Patents by Inventor Louis N. Giannuzzi

Louis N. Giannuzzi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5188496
    Abstract: A self-tapping screw-type masonry anchor which when turned into a hole drilled in a masonry structure to secure an object thereto is then highly resistant to pull-out forces. The anchor is fabricated of a metal whose hardness is such that when it rubs against a masonry surface it is abraded and worn thereby. The anchor includes a head engageable by a torque-producing tool to rotate the anchor, and a shank extending therefrom provided with a root section surrounded by a helical male cutting thread whose series of convolutions have sharp crests and extend from the leading to the trailing end of the root section. The crests have diameters greater than that of the hole which decrease progressively from the leading to the trailing end to create a reverse taper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 5039262
    Abstract: A self-drilling plastic anchor installable in a wall by means of a screwdriver, the anchor being adapted to receive a threaded fastener that serves to hold a fixture or other object against the wall. The anchor includes an externally-threaded shank section having an enlarged head that is engageable by the screwdriver and a cavity to receive the fastener. Extending from the lower end of the shank section is a drill section that terminates in a point that lies on the longitudinal axis of the anchor. When the anchor is applied to the wall, the point penetrates its surface, so that the anchor may then be turned by the screwdriver about the point. The drill section is formed by a pair of cutting blades on opposite sides of the anchor axis and a pair of guide blades, each angled relative to a respective cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4963062
    Abstract: A one-piece, pre-shaped anchor adapted to be forcibly driven axially into a tightly-fitting hole so that the anchor makes a strong interference fit therein. The anchor is constituted by a drivable element and an elongated shank integral therewith. The shank is pre-shaped to have an end portion furthest from the element which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis passing through the element and shank, and to have at least one undulation between the element and the end portion that creates a bend having a peak on one side of the shank between spaced apart base portions on the other side of the shank. The anchor is formed of resilient material, whereby when the shank is driven into the tightly-fitting hole, the undulation will then be forcibly altered by reaction with the wall of the hole, and in seeking to recover its originl shape, will secure the anchor in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4892429
    Abstract: An anchor and stress plate assembly adapted to secure an insulation layer to the deck of a roof without penetrating the lower surface of the deck which is formed either of relatively soft or hard decking material. The anchor is provided with a flanged head and a shank whose leading section takes the form of an auger screw having a root which tapers toward the tip and a threading about the root whose crests are of approximately uniform diameter. When the anchor is turned into soft decking material, the tapered root of the auger screw then acts to pack this material into a dense mass in the region surrounding the screw to enhance the holding power of the anchor. In hard decking material, a hole must first be drilled therein to receive the auger screw whose root when the anchor is turned in fits within the hole and whose crests then cut a thread in the hole wall to securely retain the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4890779
    Abstract: An automatic setting tool operatively coupled to a standard, rotary-impact drill-hammer for driving the shaped shank of a single piece anchor having an enlarged head into a hole drilled in masonry. The tool includes a rod having a front striker section and a rear holder section, a shoulder being formed at the junction of these sections. The holder section of the rod is adapted either to slip onto a drill bit held in the chuck of the drill-hammer or to be directly gripped by this chuck, whereby the rod, as it is rotated by the drill-hammer, is caused periodically to undergo a forward and a reverse stroke. Telescoped over the striker section and slidable thereon is a locator sleeve that is urged by a helical spring interposed between the shoulder and the sleeve to an initial position at which the sleeve projects beyond the front end of the rod to define therewith a socket for nesting the head of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4828439
    Abstract: A screw anchor including a four-legged compressible shank whose normal shape is diamond-like, the front legs of the shank being joined together by a front apex hinge, the rear legs being joined to the front legs by side apex hinges. The rear legs terminate in feet whose adjacent soles normally assume the form of an inverted V-inlet. A socket whose bore lies in axial registration with a hole in the front apex of the shank is secured by a pair of normally outstretched resilient webs to the respective rear legs. To install the anchor, its side apex hinges are manually compressed to collapse the shank into a tongue which is then inserted through a hole drilled in the wall until the socket is seated therein and the shank which is now behind the wall resumes its diamond-like shape. Then a screw for holding the fixture against the wall is inserted in the socket bore and turned therein until its tip is intercepted by the inlet which is dilated thereby to admit the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4828445
