U.S. patent number RE35,659 [Application Number 08/241,728] was granted by the patent office on 1997-11-11 for adhesive anchor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard J. Ernst, Peter G. Ham, Mark S. Timmerman.
United States Patent |
RE35,659 |
Ernst , et al. |
November 11, 1997 |
Adhesive anchor
Abstract
A construction anchor for mounting an object on a structure of
masonry, concrete, metal or the like includes a metal anchoring
portion and a plastic cap. The anchor is adapted to be inserted,
metal end first, into a pre-drilled adhesive-filled hole. The cap
has a flange that is larger than the hole diameter, so that the
anchor may be inserted and seated in the hole at a consistent
depth. When the adhesive has set, a screw or bolt is inserted
through the plastic cap to engage the threads in an internal bore
in the anchoring portion. The plastic cap serves not only to
determine the depth of the anchor in the hole, but also to prevent
adhesive and other material from entering the threaded interior of
the anchor prior to use.
Inventors: |
Ernst; Richard J. (Palatine,
IL), Timmerman; Mark S. (Elgin, IL), Ham; Peter G.
(Michigan City, IN) |
Assignee: |
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
(Glenview, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25540399 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/241,728 |
Filed: |
May 12, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
994207 |
Dec 21, 1992 |
05263804 |
Nov 23, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
411/82;
405/259.5; 411/258; 411/930 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
13/141 (20130101); Y10S 411/93 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16B
13/14 (20060101); F16B 13/00 (20060101); F16B
039/00 (); F16B 039/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;411/82,171,180,258,930
;405/259.1,259.5,259.6 ;52/704,707 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilson; Neill R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kane,Dalsimer,Sullivan,Kurucz,
Levy, Eisele and Richard, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A construction anchor for retaining an object against.[.,.]. a
structure of masonry, concrete, metal or the like, said
construction anchor, in use, being secured within a hole defined in
said structure, comprising:
a cylindrical anchoring portion having a threaded axial bore
extending partially through said anchoring portion from one end
thereof; and
a cap adapted to be snap-fit over said end to cover said threaded
axial bore, said cap having an annular flange seatable on the
periphery of said hole, so that said construction anchor may be set
into said hole at a predetermined and consistent depth.
2. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
cylindrical anchoring portion is made of metal.
3. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said metal
is zinc-plated steel.
4. A construction anchor as chimed in claim 1 wherein said cap is
of a plastic material.
5. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plastic
material is polyethylene.
6. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
cylindrical anchoring portion has at least one first annular
groove.
7. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
cylindrical anchoring portion has at least one second annular
groove, said second annular groove being narrower in a longitudinal
direction along said cylindrical anchoring portion than said first
annular groove.
8. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
cylindrical anchoring portion has a plurality of annular
grooves.
9. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
plurality of annular grooves includes at least one first annular
groove and at least one second annular groove, said first annular
groove being deeper than sa annular groove.
10. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
cylindrical anchoring portion has a plurality of longitudinal
splines.
11. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said end of
said cylindrical anchoring portion having said threaded axial bore
has a narrowed extension with an annular groove extending
thereabout, and said cap has an annular flange extending about the
base of its inner surface, so that said cap may be snap-fit onto
said cylindrical anchoring portion.
12. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap
has an outer surface, said outer surface having a plurality or
longitudinal raised ridges for disposing said construction anchor
evenly within said hole in said structure.
13. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap
has an upper surface, said annular flange being an extension or
said upper surface, said upper surface being puncturable by the
threaded end of a bolt to be secured within said construction
anchor. .Iadd.
14. A construction anchor for retaining an object against a
structure of masonry, concrete, metal or the like, said
construction anchor, in use, being secured within a hole defined in
said structure, said construction anchor comprising a cylindrical
member having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, a
threaded axial bore extending partially therethrough from said
first end, and at least one first annular groove around said second
end, thereby providing a lobe in said cylindrical member at said
second end, said lobe having a surface oriented obliquely with
respect to said longitudinal axis, said threaded axial bore
terminating within said cylindrical member short of said at least
one first annular groove and a cap tightly fitted upon said first
end to cover said threaded axial bore..Iaddend..Iadd.
15. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said
cylindrical member is made of metal..Iaddend..Iadd.16. A
construction anchor as claimed in claim 15 wherein said metal is
zinc-plated steel..Iaddend..Iadd.17. A construction anchor as
claimed in claim 14 wherein said cylindrical member has at least
one second annular groove, said at least one second annular groove
being narrower in a longitudinal direction along said cylindrical
member than said at least one first annular
groove..Iaddend..Iadd.18. A construction anchor as claimed in claim
17 wherein said at least one first annular groove is deeper than
said at least one second annular groove..Iaddend..Iadd.19. A
construction anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cylindrical
anchoring portion
has at least one longitudinal spline at said first
end..Iaddend..Iadd.20. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 14
wherein said cylindrical anchoring portion has a plurality of
longitudinal splines at said first end..Iaddend..Iadd.21. A
construction anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said at least
one first annular groove is a plurality of first annular grooves,
each of said plurality being separated from one adjacent
thereto by a lobe..Iaddend..Iadd.22. A construction anchor as
claimed in claim 14 wherein said cap is of a plastic
material..Iaddend..Iadd.23. A construction anchor as claimed in
claim 22 wherein said plastic material is
polyethylene..Iaddend..Iadd.24. A construction anchor as claimed in
claim 14 wherein said first end of said cylindrical anchoring
portion having said threaded axial bore has a narrowed extension
with an annular groove extending thereabout, and said cap has an
annular flange extending about the base of its inner surface, so
that said cap may be snap-fit onto said cylindrical anchoring
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.25. A construction anchor as claimed in
claim 14 wherein said gap has an outer surface, said outer surface
having a plurality of longitudinal raised ridges for disposing said
construction anchor evenly within said hole in said structure, said
longitudinal raised ridges centering and suspending said
construction anchor in said hole..Iaddend..Iadd.26. A construction
anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cap has an upper
surface, said upper surface being puncturable by the threaded end
of a bolt to be secured within said construction anchor, said upper
surface protecting said threaded axial bore from
dirt..Iaddend..Iadd.27. A construction anchor as claimed in claim
26 wherein said upper surface of said cap and said threaded axial
bore of said cylindrical anchoring portion are separated by a
distance providing a stretch zone for a bolt..Iaddend..Iadd.28. A
construction anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cap has an
annular flange seatable on the periphery of said hole, so that said
construction anchor may be set into said hole at a predetermined
and consistent depth..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to a construction anchor, and more
particularly to a construction anchor comprising two parts
receivable in a hole defined in structural materials such as
masonry, concrete or metal to secure an object or fixture to the
surface of the structural material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Construction anchors of the above-mentioned general type are known
in the art. Typically, such anchors are made of metal in a
substantially cylindrical shape. They also include a longitudinal
threaded bore in which an appropriately sized headed bolt may be
disposed.
In use, construction anchors of this general type are adhesively
bonded into holes defined in masonry, concrete and similar
materials. When the cement or adhesive, perhaps an epoxy, has
sufficiently hardened or cured, an object may be mounted on the
masonry surface by means of a bolt driven into the threaded bore of
the construction anchor.
In the prior art, it has proven to be difficult to set the
construction anchors to a uniform depth in the holes drilled in the
masonry. In addition, as the cement or adhesive is introduced into
the hole before the construction anchor, it has a tendency to be
compressed out of the hole as the construction anchor is being
introduced thereinto, and to extrude or seep into the threaded
bore, where it may harden and prevent a bolt from being readily
disposed therein.
The present invention is a construction anchor representing a
solution to these deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a construction anchor having a two-piece
construction including a generally cylindrical anchoring portion
onto which a cap is snap-fit. The cap covers an axial threaded
bore, adapted to receive a bolt, in the anchoring portion. The
ultimate purpose of the construction anchor is to securely retain
an object against the surface of a structural material such as
masonry, concrete or metal.
The cap has a two-fold purpose. It is first provided with an
annular flange, intended to sit on the periphery of the hole into
which the construction element is to be inserted, so that the
construction anchor may be set into the hole at a predetermined
depth. The cap also prevents the adhesive used to bond the
construction anchor within the hole from entering the internal
threads or cavity of the anchoring portion.
The anchoring portion may also have a series of annular grooves
defining lobes at its lower end, that is, the innermost end with
reference to the hole into which the construction anchor is to be
inserted, to provide an interconnection with the adhesive. The
upper end of the anchoring portion may have longitudinal splines
which serve to prevent rotation of the construction anchor as a
bolt is threadingly connected thereto.
The cap may have a plurality of longitudinal raised ridges on its
outer surface below the annular flange, so that it may fit snugly
within an appropriately dimensioned hole, yet may also permit the
adhesive placed in the hole prior to the construction anchor to
extrude or seep outward between the raised ridges as the anchor is
inserted therein to firmly hold it along its entire length within
the hole.
The anchor of the invention is particularly effective in
maintaining secure holding power even when subjected to dynamic
cyclical loading or vibration. The bolt is installed with an
applied initial stress which tends to elongate the bolt and thus
overcome "creep" at peak dynamic cyclical loading or the effects of
vibration induced by wind or other forces.
The present invention will be described in more complete detail
below with frequent reference being made to the accompanying
figures, which may be identified as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the anchoring portion of the construction
anchor.
FIG. 2 is a view of an end of the anchoring portion having a
threaded bore.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap of the construction anchor.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the cap of the construction anchor
taken along the longitudinal axis thereof and viewed from the
side.
FIG. 5 is a view of the top of the cap of the construction
anchor.
FIG. 6 is a view of the cap from below.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the use of the construction anchor of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 prints a side view of the anchoring portion 10 of the
construction anchor of the present invention. The lower end of the
anchoring portion 10 may be provided with at least one major
annular groove 12, and with at least one minor annular groove 14.
