over threads of the threaded portion so it does not strip the steel stud anchor, wherein the shaft diameter has a non-linear progression along the length of the shaft and wherein the hole in the steel stud is made with the pointed tip of the anchor.
16. The anchor of claim 15, wherein a pitch and a radius of the threads is defined by Formula I and Formula II as follows:
Radius=((Zp/Lt)Pv×(R max−R min))+R min Formula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)×(P max−P min))+P min Formula II wherein Zp is a Position along the thread, Lt is a Length of the threaded section of the shaft, Rmax is a Maximum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a head end of the anchor, Rmin is a Minimum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at a tip of the anchor, Pmax is a Maximum Pitch at the head end of the anchor, Pmin is a minimum Pitch at an end of the pointed tip of the anchor Pv is a Power value.
17. The anchor method of claim 16, wherein Lt is from about 1.0″ to about 3.5, Rmax is from about 0.125″ to about 0.375″, Rmin is from about 040″ to about 0.1875″, Pmax is from about 0.1875″ to about 0.625, Pmin is from about 0.040″ to about 0.1875″, and Pv is from about 1.0 to about 5.0.
18. The anchor of claim 15, wherein the shaft has a concave curved profile.
19. The anchor of claim 15, wherein the steel stud anchor is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.
20. The anchor of claim 15, wherein a maximum thread height occurs adjacent to the top grooved zone and wherein at the maximum thread height, the threads are from about 1/16″ thick to about 3/16″ thick.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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(16) Although it is theoretically possible to have a stud made of a variety of metals, in view of current building codes, the only steel stud in current use is a zinc-coated steel stud. the zinc is a coating used to protect the steel from oxidization, such that the zinc oxidizes over time but seals in the steel keeping it from breaking down through oxidization or rust. Thus, the zinc coating gives the steel studs a much greater lifespan.
(17) In
(18) As explained above, the thread pitch” describes the number of rotations of the thread per linear unit of shaft length. The thread of the present invention preferably has a “non-linear” pitch, wherein the thread count varies along the long axis of the fastener shaft. Similarly, the thread profile of the anchor (i.e. the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the thread ridge as it winds around the shaft) is also preferably non-uniform along the thread helix. The non-linear thread pitch and the non-uniform thread profile helps the anchor wedge its way in to the steel stud and prevents the thin metal of the steel stud from jumping over the threads of the anchor so they do not strip. It also gradually forms and enlarges the steel stud hole in a manner that increases its strength as an anchor point.
(19) In
(20)
(21) In the lateral cross-section presented in
(22) In certain embodiments, the steel stud anchor 5 may have a press-fit finishing cap 29. This is shown in
(23) In certain embodiments, the steel stud anchor of the present invention is made of Zinc, zinc alloys, copper and aluminum alloys. In certain preferred embodiments, the metal alloy is zinc or a zinc alloy and in certain most preferred embodiments, the zinc is pre-hardened by the Iosso hardening process, allowing for die-casting of the anchors, instead of machining, as is necessary with steel stud fasteners.
(24) In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the steel stud anchor is 3.5″ or 8.9 cm in length. In certain preferred embodiments, the diameter of the head of the steel stud anchor is preferably about 17 mm or 21/32″ (or 0.65″) across the head. In certain preferred embodiments, the shaft directly below the head is ⅜″ or 9.5 mm in diameter. In preferred embodiments, the maximum thread height near the top of the shaft (i.e. closer to the head) is approximately 3/16″. At this same point, the thread is approximately ⅛″ thick. The minimum thread height near the tip is approximately 1/16″. At this point, the thread is approximately 1/16″ wide. The heights and spacing are described by formula 1 (in formula 1, they are described as decimals, rather than fractions of an inch).
(25) The taper and thread frequency follow the relationship shown in
(26) As illustrated in
Radius=(Zp/Lt).sup.Pv×(R max−R min))+R min Formula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)×(P max−P min))+P min Formula II
Variables
Zp=The Position along the thread you want to know the radius or Pitch
Lt=The Length of the threaded section (in our example Lt=2.75″)
Lt≥1.0″ Lt≤3.5″
Rmax=Maximum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at the head end of the anchor. (In our example Rmax=0.3125″)
Rmax≥0.125″ Rmax≤0.375″
Rmin=Minimum Radius of the thread measured from a centerline through the shaft at the tip of the anchor (In our example Rmin=0.0925″)
Rmin>0.040″ R min≤0.1875″
Pmax=Maximum Pitch at the head end of the anchor (In our example Pmax=0.3125″)
P max≥0.1875″ P max≤0.625″
Pmin=minimum Pitch at the tip end of the anchor (In our example P min=0.125″)
P min≥0.040″ P min≤0.1875′
Pv=Power value that creates (In our example Pv=2.0)
Pv≥1.0 Pv≤5.0
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(29) The steel stud anchor of the present invention can be used for hanging cabinets by using the anchor to drill through the cabinet, drywall and into the steel stud, for French cleats by drilling through the cleat, drywall and into the steel stud, for shelving by drilling through the drywall and into the steel stud, and then using a screw to fasten the shelving to steel stud anchor. Simply explained, when it is desired to affix something to a wall, e.g. a shelf bracket, it is possible to drill a pilot hole, then screw the steel stud anchor of the present invention into the wallboard after which the small bracket hole would be lined up over the anchor and a then a #8 or #10 convention screw (either wood or metal) could be threaded into the steel stud anchor of the present invention. Window treatments can also be made by drilling through the mounting plate, drywall and into steel stud and then using a screw to fasten the mounting plate to steel stud anchor. The steel stud anchor can also be used to hand televisions, speakers, artwork, mirrors and any other heavy object to be mounted to a wall surface.
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(31) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 ¼-20 Wood deck Machine Screw Screw #8 Radius (steel Radius Pitch Radius Pitch Lp stud anchor) Pitch 1Shot Machine Screw Machine Screw Wood Screw Wood Screw 0 0.0925 0.125 0.125 0.05 0 0.1 0.05 0.092572727 0.128409091 0.125 0.05 0.025 0.1 0.1 0.092790909 0.131818182 0.125 0.05 0.055 0.1 0.15 0.093154545 0.135227273 0.125 0.05 0.075 0.1 0.2 0.093663636 0.138636364 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.25 0.094318182 0.142045455 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.3 0.095118182 0.145454545 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.35 0.096063636 0.148863636 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.4 0.097154545 0.152272727 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.45 0.098390909 0.155681818 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.5 0.099772727 0.159090909 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.55 0.1013 0.1625 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.6 0.102972727 0.165909091 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.65 0.104790909 0.169318182 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.7 0.106754545 0.172727273 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.75 0.108863636 0.176136364 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.8 0.111118182 0.179545455 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.85 0.113518182 0.182954545 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.9 0.116063636 0.186363636 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 0.95 0.118754545 0.189772727 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1 0.121590909 0.193181818 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.05 0.124572727 0.196590909 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.1 0.1277 0.2 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.15 0.130972727 0.203409091 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.2 0.134390909 0.206818182 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.25 0.137954545 0.210227273 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.3 0.141663636 0.213636364 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.35 0.145518182 0.217045455 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.4 0.149518182 0.220454545 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.45 0.153663636 0.223863636 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.5 0.157954545 0.227272727 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.55 0.162390909 0.230681818 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.6 0.166972727 0.234090909 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.65 0.1717 0.2375 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.7 0.176572727 0.240909091 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.75 0.181590909 0.244318182 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.8 0.186754545 0.247727273 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.85 0.192063636 0.251136364 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.9 0.197518182 0.254545455 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 1.95 0.203118182 0.257954545 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2 0.208863636 0.261363636 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.05 0.214754545 0.264772727 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.1 0.220790909 0.268181818 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.15 0.226972727 0.271590909 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.2 0.2333 0.275 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.25 0.239772727 0.278409091 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.3 0.246390909 0.281818182 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.35 0.253154545 0.285227273 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.4 0.260063636 0.288636364 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.45 0.267118182 0.292045455 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.5 0.274318182 0.295454545 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.55 0.281663636 0.298863636 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.6 0.289154545 0.302272727 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.65 0.296790909 0.305681818 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.7 0.304572727 0.309090909 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1 2.75 0.3125 0.3125 0.125 0.05 0.085 0.1
(32) As can be seen from both Table 1 and