WO1996002170A1

WO1996002170A1 - Fastener

Info

Publication number: WO1996002170A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000831
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fred SUNDSTRÖM
Original assignee: Sundstroem Fred
Priority date: 1994-07-15
Filing date: 1995-07-06
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Also published as: SE9402482D0; SE503156C2; AU2995295A; JPH10502840A; SE9402482L

Abstract

A fastener (1) for the application of objects on gypsum boards includes a driving unit (3) in the form of a plurality of thin and flat elements (5, 6, 6') which are driveable into the gypsum board and one of which is arranged to diverge relative to the other elements, during driving-in, as well as a plate (4) integrated with the driving unit and arranged to bear against the outside of the backing in order to serve as an externally available support for the object in question. Said plate is in the form of a base plate (4) having means (7, 7') for receiving and holding a selected adapter (2) included in a series of different adapters for holding various objects.

Description

FASTENER

Technical field of the invention This invention relates to a fastener for the application of objects on a backing, particularly in the form of a gypsumboard, comprising a driving unit having a plurality of thin and flat elements which are driveable into the backing and one of which is arranged to diverge relative to the other element(-s) during driving-in, as well as a plate connected or integrated with the driving unit and arranged to bear against the outside of the backing in order to serve as an externally available support for the object in question.

Background of the invention and the prior art

To apply such objects as pictures or the like on a wall built up by gypsumboards is met with difficulties. The core of gypsum existing between the exterior paper layers on the two opposite surfaces of the board, offers little or no hold for conventional fastening members, such as nails, screws, pegs or the like, inasmuch as gypsum - contrary to wood - is a dead material which is inclined to be pulverized without pinching around such members when these are driven into the same. In order to attain a reliable holding of objects suspended on gypsum walls one has therefore previously used more or less complicated expansion-shell bolts which, apart from being costly, has the disadvantage of calling for the preboring of holes in the gypsumboard.

In order to clear away the need of the costly expansion- shell bolts one has previously developed relatively simple and inexpensive fasteners which are especially adapted for the suspension of such objects as pictures on gypsum walls. More particularly EP 0144388 (and the corresponding SE 8303114-6 and US 4613108) discloses a fastener which, in addition to an ex- ternally available, hook-shaped plate, includes a driving unit consisting of three thin, flat and point-shaped elements of which a central, wide element can be driven into the gypsumboard at an angle which slightly differs (e.g.1-3°) from the angle at which two adjacent, narrower elements are driven in. By the fact that the elements accordingly diverge relative to each other in the driven-in condition, a considerably greater force is required for unintentional pulling-out of the elements than for the pulling-out of for instance a nail or a peg. This has, in practice, proved to give this fastener an excellent fastening or holding ability. A shortcoming of the embodiment of the fastener shown and disclosed in said patent specifications is, however, that the same is solely suitable for the application of such objects which lend itself to be hung on the fastener, e.g. pictures, inasmuch as the externally available plate which is integrated with the driving unit is in the form of a hook. Such a hook plate does not lend itself to the use for other fastening purposes then just hanging.

Objects and features of the invention

The present invention aims at setting aside the above- mentioned shortcoming of the fastener known by EP 0144388 and further developing the fascener so far that the same will be useful in practice for the application of a number of other objects than just pictures. Therefore, a basic object of the invention is to provide a fastener which admits a reliable attachment of other objects than just such objects which hang down vertically from the fastener substantially parallel to the wall and which fastener allows the application of objects of mos varying nature without the necessity of specially designing or adapting the fastener to the different types of objects. A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener which can be subjected to substantial forces directed not only parallel to the plane of the wall, but also at an angle thereto. Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener which can be driven into the gypsum board or wall in question in a more simple, quicker and more accurate manner than the fastener according to EP 0144388, more precisely by modifying the driving unit. In a particular aspect the invention also aims at providing a fastener the engagement or holding ability of which is considerably improved by the possibility of driving-in a separate strengthening screw. According to the invention at least the basic object is attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are further defined in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the appended drawings

In the drawings: Fig 1 is a perspective exploded view showing a base plate designed in accordance with the invention as well as an adapter being applicable on the base plate,

Fig 2 is a similar exploded view showing the same base plate combined with another type of adapter, Fig 3 is an exploded view showing the base plate and the adapter according to fig 2 modified in order to make it possible to drive a strengthening screw into an underlying gypsum board, Fig 4 is an exploded view showing an embodiment of a base plate being further developed in relation to the base plate of fig 3, Fig 5 is a lateral view showing the base plate and the adapter according to fig 1 in connection with the mounting of the adapter on the base plate, Fig 6 is a partial section through a gypsum board in which the base plate has been driven in with its driving unit, Fig 7 is a planar view from above showing the components of fig 5 in a separated condition, and Fig 8 is a planar view corresponding to fig 7 showing the components assembled.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention In fig 1 reference numeral 1 generally designates a fastener designed in accordance with the invention, while reference numeral 2 designates an adapter for co-operation with the fastener 1. The fastener 1 includes a unit generally desig- nated 3, which is intended to be driven into a gypsum board, as well as a base plate 4 which is intended to bear against the outside of the gypsum board so as to be externally available. The features of the driving unit 3 will be described in detail hereinafter. Nevertheless it should already now be mentioned that the unit comprises three thin and flat elements 5,6,6' of which the central element 5 is wider than the two lateral elements 6,6'. Means are associated with the base plate 4 for receiving the adapter 2 which is included in a series of different adapters for the holding of various objects. In the embodiment shown in fig 1 said holding means consist of two spaced apart and substantially parallel guides 7,7' having an angled or L- shaped cross-sectional shape. In practice these guides 7,7' are advantageously made by punching a tab out of the base plate 4, which preferably consist of metal sheet. Additionally the individual tab is furthermore bent to be shaped with a flange 8 projecting substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the plate 4 as well as an outer flange 9 extending inwardly from the flange 8 at an angle thereto. In the space between these guide members 7,7' , a web portion 10 included in the adapter 2 can be inserted. As clearly shown in fig 1 this web portion 10 has a substantially uniform width and presents at one end an element 11 serving as a stop or dog, the width of said element 11 being greater than the width of the web portion. In the embodiment shown in fig 1 the stop element 11 is in the form of a widened end portion integrated with the web portion 10, said end portion being located in the same plane as the web portion. According to a special feature of the invention the base plate 4 is provided with at least one portion which projects a certain distance from the planar outer surface of the plate in order to be pressed against the inside of the web portion 10 of the adapter 2, when the latter is inserted, so as to keep the web portion urged against the outer flanges 9 of the guide members 7,7'. In the preferred embodiment according to fig 1 this projecting press-portion is in the form of an inclined portion 12 at the bottom edge of the base plate 4. In order to further improve the pressing action of the web portion 10 against the outer flanges 9, the web portion is, at a distance from its wide stopping end portion 11, buckled along a buckling line 13 separating two parts 10 ',10' ', which extend at a certain, though small, angle relative to each other as clearly shown in fig 1 and ig 5. By the fact that the web portion 10 is, in this manner, urged with a certain spring force against the inside of the outer flanges 9, the adapter 2 will automatically be maintained in a given position in relation to the base plate as soon as an initiated displacement of the web portion 10 relative to the guide members 7,7' ceases.

As to the adapter 2 it should further be noted that the same at an end, which is opposite to the stop element 11, has an angled or L-shaped flange 14, which is connected to the web portion 10 by a transition portion 15, the width of which is smaller than the width of the web portion 10. In this way recesses 16 are formed through which the outer flanges 9 of the guide members 7,7' may pass in connection with the insertion of the adapter 2 in the fastener. It is evident that the adapter 2, by its shape, may serve as a holder for mirrors or other panel-shaped objects, which should be applied against a wall.

Fig 2 illustrates an embodiment in which the adapter 2 ' consists of a clip, which, in addition to a web portion 10, includes two flanges 17,18 of resilient or spring-like nature which project from opposite ends of the web portion at an angle thereto. The flange 17 forms a stop element having the same task as the element 11 of fig 1. For this purpose the flange 17 has, along its entire extension, a greater width than the web portion 10. The other flange 18 has, in connection with the web portion 10, two recesses 16 on each side of a transition portion having a smaller width than the web portion 10. It is evident that the adapter can be inserted with its web portion between the guide members 7,7' in a direction from the top downwards therebetween, the wide upper flange 17 keeping the adapter in an end position.

