U.S. patent application number 12/354748 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-16 for concrete anchor insertion device and method.
Invention is credited to Sylvester Kardas.
Application Number | 20090180839 12/354748 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40850756 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090180839 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kardas; Sylvester |
July 16, 2009 |
Concrete Anchor Insertion Device and Method
Abstract
A device for mounting anchors having a mounting end for
positioning within pre-drilled apertures formed in concrete or
cement and having a threaded end projecting forward of the
pre-drilled apertures when positioned therein. The device features
a continues shaft that is adapted to engage with a hammer drill on
a first end, and the threaded portion of the anchor on the opposite
end to allow the hammer drill to force the anchor into its aperture
in the concrete. A nut for the threaded portion is rotatable for
engagement by a second component coaxially engaged with the shaft.
The device allows for both hammering the anchor into its aperture
and tightening the nut, without removing the device from its
engagement with the anchor.
Inventors: |
Kardas; Sylvester; (San
Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DONN K. HARMS;PATENT & TRADEMARK LAW CENTER
SUITE 100, 12702 VIA CORTINA
DEL MAR
CA
92014
US
|
Family ID: |
40850756 |
Appl. No.: |
12/354748 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61021319 |
Jan 15, 2008 |
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61021316 |
Jan 15, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/259.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 23/141 20130101;
B25D 17/02 20130101; B25B 31/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/259.1 |
International
Class: |
E21D 20/00 20060101
E21D020/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for mounting anchors having a mounting end for
positioning within pre-drilled apertures formed in concrete or
cement, and having a threaded end projecting forward of said
pred-formed apertures, comprising: an shaft, said shaft having a
proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, and a
central portion therebetween; said proximal end adapted for
engagement with the chuck of a hammer drill; said distal end having
an axial cavity; said axial cavity adapted to engage around said
threaded end of said anchors; a second member having an axial
passage running therethrough, said second member having a first end
and a second end opposite said engagement end; said second member
coaxially engaged with said shaft communicating within said axial
passage; said first end of said second member connected to a mount
at said central portion of said shaft; said second end having an
engagement cavity therein, said engagement cavity adapted to engage
with a nut which is adapted for threaded engagement upon said
threaded end of said anchor; and said threaded end of said mounting
anchor engageable within said axial cavity by communicating through
said engagement cavity, whereby said mounting anchor may be
hammered into said pre-drilled apertures by a hammering force of
said hammer drill engaged to said shaft and said nut may be
subsequently turned onto said threaded end by a rotation of said
shaft communicated thereto by rotational force of said hammer drill
while said engagement end connected upon said nut.
2. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 1 additionally
comprising: said mount being a clutch; said clutch configured to
cause slippage of said rotation of said shaft should said
rotational force exceed a pre-set maximum; and said hammering force
being unaffected by said slippage of said clutch, whereby said
hammering force is directly communicated to said mounting anchor
and said rotational force is always communicated through said
clutch at or below said pre-set maximum.
3. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 1 additionally
comprising: said first end of said second member being in a
removable engagement with said mount whereby said second member may
be removed from said shaft.
4. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 3 additionally
comprising: said first end of said second member being in a
removable engagement with a side surface of said clutch, whereby
said second member may be removed from said shaft.
5. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 3 additionally
comprising: said axial cavity being threaded to threadably engage
with said threaded end of said anchors.
6. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 4 additionally
comprising: said axial cavity being threaded to threadably engage
with said threaded end of said anchors.
7. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 2 additionally
comprising: said clutch being adjustable to thereby provide means
for adjustment of said pre-set maximum.
8. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 3 additionally
comprising: said clutch being adjustable to thereby provide means
for adjustment of said pre-set maximum.
9. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 4 additionally
comprising: said clutch being adjustable to thereby provide means
for adjustment of said pre-set maximum.
10. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 5 additionally
comprising: said clutch being adjustable to thereby provide means
for adjustment of said pre-set maximum.
11. The apparatus for mounting anchors of claim 6 additionally
comprising: said clutch being adjustable to thereby provide means
for adjustment of said pre-set maximum.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/021,319 AND 61/021,316 both filed on Jun. 2,
2008 and both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by
reference.
[0002] The disclosed device relates to the setting of concrete
anchors. More particularly the disclosed device and method of
employment thereof relate to a tool for insertion of concrete
anchors which is adapted for operative engagement to a hammer drill
to thereby considerably increase the efficiency of workers setting
such anchors in concrete and masonry structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When mounting structural elements to concrete walls such as
in tilt-up concrete structures, it is frequently necessary to
provide a means for engagement of a threaded bolt with the concrete
wall. The bolt being employed to hold some structural or decorative
element must be screwed into the surface of the wall to provide the
mounting engagement for the structural element.
