AU2003244539A1 - A Threaded Fastener - Google Patents

Description

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S&F Ref: 648030

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Bremick Pty Ltd Unit Fl, F2 62 Maddox Street Alexandria New South Wales 2015 Australia Robert Murrell Matthew Augimeri Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A Threaded Fastener The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- Documents were received on: :s c 3 S? P Batch No: 5845c A Threaded Fastener Technical Field The present invention relates to threaded fasteners and more particularly but not exclusively to self drilling fasteners to be used with metal battens.

Background of the Invention Frequently threaded fasteners are employed to secure sheet and other material to metal battens. Typically these threaded fasteners have a leading tip to engage the sheet material and batten to drill holes into which the shank of the threaded fasteners enters to secure the sheet material to the metal batten. The shank has a threaded length of generally constant diameter, terminating with threads of reduced diameter adjacent the drilling tip of the fastener.

The abovementioned fasteners have been known to not secure the sheet material to the batten to the extent required.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a threaded fastener to secure sheet material to a supporting member, said fastener including: a head which is to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; a shank extending from the head; a drilling tip extending from the shank; and a threaded length on said shank, said length including a thread having a predetermined pitch, inner diameter, outer diameter, and wherein said inner diameter relative an outer diameter have a relative ratio of .55 to In a first preferred form, the threaded length extends substantial length of the shank.

In a further preferred form, the threaded length of the above threaded fastener is a first threaded length, with the threaded fastener including a second threaded length between the first threaded length and the head, and wherein the second threaded length has a thread of larger outer diameter than the first length. Preferably, said second length has a thread with a larger pitch than that of the first length.

[R:\LIBTT]02999.doc:yxa 2 Preferably, the drill tip has a diameter similar to said inner diameter.

Preferably, the thread of said second length is larger than the thread of said first length.

Preferably said first length is separated from said second length by a fluted length.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a threaded fastener; and Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a further threaded fastener.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, there is schematically depicted a threaded fastener 10. The threaded fastener 10 is intended to secure sheet material to a metal batten. The threaded fastener 10 includes a head 11 including side walls 12 which are to be gripped by a tool to rotatably drive the fastener 10 about its longitudinal axis for the purposes of inserting the fastener The head 12 also includes a flange 13 with an annular recess 14 that may receive a sealing element if so required.

Extending from the head 11 is a shank 15, with a drilling tipl 16 extending from the shank 15 at a position remote from the head 11.

Located adjacent to drilling tip 16 is a first threaded length 17 that has a thread 18 of a predetermined diameter, pitch and size. The thread 18 has an inner diameter similar to the diameter of the drill tip 16.

Located between the head 11 and length 17 is a second threaded length 19 having a thread 20. The thread 20 has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the thread 18 as well as a larger pitch than the pitch of the thread 18. More particularly, the thread 20 of the length 19 is larger in cross-section than the thread 18.

Located between the length 17 and 19 is a fluted length 21.

Preferably, between the first length 17 and drilling tip 16, there is located a series of intermediate threads 21 that are of a reducing outer diameter with respect to the thread 18 so as to taper toward the tip 16.

In the threaded fastener 10, the first threaded length 17 has a ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of.55 to .65. The most preferred ratio being .59.

[RALIBTT]02999.doc:yxa

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Preferably, the threads 18 have faces inclined by an acute angle of about 600.

With this construction, the "root" of the threads is formed by a relatively small radius.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the threaded fastener 30 is intended to secure sheet metal to metal batten. The threaded fastener 30 includes a head 31 with side walls 32 which are to be gripped by a tool to rotatably drive the fastener 30 about its longitudinal axis for the purposes of inserting the fastener The head 32 includes a flange 33 with an annular recess 34 that may receive a sealing element if so required.

Extending from the head 31 is a shank 35, with a drill tip 36 being at the io extremity of the shank The shank 35 is provided with a threaded length 37 that has a thread 38 extending substantially the entire length of the shank 35. The thread 38 has faces 39 that are inclined by an angle of about 60'. The thread 38 is configured so that the "root" of a thread 38 is formed with a relatively small radius.

The thread 38 has a ratio between the inner diameter and outer diameter of .55 to more preferably a ratio of .59.

Preferably, the drill tip 36 has a diameter similar to the inner diameter of the thread 38.

Joining the length 37 to the tip 36 are threads 40 that taper in respect of outer diameter and inner diameter toward the drill tip 36.

In the above described preferred embodiments, the metal battens engaged are securely located between adjacent faces 22 (Fig 1) or 39 (Fig 2) so as to minimise any movement that may take place between the threaded fastener and the batten.

The above described preferred embodiments are particularly adapted to fix roofing iron to thin metal battens with increased "pullout" properties.

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Claims (7)

1. A threaded fastener to secure sheet material to a supporting member, said fastener including: a head which is to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; a shank extending from the head; a drilling tip extending from the shank; and a threaded length on said shank, said length including a thread having a predetermined pitch, inner diameter, outer diameter, and wherein said inner diameter relative an outer diameter have a relative ratio of.55 to

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said threaded length extends substantial length of the shank.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said threaded length of the above threaded fastener is a first threaded length, with the threaded fastener including a second threaded length between the first threaded length and the head, and wherein the second threaded length has a thread of larger outer diameter than the first length. Preferably, said second length has a thread with a larger pitch than that of the first length.

4. The fastener of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the drill tip has a diameter similar to said inner diameter.

The fastener of claim 3 wherein the thread of said second length is larger than the thread of said first length.

6. The fastener of claim 3 or 5 wherein said first length is separated from said second length by a fluted length.

7. A threaded fastener substantiates hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2. Dated 2 September 2003 BREMICK PTY LTD Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:LIBTT]02999.doc:yxa