Comprising A Head And Expandable Portions Spread By Fastener (e.g., Drywall Anchor) Patents (Class 411/80.1)
  • Patent number: 11867216
    Abstract: The present invention provides compliant screws compatible with standard threaded holes that are self-anchoring via auxetic properties. Once a screw has been twisted in place using a mating screw driver, the screw won't be able to be removed unless it is broken, its surrounding material is torn out with the screw, or unless the screw driver itself is again used to twist the screw in the opposite direction. Thus, although reusable, the screw will never come out of its hole in the presence of vibrations or other cyclic or random loading scenarios. The screws are thereby suitable for critical joint applications where screws must never come loose. Non-limiting examples include satellite fasteners, high-speed vehicle bolts, pedicle screws, and other screws used to secure medical implants within a human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Hando Kim, Jonathan B Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11576769
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Medos International Sarl
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Paul P. Weitzel, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 11512725
    Abstract: A board-to-board fixture includes rivet sleeve having hollow tube with perforation inside, stop flange formed on the bottom side of hollow tube, operating space formed in the stop flange to communicate with perforation and expansion portion formed on the top side of hollow tube, and rivet rod having head, tapered impact portion formed on the bottom side of head, deformation portion downwardly protruded from the bottom side of impact portion for pressing against the top side of preset rivet gun socket at the operating space to generate deformation, increasing bump extending downward from the outer edge of the bottom side of deformation portion, breaking portion with a smaller round diameter formed on the center of the bottom side of deformation portion and shank downwardly extending from the bottom side of breaking portion to penetrate the perforation and the operating space through the expansion portion of rivet sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: BEST GAJAH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yung Liu, Ching-Yao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10962623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measurement and management are disclosed that provide complex measurements cost-effectively at very high accuracy. These methods and systems in some cases achieve measurement accuracy exceeding the accuracy of the reference standards they rely on, and eliminate expensive and disadvantageous recalibration procedures. The accurate measurements are integrated with management functions, applying the measurement data to meet objectives of the integrated system and workflow goals of its user. The disclosed systems and methods comprise an explicit or expressly represented model both of themselves and of candidate external systems to be measured and managed. The models may be configured and reconfigured by the owner-user through either local or remote means. The system intelligently reconfigures itself to adapt dynamically to the conditions of measurement and the user's and system's goals at each moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Heathkit Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Cromarty, Donald J. Peterson, Jasen Levoy, William Charles Calhoun
  • Patent number: 10962040
    Abstract: A bolt arrangement may connect at least two mechanical elements. The arrangement may provide a bolt including an outer circumferential peripheral surface extending in a longitudinal direction of the bolt, and a sleeve presenting an outer circumferential peripheral surface and an inner circumferential peripheral surface extending in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve between a first and a second axial end of the sleeve. The inner peripheral surface provides a tapering profile in its longitudinal direction. A portion of the outer peripheral surface of the bolt provides a corresponding tapering profile matching the tapering profile of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. The sleeve further provides a portion extending radially outwards at one of the first and second axial ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Erik Rosén, Daniel Lindgren
  • Patent number: 10948107
    Abstract: A cable hanger includes: a first half including a main body with a first cable recess, a latch adapted for mounting to a mounting structure, and a first securing feature; and a second half including a main body with a second cable recess, a bore adapted for receiving the latch of a second cable hanger, and a second securing feature. The first half is mated with the second half such that the first and second cable recesses form a pocket for receiving and grasping a cable. The first and second securing features engage to maintain the first half and the second half in a mated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Ronald A. Vaccaro
  • Patent number: 10912594
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an intramedullary osteosynthesis or arthrodesis implant including a central body, a first pair of legs extending from the central body to a pair of leg tips, and a second pair of legs extending from the central body, in a direction opposite the first pair of legs, to a pair of leg tips such that the central body, first pair of legs and second pair of legs are positioned alongside a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Peyrot, Tristan Meusnier, Bernard Prandi, Philippe Bellemere, Marc Augoyard
  • Patent number: 10914335
    Abstract: An anchor assembly including a threaded anchor and a threaded drive pin positionable in the threaded anchor, a method of using or installing the anchor assembly to attach a fixture to a substrate, and a method of removing or un-installing the anchor assembly from the fixture and the substrate to detach the fixture from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Dill
  • Patent number: 10788519
