U.S. patent application number 09/896464 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for setting tool for nail-in anchors.
Invention is credited to Estes, John Howard, Painter Sr., Johnnie Wayne.
Application Number | 20030000991 09/896464 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25406258 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030000991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Estes, John Howard ; et
al. |
January 2, 2003 |
SETTING TOOL FOR NAIL-IN ANCHORS
Abstract
A tool for driving and setting a nail-in anchor into concrete.
The tool has a drive pin which can be locked and unlocked. When the
drive pin is locked, the tool, used with a hammer, will drive only
the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled hole in concrete. When the
drive pin is then unlocked, the tool, again used with a hammer,
will nail the nail into the sleeve and set the anchor. The tool can
be manipulated using only one hand. The tool typically has a thumb
cap which, when rotated, locks and unlocks the drive pin. The tip
of the tool is machined to have a concave shape for fitting over
the convex-shaped dome of a typical nail-in anchor. The outer
surfaces of the tool can have knurls to improve handling.
Inventors: |
Estes, John Howard; (Spring,
TX) ; Painter Sr., Johnnie Wayne; (Conroe,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mary J. Gaskin
Annelin & Gaskin
Suite 220
2170 Buckthorne Place
The Woodlands
TX
77380
US
|
Family ID: |
25406258 |
Appl. No.: |
09/896464 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
227/147 ;
29/525.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49826 20150115;
Y10T 29/49945 20150115; B25B 31/00 20130101; Y10T 29/49947
20150115; Y10T 29/5393 20150115; B25C 1/02 20130101; Y10T 29/49822
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
227/147 ;
29/525.01 |
International
Class: |
B23P 011/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A setting tool, for use with a hammer, for driving and nailing
an anchor assembly into concrete, said tool comprising: an
elongated cylindrical body member having a bore, a driving end, and
a connection end; a drive pin having a nailing end and an impact
end, the nailing end of the drive pin being inserted into the bore
of the body member in axial alignment; means for locking and
unlocking the drive pin, said means being attached to the
connection end of the body member; a cylindrical thumb cap having a
bore, an inner surface, a top end with a hole and an open bottom
end which fits over the drive pin and the means for locking and
unlocking the drive pin, the impact end of the drive pin protruding
through the hole in the top end of the thumb cap; means for
attaching the thumb cap to the means for locking and unlocking the
drive pin.
2. The setting tool of claim 1, wherein the means for locking and
unlocking the drive pin comprises: a locking pin inserted through
an opening in the drive pin, said locking pin extending
perpendicularly from the drive pin; a cylindrical latching member
having an outer surface, a bore, a connection end, and a latching
end with at least one notch and at least one longitudinal slot, the
connection end of said latching member being attached to the
connection end of the body member; and at least one longitudinal
groove on the inner surface of the thumb cap, the groove holding
the locking pin; the means further comprising rotational movement
of the thumb cap, which causes the drive pin to rotate between a
locked position and an unlocked position, the drive pin being
locked when the locking pin rests in the notch on the latching
member, and the drive pin being unlocked when the locking pin is
positioned in the slot on the latching member.
3. The setting tool of claim 2, wherein the means for attaching the
thumb cap to the means for locking and unlocking the drive pin
comprises an annular groove on the outer surface of the latching
member, an annular groove on the inner surface of the thumb cap and
an O-ring disposed in both grooves, said O-ring frictionally
engaging the thumb cap to the latching member.
4. The setting tool of claim 2, wherein the connection end of the
body member comprises a male end with threads and wherein the
connection end of the latching member comprises a female end with
threads complementary to the threads on the male end.
5. The setting tool of claim 1, wherein the anchor assembly has a
convex-shaped dome and the driving end of the body member has been
machined to have a concave-shaped tip.
6. The setting tool of claim 1, wherein the body member and the
thumb cap are made from corrosion-resistant aluminumum, and the
drive pin and the latching member are made from heat-treated
steel.
7. The setting tool of claim 1 wherein both the body member and the
thumb cap have outer surfaces with knurls machined thereon.