The major annular grooves 12 are deeper and wider than the minor
annular grooves 14. These grooves 12,14 provide an interconnection
between the anchoring portion 10 and the adhesive used to hold it
within a hole in masonry, so that it may resist extraction
therefrom.
The upper end of the anchoring portion 10 has a plurality of
longitudinal splines 16. These also provide an interconnection
between the anchoring portion 10 and the adhesive, so that the
anchoring portion 10 may resist rotation within a hole when a bolt
is being threadingly connected thereto.
At the very upper end of the anchoring portion 10 is a narrowed
extension 18 having an annular groove 20 thereabout. Annular groove
20 provides a means by which the cap, to be described below, may be
attached and provide a tight seal to the anchoring portion 10. A
threaded bore 22 is provided in the upper end of the anchoring
portion 10, as suggested by the dashed lines in FIG 1.
FIG. 2 is a view of the upper end of the anchoring portion 10
showing the threaded bore 22, which is centered in the narrowed
extension 18 of the anchoring portion 10. Longitudinal splines 16,
extending from below to beyond the level of the unsplined section
24 of the anchoring portion 10, are arranged about the
circumference of its surface.
The anchoring portion 10 of the construction anchor is preferably
made of metal, such as, for example, zinc-plated steel.
FIG. 3 presents a side view of the cap 30 of the construction
anchor. The cap 30 includes an annular flange 32 extending from and
forming a continuation of its upper surface 34. Below the annular
flange 32, on the outer surface 36 of the cap 30, are a plurality
of longitudinal raised ridges 38, whose function will be
illustrated below.
FIG. 4 is a cross section of the cap 30 shown in FIG. 3. For
present purposes, it is important to note that the bottom of the
cap 30 is open, and is provided with an inwardly radial flange 40
at the base of its inner surface 42. Flange 40 snappingly fits into
annular groove 20 on the narrowed extension 18 of the anchoring
portion 10 to join the cap 30 thereto in a fluidtight seal.
The upper surface 34 of the cap 30 is closed, but is provided with
means in a recessed central area 44 enabling central area 44 to be
punctured by an instrument, such as the threaded end of a bolt.
In this regard, FIG. 5 presents a view of the top of the cap 30.
The upper surface 34 is provided with a recessed central area 44
having a molded, asterisk-shaped series of cuts 46. The cuts 46
represent weak points enabling a threaded end of a bolt to be
pushed through the recessed central area 44, after the construction
anchor has been adhesively bonded in a hole drilled in masonry or
the like, and when such a bolt is to be disposed within threaded
bore 22 to mount an object. The cap 30, for this reason, is ideally
fashioned from a plastic material, such as polyethylene.
FIG. 6 is a view of the cap 30 from below, and shows flange 40
extending radially about the lower inside edge thereof. Annular
flange 32 extends radially beyond the longitudinal raised ridges
38, as may clearly be noted. The construction anchor of the present
invention is ideally inserted in a hole of radius slightly smaller
than that represented by the maximum radial extent of longitudinal
raised ridges 38, so that the construction anchor may be inserted
into such hole until the annular flange 32 comes to rest against
the edges thereof and prevents any further insertion.
The use of the present construction anchor is shown in FIGS. 7 and
8. The construction anchor 50 is a two-piece construction
comprising the cap 30 and the anchoring portion 10, which
snappingly fit together through the cooperation of annular groove
20 extending about narrowed extension 18 of the anchoring portion
10 and the radial flange 40 on the inner surface 42 of cap 30.
In practice, a hole 52 of radius slightly smaller than that
represented by the maximum radial extent of longitudinal raised
ridges 38 is drilled into a concrete wall and the hole 52 is
cleaned of debris by brush or air pressure. An injection gun is
then used to inject a construction adhesive, such as epoxy 54, into
the hole 52. Thereafter, the construction anchor 50 of the present
invention is inserted into the hole 52 with the annular flange 32
on cap 30 positioning the construction anchor 50 at a predetermined
depth into the hole 52. As the construction anchor 50 is inserted
into the hole 52, it becomes immersed in the epoxy 54 previously
injected thereinto. The cap 30 prevents the epoxy 54 from entering
into the threaded bore 22 in the anchoring portion 10, and also
seats the construction anchor 50 when the annular flange 32 engages
the concrete wall adjacent to the hole 52.
Referring to FIG. 8, a fixture 56 to be attached to the wall is
then positioned over the construction anchor 50 and a mounting bolt
58 is inserted through the a pre-drilled hole in fixture 56 and
through the molded, asterisk-shaped series of cuts 46 in the
recessed central area 44 on the upper surface 34 of the cap 30. The
bolt 58 is then threadingly engaged into the threaded bore 22 of
the anchoring portion 10, and firmly tightened to secure fixture 56
to the wall. The tightening of the bolt 58 applies an initial
stress which tends to elongate the bolt between the head and the
connection to the anchor, with the attendant operational advantages
mentioned above. The elongation of the bolt is exaggerated in FIG.
8 to illustrate the principle.
Modifications to the invention described above would be obvious to
those skilled in the art, and would not bring the invention so
modified beyond the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *