Stucco sheathing fastener

• US 20030024198A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ben L. Schmid
• Original Assignee: Ben L. Schmid
• Inventors: Schmid, Ben L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/578
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 35/041 Specially-shaped shafts shape of thread F16B33/02

Abstract

A fastener including a body having a predetermined axial length, wherein the body includes a screw head at one axial end of the body, a threaded portion at an opposite axial end of the body and an unthreaded shank portion extending between the screw head and the threaded portion, and wherein the shank portion has an axial length in excess of at least one-third of the axial length of the fastener body.

Claims

1. A fastener comprising:

a body having a predetermined axial length, the body comprising;

a screw head at one axial end of the body;

a threaded portion at an opposite axial end of the body; and

an unthreaded shank portion extending between the screw head and the threaded portion, wherein the shank portion has an axial length in excess of at least one-third of the axial length of the fastener body.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the axial length of the shank portion is at least one-half of the axial length of the fastener body.

3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the axial length of the shank portion is approximately 1⅛

inches and the axial length of the fastener body is approximately 2¼

inches.

4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener body is comprised of a non-heat treated metal material that has been normalized to increase the ductility of the fastener.

5. The fastener of claim 1, further comprising a grommet disposed in surrounding relation to an outer surface of the fastener body and adjacent to the screw head.

6. The fastener of claim 5, wherein the grommet is comprised of neoprene.

7. The fastener of claim 5, further comprising a washer disposed in surrounding relation to the outer surface of the fastener body and disposed between the grommet and the screw head.

8. A building structure comprising:

a building frame;

one or more layers of stucco sheathing; and

a plurality of fasteners for securing a predetermined portion of the stucco sheathing to the building frame, wherein each fastener comprises;

a body of a predetermined axial length having a screw head at one axial end of the body, a threaded portion at an opposite axial end of the body, and an unthreaded shank portion extending between the screw head and the threaded portion, wherein the shank portion has an axial length in excess of at least one-third of the axial length of the fastener body.

9. The building structure of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the axial length of each fastener shank extends into the building frame.

10. The building structure of claim 8, wherein the axial length of the each fastener shank portion is at least one-half of the axial length of the fastener body of each fastener.

11. The building structure of claim 8, wherein each fastener body is comprised of a non-heat treated metal material that has been normalized to increase the ductility of each fastener.

12. The building structure of claim 8, further comprising a grommet on each fastener, wherein each grommet is disposed in surrounding relation to an outer surface of the fastener body and adjacent to the screw head of each fastener.

13. The building structure of claim 12, wherein each grommet forms a water sight seal between the fastener and the stucco sheathing.

14. The building structure of claim 12, wherein each grommet is comprised of neoprene.

15. A method of improving a lateral resistance of a stucco sheathing that is attached to a building frame comprising:

providing a building frame;

providing one or more layers of stucco sheathing;

drilling a plurality of holes, wherein each hole extends through the stucco sheathing and into the building frame;

providing a corresponding plurality of fasteners, and for each drilled hole, wherein each fastener comprises;

a body of a predetermined axial length having a screw head at one axial end of the body, a threaded portion at an opposite axial end of the body, and an unthreaded shank portion extending between the screw head and the threaded portion, wherein the shank portion has an axial length in excess of at least one-third of the axial length of the fastener body; and

installing the plurality of fasteners in each corresponding drilled holes to secure the stucco sheathing to the building frame.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the stucco sheathing is an existing stucco sheathing and each fastener is retrofitted to the existing stucco sheathing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein installing the plurality of fasteners in each corresponding drilled hole includes installing at least a portion of the axial length of each fastener shank into the building frame to transfer lateral forces from the stucco sheathing to the building frame.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the axial length of each fastener shank portion is at least one-half of the axial length of the fastener body of each fastener.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming each fastener body from a non-heat treated metal material and normalizing the non-heat treated metal material to increase the ductility of each fastener.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a grommet on each fastener, wherein each grommet is disposed in surrounding relation to an outer surface of the fastener body and adjacent to the screw head of each fastener.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising forming a water tight seal between the stucco sheathing and each fastener in the corresponding drilled when each fastener is installed in the corresponding drilled hole.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising forming each grommet from neoprene.