8. A method of driving and nailing an anchor assembly into concrete
using a hammer and a driving and nailing tool, said tool
comprising: an elongated cylindrical body member having a bore, a
driving end, and a connection end; a drive pin having a nailing end
and an impact end, the nailing end of the drive pin being inserted
into the bore of the body member in axial alignment; means for
locking and unlocking the drive pin, said means being attached to
the connection end of the body member; a cylindrical thumb cap
having a bore, an inner surface, a top end with a hole and an open
bottom end which fits over the drive pin and the means for locking
and unlocking the drive pin, the impact end of the drive pin
protruding through the hole in the top end of the thumb cap; means
for attaching the thumb cap to the means for locking and unlocking
the drive pin, said anchor assembly comprising an anchor sleeve
having a convex-shaped dome and a bore with a nail positioned
within and extending above said bore, said method comprising the
steps of: manually pushing the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled
hole in the concrete; locking the drive pin; centering the driving
end of the tool over the anchor assembly; using the hammer to
hammer the impact end of the drive pin, causing the driving end of
the body member of the tool to drive the anchor sleeve into the
predrilled hole; unlocking the drive pin; using the hammer to
hammer the driving end of the drive pin, causing the drive pin to
drive the nail into the anchor sleeve and set the anchor assembly
in the concrete.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the means for locking and
unlocking the drive pin comprises: a locking pin inserted through
an opening in the drive pin, said locking pin extending
perpendicularly from the drive pin; a cylindrical latching member
having an outer surface, a bore, a connection end, and a latching
end with at least one notch and at least one longitudinal slot, the
connection end of said latching member being attached to the
connection end of the body member; and at least one longitudinal
groove on the inner surface of the thumb cap, the groove holding
the locking pin; the means further comprising rotational movement
of the thumb cap, which causes the drive pin to rotate between a
locked position and an unlocked position, the drive pin being
locked when the locking pin rests in the notch on the latching
member, and the drive pin being unlocked when the locking pin is
positioned in the slot on the latching member.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the means for attaching the
thumb cap to the means for locking and unlocking the drive pin
comprises an annular groove on the outer surface of the latching
member, an annular groove on the inner surface of the thumb cap and
an O-ring disposed in both grooves, said O-ring frictionally
engaging the thumb cap to the latching member.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the connection end of the body
member comprises a male end with threads and wherein the connection
end of the latching member comprises a female end with threads
complementary to the threads on the male end.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving end of the body
member has been machined to have a concave-shaped tip.
13. The setting tool of claim 8 wherein both the body member and
the thumb cap have outer surfaces with knurls machined thereon.
14. A method of driving and nailing an anchor assembly into
concrete using a hammer and a driving and nailing tool, said tool
comprising: an elongated cylindrical body member having a bore, and
a driving end; a drive pin having a nailing end and an impact end,
the nailing end of the drive pin being inserted into the bore of
the body member in axial alignment; means for locking and unlocking
the drive pin; means for assembling the driving and nailing tool;
said anchor assembly comprising an anchor sleeve having a
convex-shaped dome and a bore with a nail positioned within and
extending above said bore, said method comprising the steps of:
manually pushing the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled hole in the
concrete; locking the drive pin; centering the driving end of the
driving and nailing tool over the anchor assembly; using the hammer
to hammer the impact end of the drive pin, resulting in forces
being transferred to the body member for driving in the sleeve;
unlocking the drive pin so that the drive pin can move axially
within the bore of the body member; using the hammer to hammer the
impact end of the drive pin in order to drive the nail into the
anchor sleeve and set the anchor assembly in the concrete.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the driving end of the body
member has been machined to have a concave-shaped tip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a setting tool for a
nail-in anchor. The tool is used to drive the anchor sleeve into a
pre-drilled hole; then the same tool is easily rotated for nailing
in the nail and setting the anchor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Concrete nail-in anchors are widely used in the construction
industry. A nail-in anchor has an anchor sleeve topped by a
convex-shaped crown or dome. A nail is inserted into the sleeve
through a hole in the dome. A hole is drilled in the concrete or
brickwork. The anchor sleeve is inserted through a mounting hole in
a structural piece (or through an opening in an angle iron bracket,
etc.) and hammered into the hole in the concrete. Finally, the nail
is driven into the sleeve, forming a wedge and setting the
anchor.
[0003] Presently, the tools used for driving and setting a nail-in
anchor can be inefficient and even ineffective. Typically, a series
of tools must be utilized. A drill is used to make the hole in the
concrete. A hammer and/or screwdriver is used to hammer the anchor
sleeve into the hole so that the dome rests on the surface of the
concrete. A driving tool, such as a screwdriver, chisel, or center
punch, and a hammer are then used to drive in the nail and set the
anchor. The tools presently used can be difficult to align in order
to hammer the anchor sleeve into the hole and may damage the dome
of the anchor, which is often made from soft metal.
[0004] Having to then switch a different tool for driving the nail
requires re-alignment, wasting time and causing the installer to
lose his focus. When dozens of anchors must be set, the expenditure
of time can be substantial. When used to drive in the nail, the
presently-available tools may cause the nail to bend to one side
and can even cause the nail head to chip off. Anchors may not be
properly set, resulting in a poor result, both structurally and
cosmetically. In hard-to-reach places, the installer using
presently-available tools has little room to hammer in an anchor;
in such circumstances, the anchor is likely to fail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a setting tool for nail-in
anchors which overcomes the problems of the prior art. The tool is
designed so that novices can use it. The tool is safe and
comfortable to use. It eliminates the need to switch from one tool
to another, thereby saving time.
[0006] The installer grips the body of the tool with one hand. The
tool of the present invention has a concave milled end which fits
over the dome of an anchor sleeve. The outer surfaces of the tool
are knurled, to improve handling. In its locked position, the pin,
or shaft, of the tool cannot move. Using a hammer or mallet held in
his other hand, the installer strikes the exposed end of the locked
pin, and the body of the tool drives the anchor until its dome
rests against the surface of the material in which it is to be
anchored. Without changing the position of the tool, using his
thumb, the installer rotates the latch cap in a counter-clockwise
direction, unlocking the pin of the tool so that it can move freely
up and down within the body of the tool. When the exposed end of
the unlocked pin is then struck with a hammer, the tool will drive
in the nail and set the anchor.
[0007] The tool can be used without damaging the anchors and the
surface of the object being anchored. The installer is able to stay
completely focused on installing each anchor. Finally, Installation
of each anchor takes considerably less time than does the process
using presently-available tools.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool
which is safe and comfortable to use.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool
which is easy to use, regardless of an installer's experience.
[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a tool which allows the installer to install nail-in anchors using
focused, efficient movements.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
tool which shortens the amount of time required to install each
anchor.
[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
tool with two positions, the first position for driving in the body
of an anchor, and the second position for driving in and setting
the nail of the anchor; changing from the first position to the
second position can accomplished without realigning the tool.
[0013] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a tool which can be used without damaging either the
anchors or the surfaces of the material to be anchored.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the tool of the
present invention aligned with the head of a mallet and a nail-in
anchor, before anchoring an angle iron bracket to a concrete
block.
[0015] FIG. 2A is an enlarged side perspective view of the tool of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2B is an enlarged side perspective view of a nail-in
anchor.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional side view of the parts of
the tool of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3A is an end view of the bottom of the latch cap of the
tool of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view of the latch rotated
50.degree. clockwise from FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view of the latch rotated
90.degree. counter-clockwise from FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 3D is a partial sectional side view of the lower
portion of the body of the tool of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4A is a side plan view of the pin in a locked position
inside the latch.
[0023] FIG. 4B is a sectional top view of the pin in a locked
position inside the latch.
[0024] FIG. 5A is a side plan view of the pin in an unlocked
position inside the latch.
[0025] FIG. 5B is a side plan view of the pin inside the latch
after a nail-in anchor has been set and the nail driven in.
[0026] FIG. 5C is a sectional top view of the pin in an unlocked
position inside the latch.
[0027] FIG. 6A is a sectional side view of the tool as it is used
to drive in the body of a nail-in anchor.
[0028] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of the tool as it is
used to drive in the nail of a nail-in anchor.
[0029] FIGS. 7A through 7E are side plan views of the positions of
the tool as it is used to install a nail-in anchor, showing the
rotation of the latch cap to lock and unlock the pin of the
tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the nail-in anchor setting tool 10 of
the present invention is used with a mallet 15 to drive a nail-in
anchor 11 through a hole 12 in an angle iron bracket 13 and into a
drilled hole in a concrete block 14; the anchor setting tool 10 is
then used to set the nail-in anchor 11 in the concrete block 14,
thereby attaching the angle iron bracket 13 firmly against the
surface of the concrete block 14.
[0031] FIG. 2A shows the assembled nail-in anchor setting tool 10.
The body 20, which serves as the hand grip, is made from a
corrosion-resistant, hard metal such as aluminum. It has a knurled
surface to prevent slippage of the tool 10. The body 20 has a
narrow tip 21 which can be used in tight areas, such as the one
hole conduit strap, widely used in the electrical industry. The tip
21 is machined to have a concave end 22, which fits over the convex
portion of the nail-in anchor 11. Because of the design, use of the
tool 10 will not damage the convex-shaped dome of the nail-in
anchor 11. The latch cap 23 (also called a thumb cap), is also made
from a corrosion-resistant, hard metal such as aluminum, and has a
knurled surface. The drive pin 24, protruding through the top of
the latch cap 23, is made from heat-treated steel. The drive pin 24
is machined to slide into the bore of the body 20 and through the
tip 21 until its end is even with the concave end 22 of the body
20.
[0032] FIG. 2B shows a typical nail-in anchor 11 for use with
concrete or masonry. Such anchors come in different sizes, and
include metallics, curries, dotties and zamacs. Typically, each
nail-in anchor 11 has an anchor sleeve 25 with chamfered ends 26
separated by a longitudinal slot 27. Atop the anchor sleeve 25 is a
convex-shaped dome 28 with a circular groove 29 around a central
opening for entry of the nail 30. The circular groove 29 is shaped
to accommodate the head 30a of the nail 30, so that it is flush
with the top of the convex-shaped dome 28 after installation.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows the parts of the tool 10 prior to assembly. In
FIG. 3, the upper end 31 of the body 20 is pressed into the bore of
the lower end 32 of the latch 33, which is made from heat-treated
steel. Alternatively, the surface of the upper end 31 of the body
20 has threads, and the bore of the lower end 32 of the latch 33
has complementary threads, so the upper end 31 of the body 20 can
be threaded into the bore of the lower end 32 of the latch 33. The
latch 33 has an O-ring 34, made from a material such as Buna-N with
a Durometer such as 75, which is pressed into an O-ring groove 35
(see FIGS. 3B and 3C). The latch 33 is machined to have two notches
36 spaced 180.degree. apart and to have a longitudinal slot 37
through both sides of the latch 33.
[0034] A dowel pin 38, made from tool steel, has been pressed or
floated into a pre-drilled hole 39 in the drive pin 24. The dowel
pin 38 allows the drive pin 24 to lock or unlock from the latch 33.
The drive pin 24 is inserted into the bore of the body 20. When the
tool 10 is going to be used, the ends of the dowel pin 38 will rest
against the notches 36 on the latch 33 (the drive pin's 24 locked
position), and the installer will use the body 20 to drive the
anchor sleeve 25 into place. The installer will then rotate the
latch cap 23, which will rotate the drive pin 24, thereby aligning
the dowel pin 38 with the slot 37 on the latch 33 (the drive pin's
24 unlocked position). The installer will then use the drive pin 24
to drive in the nail 30 (the dowel pin 38 will slide down into the
slot 37 as the nail 30 is driven in).
