Wall anchor system and method
A system includes a back up wall and a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall. An anchor shaft has a first end secured to the back up wall, and a free end of the shaft projects into a space between the back up wall and the veneer wall. A wing nut has a central barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end. The wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall and has a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie. The wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired.
The present application claims priority to and benefit of: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/581,039, filed Jun. 18, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/628,048, filed Nov. 15, 2004; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/628,047, filed Nov. 15, 2004. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTINGNot applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for transferring horizontal loads between a back up wall and a veneer wall, and, more particularly, to a wing nut connecting an anchor shaft extending from the back up wall or other building support to a wire tie extending from a veneer wall.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
Various patents disclose apparatus for connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall for transferring horizontal loads therebetween.
Reinwall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,069 discloses a threaded stud drilled into a supportive metal stud wall. The stud has an elongate barrel integral with a driving head. The barrel may include cutting elements for cutting through an insulation layer on the supportive wall. The stud is driven until the barrel abuts the supportive wall. The driving head of the stud/barrel includes an elongate eye for receipt of a wire tie that extends from a mortar bed of a veneer wall. The driving head also includes a circumferential flange disposed between the barrel and the eye and sized larger than the barrel. The flange seals against the insulation layer.
Lopez U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,984 discloses a threaded stud having a fastener barrel rigidly secured on an end of the threaded stud. The fastener barrel includes a slot through which a wire tie is looped. The stud is driven into the back up wall by rotating the fastener barrel, typically with a drill having a chuck that fits around a portion of the fastener barrel. The fastener barrel may include teeth for cutting through insulation as the threaded stud is driven through insulation and the back up wall.
Various patents show fastening apparatus. Holaday U.S. Pat. No. 1,289,450 shows a pressure screw having a shaft and a handle. The handle has first and second wings, and each of the wings has an opening.
Larava U.S. Pat. No. 1,044,791 shows a thumb nut formed of sheet metal. The thumb nut has first and second wings with an opening in each wing.
Schmidt et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 123,423 discloses a wing nut having a fastening portion and a handle portion. Similarly, Bethea U.S. Design Pat. No. 286,979 and Bethea U.S. Design Pat. No. 286,744 show nuts having fastening and handle portions.
Roerig U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,643 shows a wing nut, each wing having an opening therethrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system includes a back up wall and a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall. An anchor shaft has a first end secured to the back up wall, and a free end of the shaft projects into a space between the back up wall and the veneer wall. A wing nut has a central barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end. The wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall and has a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie. The wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method includes the step of providing a back up wall and a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall. A first end of an anchor shaft is secured to the back up wall such that a free second end of the shaft projects into a space between the back up wall and the veneer wall. A wing nut is selected having a central barrel and a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel. The wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie. Once the shaft is secured to the back up wall, the wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired. The wing nut is threaded on the shaft proximate the free end to a desired final position. In the desired final position the wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing a wing nut to an end user for connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall includes the step of providing a wing nut having a central barrel with a bore sized to accommodate an anchor shaft and a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel. The wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie. One identifies to the end user that the wing nut is usable with the wire tie and the anchor shaft for the purpose of connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall. One causes the wing nut to be delivered to the end user so that the end user places the wing nut onto the shaft and attaches the wire tie to the wing nut to connect the back up wall to the veneer wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
Referring to
In accordance with a further method of the present invention, a vendor, whether a manufacture, distributor, or retailer, may provide the wing nut 30, 165, or 180 to an end user so that the end user may use the wing nut to connect a back up wall to a veneer wall. The vendor provides the wing nut having the wing 36, 170, or 184 and the openings 42a, 42b or elongate slot 176. The vendor identifies to the end user that the wing nut is usable with a wire tie and anchor shaft for the purpose of connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall. This identification can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the vendor may provide brochures to customers showing the wing nut in a manner that would cause users to purchase the wing nut to use with a wire tie to connect walls. The vendor may distribute pictorial diagrams, either with the brochures or on packaging for the wing nuts. The pictorial diagrams illustrate the wing nut either with a wire tie or with a wire tie and a back up wall and/or veneer wall. The vendor may contact end users by telephone, email, or other means to inform end users that the wing nut 30, 165, or 180 may be so used.
Numerous modifications to the features described and shown are possible. Accordingly, the described and illustrated embodiments are to be construed as merely examplary of the inventive concepts expressed herein and addressed in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system, comprising:
- a back up wall;
- a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall;
- an anchor shaft having a first end secured to the back up wall and a free end projecting into a space between the back up wall and the veneer wall;
- a wing nut having a central barrel disposed on the shaft proximate the free end wherein the wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall; and
- a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie;
- wherein the wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing is disposed generally along a center line of the barrel.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the wing is recessed from a center line of the barrel.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut includes a threaded bore and rotation of the wing nut moves the wing nut along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing includes first and second openings.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is an elongate slot.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing is oversized relative to the barrel in that a longitudinal dimension of the wing measured generally perpendicularly to the barrel is greater than the outside diameter of the barrel.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut defines a length dimension L measured parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and wherein a distance D is measured between the wing nut and a surface of the back up wall and wherein D is at least about L.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein wall sheeting and insulation are disposed between the wing nut and the back up wall.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wing nut is a two piece assembly.
11. A method, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a back up wall;
- providing a veneer wall spaced from the back up wall;
- securing a first end of an anchor shaft to the back up wall such that a free second end of the shaft projects into a space between the back up wall and the veneer wall;
- selecting a wing nut having a central barrel and a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie wherein once the shaft is secured to the back up wall the wing nut is independently rotatable about the shaft to angularly orient the wings and thus the at least one opening as desired; and
- threading the wing nut on the shaft proximate the free end to a desired final position wherein in the desired final position the wing nut is spaced apart from a surface of the back up wall.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wing is generally disposed along a centerline of the barrel.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein a portion of the wing is recessed from a centerline of the barrel.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the wing includes a first and second openings.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening is an elongate slot.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of selecting a wire tie having joined legs.
17. A method of providing a wing nut to an end user for connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a wing nut having a central barrel with a bore sized to accommodate an anchor shaft and a generally planar wing extending from an end of the central barrel wherein the wing includes at least one opening for receipt of a wire tie;
- identifying to the end user that the wing nut is usable with the wire tie and the anchor shaft for the purpose of connecting a back up wall to a veneer wall; and
- causing the wing nut to be delivered to the end user so that the end user places the wing nut onto the shaft and attaches the wire tie to the wing nut to connect the back up wall to the veneer wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 2, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 22, 2005
Inventor: Joseph Bronner (Denville, NJ)
Application Number: 11/143,152