[0004] In a conventional insertion of a wall anchor into a concrete
wall, a hole is drilled into the surface of the wall to a distance
sufficiently deep to provide for insertion of an internally
threaded anchor, into the wall. In a second step, the wall anchor
is inserted into the leading edge of the hole where it must be sunk
into the hole prior to a third anchoring step.
[0005] Such inserts conventionally have an anchor circumference
which is very close in size to the interior circumference of the
hole in which it engages. Such tight engagements are required by
the engineered structure of the insert and the need for the anchor
to sufficiently grip the interior of the hole to support the load
engaged on the bolt later threaded into the anchor.
[0006] As such, insertion of the anchor into the hole requires that
it be forced by impact to a full engagement into the prior drilled
hole. This can be a most tedious process since the holes are
drilled into hard concrete and their can be dozens if not hundreds
of such hole and anchor engagements on a supporting wall. The
insertion of the anchors into the pre-drilled holes using a hammer
can take an extremely large amount of worker time. Worse yet, the
temperatures of the concrete can impact the time and effort
required to insert the anchors since a hole drilled on a hot day,
will contract on a subsequent cold day, making insertion of the
anchor even more time consuming due to the conventional hammering
method of insertion of each anchor.
[0007] Once inserted into the hole in a tight fit, each anchor must
then be expanded by threading a bolt into the axially located
threads of the anchor. The insertion of the bolt, deforms the
anchor slightly such that it compresses in the circumferential
engagement of the anchor and the sidewall of the hole. This
compression fit is required to maintain the anchor in the hole
under the anticipated load on the bolt.
[0008] However, just like hammering of the anchor into the hole is
a tedious process, the insertion of the threaded bolt into the
threaded axial cavity of the bolt is also a time-consuming process.
As a consequence, the worker must first drill a hole in the wall.
Then, the anchor must be driven into the hole by hand using a
hammer. Finally, in a third step, the bolt must be rotated in the
threaded engagement with the axial cavity using a wrench to twist
it.
[0009] As such there is an unmet need for an improved apparatus and
method for insertion of concrete anchors into their mounting holes
which saves costly construction worker time. Such a device should
allow for the use of the hammer drill that is employed to drill the
holes in the wall, to insert the anchors into the hole using the
power provided by the hammer drill rather than by the hand of the
user on a hammer.
[0010] Further, such a device should also allow for employment of
the hammer drill or other powered rotating tool, to rotate the bolt
into the threaded axial cavity of the anchor thereby saving more
time by eliminating the tedious employment of a conventional wrench
to twist the bolt. Finally, such a device, should be easily
engageable with conventional hammer drills, and should be a single
unit which both allows for insertion of the anchor, and twisting of
the bolt, without having to constantly remove the tool from the
drill chuck.
[0011] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis
for designing other concrete anchor setting methods and systems for
carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is
important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such
equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0012] An object of this invention is the provision of a device for
engagement with concrete wall anchors and with a conventional
hammer drill, to thereby provide a powered impact for driving the
anchors into the pre-drilled holes.
[0013] An additional object of this invention is the provision of
such an anchor driving device, which will also engage the bolt that
must be threaded into the anchor, and provide a powered rotation
thereof.
[0014] It is a further object of the invention herein, to provide
such an anchor driving device and bolt rotating device, in a single
unit to thereby eliminate the need to constantly remove and replace
tools with the hammer drill chuck.
[0015] These together with other objects and advantages which will
become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts
throughout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The device and method of operation herein described and
disclosed substantially increases the speed of the tedious process
of insertion of anchors and studs conventionally set into concrete
and block walls and greatly reduces the number of tools, labor, and
hence people required. Using a hammer drill in combination with the
engageable two component device, a first component is adapted to
engage in the jaws of a hammer drill on a proximal end and with a
second component on the opposite end adapted for both the insertion
of studs and the subsequent engagement of nuts upon the studs so
inserted.
[0017] The distal end of the first component may be adapted with a
threaded axial passage adapted to engage the threads of a concrete
anchor for a hammering of the anchor without damaging the threads.
Or it may be adapted which a passage for coaxial engagement of the
stud while a socket adapted to engage a nut surrounding the passage
engages the nut to both hammer the stud and rotate the nut onto the
threads of the inserted stud.
[0018] The second component of the pair, engaged to the first
component through a clutch, has a socket shaped and sized to engage
the nuts of the anchor studs and to rotate them to a mount or
bracket once the stud has been properly inserted and hammered into
place. The second component may either be removably engageable to
cooperatively engage with the clutch and surround the axial passage
on the distal end of the shaft of the first component, or it may
actually be a unitary structure and part of the clutch in its
coaxial engagement surrounding the axial passage in the shaft.