[0035] When the tool 10 is assembled, the ends of the dowel pin 38
fit into complementary dowel pin grooves 40 in the bore 41 of the
latch cap 23, which is slid over the latch 33. With the ends of the
dowel pin 38 in the slot 37, the latch cap 23 is moved downward,
and the end of the drive pin 24 fitted through the hole 42 in the
top 43 of the latch cap 23. The latch cap 23 is then pressed
further downward until the O-ring 34 on the latch 33 engages the
receiving groove 44 on the bore 41 of the latch cap 23, locking the
tool 10 together in its final assembled position. After the tool 10
is assembled, rotation of the latch cap 23 will rotate the latch 33
as well.
[0036] FIG. 3A shows more clearly the dowel pin grooves 40 on the
bore 41 of the latch cap 23. The dowel pin grooves 40 accommodate
the ends of the dowel pin 38 on the drive pin 24, allowing it to
slide up and down.
[0037] FIG. 3B shows the latch 33 rotated 50.degree. clockwise from
the view in FIG. 3. The ends of the dowel pin 38 will rest on the
notches 36 on the latch 33 when the drive pin 24 is "locked".
[0038] FIG. 3C shows the latch 33 rotated 90.degree.
counter-clockwise from the view in FIG. 3. The ends of the dowel
pin 38 can move up and down in the slot 37, with the drive pin 24
in an unlocked position.
[0039] FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the body
20, showing more clearly the milled concave end 22 of the tip 21,
which fits over the convex-shaped dome 28 of each nail-in anchor
11.
[0040] FIGS. 4 and 5 show more clearly the movement of the drive
pin 24 within the latch 33.
[0041] In FIG. 4A, the drive pin 24 is in its locked position. The
ends of the dowel pin 38 rest against the notches 36 on the latch
33. FIG. 4B is a top sectional view of the ends of the dowel pin 38
resting against the notches 36 on the latch 33.
[0042] In FIG. 5A, the drill pin is in its unlocked position. The
dowel pin 38 has been rotated counter-clockwise approximately
50.degree., off the notches 36 and into the slot 37 in the latch
33. In FIG. 5B, the dowel pin 38 has moved to the bottom of the
slot 37, the position it would have after a nail 11 has been nailed
in.
[0043] FIG. 5C is a top sectional view of the drive pin 24 in the
unlocked position, showing the ends of the dowel pin 38 in the slot
37 in the latch 33.
[0044] FIGS. 6A and 6B show sectional views of the tool 10 in
use.
[0045] In FIG. 6A, the tool 10 is in a "locked" position, with the
dowel pin 38 resting on the notches 36 on the latch 33. The concave
end 22 of the tip 21 of the body 20 fits over the convex-shaped
dome 28 of the nail-in anchor 11. The installer uses the mallet 15
to hit the locked drive pin 24, which transfers the driving force
to the body 20, which drives in the anchor sleeve 25.
[0046] In FIG. 6B, the tool 10 is in an "unlocked" position, with
the dowel pin 38 in the slot 37 of the latch 33. The installer uses
the mallet 15 to hit the unlocked drive pin 24, directly driving
the nail 30 into the anchor sleeve 25, driving apart the chamfered
ends 26 of the nail-in anchor 11.
[0047] FIGS. 7A through 7E show plan views of the tool 10 in
use.
[0048] In FIG. 7A, the latch cap 23 of the tool 10 is rotated
clockwise 45 into its locked position. The anchor sleeve 25 of a
nail-in anchor 11 has been partially inserted into a drilled
masonry hole 16 in a concrete block 14.
[0049] In FIG. 7B, the locked tool 10 has driven the anchor sleeve
25 into the drilled masonry hole 16.
[0050] In FIG. 7C, the tool 10 is shown lifted up (in use, it does
not need to be lifted away from the nail-in anchor 11), and the
latch cap 23 is rotated counter-clockwise 46 into an unlocked
position.
[0051] In FIG. 7D, the tool 10 has driven the nail into the anchor
sleeve 25.
[0052] In FIG. 7E, installation is complete, and the tool 10 has
been lifted away from the nail-in anchor 11.
* * * * *