METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FASTENING STEEL FRAMING MEMBERS USING HELICAL FEATURES
A method for fastening two or more steel framing members together with a fastener. The fastening technique employs a fastener having a coil section with an elastic characteristic.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/037,761 filed on Jan. 18, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,864, issued on Mar. 8, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/299,994, 60/299,929, and 60/299,951 each of which were filed on Jun. 21, 2001. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to steel framing and, more particularly, to an improved cost-effective method for fastening steel framing.
Steel framing is revolutionizing the construction industry. Steel is a high quality framing material that will not shrink, warp, or attract termites and other wood boring insects. In recent years, the price of steel has become more competitive with wood and other construction materials. However, despite its advantages, steel framing has not become prevalent in the residential construction industry. The lack of a quick and cost effective technique for fastening steel members has prevented steel framing from emerging as the predominant building material in residential construction.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a quick and cost-effective technique for fastening steel members. It is envisioned that the steel fastening technique will be comparable in speed to an air nailer used to fasten wood materials. It is further envisioned that the steel fastening technique will provide a minimal gap between steel members, a pullout force of at least 216 lb., a shear force of at least 164 lb., as well as cause minimal destruction of any galvanize coating on the steel members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, various improved methods are provided for fastening two of more steel framing members together with a fastener. In one aspect of the invention, the fastening technique employs a fastener having a tip section such that a portion of the tip section extending beyond the underside of the framing members may be outwardly flared, thereby inhibiting removal of the fastener from the framing members In another aspect of the present invention, the fastening technique employs a fastener having a steel tip nose for piercing the framing members and a plastic stem section, such that a portion of the stem section extending beyond the underside of the framing members expands, thereby inhibiting removal of the fastener from the framing members. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the fastening technique employs a fastener having a coil section with an elastic characteristic.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, one or more outwardly expanding fasteners 20 may be used to join the steel members. A first exemplary embodiment of an outwardly expanding fastener 20 is depicted in
In operation, a two-step process is used to set the fastener 20 into the framing members. First, the expanding fastener 20 is driven into the steel members until the head of the fastener seats against the outer surface of the steel members as shown in
Once the fastener 20 has been driven into place, a pin 30 is then driven through the bore 28 and into contact with the inner surface of the tip section 26 of the fastener. Upon impact, the pin 30 forces a portion of the fastener extending beyond the underside of the steel members to project radially outward as shown in
In one embodiment, the pin 30 resides in the bore 28 of the fastener as shown in
A second exemplary embodiment of the expanding fastener 20′ is depicted in
A third exemplary embodiment of the expanding fastener 20″ is depicted in
Referring to
In another aspect of the present invention, one or more steel tip fasteners 40 may be used to join the steel members. An exemplary steel tip fastener 40 is shown
When the steel tip fastener 40 is driven into the steel members, the piercing nose 46 punches a hole clean through the steel members as shown in
In another aspect of the present invention, one or more twisted spring fasteners 60 may be used to join the steel members. An exemplary spring fastener 60 is depicted in
A two-step process may be used to set the fastener 60. First, a pilot hole is drilled or punched into the steel members. Second, the spring fastener 60 is screwed into the pre-drilled hole until the steel members are secured together as shown in
A forth exemplary embodiment of the expanding fastener 20″′ is depicted in
Referring to
While the invention has been described in its presently preferred form, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein.
Claims
1. A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a spring shaped fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a spring-shaped fastener having a head section and a coil section, where the coil section exhibits an elastic characteristic and has a first relaxed radial dimension;
- (b) positioning the fastener adjacent a hole that extends through the framing members and rotating the fastener about an axial axis that substantially aligns with a center of the hole in the framing members, the hole having a second radial dimension less than the first relaxed radial dimension of the coil section;
- (c) applying an axial force to the rotating fastener, such that at least a portion of the coil section of the fastener passes entirely through the hole in the framing members; and
- (d) compressing at least a portion of the coil section that resides in the hole to a third compressed radial dimension substantially equal to the second radial dimension.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) includes maintaining the head section of the fastener on an opposite side of the framing members than the portion of the coil section of the fastener that passes entirely through the hole.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising axially stretching the coil section between opposite sides of the framing members such that the fastener pulls the framing members toward one another as the fastening member resists the axial stretching.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes providing a fastener having a coil section with a plurality of axially spaced apart coils.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil section includes a plurality of coils and (c) includes passing at least one of the coils through the hole formed in the framing members.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes providing a steel fastener.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes providing a reinforced plastic fastener.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising elastically deforming the coil section while applying the axial force.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the hole through the framing members.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the hole includes punching the hole through the framing members.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the hole includes drilling the hole through the framing members.
12. A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a spring shaped fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a spring-shaped fastener having a head section and a coil section, where the coil section exhibits an elastic characteristic, the head section includes a first end that extends axially relative to the coil section, and the coil section includes a second end that curves axially relative to the coil section;
- (b) positioning the fastener adjacent a hole that extends through the framing members and rotating the fastener about an axial axis that substantially aligns with a center of the hole in the framing members;
- (c) applying an axial force to the rotating fastener, such that at least the second end of the coil section of the fastener passes entirely through the hole formed in the framing members and resides on a surface of the framing members opposite a surface upon which the head section resides and the first and second ends extend away from the framing members; and
- (d) securing the framing members together with the fastener through the engagement of the head section and the coil section with opposite surfaces of the framing members.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein (d) includes maintaining the first end free of engagement with the framing members.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein (d) includes maintaining tips of the first and second ends free of engagement with the framing members.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising elastically deforming the coil section while applying the axial force.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein elastically deforming the coil section includes radially compressing the coil section from a relaxed radial dimension to a compressed radial dimension less than the relaxed radial dimension.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein (d) includes engaging side walls of the hole in the framing members with at least a portion of the coil section.
18. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming the hole in the fastening members, the hole having a radial dimension less than a relaxed radial dimension of the coil section.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein (d) includes securing the framing members together with portions of the coil section engaging with opposite surfaces of the framing members.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein (a) includes providing at least one of a steel fastener and a reinforced plastic fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 4, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2008
Inventors: Michael O'Banion (Westminster, MD), Robert Gehret (Hampstead, MD), Robert Berry (Mt. Airy, MD), Thomas Wheeler (Pamona, CA), Daniel Puzio (Baltimore, MD)
Application Number: 11/950,281
International Classification: F16B 1/00 (20060101); E04B 1/24 (20060101);