Anchor

• US 5,653,563 A
• Filed: 10/26/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Ernst, Richard J., Timmerman, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US08/548,411
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 411/81, 411/180, 411/258, 411/930, 405/259.5, 405/259.6
• US Class Current: 411/82
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/141 Fixing plugs in holes by the use of settable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/93 Flowing metal or settable material

Abstract

A construction anchor for mounting an object on a structure of masonry, concrete, wood, metal or the like includes an anchoring portion and a cap. The anchor is adapted to be inserted, anchoring portion first into a pre-drilled adhesive-filled hole. The anchoring portion has a threaded bore, which includes an unthreaded close-fit-counterbore portion outward of a threaded portion. The cap prevents dust, dirt and adhesive from entering the threaded bore, and has an upper surface with a removable central area. When the adhesive has set, holding the construction anchor within the hole, the central area is removed, and a screw or bolt is inserted through the hole left by the removal and engaged with the threaded portion of the threaded bore. The unthreaded close-fit-counterbore portion of the threaded bore provides a stretch zone for the screw or bolt.

Claims

1. A construction anchor for retaining an object against a structure of masonry, concrete, wood or metal said construction anchor, in use, being secured within a hole defined in said structure, said construction anchor comprising:

an anchoring portion having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a threaded bore extending partially therethrough from said first end, said threaded bore terminating proximal said first end in an unthreaded close-fit-counterbore portion outward of a threaded portion, said unthreaded close-fit-counterbore portion having a uniform diameter extending to said first end providing a stretch zone for a bolt engaged in said threaded portion, and at least one first annular groove around said second end, thereby providing at least one lobe at said second end of said anchoring portion, said lobe having a surface oriented obliquely with respect to said longitudinal axis, said threaded bore terminating within said anchoring portion short of said at least one first annular groove; and

a cap fixedly attached to said first end to cover said threaded bore.

2. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 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 claimed in claim 1 wherein said anchoring portion has at least one second annular groove, said at least one second annular groove being narrower in a longitudinal direction along said anchoring portion than said at least one first annular groove.

5. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one first annular groove is deeper than said at least one second annular groove.

6. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said anchoring portion has at least one longitudinal spline at said first end.

7. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said anchoring portion has a plurality of longitudinal splines at said first end.

8. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said anchoring portion is knurled at said first end thereof.

9. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring portion is knurled in a diamond pattern at said first end thereof.

10. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 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 one of said lobes.

11. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap is of a plastic material.

12. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 11 wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and copolymers thereof.

13. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end of said anchoring portion having said threaded bore has a narrowed extension and said cap fits tightly about said narrowed extension.

14. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 13 wherein said narrowed extension of said anchoring portion has an annular groove extending thereabout, and wherein said cap has an annular flange extending about the base of its inner surface, so that said cap may be snap-fit or slip-fit onto said anchoring portion.

15. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap 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.

16. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 15 wherein said longitudinal raised ridges extend beyond a rim of said cap.

17. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap has an upper surface, said upper surface having a central area separated from the remainder thereof by a boundary of reduced thickness, said central area being removable from said upper surface around said boundary, said upper surface protecting said threaded bore from dirt.

18. A construction anchor as claimed in claim 1 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.