U.S. patent application number 11/143152 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for wall anchor system and method.
Invention is credited to Bronner, Joseph.
Application Number | 20050279043 11/143152 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35645510 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050279043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bronner, Joseph |
December 22, 2005 |
Wall anchor system and method
Abstract
A system includes a back up wall and a veneer wall spaced from
the back up wall. An anchor shaft has a first end secured to the
back up wall, and a free end of the shaft projects into a space
between the back up wall and the veneer wall. A wing nut has a
central barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end. The
wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall and has
a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel
wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a
wire tie. The wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft
to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as
desired.
Inventors: |
Bronner, Joseph; (Denville,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTHONY G. VOLINI
1166 S. HIGHLAND
OAK PARK
IL
60304
US
|
Family ID: |
35645510 |
Appl. No.: |
11/143152 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60581039 |
Jun 18, 2004 |
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60628048 |
Nov 15, 2004 |
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60628047 |
Nov 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/561 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 37/16 20130101;
E04B 1/4178 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/561 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/02 |
Claims
I/We claim:
1. A system, comprising: a back up wall; a veneer wall spaced from
the back up wall; an anchor shaft having a first end secured to the
back up wall and a free end projecting into a space between the
back up wall and the veneer wall; a wing nut having a central
barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end wherein the
wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall; and a
generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel
wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a
wire tie; wherein the wing nut is independently rotatable about the
shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one
opening as desired.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing is disposed generally
along a center line of the barrel.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the wing is recessed
from a center line of the barrel.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut includes a threaded
bore and rotation of the wing nut moves the wing nut along the
longitudinal axis of the shaft.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing includes first and
second openings.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is an
elongate slot.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing is oversized relative to
the barrel in that a longitudinal dimension of the wing measured
generally perpendicularly to the barrel is greater than the outside
diameter of the barrel.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut defines a length
dimension L measured parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft
and wherein a distance D is measured between the wing nut and a
surface of the back up wall and wherein D is at least about L.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein wall sheeting and insulation are
disposed between the wing nut and the back up wall.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut is a two piece
assembly.
11. A method, the method comprising the steps of: providing a back
up wall; providing a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall;
securing a first end of an anchor shaft to the back up wall such
that a free second end of the shaft projects into a space between
the back up wall and the veneer wall; selecting a wing nut having a
central barrel and a generally planar wing extending from an end of
the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening
for receipt of a wire tie wherein once the shaft is secured to the
back up wall the wing nut is independently rotatable about the
shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one
opening as desired; and threading the wing nut on the shaft
proximate the free end to a desired final position wherein in the
desired final position the wing nut is spaced apart from a surface
of the back up wall.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wing is generally disposed
along a centerline of the barrel.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein a portion of the wing is
recessed from a centerline of the barrel.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the wing includes a first and
second openings.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening is an
elongate slot.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of
selecting a wire tie having joined legs.
17. A method of providing a wing nut to an end user for connecting
a back up wall to a veneer wall, the method comprising the steps
of: providing a wing nut having a central barrel with a bore sized
to accommodate an anchor shaft and a generally planar wing
extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing
includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie;
identifying to the end user that the wing nut is usable with the
wire tie and the anchor shaft for the purpose of connecting a back
up wall to a veneer wall; and causing the wing nut to be delivered
to the end user so that the end user places the wing nut onto the
shaft and attaches the wire tie to the wing nut to connect the back
up wall to the veneer wall.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and benefit of:
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/581,039, filed Jun.
18, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/628,048,
filed Nov. 15, 2004; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/628,047, filed Nov. 15, 2004. The disclosures of these
applications are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties for all purposes.
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTING
[0003] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates generally to apparatus for
transferring horizontal loads between a back up wall and a veneer
wall, and, more particularly, to a wing nut connecting an anchor
shaft extending from the back up wall or other building support to
a wire tie extending from a veneer wall.
[0006] 2. Description of the Background of the Invention
[0007] Various patents disclose apparatus for connecting a back up
wall to a veneer wall for transferring horizontal loads
therebetween.
[0008] Reinwall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,069 discloses a threaded
stud drilled into a supportive metal stud wall. The stud has an
elongate barrel integral with a driving head. The barrel may
include cutting elements for cutting through an insulation layer on
the supportive wall. The stud is driven until the barrel abuts the
supportive wall. The driving head of the stud/barrel includes an
elongate eye for receipt of a wire tie that extends from a mortar
bed of a veneer wall. The driving head also includes a
circumferential flange disposed between the barrel and the eye and
sized larger than the barrel. The flange seals against the
insulation layer.
[0009] Lopez U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,984 discloses a threaded stud
having a fastener barrel rigidly secured on an end of the threaded
stud. The fastener barrel includes a slot through which a wire tie
is looped. The stud is driven into the back up wall by rotating the
fastener barrel, typically with a drill having a chuck that fits
around a portion of the fastener barrel. The fastener barrel may
include teeth for cutting through insulation as the threaded stud
is driven through insulation and the back up wall.
[0010] Various patents show fastening apparatus. Holaday U.S. Pat.
No. 1,289,450 shows a pressure screw having a shaft and a handle.
The handle has first and second wings, and each of the wings has an
opening.
[0011] Larava U.S. Pat. No. 1,044,791 shows a thumb nut formed of
sheet metal. The thumb nut has first and second wings with an
opening in each wing.
[0012] Schmidt et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 123,423 discloses a wing
nut having a fastening portion and a handle portion. Similarly,
Bethea U.S. Design Pat. No. 286,979 and Bethea U.S. Design Pat. No.
286,744 show nuts having fastening and handle portions.
[0013] Roerig U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,643 shows a wing nut, each wing
having an opening therethrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
system includes a back up wall and a veneer wall spaced from the
back up wall. An anchor shaft has a first end secured to the back
up wall, and a free end of the shaft projects into a space between
the back up wall and the veneer wall. A wing nut has a central
barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end. The wing nut
is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall and has a
generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel
wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a
wire tie. The wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft
to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as
desired.
[0015] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, a method includes the step of providing a back up wall
and a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall. A first end of an
anchor shaft is secured to the back up wall such that a free second
end of the shaft projects into a space between the back up wall and
the veneer wall. A wing nut is selected having a central barrel and
a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central
barrel. The wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a
wire tie. Once the shaft is secured to the back up wall, the wing
nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient
the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired. The wing
nut is threaded on the shaft proximate the free end to a desired
final position. In the desired final position the wing nut is
spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall.
[0016] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, a method of providing a wing nut to an end user for
connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall includes the step of
providing a wing nut having a central barrel with a bore sized to
accommodate an anchor shaft and a generally planar wing extending
from an end of the central barrel. The wing includes at least one
opening for receipt of a wire tie. One identifies to the end user
that the wing nut is usable with the wire tie and the anchor shaft
for the purpose of connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall. One
causes the wing nut to be delivered to the end user so that the end
user places the wing nut onto the shaft and attaches the wire tie
to the wing nut to connect the back up wall to the veneer wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first wing nut;
[0018] FIG. 2 is further isometric view of the wing nut of FIG.
1;
[0019] FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded elevational views showing the
wing nut of FIG. 1, anchor shafts, and a washer;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational view showing the wing nut
of FIG. 1 and an alternative anchor shaft;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section,
showing the wing nut of FIG. 1 used to connect a back up wall and a
veneer wall;
[0022] FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a wire tie;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing the wing nut of
FIG. 1 along with a back up block wall, anchor shafts extending
from mortar beds of the back up wall, and wire ties; the veneer
wall is not shown for clarity;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative wing nut
having an elongate slot;
[0025] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a further alternative wing
nut design wherein a portion of the wing is recessed from a
diameter line of the barrel;
[0026] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an alternative wire tie;
and
[0027] FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view of a two-piece
alternative wing nut.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a wing nut 30 includes a central barrel
33 and a plate or wing 36 disposed on an end 40 of the central
barrel 33. The plate 36 includes first and second through holes or
openings 42a, 42b. The openings 42a, 42b may be circular. Referring
to FIG. 2, the central barrel 33 includes an internal threaded bore
44. The bore 44 may be either partially or fully threaded. The
barrel 33 has an axial extent, and a dimension of the wing 36
measured parallel to the axis of the barrel 33, may be roughly
equal to the axial extent of the barrel 33, or alternatively could
have any different suitable size. The wing nut 30 may be
constructed of any suitable material such as galvanized steel,
stainless steel, metal alloys such as zinc alloys, plastics, etc.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the wing nut 30 may be threaded onto
a threaded end 45 of an anchor shaft 48. An optional washer 50,
whether threaded or non-threaded, may also be disposed on the shaft
48. Rather than providing the washer 50, one could alternatively
fashion the wing nut 30 with a suitable circumferential flange (not
shown). The shaft 48 generally includes a tip 55, which may be
either rounded as shown in FIG. 3A or pointed as shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the shaft 48 may include an unremarkable end
60 that may be welded to a back up wall reinforcement (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3B, an alternative end 62 may be flattened and
welded to a back up wall reinforcement or could be hooked around
same in any suitable manner known to one of ordinary skill in the
art.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the wing nut 30 is used to connect a
back up wall 70 to a veneer wall 75 to transfer horizontal loads
between the walls 70 and 75, such as loads from wind forces or
other forces acting against the veneer wall 75. The back up wall 70
is shown in FIG. 5 as a metal stud 80. An anchor shaft 83, also
shown in FIG. 4, is secured to the stud 80 in any suitable manner.
For example, as illustrated an L-shaped plate 90 is screwed to,
welded, bolted, or otherwise secured to a surface 91 of the stud
80. The shaft 83 is secured to the plate 90 in any suitable manner.
As shown, the shaft 83 extends through a hole in the plate 90. A
nut 94 and a head 96 (or alternatively a second nut 96) capture the
plate 90 therebetween, thus securing the shaft 83 to the back up
wall 70. The shaft 83 extends through gypsum board or other wall
sheeting 98 and insulation 100. It should be noted that while the
gypsum board 98 and the insulation 100 are optional, these items
are ordinarily disposed between back up and veneer walls. According
to one mode of practicing the present invention, the shaft 83 is
first secured to the back up wall 70, threading the shaft 83
through a predilled opening in the gypsum board 98. Thereafter, the
insulation 100 is pressed against the shaft 83, such that the shaft
83 pierces through the insulation 100. In any event, once the
gypsum board and insulation are in place, the user may then place
the optional washer 50 on the shaft 83 such that the washer 50
abuts the insulation 100, and then the wing nut 30 is threaded onto
the shaft 83 until the washer 50 is pressed snugly against the
insulation 100. The user may rotate the wing nut 30 still further,
until a desired angular orientation of the plate 36, and thus the
openings 42a, 42b is achieved. Once the desired orientation is
achieved, the user may place first and second legs 104, 106 (FIG.
5A) of a wire tie 108 into the openings 42a, 42b. The legs 104, 106
may include a bent portion 109 that inhibits the legs 104, 106 from
sliding out of the wing nut 30 once installed. An embedment portion
110 of the wire tie 108 is disposed in a mortar bed 112 (FIG. 5) of
the veneer wall 75. It should be noted that an advantage of the
wing nut 30 is that rotational movement thereof accomplishes not
only changing the angular orientation thereof, but also moves the
wing nut 30 longitudinally along the shaft 83.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows that the back up wall 70 could alternatively be
a masonry block wall 116 having a plurality of blocks 118 with
mortar beds 120 therebetween. Anchor shafts 122 are embedded in the
mortar beds 120. According to one method of practicing the present
invention, a user may construct the block wall 116, and in the
course of constructing the wall 116, the shafts 122 are prewelded
to a horizontal reinforcement which is disposed in the mortar bed
120 so that the shaft 122 extends from the wall 116 as shown,
thereby rigidly securing the shafts 122 to the back up wall 70.