    Abstract: A current detecting module includes a circular shell with a ferrite core, a first sensor element, and a second sensor element disposed within. The first sensor element and the second sensor element sense the magnetic field confined in the magnetic circuit formed by the ferrite core, and generate a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal respectively. A current tester includes a device body, and the current detecting module is assembled with the device body. The device body includes a switching element, a monitor module and a signal processing module. The signal processing module receives the first sensing signal or the second sensing signal, and controls the monitor module to display a measured value accordingly. With two different sensing signals, the current detecting module or the current tester can be used to measure different ranges of currents and achieve high accuracy at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: PROVA INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Lee-Fei Chen
  • Patent number: 9945078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic dowel for the fastening of a rail on a solid substrate. The plastic dowel includes an opening, an interior, a shank section, and a holding section, which provides at least one circumferential projection around its circumference. The at least one projection protrudes in a radial direction whereby the upper flank of the projection of the holding section assigned to the dowel opening is aligned at an angle of 90°±3° in relation to a longitudinal axis of the plastic dowel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vossloh-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Harraβ, Nikolaj Krieg, Martin Gnaczynski, Adrian Bednarczyk, Dietmar Becker
  • Patent number: 9339370
    Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring elongate strands within a longitudinal tunnel is disclosed. At least two cams are arranged longitudinally adjacent each other along a longitudinal axis. A first anchor member includes a first cam-contacting surface and a first strand-contacting surface. The first cam-contacting surface is selectively operatively connected to a first cam. A second anchor member includes a second cam-contacting surface and a second strand-contacting surface. The second cam-contacting surface is selectively operatively connected to a second cam. An elongate strand is positioned between the tunnel wall and the first or second strand-contacting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Anthony Miniaci, Stephen D. Fening, Bret E. Hartzell
  • Patent number: 9217452
    Abstract: A blind fastener assembly utilizes flexible legs extending from a cylindrical section of a spring pin. Gripping elements extend radially outwardly from the ends of the flexible legs. When the flexible legs and gripping elements are extended through an opening in the wall, a center pin can be pushed into the cylindrical portion to expand the flexible legs so that the gripping elements can engage the back of the wall. In one embodiment, removal of the center pin causes the flexible legs to contract whereupon the assembly can be removed from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert C. Woodall, Jr., Christopher J. Doyle
  • Patent number: 9113972
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for immobilizing a synovial joint, such as a sacroiliac (SI) joint are disclosed. In one form, a multipiece fixation device, such as a dowel, includes multiple expandable fasteners that are configured to fix adjacent bones of a synovial joint with respect to one another. The expandable fasteners include expansion portions that are expanded radially via insertion of another expandable fastener or an expansion device to fix the expandable fasteners to the bone. The fixation device may be configured to provide for compression or distraction of the bones of the synovial joint while at the same time stabilizing the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 9050153
    Abstract: A self-expanding bone screw anchor assembly adapted to allow the screw body to engage the bone and the anchor to attach thereto. The anchor assembly is adapted to be universally deployed with a variety of installation tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Evan Scott Luxon, Jason Joseph Hsu, Christopher Bligh Komanski, Nicolas Alejandro Martinez, A. Jay Khanna
  • Patent number: 9011536
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Fening, Anthony Miniaci
  • Publication number: 20150043989
    Abstract: A self-drilling plasterboard screw anchor comprising: an elongated anchor element having a drill end, and opposite thereto, an end with means for engagement with a rotary tool and a threaded screw hole transverse to the length of the anchor element, suitable for engaging a screw or bolt, wherein said elongated anchor element is securely held by, or integral with, a flexible resilient member having a collar having an outer diameter greater than the drill end drilling diameter and a round, hollow, straight tubular section, which is suitable for accommodating the screw or bolt, and is disposed perpendicular to said anchor element and ends directly at said transverse threaded screw hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Lucas Lind
  • Publication number: 20140341674
    Abstract: In a fastener (10), a pin (14) is pressed into a grommet (12), so that a guide portion (56) formed in an end side of the pin (14) contacts with a guided portion (42) of the grommet (12), and a leg piece (34) of a leg portion (28) of the grommet bends and is expanded. Then, the guided portion (42) of the leg piece (34) in the leg portion (28) of the grommet (12) is engaged with an upper end edge (56A) of the guide portion (56) of the pin (14). Also, the guide portion (56) of the pin (14) is a curved surface having a tangent angle (?) changing relative to a shaft line (14B) at a contact point (P1) with the guided portion (42) from an outer circumferential portion of an end (14A) of the pin (14) toward an upper end edge (56A), and an insertion force (S) into the grommet (12) of the pin (14) at each contact point (P1) is held approximately constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirano
  • Publication number: 20140341673
    Abstract: A rapid mount wall anchoring system and cable pass through for securing devices to a wall and routing device cables through a wall. The wall anchoring system includes a rigid frame with mounting fasteners for securing the frame to a wall. The frame includes a load bearing plate having a bore in alignment with a second bore located rearward of the load bearing plate. The plate further includes an opening for the passage of low voltage cables to the mounted device. A second mounting fastener for securing a device to the plate engages both first and second rigid frame bores to provide increased load capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas DeCosta
  • Publication number: 20140286726