The clip member 2 ' shown in fig 2 may, after application to the base plate, be used for the attachment of pipes, hoses or other long narrow objects against a wall behind. As shown in fig 3 the invention foresees the possibility of providing a hole 19 in the base plate at a distance from the driving unit 3. This hole corresponds to a second hole 20 in the web portion of the adapter in question. When the adapter is applied to the base plate, a screw 21 can be passed through the holes 19,20. The screw 21 is advantageously designed with a rather coarse thread and presents a tapering shape in a direction from the head towards the tip so as to make it suitable for fastening in gypsum. The idea of fastening a strengthening screw 21 in an area at a distance from the driving unit 3 is as follows.

If the object which is fixed against the wall is repeat¬ edly subjected to pulling forces in a direction perpendicularly to the plane of the wall, there is a certain risk that the driving unit will ultimately come loose inasmuch as the plate 4 is subjected to repeated bending stresses. In order to counteract this risk and substantially increase the force needed for unintentional pulling-out of the fastener from the gypsum board the strengthening screw 2 is installed. In order to make sure that the screw 2 will become effective in spite of the fact that the same is fastened in the dead gypsum material a stopping means is associated with the plate 4, more particularly in the form of a cone-shaped bulging 13 which has a helically extending delimiting edge, the arc length of which is slightly smaller than one turn. The thread of the screw 2 has a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the hole 12 which is confined by the helical edge of the bulging 13 and therefore the edge portion of the bulging en- gages between the threads. When the head of the screw reaches its end position the edge portion of the bulging 13 is resiliently tightened against the closest thread, whereby the screw will be locked in a bottomed end position in which further rotation of the screw is made impossible. In this manner it is guaranteed that the screw will not, by continued rotation, crush the gypsum material in the board, meaning that the screw will have a genuine holding effect in spite of the fact that the same is fastened in gypsum.

Fig 4 illustrates an embodiment, which is further developed in relation to the embodiment of fig 3, and in which a collar 23 having a frustroconical shape is provided in connection with the hole 19 in the base plate 4. This collar serve to snap in the hole or seat formed by the bulging 22 in the adapter. When displacing the adapter relative to the guide members 7,7' the collar 23 offers a certain resistance inasmuch as the same urges the web portion of the adapter against the outer flanges of the guide members, but as soon as axial alignment between the holes 19 and 20 is achieved, the collar is snapped-in, whereby the adapter is distinctly held in its given position.

Though the holes 19,20 are shown in connection with a clip member as an adapter, it should be emphasized that the same solution of problem is, of course, also applicable zo other adapters.

Now, reference is made to fig 7 and 8, which in combination with fig 1 illustrate the nature of the driving unit 3 in detail. As mentioned by way of introduction, this unit includes tree flat and thin elements 5,6,6' of which the two last-mentioned ones consist of comparatively narrow tongues on each side of the wider central element 5. The outer portion of the central element 5 is triangular and terminated by an outer tip 24. The angle between the plane of the central element 5 and the plane of the baseplate 4 may be approximately 90°. Also the two lateral tongue elements 6,6' are terminated by outer tips 25,25', which have been produced by chamfering the outer portions 26,26' of the tongue elements along edges designated 27,27' . It should be noted that these chamfered edges extend from the outer edges of the tongue elements inwardly towards the associated tip 25,25', whereby the zongue elements during driving are imparted a tendency to move inwardly towards the centre of the driving unit rather than outwardly therefrom. It should further be observed that all of the tree tips 24,25,25' are commonly located along an imaginary plane which is parallel to the plane of the base plate 4. Furthermore, at least parts of the tongue elements 6,6' extend at a certain, though small, angle to the plane of the central element 5. In the example shown the tongue element 6,6' are designed in such a way that the outer end portions 26,26' form an angle, which diverges in relation to the central element 5. Therefore, when the elements 5,5,6' are driven into a gypsum board, as illustrated in fig 6, the elements 6,6' will diverge g or be spread apart in relation to the central element 5. In this way the holding ability being characteristic to the fastener according to EP 0144388 is achieved. In comparison with the fastener known by said publication, the driving unit according to the present invention does, however, include the development that the tips 24,25,25' are located in a common plane. This means that all of the tips can, in connection with the driving-in, be firmly held in contact with the underlying gypsumboard and be located for instance in a reliably horizontal position without staggering or dislocating the fastener out of its position in connection with a first hammerstroke.