Thereafter, the user may press insulation board against a tip 126
of the shafts 122 such that a threaded region 128 protrudes
outwardly of the insulation. The tips 126 are shown as pointed to
facilitate piercing insulation. The user may then place the washer
50 on the shaft 122, abutting the insulation and may then thread
the wing nuts 30 onto the shafts 122 until the washer 50 and the
wing nuts 30 are tight against the insulation. A user may further
rotate the wing nuts 30 until a desired angular orientation of the
wing nuts is achieved. The user may rotate the wing nuts 30 until
the plate 36 is in a generally horizontal position with the plane
of the plate 36 parallel to the horizontal mortar beds 120. Once
the wing nuts 30 are secure, the veneer wall (not shown in FIG. 6)
is constructed and the embedment portions 110 of the wire ties 108
are embedded in the mortar beds of the veneer wall, and the wire
tie legs 104, 106 are placed in the openings 42a, 42b of the wing
nuts 30 to connect the back up wall to the veneer wall. It should
be noted that instead of piercing the insulation, one could
alternatively fashion sheets of insulation and/or wall sheeting
that fit between the shafts 122.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows that a dimension or distance D is defined
roughly between the surface 156 of the back up wall 70 and the wing
nut 30. D is typically roughly equal to the thickness of the
sheeting and insulation 98, 100. The distance D could, of course,
vary depending upon construction preferences or requirements with
regard to insulation thickness or other factors. The wing nut 30
includes a length L. D may have any suitable value. For example, D
may be roughly equal to L or greater than L. Alternatively, D may
even be less than L.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a wing nut 165 having the central barrel 33
with internal threaded bore and a plate 170 disposed proximate an
end 174 of the wing nut 165. The plate 170 defines an elongate slot
176 for receiving a suitable wire tie (not shown). The elongate
slot 176 may be advantageous in that it may accommodate a broad
size range of wire tie legs.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a further alternative wing nut 180, similar in
some respects to the wing nut 165, but a plate 184 includes a
portion 186 recessed from a diameter line or centerline C of the
barrel 33. The recessed portion 186 allows a user to access a
socket 194 disposed in the end 174 of the barrel 33. The user may
conveniently place an appropriate hand or power tool into the
socket 194 to facilitate rotation of the wing nut 180 onto a
suitable shaft (not shown).
[0034] FIG. 9 shows an alternative wire tie 195 wherein the legs
104, 106 are joined together forming a U-shaped structure. The
joined legs 104, 106 are placed into the slot 176. The embedment
portion 110 may include a split. It should be noted that the joined
legs 104, 106 may provide more rigidity than unjoined legs.
[0035] FIG. 10 shows an alternate wing nut 200 that is a two-piece
assembly. A nut 205 is inserted into a slot 208 formed in a barrel
210 of the wing nut 200. In operation, one installs the nut 205
into the slot 208. The wing nut 200 is then threaded onto a shaft
such that the shaft is threaded into the nut 205 inside the wing
nut 200.
[0036] In accordance with a further method of the present
invention, a vendor, whether a manufacture, distributor, or
retailer, may provide the wing nut 30, 165, or 180 to an end user
so that the end user may use the wing nut to connect a back up wall
to a veneer wall. The vendor provides the wing nut having the wing
36, 170, or 184 and the openings 42a, 42b or elongate slot 176. The
vendor identifies to the end user that the wing nut is usable with
a wire tie and anchor shaft for the purpose of connecting a back up
wall to a veneer wall. This identification can be accomplished in a
variety of ways. For example, the vendor may provide brochures to
customers showing the wing nut in a manner that would cause users
to purchase the wing nut to use with a wire tie to connect walls.
The vendor may distribute pictorial diagrams, either with the
brochures or on packaging for the wing nuts. The pictorial diagrams
illustrate the wing nut either with a wire tie or with a wire tie
and a back up wall and/or veneer wall. The vendor may contact end
users by telephone, email, or other means to inform end users that
the wing nut 30, 165, or 180 may be so used.
[0037] Numerous modifications to the features described and shown
are possible. Accordingly, the described and illustrated
embodiments are to be construed as merely examplary of the
inventive concepts expressed herein and addressed in the appended
claims.
* * * * *