Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface and at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by the sleeve and/or the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface, the frictional engagement of each graft ligament being temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament.

Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two radially spaced ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface. The graft ligaments are at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has longitudinally separated proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by at least one of the sleeve and the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has a plurality of longitudinally spaced engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted longitudinally into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface.

Abstract: An exemplary fixing system includes a plate portion and four fastening units latched on the plate portion. The plate portion defines four fixing holes having a polygonal shape. Each fastening unit includes a fixing portion having a base and a deformable portion, and an engaging portion. At least a part of the base has a polygonal shape matching the shape of the fixing hole. A slot is defined in the deformable portion or the deformable portion in cooperation with the base. A side edge of the plate portion which bounds the fixing hole is latchingly received in the slot. The deformable portion is deformable to allow said at least a part of the base to pass through the fixing hole in assembly of the fixing system until the deformable portion rebounds and the side edge of the plate portion is latched in the slot.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for installing fasteners are disclosed. In one general aspect, a threaded fastener has a first end for engaging an anchor and includes means for turning the fastener at a second end. Also included are means for simultaneously both drawing the threaded fastener away from the anchoring means and turning the threaded fastener with respect to the anchoring means to advance the fastener through the anchoring nut.

Abstract: An expansion dowel includes a sleeve-shaped dowel body (12) having a first dowel part (21; 61) and at least one second dowel part (31; 71) axially adjoining the first dowel part (21; 61), and at least one snap connection device (41; 81) for connecting the first (21; 61) and second (31; 71) dowel parts together and having an engagement element (42) provided on one of the first and second dowel parts (31; 71) and a receiving element (47) for the engagement element (42) and provided on another of the first and second dowel parts (21; 61).

Abstract: A vibration-decoupling coupling element made of an elastically deformable female part and a male part is described. The female part has a fastening area, a decoupling area and a receiving area. The decoupling area is made up of a wall portion expanding away from the fastening area and shaped on the fastening area, a sleeve-shaped wall portion shaped on the receiving area and an annular shoulder wall portion connecting both these wall portions together. The male part has a fastening area and an insertion area. The insertion area is adjusted for the receiving area of the female part in order to form a plug-in connection in the assembled state of the coupling element.

Abstract: An elongate fastener is provided for securing a pair of panels together wherein the panels includes respective bores therein. Each end of the fastener includes an expansible end portion thereon which is arranged to be received within the respective bore. A wedge member is mounted within each expansible end portion for longitudinal sliding movement between a disengaged position and an engaged position wherein the expansible end portions are expanded relative to the disengaged position. An actuator is located centrally between the expansible end portions for pivotal movement about an actuator axis which lies perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the fastener. The fastener permits a pair of panels to be mounted with one end of one panel abutted against the other panel wherein the actuator is accessible from a recessed installation aperture on an inner face of one of the panels. The resulting joint is secure while being hidden from view using a one-piece fastener.

Abstract: An elongate fastener is provided for securing a pair of panels together wherein the panels includes respective bores therein. Each end of the fastener includes an expansible end portion thereon which is arranged to be received within the respective bore. A wedge member is mounted within each expansible end portion for longitudinal sliding movement between a disengaged position and an engaged position wherein the expansible end portions are expanded relative to the disengaged position. An actuator is located centrally between the expansible end portions for pivotal movement about an actuator axis which lies perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the fastener. The fastener permits a pair of panels to be mounted with one end of one panel abutted against the other panel wherein the actuator is accessible from a recessed installation aperture on an inner face of one of the panels. The resulting joint is secure while being hidden from view using a one-piece fastener.

Abstract: A wall anchor having a first inclined plane secured to a second inclined plane by a connector. The connector is resilient to allow the inclined planes to move relative to one another. The inclined planes are oriented opposite one another, in a manner which increases their combined height as the inclined planes slide in a first direction relative to one another, and which decreases their combined height as the inclined planes slide in a second direction relative to one another. A retainer is secured to the first inclined plane and is used to insert the inclined planes into a hole in a wall. After the inclined planes have been inserted, the retainer is withdrawn slightly, which causes the inclined planes to slide relative to one another and increase their combined height to wedge the inclined planes against an interior surface of the hole. In this manner, a retainer may be securely and manually anchored to a wall.

Abstract: An expansion dowel assembly includes an axially elongated expansion member, a first member for expanding the expansion member and a second member for anchoring the expansion member in a borehole before is is expanded by the first member. The second member can be connected to the expansion member or mounted in and in contact with the expansion member.

Abstract: A dual thrust anchor shell assembly for use with mine roof bolts or rock bolts include first and second opposed pivotal upper wing elements and first and second opposed, pivotal lower wing elements disposed about a mine roof bolt between a movable upper nut and a fixed lower nut so that tightening of the roof bolt forces the upper wing elements downward toward the lower wing elements. The upper wing elements each have a plurality of sloped camming surfaces. The lower wing elements also each have a plurality of sloped camming surfaces that engage camming surfaces of the upper wing elements as the roof bolt is tightened. Tightening of the roof bolt first causes the upper wing elements to pivot outward and dig into the walls of a roof bolt hole, anchoring the upper wing elements. Further tightening of the roof bolt causes a roof plate to be drawn tightly against the mine roof, binding strata of the mine roof and reinforcing the mine roof.

Abstract: An extendible and pivotal steering column for a vehicle having a wedge lock extension mechanism for providing an extension and pivotal arrangement of the upper end of the steering column pivotally mounted within the operator station of the vehicle.