Dowel fastener and method for securely attaching items to an edge of a composite board

• US 6,350,092 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan S. Powell
• Original Assignee: Jonathan S. Powell
• Inventors: Powell, Jonathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US09/553,744
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 403/403, 403/382, 403/408.1, 312/263, 312/257.1, 411/82, 411/82.1, 411/82.2, 411/82.3, 411/172
• US Class Current: 411/82
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/141 Fixing plugs in holes by the use of settable material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

A fastener for securely attaching a board perpendicularly to an edge of a composite board that includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a dowel that fixedly engages in a blindbore in the edge of the composite board, a washer that removably abuts against the dowel and the edge of the composite board and limits travel of the dowel in the blindbore, glue that is disposed on the dowel and in the blindbore and fixedly engages the dowel in the blindbore, and an installation screw that extends through the washer and threadably into the dowel, and when tightened, holds the first portion together as a unit, while the unit is being installed in the blindbore, and once the unit is installed, the installation screw and the washer are removed, with the glue maintaining the first portion in the blindbore. The outer longitudinal surface of the dowel is etched with 50% HCl to give a thin black coating to improve pullout strength of the dowel, as opposed to at least one of knurls, truncated threads, and roughening which would decrease the pullout strength of the dowel. The second portion includes a fastener screw that replaces the removed installation screw and extends through a countersunk-throughbore in the board and into the dowel, and when tightened, securely attaches the board perpendicularly to the edge of the composite board.

Claims

1. A fastener for securely attaching a board perpendicularly to an edge of a composite board, said fastener comprising;

a) a first portion for engaging in a blindbore in the edge of the composite board; and

b) a Second portion engaging said first portion for extending in a countersunk-throughbore in the board;

wherein said first portion comprises a dowel for fixedly engaging in the blind bore in the edge of the composite board;

wherein said dowel is aluminum 6061 T6;

wherein said dowel has a diameter that is adapted to be equal to the blindbore centrally in the edge of the composite board;

wherein said first portion further comprises a washer that removably abuts against said dowel for removably abutting against the edge of the composite board for limiting travel of said dowel in the blindbore in the edge of the composite board;

wherein said first portion further comprises glue that is disposed on said dowel and is for disposing in the blindbore in the edge of the composite board so as to fixedly engage said dowel in the blindbore in the edge of the composite board;

wherein said first portion further comprises an installation screw that extends through said washer and threadably into said dowel, and when tightened, holds said first portion together as a unit, for installation into the blindbore in the edge of the composite board, and once said unit is installed, said glue maintaining said first portion in the blindbore in the edge of the composite board;

wherein said dowel is cylindrically-shaped, and has;

i) a first end that is closed for fixedly engaging in the blindbore in the edge of the composite board;

ii) a second end that is open for fixedly aligning with the edge of the composite board;

iii) an outer longitudinal surface for fixedly engaging the blindbore in the edge of the composite board; and

iv) a blindbore that extends longitudinally centrally from said second end of said dowel to short of said first end of said dowel; and

wherein said outer longitudinal surface of said dowel is etched with 50% HCl solution to give a thin black coating to improve pullout strength of said dowel, as opposed to at least one of knurls, truncated threads, and roughening which would decrease said pullout strength of said dowel.

2. The fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein said glue is disposed on said outer longitudinal surface of said dowel, in its entirety.