Threaded ceiling hook with anti rotation washer

• US 6,676,350 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cobra Fixations Cie Ltee-Cobra Anchors Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Cobra Anchors Co. Ltd. (Cobra International Systemes de Fixations Cie Ltee)
• Inventors: McSherry, Thomas W., Nguyen-Huu, Lang, McDuff, Pierre R., Bouchard, André, Villagrasa, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, NEILL R
• Application Number:
  US10/089,347
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 411/160, 411/161, 411/162, 411/163, 411/164, 411/165, 411/368, 411/533, 411/134, 411/135, 411/136
• US Class Current: 411/135
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue

Abstract

A ceiling hook (H) comprises a fastener (F) for anchoring in a support structure, and a locking ring in the form of an anti-rotation washer (W). The washer (W) includes anchoring teeth (34) for stationarily mounting the washer (W) to the ceiling. The hook member (12) and the washer (W) comprise co-operating locking ratchet elements (22, 28) for locking the fastener (F) to the washer (W) and thus preventing the fastener (F) from loosening from the ceiling. The washer (W) defines at a central opening (30) thereof at least one notch (32) with the fastener (F) defining at least one tab with (26), the notch (32) being slidable through the tab (26) for mounting the washer (W) to the fastener (F) and then allowing it to rotate between the tab (26) and the book member (12), whereby the washer (W) is prevented from being removed from the fastener (F) unless the tab (26) and notch (32) are aligned.

Claims

1. A fastener for anchoring in a support structure in combination with a locking unit for substantially preventing the fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure, the fastener comprising;

a first member adapted to be inserted in the support structure for firmly anchoring said fastener thereto; and

a second member adapted to be located externally of the support structure;

wherein said locking unit is mounted to said fastener and includes at least one anchoring element for stationanly engaging said locking unit to the support structure; and

wherein said second member and said locking unit comprise co-operating locking elements for locking said fastener to said locking unit and thus prevent said fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said locking unit comprises a locking ring having anchoring teeth adapted to extend into the support structure, said locking ring being mounted to said fastener such as to be sandwiched between said second member and the structure when said fastener is firmly secured thereto.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said co-operating locking elements comprise at least one first ratchet tooth provided on one of said second member and said locking unit and a series of second ratchet teeth provided on the other of said second member and said locking unit.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said second member comprises a pair of diametrically opposed first ratchet teeth for co-operating with said series of second ratchet teeth provided on said locking unit such that said second ratchet teeth ride along said first ratchet teeth upon rotation of said fastener and with said locking unit being anchored to the support structure.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said locking ring defines at a central opening thereof at least one notch, said fastener defining at least one tab with said notch being slidable through said tab for mounting said locking ring to said fastener and between said tab and said second member thereof whereat said locking ring can rotate around said fastener, whereby said locking ring is prevented from being removed from said fastener unless said tab and said notch are aligned.

6. A fastener for anchoring in a support structure in combination with a locking unit for substantially preventing the fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure, the fastener comprising:

an anchor member adapted to be inserted in the support structure for firmly anchoring said fastener thereto; and

a hook adapted to be located externally of the support structure;

wherein said locking unit is mounted to said fastener and includes at least one anchoring element for stationarily engaging said locking unit to the support structure;

wherein locking elements are provided for locking said fastener to said locking unit and thus prevent said fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure; and

whereby said fastener, with said locking unit mounted thereto, can be installed in the support structure by hand.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said locking unit comprises a locking ring having anchoring teeth adapted to extend into the support structure, said locking ring being mounted to said fastener such as to be sandwiched between said hook and the structure when said fastener is firmly secured thereto.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein said co-operating locking elements comprise at least one first ratchet tooth provided on one of said hook and said locking unit and a series of second ratchet teeth provided on the other of said hook and said locking unit.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said hook comprises a pair of diametrically opposed first ratchet teeth for co-operating with said series of second ratchet teeth provided on said locking unit such that said second ratchet teeth ride along said first ratchet teeth upon rotation of said fastener and with said locking unit being anchored to the support structure.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said locking ring defines at a central opening thereof at least one notch, said fastener defining at least one tab with said notch being slidable through said tab for mounting said locking ring to said fastener and between said tab and said hook thereof whereat said locking ring can rotate around said fastener, whereby said locking ring is prevented from being removed from said fastener unless said tab and said notch are aligned.

11. A fastener for anchoring in a support structure in combination with a locking unit for substantially preventing the fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure, comprising:

a first member adapted to be inserted in the support structure for firmly anchoring said fastener thereto; and

a second member adapted to be located externally of the support structure, said locking unit including at least one anchoring element for stationarily mounting said locking unit to the support structure, said second member and said locking unit comprising co-operating locking elements for locking said fastener to said locking unit and thus preventing said fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure said locking unit comprising a locking ring having anchoring teeth adapted to extend into the support structure, said locking ring being adapted to be mounted to said fastener such as to be sandwiched between said second member and the structure when said fastener is firmly secured thereto, said locking ring defining at a central opening thereof at least one notch, said fastener defining at least one tab with said notch being slidable through said tab for mounting said locking ring to said fastener and between said tab and said second member thereof whereat said locking ring can rotate around said fastener; and

whereby said locking ring is prevented from being removed from said fastener unless said tab and said notch are aligned.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said co-operating locking elements comprise at least one first ratchet tooth provided on one of said second member and said locking ring and a series of second ratchet teeth provided on the other of said second member and said locking ring.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said second member comprises a pair of diametrically opposed first ratchet teeth for cooperating with said series of second ratchet teeth provided on said locking ring such that said second ratchet teeth ride along said first ratchet teeth upon rotation of said fastener and with said locking ring being anchored to the support structure.

14. A method for securing a fastener to a support structure and substantially preventing the fastener from accidentally loosening from the support structure, comprising the steps of:

providing a fastener;

providing a locking unit;

mounting said locking unit to said fastener such that said locking unit can rotate about said fastener;

rotating said fastener with said locking unit mounted thereto, into the support structure such as to secure said fastener thereto, and causing said locking unit to fixedly engage the support structure; and

further rotating said fastener at least until said fastener is locked to said locking unit in such a way as to prevent said fastener from loosening from the support structure.