AU2005201752A1

AU2005201752A1 - A threaded fastener

Info

Publication number: AU2005201752A1
Application number: AU2005201752A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Joseph Augimeri
Original assignee: BREMICK Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BREMICK Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-27
Filing date: 2005-04-27
Publication date: 2006-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-27
Also published as: AU2005201752B2

Description

S&F Ref: 714780

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, an Australian company, ACN 000 496 131, of 62 Maddox Street, Alexandria, New South Wales, 2015, Australia Matthew Joseph 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:- 5845c A THREADED FASTENER Technical Field The present invention relates to threaded fasteners and more particularly but not exclusively to threaded fasteners employed to fix roof battens to support beams, such as beams found in trusses.

Background of the Invention Conventionally timber battens were used with timber roof trusses. However there is an increasing use of metal battens, the metal battens being secured to both metal roof trusses and timber roof trusses. Normally a "Type 17" screw point threaded fastener is used to fix the battens to timber and a self drilling screw point is used to fix the battens to metal. With the increasing use of metal battens and metal trusses, those involved in the construction industry have continued to use the "Type 17" fastener for fixing metal battens to timber trusses and the self drilling fastener for fixing metal battens to metal trusses.

is The above creates a number of problems. As the metal battens are made of high tensile steel, a Type 17 fastener struggles to penetrate the battens, as it is designed to drill into timber. The problem is exacerbated if the battens are overlapped (at their ends). A self drilling screw fastener could overcome the penetration problems with metal battens but would not suit fastening to timber. Still further they would not provide sufficient "pull out force" when used with thinner metal trusses.

Accordingly, the abovementioned threaded fasteners suffer from a number of disadvantages including difficulty when used with metal battens, and not providing sufficient "pull out force" when used with timber trusses.

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

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a threaded fastener including: 1 [R:\LIBTT]03952speci.doc:hxa a shank having a longitudinal axis and longitudinally opposite first and second ends; a head at said first end to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; a self drilling screw point having a point outer diameter and located at said second end; and wherein said shank has a first length extending towards said second end, and a second length extending from said first length to said point, with said shank having a first length outer diameter and a second length outer diameter, said second length outer diameter diminishing from said first length outer diameter to said self drilling screw point so that said point outer diameter is less than said first length outer diameter; and said threaded fastener further includes a thread extending along said second length and at least a substantial portion of said first length, said thread having a pitch of about 10 to 12 threads per inch.

Preferably, said pitch is about 11 threads per inch.

Preferably, said thread extends along the entire length of said first length.

Preferably, said first length outer diameter is substantially constant through said first 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 drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a threaded fastener; and Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of the threaded fastener of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a threaded fastener 10. The threaded fastener 10 includes a shank 11 having a longitudinal axis 12 and longitudinally opposite ends 13 and 14.

The end 13 is provided with a head 15 that is to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener 10. The head 15 includes a flange 16.

The end 14 has extending from it a drill tip 17.

2 [R:\LIBTT]03952speci.doc:hxa The shank 11 has a first length 18 of a constant outer (maximum) diameter, and a second length 19 of an outer diameter that diminishes from the length 18 to the tip 17.

Accordingly, the length 19 tapers in outer diameter from the length 18 to the tip 17.

Applied to the shank 11 is a thread 20 having a pitch of about 10 to 12 threads per inch, preferably about 11 threads per inch.

In the above described preferred embodiment at least the majority of the shank 11 has the thread 20. The thread 20 extends along the entire length 19, and at least the majority of the length 18. Preferably the thread 20 extends along the entire length of the length 18.

The tip 17 is a self-drilling point having a maximum outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the first length 18. The above described preferred embodiment offers a number of advantages including improved "pull out forces" when fastening into timber trusses, greater "pull out forces" than conventional self drilling screws in respect of fastening into thin metal trusses, superior drill performance when penetrating through metal battens, and providing a single threaded fastener for a variety of fixing applications.

3 [R:\LIBTT]03952speci.doc:hxa

Claims

1. A threaded fastener including: a shank having a longitudinal axis and longitudinally opposite first and second ends, said shank having a diameter; a head at said first end to be engaged by a tool to drive the fastener; a self drilling screw point having an outer diameter and located at said second end; and wherein said shank has a first length extending towards said second end, and a second length extending from said first length to said point, with said shank having a first length outer diameter and a second length outer diameter, said second length outer diameter diminishing from said first length outer diameter to said self drilling screw point so that said point outer diameter is less than said first length diameter; and said threaded fastener further includes a thread extending along said second length and at least a substantial portion of said first length, said thread having a pitch of about 10 to 12 threads per inch.

2. The threaded fastener of claim 1, wherein said pitch is about 11 threads per inch.

3. The threaded fastener of claim 1 or 2, wherein said thread extends along the entire length of said first length.

4. The threaded fastener of claim 3, wherein said first length outer diameter is substantially constant through said first length. Dated 27 April, 2005 Bremick Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 4 [R:\LIBTT]03952speci.doc:hxa