The advantages of the invention are evident. By the fastener of the invention it will be possible to simply and quickly attach to gypsum boards such objects which previously only with difficulty could be attached to such boards. Tests performed have shown that also rather heavy objects, such as cabinets, shelves and the like, may easily be attached to gypsum walls without the risk of getting loose.

Conceivable modifications of the invention

The invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. Thus, only two different types of adapters have been exemplified in the drawings. It is evident that also other adapters intended for other objects than particularly mirrors and pipes respectively, can be mounted on the base plate shown. Furthermore it is conceivable to design the base plate with other holding means than precisely two guide members of the type shown in the drawings. As an example the longside edges of the plate may be provided with bent edge flanges. Also other modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the attached claims. It should also be pointed out that the external plate which is connected to the driving unit may, in a manner known per se, be buckled or bent in two portions of which a lower one initially extends obliquely inwardly in relation to the upper one. In this way the plate is urged against the gypsum board while improving the holding ability relative to the board. Finally it should be mentioned that a particular advantage of the screwstopping bulging described above is that the helically running edge of the bulging will abut against the thread of the strengthening screw so as to support the screw and counteract tilting movements of the screw.

Claims

1. Fastener for the application of objects on a backing, particularly in the form of a gypsum board, comprising a driving unit (3) having a plurality of thin and flat elements (5,6,6'), which are driveable into the backing and one of which is arranged to diverge relative to the other element(-s) during driving-in, as well as a plate (4) connected or integrated with the driving unit (3) and arranged to bear against the outside of the backing in order to serve as an externally available support for the object in question, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plate is in the form of a base plate (4) having means (7,7') for receiving and holding a selected adapter (2,2') included in a series of different adapters for holding various objects.

2. Fastener according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said means consist of two spaced-apart and substantially parallel guide members (7,7') having an angled or L-shaped cross-sectional shape between which a web portion (10) of substantially uniform width included in each adapter (2,2') can be inserted, said web portion having, at one end, an element (11,17) serving as a stop, the width of which is greater than the width the web portion.

3. Fastener according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the base plate (4) is provided with at least one portion (12,23) which projects a distance from the planar outer surface of the plate so as to be pressed against the inside of the web portion (10) , when the adapter is inserted, so as to keep the web portion resiliantly urged against outer flanges (9) of said guide members (7,7').

4. Fastener according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the projecting press-portion is in the form of an inclined end portion (12) of the base plate.

5. Fastener according to any one of claims 2-4, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d in that the web portion (10) is, at a distance from its wide stopping end portion (11) , buckled along a buckling line (13) separating two parts (10",10'') which extend at a certain, though small, angle relative to each other.

6. Fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one hole (19) is cut out in the base plate (4) at a distance from the driving unit (3) in order to admit the receipt of a screw (21) applicable in the backing and serving to improve the holding ability of the base plate relative to the backing in addition to the holding ability achieved by means of the driving unit (3) only.

7. Fastener according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a frustroconical collar (23) is provided in connection with the hole (19) in the base plate (4) for the purpose of snapping into an analogous hole (20) in an adapter and thereby locate the adapter in a desired position relative to the base plate.

8. Fastener according to claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that there is at least one second hole (20) in the web portion (10) of the adapter, corresponding to the hole (19) in the base plate (4), for said screw (21), means (22) being provided in connection with the second hole (20) for stopping the screw in a given, bottomed twist angle position from which further rotation of the screw is impossible when the screw is fastened in the backing.

9. Fastener according to any one of claims 2-8, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d in that the adapter consists of a clip (2') which in addition to a web portion (10) includes two flanges (17,18) of resilient nature projecting from opposite ends of the web portion and at an angle thereto, one (17) of which forms said stop element and the second one (18) has recesses (16) in connection with the web portion in order to allow displacement thereof along said guide members (7,7') on the base plate (4).

10. Fastener according to anyone of claims 2-8, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d in that the adapter consists of a member for holding mirrors or panels, which member in addition to a web portion (10) includes an end portion (11) serving as a stop element and having a greater width than the web portion (10) and being located in the same plane as the web portion, as well as a L-shaped flange (14) provided at the opposite end of the web portion, in which flange (14) there are recesses (16) for admitting displacement of the flange past said guide members (7,7') on the base plate.

11. Fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that tips (24,25,25') on tree elements included in the driving unit (3) are located in a common plane which is parallel to the base plate (4) .