AU2004208673B2 - A threaded fastener - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 690967 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Bremick Pty Ltd, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 000 496 131, of 62 Maddox Street, Alexandria, New South Wales, 2015, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Robert Gary Murrell Matthew Joseph Augimeri Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A threaded fastener ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) [32] Application Date AU 2003904808 03 Sep 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 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 and wood. 5 Background of the Invention Frequently threaded fasteners are employed to secure sheet metal and other material to battens. Typically, these threaded fasteners have a leading tip to engage the sheet material and batten to drill holes in to which the shank of the threaded fasteners enter to secure the sheet material to the batten. In some instances the shank has a 10 threaded length of generally constant diameter, terminating with threads of a reduced diameter adjacent the drilling tip of the fastener. The drilling tip of the fastener has an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the thread. The above described threaded fasteners when adapted to be used with metal sheet are not suitable for timber. Accordingly, it is necessary to manufacture and stock is several types of threaded fasteners, those particularly adapted for metal, and those particularly adapted for timber. Clearly this is a disadvantage as several types of threaded fasteners need to be manufactured, stocked and distributed. This increases the cost of the fasteners. Object of the Invention 20 It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a threaded fastener including: a head to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; 25 a shank extending from the head; a drill tip extending from the shank; a thread on the shank extending to said drill tip, the thread tapering in outer diameter to said drill tip but terminating adjacent said drill tip; said thread has a minimum inner diameter and said drill tip has a maximum outer 30 diameter less than the inner minimum diameter of said thread; and wherein; said thread includes a first thread length extending to said drill bit, which first thread length has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and a pitch, and a second thread length, which second thread length is located between the head and said first thread 2 length, and wherein the second thread length has a pitch larger than the pitch of said first threaded length. Preferably, said drill tip has a longitudinal length of 3.5 to 4.2 mm. Preferably, said thread has an inner diameter of about 3.8 to 4.0 mm. s Preferably, said thread has a pitch length of about 1.81 mm. Preferably, said thread has an outer diameter of 6.0 to 6.25 mm. the inner diameter of said first length and the outer diameter of said first length having a ratio of about .55 to .65, most preferably about .59. Preferably, said thread has an inclined thread faces of about 60*. 10 Preferably, said thread in tapering to said drilling tip provides a longitudinal length of tapered thread, which includes a longitudinal length is 4.2 to 6.0 mm. 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: 15 Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a threaded fastener; Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of a drill tip of the threaded fastener of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the head of the fastener of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic section side elevation of the head of Figure 3. 20 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a threaded fastener (10). The threaded fastener (10) is intended to penetrate timber and metal, and may typically be used to secure sheet material to a metal or timber batten. The threaded fastener (10) includes a head (11) with side walls (12) which are to be gripped by a tool to 25 rotatably drive the fastener (10) about its longitudinal axis for the purposes of inserting the fastener (10). The head (11) 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 tip (16) extending 30 from the shank (15) at a position remote from the head (11). Preferably, the tip (16) has a length of 3.5 to 4.2mm. Adjacent to the 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 (24) greater than the outer diameter (23) of the drill tip (16). Preferably, the inner diameter 3 (24) is about 3.8 to 4.0mm. Preferably, the thread (18) has a pitch length of about 1.81mm. Located between the head (11) and length (17) is a second thread length (19) having a thread (20). The thread (20) has an outer diameter equal to or greater than the s 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). Preferably, the thread (20) has an outer diameter of about 6.10 to about 6.25mm. The thread (18) tapers in outer diameter adjacent the tip (16) and terminates 1o adjacent the tip (16). In this preferred embodiment, the thread (18) has between I and 4 convulsions (21) that taper in outer diameter toward and terminate adjacent the tip (16). In the threaded fastener (10), the threaded length (17) has a ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of about .55 to .65mm. The most preferred ratio being about .59. The length (17) is about 4.0 to 6.0mm. 15 Preferably, the thread (18) has faces (22) 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 above described preferred embodiment, when used with metal battens, the metal battens are securely engaged between faces (22) so as to minimise any movement that may take place between the threaded fastener (10) and the batten. 20 The above described preferred embodiment is particularly adapted to fix roofing iron to timber or metal battens with increased "pull out" properties.

Claims (9)

1. A threaded fastener including: a head to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; a shank extending from the head; s a drill tip extending from the shank; a thread on the shank extending to said drill tip, the thread tapering in outer diameter to said drill tip but terminating adjacent said drill tip; said thread has a minimum inner diameter and said drill tip has a maximum outer diameter less than the inner minimum diameter of said thread; and wherein; 10 said thread includes a first thread length extending to said drill bit, which first thread length has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and a pitch, and a second thread length, which second thread length is located between the head and said first thread length, and wherein the second thread length has a pitch larger than the pitch of said first threaded length. 15

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein said drill tip has a longitudinal length of 3.5 to 4.2 mm.

3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein said thread has an inner diameter of about 3.8 to 4.0 mm.

4. The fastener of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said thread has a pitch length of 20 about 1.81 mm.

5. The fastener of any one of claims I to 4, wherein said thread has an outer diameter of 6.0 to 6.25 mm.

6. The fastener of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner diameter of said first length and the outer diameter of said first length having a ratio of about .55 to 25 .65, most preferably about .59.

7. The fastener of any one of claims I to 6, wherein said thread has an inclined thread faces of about 60*.

8. The fastener of any one of claims I to 8, wherein said thread in tapering to said drilling tip provides a longitudinal length of tapered thread, which includes a 30 longitudinal length is 4.2 to 6.0 mm. 5

9. A fastener substantiates hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 2 March, 2010 Bremick Pty Ltd 5 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON