Steel stud anchor
09593705 ยท 2017-03-14
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
F16B35/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B25/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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 an auger zone proximal to the pointed tip having threads for stretching a hole in the steel stud and pushing debris out of the way as the anchor is inserted through the steel stud and a wedge zone proximal to the auger zone for further enlarging the hole in the steel stud, said wedge zone having threads for forming an increasing rim around the hole in the steel stud 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 threads extend in a non-linear pitch around the length of the shaft in a linear progression and wherein the head has a central void, wherein the central void extends into the shaft.
2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein a pitch and a radius of the thread is defined by Formula I and Formula II as follows:
Radius=((Zp/Lt)Pv(RmaxRmin))+RminFormula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)(PmaxPmin))+PminFormula 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 Lt1.0 Lt3.5, Rmax0.125 Rmax0.375, Rmin>0.040 Rmin0.1875, Pmax0.1875 Pmax0.625, Pmin0.040 Pmin0.1875, and Pv1.0 Pv5.0.
4. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor is fit with a press fit finishing cap.
5. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the steel stud anchor is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.
6. The anchor of claim 5, wherein the zinc is pre-hardened.
7. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a blade for clearing away debris from the hole.
8. The anchor of claim 7, wherein the blade is a small sharp flange that sits just adjacent and slightly recessed up the shaft from the pointed tip.
9. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the shaft directly below the head is about in diameter.
10. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the head is about 21/32.
11. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the maximum thread height occurs adjacent to the top grooved zone and the maximum thread height is about 3/16.
12. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the thread is about thick at the location of its maximum thread height.
13. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the minimum thread height occurs in the top grooved zone adjacent to the pointed tip of the anchor and is about 1/16.
14. The anchor of the claim 1, wherein the thread is about 1/16 thick at the location of its minimum thread height.
15. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the overall length of the anchor is approximately 3.5.
16. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the height of the head of the anchor is about .
17. The anchor of claim 1, having a top grooved zone extending about and a length of the threaded portion of the shaft of about 2.75 long and a length of the pointed tip of about long.
18. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor is approximately 3.5 long, the top grooved zone is about long, the threaded portion of the shaft is about to about 3.375 long, and the pointed tip is from about 3.375 to about 3.5 long.
19. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a blade which is rectangular in shape and is located generally perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and is further located on the thread adjacent to the pointed tip.
20. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor is concentrically penetrated by a generally conical central void partly extruding into the shaft from the head of the anchor, said conical central void extending approximately 1 from the head into the shaft such that the conical central void extends through about 28% of the length of the shaft, with the remaining about 72% of the shaft being solid and wherein a secondary screw can be threaded into said conical central void.
21. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the height of the head of the anchor is about .
22. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor is approximately 3.5 long and wherein the threaded portion of the shaft is about to about 3.375 long, the pointed tip extends from about 3.375 to about 3.5, and the top grooved zone extends from about to about .
23. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the hole in the steel stud anchor is made with the tip of the anchor.
24. An anchoring metal fastener comprising: a fastener head equipped with tightening features around a central void a threaded, generally conical shaft with curved sides in cross-section that meet at a tip, a linear progression in thread pitch along the length of the shaft, a thread profile that changes with position along the thread, a non-linear progression of shaft diameter along the length of the shaft, a piercing point at the distal end of the generally conical shaft wherein the threaded shaft 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.
25. 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, wherein the shaft diameter has a non-linear progression along the length of the shaft, and wherein the threads extend in a non-linear pitch around the length of the shaft in a linear progression and wherein the head has a central void, wherein the central void extends into the shaft and wherein the shaft has a concave curved profile.
26. The anchor of claim 25, having a top grooved zone extending about and a length of the threaded portion of the shaft of about 2.75 long and a length of the pointed tip of about long.
27. The anchor of claim 25, wherein the anchor is approximately 3.5 long and wherein the threaded portion of the shaft is about to about 3.375 long, the pointed tip extends from about 3.375 to about 3.5, and the top grooved zone extends from about to about .
28. The anchor of claim 25, wherein the steel stud anchor is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.
29. The anchor of claim 25, wherein the zinc is pre-hardened.
30. The anchor of claim 25, wherein a pitch and a radius of the thread is defined by Formula I and Formula II as follows:
Radius=((Zp/Lt)Pv(RmaxRmin))+RminFormula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)(PmaxPmin))+PminFormula 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.
31. The anchor of claim 30, wherein Lt1.0 Lt3.5, Rmax0.125 Rmax0.375, Rmin>0.040 Rmin0.1875, Pmax0.1875 Pmax0.625, Pmin0.040 Pmin0.1875, and Pv1.0 Pv5.0.
32. The anchor of claim 25, wherein the height of the head of the anchor is about .
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
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(21) In the lateral cross-section presented in
(22) In certain embodiments, the steel stud anchor 5 may have a press-fit finishing cap. 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 losso 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 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 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(RmaxRmin))+RminFormula I
Pitch=((Zp/Lt)(PmaxPmin))+PminFormula 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) Lt1.0 Lt3.5 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) Rmax0.125 Rmax0.375 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 Rmin0.1875 Pmax=Maximum Pitch at the head end of the anchor (In our example Pmax=0.3125) P max0.1875 Pmax0.625 Pmin=minimum Pitch at the tip end of the anchor (In our example Pmin=0.125) Pmin0.040 Pmin0.1875 Pv=Power value that creates (In our example Pv=2.0) Pv1.0 Pv5.0
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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 -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