Fasteners

Abstract

A pin for a blind bolt, the pin having a proximal end, a distal end and a shaft between the proximal and distal ends, extending axially from the distal end an outwardly tapered surface and an inwardly tapered surface, the pin comprising a strike portion at the proximal end, wherein the cross sectional area of the strike portion is greater than the cross sectional area of the shaft.

Claims

1. A blind bolt assembly having a pin and a bolt, (a) the pin having: (i) distal end; (ii) a proximal end; (iii) a shaft extending between the proximal and distal ends, the shaft having a cross sectional area; (iv) a tip region at the distal end comprising an outwardly tapered surface, and an inwardly tapered surface; (v) a strike portion at the proximal end, having a cross sectional area which is greater than the cross sectional area of the shaft; and (b) the bolt having: (i) a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, the shaft of the pin extending through the longitudinal bore, the longitudinal bore having a distal end and a proximal end; (ii) the distal end of the longitudinal bore having at least one foot for contacting, in use, the inwardly tapered surface of the tip region of the pin, (iii) the proximal end of the longitudinal bore having a rebate for receiving the strike portion of the pin, and further having an outer threaded portion extending along at least part of its length.

2. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip region of the pin includes the outwardly tapered surface and the inwardly tapered surface having a length L.

3. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inwardly tapered surface has a length of at least 0.2L.

4. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one foot of the bolt is located within the longitudinal bore.

5. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claims 4, wherein the at least one foot comprises a curved inner surface.

6. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one foot is located at or adjacent to an opening of the longitudinal bore at the distal end of the bore.

7. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claims 6, wherein the at least one foot comprises a curved inner surface.

8. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rebate comprises one or more shoulders.

9. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises at least one slot at or adjacent to the distal end of the bore.

10. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slot is an open ended slot.

11. A blind bolt assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer threaded portion is engageable with an internally threaded nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of a fastener in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a blind bolt;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an insertion pin;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a leading end of the insertion pin of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a bolt;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the bolt along the line B-B of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side elevation of the bolt as viewed along the direction of arrow A of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side elevation of the bolt as viewed along the direction of arrow C of FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an insertion pin of a second embodiment of the invention; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of a leading end of the insertion pin of FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional plan view of a blind bolt assembly having the insertion pin of FIG. 2 and the and bolt of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) Referring firstly to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a blind bolt, indicated generally a 1, comprises a bolt 2, an insertion pin 3 and a nut 4. The bolt 2 has a longitudinal bore 5 extending from one end to the other within which the insertion pin 3 is slidably retained.

(13) In FIG. 2, the insertion pin 3 is shown as comprising a proximal end 31 and a distal end 32. The pin 3 also comprises a shaft 33 between the proximal 31 and distal 32 ends. Each component of the pin 3 is circular in cross-section, although other shapes may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the pin 3 or shaft 33 or another component may comprise a rectangular, triangular or other suitably shaped cross-section.

(14) Extending axially from the distal end 32, the pin 3 comprises an outwardly tapered surface 34, an apex 35 and an inwardly tapered surface 36.

(15) In the embodiment being described, and as will be appreciated from FIG. 3 which shows a detailed view of the distal end 32, the pin 3 comprises a second outwardly tapered surface 37 extending axially from the distal end 32 and between the inwardly tapered surface 36 and the shaft 33. The angle between the second outwardly tapered surface 37 and the shaft 33 is greater than the angle between the first outwardly tapered surface 34 and the shaft 33 which results in the second outwardly tapered surface 37 being significantly shorter in length than the first outwardly tapered surface 34.

(16) In some embodiments, the pin 3 need not comprise the second outwardly tapered surface 7. In such embodiments, the inwardly tapered surface 36 is attached directly to shaft 33.

(17) In all embodiments, the narrowest part of the inwardly tapered surface 36 defines a neck 38.

(18) The distal end 32 of the pin 3 comprises a leading face 39. The leading face 39 has a narrower cross sectional area than that of the neck 38.

(19) In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the outwardly tapered surface 34, inwardly tapered surface 36 and second outwardly tapered surface 37 together define a tip having a length L. The inwardly tapered surface 36 has a length of approximately 0.47L.

(20) Referring now back to FIG. 2, the proximal end 31 of the pin 3 comprises a strike face 40. The proximal end 31 has a cross sectional are greater than that of the shaft 33. The pin also comprises a surface 41 which extends orthogonally from the principal axis of the shaft 33. The surface 41 extends about the entire periphery of the pin 3. The surface 41 is thus a juncture between the shaft 33 and proximal end 31.

(21) In alternative embodiments (not shown), the pin 3 need not comprise a surface 41 but instead the pin 3 may comprise any raised area or protuberance. Alternatively, the shaft may gradually taper outwardly towards the strike face to provide a proximal end having a greater cross sectional area than that of the shaft.

(22) In FIG. 4 there is shown a plan view of the bolt 2. The bolt 2 comprises a distal end 21 and a proximal end 22. Extending from the proximal end 22 along approximately two-thirds of the bolt 2, there comprises an outer threaded portion 23, along which the nut 4 can be moved. The proximal end 22 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed flats 24 for enabling a spanner to grip the bolt 2.

(23) The distal end 21 of the bolt 2 comprises a substantially flat outer surface. In some embodiments (not shown), the outer surface of the distal end 21 may comprise one or more circumferential ribs or indentations to provide grip.

(24) Extending axially from the distal end 21, the bolt 2 comprises a plurality of slots 25 extending towards the threaded portion 23. The slots 25 terminate in close proximity to the threaded portion 23.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section along the line B-B of FIG. 4. As will be appreciated, the longitudinal bore 5 extends through the bolt 2 from the distal end 21 to the proximal end 22. The bore 5 has a substantially constant cross sectional area therealong. However, towards the proximal end 22, the bolt 2 comprises a shoulder 26 extending about a portion of the inner surface. The bolt 2 therefore comprises a rebate 27 having a cross sectional area which is greater than that of the bore 5. The bolt 2 further comprises a plurality of feet 29 extending axially from the distal end 21 and terminating with an inner taper 28. The bolt 2 has an opening at the distal end 21 having a cross sectional area which is narrower than that of the bore 5.

(26) In the embodiment being described, and as will be appreciated from FIG. 6, the bolt 2 comprises four slits 25 located at 90 intervals about the periphery thereof. As will be appreciated, each foot 29 comprises a curved inner surface 290 which hugs the periphery of the pin, in use.

(27) FIG. 7 shows the bolt 2 having a pair of diametrically opposed flats 24. FIG. 7 also shows the shoulder 26 extending about the entire portion of the inner surface.

(28) FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment of a pin 3 in accordance with the invention. Extending axially from the distal end 32, the pin 3 comprises an outwardly tapered surface 34, an apex 35 and an inwardly tapered surface 36 which together define a tip having a length L. The inwardly tapered surface 36 has a length of approximately 0.56L.

(29) Operation of the blind bolt 1 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. A user first applies a nut 4 to the proximal end 22 of the bolt 2 and rotates the nut 4 a few turns. The distal end 21 of the bolt 2 is then passed through a component to be fixed to a wall of hollow tubing. The bolt 2 is passed through an opening in the tubing such that the distal end 21 of the bolt 2 stands proud of the inner wall which cannot be easily accessed. The insertion pin 3 is then located partially within the longitudinal bore 5 and the face 40 of the pin 3 is struck, preferably with a hammer. The act of striking the hammer causes pin surface 41 to enter rebate 27 and abut shoulder 26 of the bolt 2. Thus, the strike face 40 of the pin 3 lies flush with the proximal end 22 of the bolt 2. As the pin 3 tunnels through the bore 5, the distal end 32 thereof engages the rear taper 28 of the feet 29 and causes the feet 29 and hence the distal end 21 of the bolt 2 to splay outwardly until the apex 35 of the pin 3 passes the taper 28. See FIG. 10.

(30) The user then continues to rotate the nut 4 such that the nut engages the outer face of the tubing. Continued rotation of the nut 4 cause the outwardly splayed distal end to abut the restricted inner face and thus locks the component to the tubing. A spanner is used to engage the bolt 2 at the flats 24 and the nut 4 is given a further and final tighten which acts to force the bolt 2 back through the opening. This causes the feet 29 of the bolt 2 to bite the inwardly tapered portion 36 of the pin 3 and thus forces the pin 3 to continue forward. However, since the face 41 of the pin 3 abuts the shoulder 26 of the bolt 2 the pin 3 cannot pass through the bore 5. Instead, the bolt 2 and pin 3 act in opposite directions and thus continue to force the component and wall together even after the user has stopped tightening the nut 4.

(31) Of course, when we say that the tip comprises successively an outwardly tapered surface and an inwardly tapered surface, we mean that there could be one or more elements therebetween, e.g. another outwardly tapered surface, another inwardly tapered surface or a surface having a constant cross-sectional area.