    Abstract: A one-piece wall anchor capable of being driven axially into a hole drilled in masonry to cause the inserted anchor to lodge securely therein to hold a fixture or other part against the masonry surface. The anchor is constituted by a shank formed of resilient material whose memory is such that when the shank is forcibly deformed, it seeks to maintain its original shape, the shank being integral with a drivable head and having a maximum cross section which is substantially equal to the diameter of the hole. The shank is pre-shaped to include at least one undulation which deviates from the longitudinal axis passing through the head to create a shank bend having a peak on one side of the shank and upper and lower bases on the other side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4763456
    Abstract: An anchor and stress plate assembly adapted to secure an insulation layer to the deck of a roof without penetrating the lower surface of the deck which is formed either of relatively soft or hard decking material. The anchor is provided with a flanged head and a shank whose leading section takes the form of an auger screw having a root which tapers toward the tip and a threading about the root whose crests are of approximately uniform diameter. When the anchor is turned into soft decking material, the tapered root of the auger screw then acts to pack this material into a dense mass in the region surrounding the screw to enhance the holding power of the anchor. In hard decking material, a hole must first be drilled therein to receive the auger screw whose root when the anchor is turned in fits within the hole and whose crests then cut a thread in the hole wall to securely retain the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4732520
    Abstract: A non-rotating toggle bolt assembly which includes a collapsible toggle threadably received on the shank end of a bolt whose length is greater than the thickness of the wall for which the assembly is intended. When the toggle is collapsed, it assumes reduced dimensions to permit its passage through a hole drilled in the wall. On emerging from the hole at the shank end of the bolt, the toggle which is now displaced from the inner surface of the wall resumes its normal dimensions. The assembly is provided with a flexible strap extension, one end of which is coupled to the toggle and acts to prevent rotation thereof when, in the course of installation, the operator turns the bolt to advance the toggle on the shank into engagement with the inner surface of the wall to fasten the assembly thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4668144
    Abstract: A non-rotating toggle bolt assembly which includes a collapsible toggle threadably received on the shank end of a bolt whose length is greater than the thickness of the wall for which the assembly is intended. When the toggle is collapsed, it assumes reduced dimensions to permit its passage through a hole drilled in the wall. On emerging from the hole at the shank end of the bolt, the toggle which is now displaced from the inner surface of the wall, resumes its normal dimensions. The assembly is provided with means which act to prevent rotation of the toggle when, in the course of installation, the operator turns the bolt to advance the toggle on the shank into engagement with the inner surface of the wall to fasten the assembly thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4616968
    Abstract: A non-rotating toggle bolt assembly in which a trunnion nut received on the end of a screw whose length exceeds the thickness of the hollow wall for which the assembly is intended, pivotally supports a pair of spring-biased toggle wings. The wings are normally outstretched; but when the assembly is pushed through a hole drilled in the wall, the wings then fold in against the screw to permit passage therethrough. On emerging from the hole, the pivoting wings resume their outstretched state at a position well displaced from the inner surface of the wall. Included in the assembly are locking means which act to prevent rotation of the outstretched wings when, in the course of installation, the operator turns the screw to advance the toggle axially toward the inner surface of the wall to tighten the assembly, and which also acts to prevent loosening of the assembly such as might be caused by vibration, after such installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4574551
    Abstract: A load-bearing square plate usable in conjunction with an anchor bolt to firmly secure a layer of thermal insulation material to a roof surface to prevent the layer from being blown away as a result of strong updrafts. The plate has a center hole for receiving the shank of the anchor bolt to be driven by a hammer into the roof. The plate is embossed to define both a raised hub which surrounds the hole to catch the head of the hammer when it drives in the bolt and thereby prevent overdrive thereof, and a plate-reinforcing pattern to resist flexure thereof omnidirectionally. This embossed pattern is constituted by a four-sided marginal frame adjacent the edges of the plate, a star formed by radial spokes of progressively diminishing width extending from the hub to the corners of the frame, and a cross formed by short ribs lying between the radial spokes and extending from the hub to the midpoints of the frame sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4537541
    Abstract: A vibration-proof anchor bolt assembly which is insertable in a hole drilled in masonry for fastening a fixture to the surface thereof, the diameter of the hole being slightly larger than that of the bolt. The bolt is provided with an enlarged head that lies against the fixture and is engageable by a torque tool, the threaded rear section of the bolt being of reduced diameter. The upper portion of the rear section is encircled by an expansible shell which when expanded is forced against the wall of the hole to anchor the bolt therein. Received on the lower portion of the rear section is a wedge nut having an upper conical zone and a lower ring zone whose normal diameter is larger than that of the hole, slots being cut into said ring zone to define spring fingers. These fingers are inwardly flexed by the wall of the hole when the assembly is inserted therein, thereby compressing the ring and constricting the internally-threaded bore thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4330230
    Abstract: An anchor bolt assembly insertable in a masonry hole for fastening a fixture thereto. The assembly is constituted by a threaded bolt whose lower end terminates in an expander element, the bolt extending through an expandable sleeve and being threadably received in a tube having an enlarged head engageable by a torque-producing tool. Interposed between the tube and the sleeve is a deformable ring. When the assembly is inserted through a hole in the fixture into the masonry hole with the head thereof outside the fixture, and the head is then turned by the tool, this causes the bolt to advance toward the tube and causes the expander element to force its way into the sleeve to effect expansion thereof against the wall of the masonry hole until a point is reached at which the assembly is locked in the hole and no further bolt advance is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4274324
    Abstract: A plastic screw anchor for fastening fixtures and other objects to a hollow wall, the anchor including a four-legged diamond-shaped shank whose front legs are joined together by a front apex living hinge and whose rear legs are joined to the front legs by side apex living hinges, the ends of the rear legs defining a rear apex. Secured by a pair of normally outstretched resilient webs to the rear legs of the shank is a flanged socket whose bore lies in registration with an opening formed in the front apex hinge. The diamond-shaped shank is collapsible to form a tongue that is insertable in a hole drilled in the wall to accommodate the socket, the webs then reverting to their outstretched condition to cause the shank which is now behind the wall to recover its diamond formation. When a self-tapping screw is turned into the socket bore, it acts to thread the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4197781
    Abstract: A removable and reusable plastic screw anchor for fastening fixtures and other objects to a hollow wall. The anchor includes a four-legged diamond-shaped shank whose front legs are joined together by a front apex hinge and whose rear legs are joined to the front legs by side apex hinges, the ends of the rear legs defining a rear apex. Secured by a pair of normally outstretched resilient webs to the rear legs of the shank is a flanged socket whose bore lies in registration with an opening formed in the front apex hinge. The diamond-shaped shank is collapsible to form a tongue that is insertable in a hole drilled in the wall to accommodate the socket, the webs then reverting to their outstretched condition to cause the shank which is now behind the wall to recover its diamond formation. When a self-tappping screw is turned into the socket bore, it acts to thread the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: 4195547
    Abstract: A vibration-proof anchor bolt assembly which is insertable in a hole drilled in masonry for fastening a fixture to the surface thereof, the diameter of the hole being slightly larger than that of the bolt. The bolt is provided with an enlarged head that lies against the fixture and is engageable by a torque tool, the threaded rear section of the bolt being of reduced diameter. The upper portion of the rear section is encircled by an expansible shell which when expanded is forced against the wall of the hole to anchor the bolt therein. Received on the lower portion of the rear section is a wedge nut having an upper conical zone and a lower ring zone whose normal diameter is larger than that of the hole, slots being cut into said ring zone to define spring fingers. These fingers are inwardly flexed by the wall on the hole when the assembly is inserted therein, thereby compressing the ring and constricting the internally-threaded bore thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi
  • Patent number: D288778
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventor: Louis N. Giannuzzi