    Abstract: A holder in particular for fastening a lining, for at least partially casting into a concrete element which is cast using a formwork, wherein the holder is aligned by an outer surface with the surface of the concrete element pointing towards the formwork, in particular for use in tunnel-building and engineering construction. The holder for casting into a concrete element is made available which can be handled simply for preparation purposes and during the concreting operation and using which a lining can be fastened simply to the concrete element. This is achieved in that a fastening device for releasably fastening the holder to the formwork is provided, wherein the fastening device has a holding part interacting with the formwork and a clamping element arranged on the outer surface of the holder, wherein the clamping element interacts with the holding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Ludwig Meese
  • Publication number: 20140271026
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is configured to secure to a component. The fastener assembly may include a fastener having a shaft integrally connected to an engagement head, and an anchoring bushing that retains the fastener. The anchoring bushing may include a main body defining a fastener passage that retains the shaft, and at least one anchoring member extending from a portion of the main body. The anchoring member(s) is configured to securely anchor into at least a portion of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald C. Owens, II, John D. Bisset, Jason D. Holt, Jeremy R.D. Tuttle, Glenn G. Heavens
  • Patent number: 8721243
    Abstract: In an anchor for installation into a lightweight construction panel including at least a cover plate, wherein the anchor includes a radial clamping section for firm engagement with the cover plate when installed in a bore formed into the construction panel, the radial clamping section comprises an upper zone provided with axial grooves and a lower zone having transversely extending grooves both in engagement with the walls of the bore in the area of the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventors: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20140079506
    Abstract: A sleeve interference fastener including a conformable sleeve, wherein the conformable sleeve is comprised of at least one first material having a hardness of X, and a pin member, wherein the pin member is comprised of at least one second material having a hardness of Y, wherein X is sufficiently less than Y so that, in an installed position of an interference fit, at least a portion of the at least one first material of the conformable sleeve conforms to a contour of an inner surface of a hole of a composite structure so as to create a continuous electrical contact at an interface between the inner surface of the hole of the composite structure and the conformable sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: LUKE HAYLOCK, Hasim Mulazimoglu, Liang Zheng
  • Patent number: 8568075
    Abstract: A wall anchor is provided and includes a nose cone structure including a body and a primary cone, which is rotatably coupled to the body and manually urgeable to penetrate a substrate, a detent assembly, disposed on the nose cone structure, which is engageable to maintain the primary cone in a first position and a trigger integrally coupled to the nose cone structure and actuatable to selectively disengage the detent assembly such that the primary cone is permissively rotatable about the body into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gaudron, Jacob Olsen
  • Patent number: 8491652
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Fening, Anthony Miniaci
  • Patent number: 8469644
    Abstract: A stem fastening structure includes a cap, a bolt and a packing member. The cap abuts against a top of a stem and corresponds to a top edge of a middle hole of a front fork. The bolt passes through the cap and penetrates into the middle hole. The packing member has a loop portion for the bolt screwing therethrough. Two sides of the loop portion extend upward and diverge from the other to form two bottom cone portions. Two positioning portions respectively and vertically extend upward from the two positioning portioning. Two top cone portions respectively extend upward from the two positioning portions, and approach the other. A top of each top cone portions abuts against the cap. Thereby, when the bolt drives the loop portion to move toward the cap, the positioning portions abut against the middle hole, so that the stem is fastened to the front fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Shih-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 8454654
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes an anchor defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity and an insertion member including a body having a proximal end portion and a flat distal end portion, and a head coupled to the proximal end portion of the body. The insertion member is configured for arrangement within the anchor cavity. A method of tissue repair and other anchor assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Ferragamo, Bernard J. Bourque, William R. Davis
  • Patent number: 8444358
    Abstract: A wall anchor is provided and includes a nose cone structure including a body and a primary cone, which is rotatably coupled to the body and manually urgeable to penetrate a substrate, a detent assembly, disposed on the nose cone structure, which is engageable to maintain the primary cone in a first position and a trigger integrally coupled to the nose cone structure and actuatable to selectively disengage the detent assembly such that the primary cone is permissively rotatable about the body into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gaudron, Jacob Olsen
  • Publication number: 20130071201
    Abstract: A grommet includes a shaft body, and a main body having a head and a leg spread by the shaft body pressed from a side of the head with elastic deformation. The shaft body includes a first contacting portion that contacts a contacted portion of the leg by pressing, and a second contacting portion located in a rear of the first contacting portion in the pressing direction, and a part of the leg is spread by the first contacting portion and then, another part of the leg is spread by further pressing the shaft body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Michihiro Fukuo
  • Publication number: 20130039716
    Abstract: Fastener embodiments include a housing body, a collet body and a central body. The housing body receives a first portion of the collet body, which has internal threads and an external anti-rotation feature, as well as a first portion of the central body. A second portion of the collet body and an exterior portion of the housing body provide work piece contacting surfaces. The central body, which occupies an inner portion of the housing body, is threadably coupled to the collet body and displaces and/or converges radially displaceable portions of the collet body at the second portion thereof. Interaction between the collet body anti-rotation feature and the housing body, which may be a pair of extending pins engaging a pair of slots, prevents rotation of the collet body within the housing body during rotation of the central body, while axial movement thereof remains unaffected within intended operation parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Travis D. McClure
  • Publication number: 20130039717
    Abstract: A fastening member has a head part, a shaft part, a thinly formed flange extending in a straight shape from an outer perimeter of the head part, and a coupling device (for example, head part of a grommet). A part has a through-hole, and a wall part positioned on an outer perimeter of the through hole and extending toward the direction of insertion of the shaft part. A base has an installation hole allowing insertion of the shaft part. When the base and the part are bound by insertion of the shaft part, the flange is pressed against the wall part and becomes in a bent-back state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20130011212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a riveting element (R) for riveting parts which are made from composite materials (M1 and M2) and provided with a through-hole. The invention is characterized in that it consists of: a hollow bushing (200) including, at one end, a head (210) bearing on the surface of one of the parts to be assembled and a hollow rod (220); and a semi-tubular insert (100) including a first end (110) capable of being inserted into the hollow part of the bushing (200) and an open end (130) capable of deforming in order to form an enlarged base that bears on the surface of the other part that is to be assembled once the insert (100) is translatably locked inside the bushing (200). The invention also relates to the installation tool configured for one such element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Auriol
  • Publication number: 20120230796
    Abstract: Fasteners and related systems according to the invention include a collet body having a first part of a two part anti-rotation arrangement and a cylinder body having a second part of the two part anti-rotation arrangement wherein the collet body and the cylinder body are matably axially translatable with respect to each other, and have the same or similar outer diameter in some embodiments or not in others. A threaded member rotationally engages the collet body and compressively contacts the cylinder body during operation of the fastener to creating a clamping effect. Rotational interference between the first and second parts of the anti-rotation arrangement preferably occurs at sectional face portions of at least the collet body. Resistance to induced rotation of the cylinder body relative to a work piece rotation of the threaded member is preferably provided by a tool engaging a tool interface present on the cylinder body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Travis D. McClure
  • Publication number: 20120195709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting assembly (10) and a method for releasably attaching a mount-on part (12) to a carrier (14), having a receiving element (16) which includes at least one elastically deformable latching element (18) that protrudes inwards, and a holding pin (20) which includes a shank (22) that is insertable into the receiving element (16) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A), the shank (22) having an external thread (24) formed thereon which in a locking condition of the connecting assembly (10) establishes a form-fitting connection with the latching element (18). The connecting assembly (10) has a production state, in which the receiving element (16) and the holding pin (20) are connected with each other in one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Patent number: 8197169
    Abstract: An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetrating portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a sleeve opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body and includes a flexible shaft extending from the body. The pin portion has an actuating element extending transversely from the shaft. The pin portion further includes an opening in the body, spaced from the flexible shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Ernst
  • Publication number: 20120076610
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for holding one or more objects is disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more holding units and a supporting unit. A holding unit of the one or more holding units includes a plurality of holding members. Additionally, the holding unit is operable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration to hold an object of the one or more object. The holding unit in the contracted configuration is capable of drilling one or more holes in the object. Further, the holding unit is capable of spreading the plurality of holding members within a hole of the one or more holes to achieve the expanded configuration and hold the object. Additionally, the supporting unit of the apparatus includes one or more motors to operate the one or more holding units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Mazen A. Ba-abbad, Fahad Hassan Saeed Almalki
  • Publication number: 20120045292
    Abstract: A method and an anchor for supporting items on a substrate such as drywall. The anchor comprises a structure configured to carry the anchoring element in a minimal cross section configuration through an insertion hole and to effect a first expansion. The anchor further comprises an adjustable cap member configured to be moved to fixedly position the anchoring element to the non-accessible side of the substrate. The anchoring element comprises a base channel member, a top channel member, and a connector-pivoting element configured to pivotally connect the top channel member to the base channel member. The top channel member is configured to be nested with the base channel member in the minimal cross section configuration and to be pivotally rotatable via the connector pivoting element in the plane parallel to the non-accessible side of the wall, with the pivotal rotation of the top channel member providing the second expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: MECHANICAL PLASTICS CORP.
    Inventor: Gordon E. Kaye
  • Patent number: 7938606
    Abstract: An expanding screw for an expandable dowel sleeve (31) has a shaft (12) having a rotation-transmitting element (15) provided at its first end (13), at least one first screw thread (19) extending from its second end (17), and a thread section (21) provided in a region of the at least one first thread (19), spaced from the second end (17), and having at least one further screw thread (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Claudia Zimmerer
  • Patent number: 7934895
    Abstract: A self drilling anchor for use in a friable material mounted on a member comprises an elongated body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive an elongated fastener, a flared end having torque transmitting surfaces therein, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, a distal portion, and a drilling tip generally opposite the flared end, wherein the proximal portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter, and a thread height, the intermediate portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion, and the distal portion has a threaded exterior with a root that tapers toward the drilling tip, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, George G. Dewey, George B. Dowse, James W. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20100272537
    Abstract: A sleeve interference fastener including a conformable sleeve, wherein the conformable sleeve is comprised of at least one first material having a hardness of X, and a pin member, wherein the pin member is comprised of at least one second material having a hardness of Y, wherein X is sufficiently less than Y so that, in an installed position of an interference fit, at least a portion of the at least one first material of the conformable sleeve conforms to a contour of an inner surface of a hole of a composite structure so as to create a continuous electrical contact at an interface between the inner surface of the hole of the composite structure and the conformable sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Luke Haylock, Hasim Mulazimoglu, Liang Zeng
  • Patent number: 7762751
    Abstract: A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material comprises a body having an axis, a flanged rear end, a drilling front end and a generally cylindrical portion therebetween having an outer surface with a thread disposed thereon, wherein the body forks, beginning at a predetermined distance from the flanged rear end, into a first leg and a second leg, the first leg extending forwardly into a drilling tip, wherein the first leg may have a generally rearward facing shoulder angled obtusely outwardly with respect to the axis, wherein the body has an axial bore for receiving an elongate fastener, the axial bore extending substantially through the flanged end and leading to the generally rearward facing shoulder, wherein the anchor is adapted so that the first leg pivots apart from the second leg when the elongate fastener deflects the generally rearward facing shoulder and the predetermined distance is selected to increase pullout strength when the first leg is pivoted apart from the second leg and the anchor i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Aaron V. Monje, David W. Mueller, John P. Grimm, Richard J. Ernst, Naim Mansour
  • Patent number: 7713010
    Abstract: A wall anchor device includes an anchor sleeve having an outer peripheral lip, one or more peripheral flanges extended outwardly from the middle portion for engaging with a wall member. The anchor sleeve includes a middle portion having one or more arms. A threaded member is engageable into the anchor sleeve and includes a thread shank for threading with the anchor sleeve. A drill element is secured to the threaded member, to drill the anchor sleeve into the wall. The anchor sleeve includes a projecting device for ensuring the threaded member to be engaged with the inner end portion of the anchor sleeve. A positioning device may position the anchor sleeve and the threaded member to the work piece and the wall member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Ming Chia Cheng
  • Publication number: 20100003102
    Abstract: In the mechanical blind expansion anchor-bolt, the inner plug insertion space in which the inner plug is inserted is formed in the outer sleeve body of the outer sleeve. The female screw, the diameter of which is reduced from the end face by the side of the inner plug flange toward the tip point of the inner plug expansion part, is formed in the inside of the inner plug expansion part of the inner plug. The inner plug is inserted in the inner plug insertion space of the outer sleeve, and the screw of the bolt is inserted in the female screw of the inner plug. After that, by carrying out the screwing of the bolt, the expansion of the inner plug expansion part is carried out, so that the expansion of the outer sleeve expansion part is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nagaiwa, Atsuko Nagaiwa
  • Patent number: 7600956