[0019] Thus, in either the permanent mode or the removably
engagement mode of the second component in a manner similar to a
socket wrench, the combination of the two components allows for the
employment of the hammer drill for both tasks without the need to
change tools. In a first step the insert may be properly hammered
into the aperture in the concrete by the engagement with either the
threads of the stud insert or with a nut engaged upon the threads.
Once hammered into proper position, the nut itself may be rotated
by the socket type wrench formed in the distal end of the second
component surrounding the axial cavity on the distal end of the
shaft. Labor and time is greatly saved by employing the device
instead of the conventional manner using hammers and wrenches in
multiple steps.
[0020] These and further objectives of this invention will be
brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein
detailed description is provided for the purpose of fully
disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
[0021] With respect to the description provided herein, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention. Therefore, the descriptions provided
herein are considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
[0022] Further, since numerous modifications and changes will
readily occur to those skilled in the art, upon reading this
disclosure, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents which may be resorted
to, are considered to be within the scope of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 depicts the device herein having a removably
engageable wrench component adapted for coaxial engagement over the
central shaft to a mount on the clutch.
[0024] FIG. 2 depicts the central shaft of the device of FIGS. 1-3
adapted at a proximal end for engagement to a hammer drill and at
the distal end for engagement with a threaded cement insert.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing
the second component cooperatively engaged with the clutch and
surrounding the distal end of the shaft.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an end view of the device in the engaged
configuration of FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows and exploded view another mode of the device
wherein the second component is permanently engaged on a first end
to the clutch.
[0028] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the device shown in
FIG. 5 and assembled for use to both drive threaded wall anchors or
studs, and rotatably engaged nuts thereon.
[0029] FIG. 7 is an end view of the device in FIG. 6.
[0030] FIG. 8 depicts the prior art showing the conventional labor
intensive manor currently employed to sink anchors or studs and
subsequently engaged nuts thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-8, wherein similar
parts are identified by like reference numerals, as noted in FIG.
8, it shows the conventional manner of engagement of concrete wall
anchors into a pre-drilled hole. As shown, in the conventional
method, a hole 12 is drilled into the concrete 14 to a
predetermined depth using a hammer drill. The hole 12 is sized to
be adapted for engagement to the insert or anchor 16. Once the hole
12 is properly drilled to the correct depth and diameter, the
anchor 16 is inserted into the hole 12 and its protruding threaded
portion is communicated through an aperture in the supported
structure 20.
[0032] At this point in the process, the anchor 16 is in a tight
fit with the sidewall of the hole 12 and will not just slide into
engagement. Consequently, brute force in the form of a hammer 22
driven by the worker's hand, is employed to drive the anchor 16 to
its mounting depth in the hole 12.
[0033] In a third step of the conventional process, a nut 24 is
engaged on the threaded end of the anchor 16. The anchor 16 is
designed in a conventional fashion for such anchors in that the
engagement end which anchors in the hole 12 will expand when pulled
upon by the rotating nut 24. Different engagement ends exist for
such purposes but all use the same basic premise of rotating the
nut 24, or the bolt 26, with a wrench 28, which will cause an
outward expansion of the anchoring end of the bolt 26, or of an
insert engaging the anchoring end of the bolt 26. This permanently
seats the bolt 26 into the concrete.
[0034] As can be seen, this process is tedious and requires a
constant changing of hand power tools to first drive the anchor 16
into the tight engagement with the hole 12, and then expand the
engagement end of the anchor 16 using rotation of the nut 24 or the
bolt 26 with a second tool in the form of a wrench 28.
[0035] The device 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-7 may be formed as a
single unit or in a structure where the second component 32 which
acts as a wrench, is removably engageable to a clutch 40. In all
modes of the device a shaft 29 is adapted at a first or proximal
end 30 adapted to engage in the jaws or chuck of a conventional
hammer drill. Such hammer drills are well known in the art and have
both a hammering translating movement and also a rotational
movement in the mode of a regular drill.
[0036] The second component 32 is adapted to coaxially engage
around the shaft 29 on the distal or opposite end from the proximal
end 30 of the shaft. In the removable mode of the device 10 of
FIGS. 1-3, a first end 34 of the second component 32 is shaped to
cooperatively engage a cooperating cavity 36 on the clutch 40. The
distal end 33 of the second component 32 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, is
adapted to engage the nuts 24 of the conventionally employed
anchors noted above.
[0037] The distal end 31 of the shaft 29 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2,
and 5, may have a threaded cavity 38 which is adapted to engage the
threaded portion of the anchor 16 during insertion noted above.
Optionally, the cavity 38 may be sized to surround the threads on
the studs or anchors if preferred and the nut engaging cavity 39
employed to engage upon the anchor-engaged nut 24 to drive the
anchor 16 into the hole 12.
[0038] A clutch 40 may be provided, and is preferred in all modes
of the device 10. While the device 10 may be employed without the
clutch 40 and still improve upon the state of the art by providing
one tool to provide a mechanized solution to the current act of
multiple tools and steps, the clutch 40 is particularly preferred.
This is because it provides a means to prevent over-torque of the
nut 24 on the projecting threaded portion of the anchor. This is
most important as over-torque of the nut 24 will snap the anchor 16
in half. If the anchor 16 is mounted into the concrete by the force
imparted, and the anchor 16 breaks off, it is extremely hard to
remove from the concrete, and can take many hours if indeed it can
be removed. The clutch 40 thereby provides a means to prevent
excessive force from being imparted to the nut 24 and the anchor 16
to prevent this occurrence.
[0039] The clutch 40 as shown in FIG. 5 in one preferred mode of a
clutch 40 employs a collar 51 which is threaded upon the center
portion 53 of the shaft 29 which has been coaxially engaged through
the front clutch plate 55. A shoulder 56 on the shaft 29 is sized
to contact a ridge 57 on the axial aperture 58 of the front clutch
plate 55. The collar 51 is then rotated on the threads of the shaft
29 to a point where springs 59 bias the balls 60 into the detents
62 of the front clutch plate 55. The clutch 40 may be adjusted to
slip under more or less torque from the shaft 29 by moving the
collar 55 closer or further from the front clutch plate 55. Thus
the clutch 40 is adjustable for a maximum amount of torque before
the force from the shaft 29 will cause slippage and prevent the
second component 32 from rotating with a force that exceeds the
maximum torque allowed to prevent breakage of the anchor 16 or
similar insert. Of course those skilled in the art will realize
other clutch designs may be employed and such are anticipated in
the scope of this application. However, because the device 10 is
employed to impart a hammer force from the hammer drill, the
current design provides a one piece continuous shaft 29, to impart
that hammering force directly to the anchor 16 and in no manner
effect the workings of the clutch 40. Any other clutch design
should take this into consideration to avoid having the hard
hammering forces imparted to clutch parts as it would cause wear
problems over time.
[0040] The device 10, in use engaged to a conventional hammer drill
will as noted above remarkably decrease the time and effort
involved in setting anchors 16 and the like, and attaching the nuts
24 to hold whatever is being mounted. In such use, the threaded
portion of the insert or anchor 16 would be engaged with the
threaded cavity 38 on the distal end of the shaft 29 with the
proximal end 37 engaged to a hammer drill. Using the hammer
function of the drill, the anchor 16 is forced in a pre-drilled
hole. Alternatively, as noted, if the cavity 38 is not threaded but
simply of a larger diameter than the anchor 16, a nut 24 is engaged
upon the anchor 16 and the nut-engaging cavity 39 will contact the
nut 24 in its engagement to the anchor 16 and the drill may hammer
the anchor into the concrete.
[0041] In the second step, either the threaded cavity 38 if present
or the nut engaging cavity 39 are disengaged from the anchor 16.
The bracket 20 (FIG. 8) is slid upon the threaded portion of the
anchor 16, and the nut 24 can then be re-engaged on the threads of
the anchor 16 and with the nut-engaging cavity 39 whereafter using
the rotation mode of the hammer drill or another drill, the nut 24
is rotated engaged to threads of the insert or anchor 16 and
tightened against the bracket 49 or other item being mounted. In
this step, it is preferred that the clutch 40 is present and set to
slip before the hammer drill exerts excessive force to the anchor
16 which could break it off.
[0042] As such, the process of setting the anchors 16 or similarly
hole-engaged mounting components is significantly enhanced by the
employment of the hammer drill on hammer-action with the first
component 30, to set the anchors 16, and the employment of the
easily engaged cavity 39 of the second component 32 with the
subsequent use of the rotation motion of the drill to install the
nuts 24.
[0043] The method and components shown in the drawings and
described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of
particular construction, and configuration for illustrating
preferred embodiments of structure of the presently disclosed
concrete anchor insertion system in cooperation with a hammer drill
having two modes of operation. It is to be understood, however,
that elements of different construction and configuration, and
using different steps and process procedures, and other
arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described,
may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this
invention.
[0044] As such, while the present invention has been described
herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude
of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in
the foregoing disclosure, and will be appreciated that in some
instance some features of the invention could be employed without a
corresponding use of other features, without departing from the
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All
such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to
those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of
this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *