CN111344464B

CN111344464B - Fastening piece

Info

Publication number: CN111344464B
Application number: CN201880073377.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高山; M·戈尔特
Original assignee: Hilti AG
Current assignee: Hilti AG
Priority date: 2017-09-21
Filing date: 2018-09-20
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-20
Also published as: CN109538618A; CN111344464A; CN109538618B

Abstract

A fastener, comprising: a first clip member having a first base portion and two first arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the first base portion; a second clip member that is locked with the first clip member and has a second base portion and two second arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the second base portion; and at least one hook extending from a distal end of one of the first arm and the second arm, wherein the first clip member and the second clip member are horizontally arranged in two different directions, and the second base is located above the first base.

Description

Fastening piece

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastener, and more particularly, to a fastener for securing a grid plate.

Background

Grid plates are commonly used to form walkways for structures, requiring such grid plates to be properly placed in position and secured to a support below the grid plate.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional fastener 10 for fixing a grid plate to a support, which is disclosed in patent No. kr101467161b1. Fastener 10 includes a clip 100 having arms 102 extending from four sides of a base 104, respectively. However, since each arm 102 is separated from the adjacent arm of the clip 100, the clip 100 may be deformed when a shearing force is applied to one arm toward the opposite arm. In addition, the clip 100 is formed based on a cross, which presents problems of material waste or complexity of arranging multiple crosses in a large sheet of material. The fastener 10 also includes an adapter 106 that serves as a nut member. To retain the adapter 106 within the fastener 10, the diameter of the two

ends

108 and 110 of the adapter 106 must be larger than the diameter of the body portion 112 and an additional process is required to press the adapter 106 into the through-hole 114 of the clip 100. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have alternative fasteners for securing the grid plates to the supports.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a fastener. The fastener includes: a first clip member having a first base portion and two first arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the first base portion; a second clip member that is locked with the first clip member and has a second base portion and two second arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the second base portion; and at least one hook extending from a distal end of one of the first and second arms. The first clip member and the second clip member are arranged horizontally in two different directions, the second base being located above the first base.

Drawings

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, may best be understood by making reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a conventional fastener;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a fastener for securing a grid plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic isometric view of the fastener of FIG. 2 after assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a schematic top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 3A, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic cross-sectional side views of the fastener taken from lines A-A and B-B of FIG. 3B, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a plurality of the fasteners of FIG. 3A securing a grid plate to a support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the fastener of FIG. 4B in securing a grid plate to a support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic top views of first and second jaw members arranged in a sheet material according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a fastener for securing a grid plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a module, circuit, device component, structure, or method step that comprises a list of elements or steps does not include only those elements but may include other elements or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such module, circuit, device component, or step. An element or step recited as "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements or steps, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic exploded perspective view of a fastener 200 for securing a grid plate to a support is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fastener 200 includes a first clip member 202 and a second clip member 204. The fastener 200 preferably also includes a fastening element 206 or other fastening element, such as a standard bolt, wherein the second clip member 204 is sandwiched between the first clip member 202 and the fastening element 206. The first clip member 202 includes a first base portion 208 and two first arm portions 210 extending upward from both side portions of the first base portion 208. Similarly, the second clip member 204 includes a second base portion 212 and two second arm portions 214 extending upward from both side portions of the second base portion 212. Each of the first clip member 202 and the second clip member 204 also includes two hooks 216 extending from a distal end of the respective first arm 210 or second arm 214. Each hook 216 is bent or wrapped downward to accommodate a rod (not shown) of the grating plate. In a preferred embodiment, the hook 216 includes at least one groove 218 or ridge 220 formed on a top surface thereof for anti-slip.

The first and

second base portions

208, 212 include first and second through-

holes

222, 224, respectively, formed therein. The second base 212 is mounted on the first base 208 with the first through hole 222 and the second through hole 224 at least partially overlapping. In a preferred embodiment, the first through-hole 222 and the second through-hole 224 are coaxial. The first through hole 222 and the second through hole 224 are preferably formed by cutting or punching.

The first clip member 202 and the second clip member 204 are arranged horizontally in two different directions, and each first arm 210 is laterally adjacent to at least one second arm 214. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, two first arm portions 210 and two second arm portions 214 extend from two opposing sides of the respective first and

second base portions

208 and 212, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the first clip member 202 and the second clip member 204 are substantially band-shaped and arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in a horizontal direction. In another preferred embodiment, the first and

second bases

208, 212 are hexagonal and the fastener 200 further includes a third clip member (not shown) stacked between the second clip member 204 and the fastening element 206, wherein the first, second, and third clip members are positioned two by two at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to each other in a horizontal direction to secure the honeycomb grid plate to the support. Thus, fastener 200 includes a multi-layered bottom member formed from the stacked bases that reinforces the fastener when a pulling force is applied to fastener 200. In a further preferred embodiment, each of the first and

second bases

208, 212 has a polygonal shape, and two first and

second arm portions

210, 214 extend from two adjacent sides of the corresponding first and

second bases

208, 212, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first arm 210 and the second arm 214 includes an opening 226 such that the fastening element 206 is visible through the opening 226. The openings 226 are preferably formed by stamping or cutting.

Fig. 3A shows a schematic isometric view of the fastener of fig. 2 after assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the first clip member 202 and the second clip member 204 interlock with each other through a tab 228 and an aperture 230 formed on adjacent sides of the adjacent first arm 210 and second arm 214. As shown in the example of fig. 3A, the second arm 214 includes a tab 228 received in a hole 230 of the first arm 210, wherein an inner surface of the tab 228 abuts a side of the first arm 210, and vice versa, such that adjacent first and

second arms

210, 214 support each other to prevent deformation of the fastener 200 when a shear load is applied thereto. The tab 228 and aperture 230 are preferably formed by cutting or stamping.

Fig. 3B is a schematic top plan view of the fastener 200 of fig. 3A, and fig. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional side views of the fastener 200 taken from lines a-a and B-B of fig. 3B, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening element 206 is a nut element that includes a head 232 in the form of a polygon (e.g., a hexagon as shown in fig. 2), and a threaded bore 234 formed in the head 232, wherein the threaded bore 234 is fully exposed through the first and second through-

holes

222, 224.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one tab 236 is formed on an inner surface of one of the first and second arms and extends over a portion of the fastening element 206 such that the fastening element 206 can be retained within a main cavity 238 formed by the second base 212 and the first and

second arms

210, 214 without adding any additional features. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening element 206 further comprises a flange portion 240 surrounding a lower portion of the head 232, wherein the flange portion 240 is sandwiched between the protrusion 236 and the second base 212 such that the fastening element 206 is locked but is able to rotate horizontally within the main cavity 232. The projection 236 is preferably formed on an inner surface of at least one of the first arm portions 210 such that both the flange portion 240 of the fastening element 206 and the second base portion 212 of the second clip member 204 are sandwiched between the projection 236 and the first base portion 208 of the first clip member 202. In a preferred embodiment, the tab 236 is partially cut out of the first arm 210 and curves inwardly toward the primary cavity 238. In a preferred embodiment, the tab 236 protrudes from the inner surface of the first arm 210 by stamping.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a plurality of fasteners 200 securing a grid plate 300 to a support 400. Each grid plate 300 comprises a set of first bars 302 substantially parallel to each other and a set of second bars 304 substantially perpendicular to the set of first bars 302. The grid plate 300 is placed on a support 400, wherein the support 400 comprises a plurality of pre-mounted screw elements 402 extending upwards and located in the gaps between adjacent bars. In a preferred embodiment, fastener 200 may have fewer than four hooks 216 depending on the location of fastener 200 within grid plate 300 or the distance between two adjacent second bars 304.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of fastener 200 taken from line B-B of fig. 3B as installed to secure a grid plate 300 to a support 400, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The threaded hole 234 of the fastening element 206 is completely exposed through the first and second through

holes

222, 224 so that the pre-mounted threaded element 402 can be screwed into the threaded hole 234 through the first and second through

holes

222, 224. The diameter of the second through hole 224 is smaller than the outer diameter of the fastening element so that the bottom surface of the fastening element 206 abuts the second base 212 of the second clip member 204. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the first through hole 222 is larger than the diameter of the second through hole 224 to form a stepped bottom cavity 242 at the bottom of the fastener 200, such that the smaller diameter second through hole 224 provides a larger contact area between the fastening element 206 and the second base 212, while the larger diameter first through hole 222 ensures that there is no contact between the fastener 200 and the washer 404 of the screw member 402.

Referring to fig. 7A and 7B, in a preferred embodiment, first clip member 202 and second clip member 204 are pre-disposed in a sheet material 500, such as a metal or alloy. The first clip member 202 and the second clip member 204 each have a substantially strip shape, so that a plurality of first clip members 202 and second clip members 204 can be arranged in the sheet 500 in a simple and cost-effective manner. First clip member 202 and second clip member 204 are formed by stamping sheet 500, bending

arms

210 and 214 upward, and bending or wrapping to form hook 216.

Referring to fig. 8, a schematic exploded perspective view of a fastener 600 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fastener 600 is substantially identical to the fastener 200 of fig. 2, except that the fastener 602 is a screw or bolt that includes a head 604 (e.g., hexagonal) in the form of a polygon, a flange portion 606 surrounding a lower portion of the head 604, and a male thread portion 608, wherein similarly, after assembly, the flange portion 606 is sandwiched between the protrusion 236 and the second base 212. Fastener 600 is used to secure a grid plate to a support comprising a plurality of apertures.

The description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fastener, comprising:

a first clip member including a first base portion and two first arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the first base portion;

a second clip member that is locked with the first clip member and includes a second base portion and two second arm portions extending upward from both side portions of the second base portion; and

at least one hook extending from a distal end of one of the first arm and the second arm,

wherein the first and second clip members are arranged horizontally in two different directions and the second base is located above the first base, each first arm interlocks with at least one second arm through at least one pair of tabs and holes formed on adjacent sides of the first and second arms, the first and second clip members being strip-shaped.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the first base includes a first through-hole formed therein and the second base includes a second through-hole formed therein and at least partially overlapping the first through-hole.

3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the fastener further comprises:

a fastening element positioned on the second base, wherein the fastening element comprises a threaded hole exposed through the first and second through holes, or a male threaded portion extending through the first and second through holes, and

at least one projection formed on an inner surface of one of the first arm and the second arm and extending over a portion of the fastening element to retain the fastening element within a main cavity formed by the second base and the first arm and the second arm.

4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the at least one protrusion is formed on an inner surface of at least one of the first arms.

5. The fastener of claim 3 or 4, wherein the fastening element further comprises a flange portion surrounding a lower portion of the head, wherein the flange portion is sandwiched between the at least one protrusion and the second base.

6. The fastener of claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least one tab is partially cut out of one of the first and second arms and curves toward the main cavity.

7. The fastener of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the two first arms extend upwardly from two opposing sides of the first base and the two second arms extend upwardly from two opposing sides of the second base.

8. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the first and second through-holes are substantially coaxial, and the first through-hole has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second through-hole.

9. The fastener of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hook comprises at least a groove or a ridge formed on a top surface thereof.

10. The fastener of any of claims 1-4, wherein at least one of the first and second arms includes an opening.