    Abstract: An anchoring device for insertion in a hole provided in a structure such as a wall (hollow or solid) comprises proximal and distal sections. The proximal section includes a head defining an aperture for receiving a fastener, and the distal section includes a pair of expandable wings displaceable between collapsed and expanded positions. Each wing is biased towards its expanded position such that the wings can engage the structural material delimiting the hole or a distal surface of the structure. The distal section comprises, proximally of the wings, a variable-length flexible portion for allowing the wings to engage the distal surface of the structure for various structure thicknesses. The distal section comprises, distally of the wings, a tip section adapted to spread outwardly when engaged by the fastener. The proximal section comprises a pair of legs each having a toothed rack for engaging the structural material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Cobra Anchors Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Pierre McDuff, Alexandre Pollak, Lang Nguyen, William A. Crossley
  • Publication number: 20090162163
    Abstract: An article-attaching device 1 includes a casing 2 adapted to be mounted to an object, and a holding member 3 configured to be fitted into the casing 2, the holding member having engageable portions 3 configured to be elastically engageable with a hook of an article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Akinori Harada
  • Publication number: 20090110507
    Abstract: In a clip, when an inner member and an outer member are locked with each other, a first projection and a second projection of each engagement piece are located in an operation hole. When a tool is inserted into the operation hole formed on the inner member in the locked state, engagement of the first projection and an engagement hole is released and the locked state is released. When the tool is pulled from the operation hole in a direction opposite to the inserting direction, the inner member and the outer member are in a provisionally locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicants: Daiwa Kasei Industry Co., Ltd., Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Katoh, Toshio Iwahara, Haruhisa Kamiya, Tetsuya Ogino, Kosei Asano, Minoru Shibata, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Hiroshi Suyama, Yasuhiro Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20090092459
    Abstract: The invention relates to an expansible fixing plug (1) having two expansion limbs (4), which are expansible by introduction of a screw (not shown). To increase stability, it is proposed according to the invention to join the expansion limbs (4) in the peripheral region by angular connectors (7) which are integral with the expansion limbs (4). The connectors (7) are angled or curved in two notional planes relative to the expansible fixing plug (1); they can thus easily stretch and do not impede the expansion of the expansion limbs (4) to any appreciable extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Aaron Daly
  • Patent number: 7308768
    Abstract: An exhibit including a non-planar outer piece formed from a plurality of substantially flat lenticular panels. The outer piece defines an interior and is configured to display an external view of the interior through the plurality of substantially flat lenticular panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike L. Rice, April E. Jackson, James J. Marson
  • Patent number: 7237994
    Abstract: A wall plug for enabling fixings to be attached to a wall, the wall plug comprising an elongate body having an inner insertion end and an outer end, a through bore extending from the outer end toward the inner end, the through bore being adapted to axially receive an elongate drill of a setting tool, and body end portion extending axially in-board from said inner insertion end, the body end portion having at least one axially extending recess communicating with an axial end region of said through bore so as to expose a side portion of the setting tool when received in said through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Turner Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventor: Paul Steabben Hepworth
  • Patent number: 7223045
    Abstract: A device (1) for detachably connecting two abutting structural parts (2, 3) comprises a tie member (4), adapted to be at least partially inserted in a recess (5) formed in a first (2) of the structural parts (2, 3), and a locking element (6) operable to be disposed in a second (3) of the structural parts (2, 3) and to cooperate with an engagement surface (14, 45) of a rod member (10), slidably housed in a body (8) of the tie member (4), to pull the same towards the second structural part (3). The body (8) is provided with a first, expandable, portion (9) adapted to frictionally engage the recess (5) and with an engaging zone (13) cooperating with an expander region (12) of the rod member (10) operable to expand the first, expandable, portion (9) of the body (8) upon displacement of the rod member (10) relative to the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Agostino Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 7144212
    Abstract: A high strength failure-resistant hollow wall anchor having a self drilling threaded installation structure adapted to be broken, after positioning, by an inserted screw, into expandable anchoring elements. The anchoring elements engage internally formed cams and the distal surface of the wall into which the anchor is deployed and are comprised of a plastic sufficiently rigid to effect a threaded insertion and to be broken apart, but which plastic is also sufficiently flexible to be able to form the expansion anchor member on the distal surface of a wall. The anchor includes anti-rotation elements to retard overtightening and anchor removal prior to screw removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Mechanical Plastics Corp.
    Inventors: Gordon E. Kaye, Nathaniel H. Garfield