TOOLLESS SCREW TYPE FASTENER

Abstract

The invention is directed to a toolless screw including a body portion which comprises a shaft portion and a screw portion which includes a shank portion and a tip portion. The shank portion includes at least two helical threads which extend off the shank either at different angles, different distances, or a combination thereof. The tip portion is positioned at an end of the shank portion and has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the shank portion and extends to a point. The body portion is integrated with a screw portion at the end of the shank portion which is opposite the end where the tip portion is positioned.

Claims

1. A toolless screw comprising: (A) a body portion which comprises a shaft portion, (B) a screw portion which comprises a shank portion and a tip portion, said shank portion includes at least two helical threads which extend off the shank either at different angles, different distances, or a combination thereof, said tip portion is positioned at an end of the shank portion and has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the shank portion and extends to a point, wherein the body portion is integrated with a screw portion at the end of the shank portion which is opposite the end where the tip portion is positioned.

2. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the body portion additionally comprises a support portion wherein said support portion has a frustoconical shape where the smaller diameter end is positioned toward the shaft portion and the larger diameter end is positioned toward the screw end of the body portion.

3. The toolless screw of claim 2 wherein the diameter of the larger end of the support portion is from 1.25 times to 1.75 times the diameter of the smaller end of the support portion.

4. The toolless screw of claim 2 wherein the length of the support portion is from 0.05 to 0.2 times the length of the shaft portion.

5. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion has a diameter of to and a length of 0.25 inches to 6 inches.

6. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the body portion additionally comprises an adapter portion wherein said adapter portion is provided on the upper end of the body, opposite the screw portion.

7. The toolless screw of claim 6 wherein the adapter portion is a treaded bolt.

8. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the at least two helical threads extend off the shank portion at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees.

9. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the second helical thread is present only in the top half of the shank portion and the first helical thread is present in more than the top half of the shank portion.

10. The toolless screw of claim 9 wherein first helical thread is present the top 75% of the shank portion.

11. The toolless screw of claim 1 wherein the shank portion has a roughened surface between successive convolutions of helical thread.

12. A method for securing an object to a wall comprising: screwing the tool less screw of claim 1 into a friable material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the tool less screw is screwed in the friable material without the use of any tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention including a screw portion with a shank and a tip portion and a body portion with a shaft portion, a support portion, and an adaptor portion.

[0037] FIG. 2 is another side view of an embodiment like that of FIG. 1 but includes labels for additional features.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a top view looking down at the tip portion of an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 4 is depicts a first step in installing the device in a drywall.

[0040] FIG. 5 depicts a second step in installing the device in a drywall.

[0041] FIG. 6 depicts a third step in installing the device in a drywall.

[0042] FIG. 7 depicts a forth step in installing the device in a drywall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention including a screw portion 5 with a shank 6 and a tip portion 7 and a body portion 1 with an adapter portion 2, a shaft portion 3 and a support portion 4.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the largest diameter 8 is that of the support portion 4 which is, for example, 0.75 inches. The diameter 9 of the body portion 1 is, for example, 0.44 inches. The diameter 10 of the tip region is, for example, 0.138 inches. The length of the body portion 1 is, for example, 1.75 inches where the adapter portion 2 is, for example, 0.2 inches, the shaft portion 3 is, for example, 1.21 inches, and the support portion 4 is, for example, 0.34 inches. The a screw portion 5 has a length, for example, of 1.34 inches, with the shank 6 being, for example, 0.973 inches, and the tip portion 7 having a length of 0.375 inches.

[0045] FIG. 2 is another side view of an embodiment like that of FIG. 1 but includes labels for the first helical thread 10, the second helical thread 11, and a roughened surface 12 of shank portion 6. As seen in the figure, the first helical thread 10 extends further down the shank portion 6 than the second helical thread 11 and both helical threads are only present together in the top portion of the shank. Additionally, FIG. 2 illustrates that in some embodiments the shank portion 6 has a roughened surface 12. This roughened surface is optionally present in all regions between successive convolutions of either or both of the helical threads 10 and/or 11.

[0046] FIG. 2 also illustrates that, in some embodiments, the shank portion 6 may taper in diameter towards a tip portion direction. For example, the diameter of the of the shank portion 6 in the upper most part of the shank portion 6 compared to the diameter of the of the shank portion 6 in the portion of the shank portion 6 closest to the tip portion 7 can be, from 1:1 to 2:1 and preferably 1.5:1.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view looking down at the tip portion 7. FIG. 3 shows the perspective diameters of, for example, the diameter 8 is that of the support portion 4 and the diameter 9 of the body portion 1.

[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates a first step in installing the device in a drywall. FIG. 4 shows a user 16, beginning to install a device of the current invention into an object 14, for example, a dry wall. Force is applied by the user in a direction 15 toward the object 14. This allows the tip portion 7 to stab into the object 14.

[0049] FIG. 5 depicts a second step in installing the device in a drywall. In FIG. 5, the user 16 rotates 17 the device in, for example, a clock-wise direction while maintaining force in a direction 15 toward the object 14.

[0050] FIG. 6 depicts a third step in installing the device in a drywall. In FIG. 6, the first helical thread 10 is within the object 14. The user 16 continues to rotate 17 the device in, for example, a clock-wise direction while maintaining force in a direction 15 toward the object 14. The device is now traveling thought the object 14 in a screw motion not a stabbing or nail like motion. This causes minimal damage to the object 14 because areas between the first helical thread 10 are not damaged.

[0051] FIG. 7 depicts a forth step in installing the device in a drywall. In FIG. 7, the device is fully installed in the object 14. The second helical thread 11 is also within the object 14. The user 16 has rotated 17 the device in, for example, a clock-wise direction while maintaining force in a direction 15 toward the object 14 until the support portion 4 is abutting the object 4.