DK180108B1

DK180108B1 - A device and a method for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation, and the use thereof

Info

Publication number: DK180108B1
Application number: DKPA201870757A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Bjørnskov Vase Pedersen Brian; Dunvad Kasper
Original assignee: Atg Snappex Aps
Priority date: 2018-11-19
Filing date: 2018-11-19
Publication date: 2020-05-05
Also published as: DK201870757A1; WO2020103988A1

Abstract

An object of the invention is achieved by a device configured for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation. The device may comprise a support with a bottom end, an upper end and a load chamber extending from the bottom end towards the upper end. The load chamber may comprise a friction element, and a cup being displaceable within the load chamber. The cup may be configured for engaging with the mounting screw. The device may further comprise a rotatable rod connected to the cup and extending through the upper end. The device may further comprise a stop element connected to the rod, the stop element having a first protrusion extending towards the upper end, and the upper end may be complementary to the first protrusion.

Description

A device and a method for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation, and the use thereof

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation in a fast and reliable manner.

Background of the Invention

The use of floor heating is often requested when building new houses or when renovating new houses. The floor heating requires that tubes are placed uniformly across the floor. They may be secured in a certain floor pattern by mounting screws driven into the floor insulation, where the mounting screws comprise tube retainers for retaining the tube.

Typically, 10-20 mounting screws must be driven into the floor insulation per square metre. Furthermore, the tube retainers must define a general direction to avoid unnecessary bending of the tube or tubes. Thus, this is time consuming when installing tubes for floor heating.

The skilled person would know that there is no difference between installing floor cooling and floor heating.

EP0322875 proposes a device for reducing the time needed for driving the mounting screws into the floor insulation. The device comprises a feeding rail for feeding a screwdriver with screws. However, the device does not work, because the screws in the feeding rail get stuck in the channel and block further movement instead of moving along the feeding rail.

Thus, there is still a need for a device capable of installing mounting screws into floor insulation while ensuring that the mountings screws have tube retainers orientated in the same direction.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a device capable of driving mounting screws into floor insulation in a fast manner while ensuring that tube retainers of the mounting screws are orientated in the same way.

Description of the Invention

The cup is displaceable in the load chamber by pulling or pushing the rod which is connected to the cup. Rotation of the rod is likewise transferred to the cup.

The device is equipped with a mounting screw by inserting the mounting screw into the load chamber, such that the friction element secures the mounting screw in the load chamber. The bottom end is then placed on the floor insulation, and the cup is moved downwards by applying a force on the rod, which causes the mounting screw to move past the friction element and into the floor insulation surface.

The mounting screw is at this point stabilised by the cup, holding an upper part of the mounting screw, and the floor insulation, in which part of the mounting screw is inserted. The mounting screw is lastly screwed into the floor insulation by rotation of the rod which rotation is transferred to the screw through the cup.

The stop element will stop further displacement of the cup and thus the mounting screw when the stop element is in direct contact with the upper end of the support. The first protrusion will on contact with the complementary upper end stop further rotation of the rod and thus prevent further rotation of the cup and mounting element.

Thereby, the mounting screw is prevented from being inserted too deep into the floor insulation. Furthermore, a tube retainer of the mounting screw has a predetermined orientation, such that multiple mounting screws have tube retainers defining a line along which a tube is to be placed along.

The mounting screw does not need to have a specific orientation in the load chamber because of the first protrusion and the upper end stops further rotation at a predetermined orientation of the cup, and therefore of the mounting screw. Thus, if the user positions the device identically along the line, then the tube retainers will have the same orientation along said line. This will greatly increase the speed of installation due to the increase in reliability.

In an embodiment, the upper end comprises a second protrusion extending towards the stop element, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are mutually complementary. Thus, in a simple manner the upper end and the stop element prevents further rotation.

In an embodiment, the rod may distal to the cup have a drive-end complementary to a powered screwdriver or another kind of powered actuator, thereby the mounting screws may be driven into the floor insulation in a fast manner.

The positioning of the stop element along the rod determines the maximum displacement of the cup in the load chamber. The stop element must be placed on the rod, such that the stop element and the upper end are in contact when the cup is at a predetermined displacement and the mounting screw will then be inserted into the floor insulation to a pre-determined depth. The depth of the mounting screw is equivalent to the distance between the support and the stop element when the cup is at a topmost point of the load chamber.

The first protrusion and the complementary upper end block further rotation of the cup and thus block further rotation of the mounting screw, such that the tube retainer of the mounting screw has a pre-determined orientation.

In an aspect of the invention, the stop element may comprise a stop face facing the support and the first protrusion may extend from the stop face, wherein the first protrusion defines an anvil for engaging with the complementary upper end or the second protrusion substantially perpendicularly to the stop face. The anvil is a reliable solution for interacting with the upper end of the support.

In an embodiment, the stop face is substantially a plane surface, such that the upper end may be a plane. This is easy to produce and to make mutually complementary.

In an embodiment, the protrusion has, opposite to the anvil, a slope extending from a top of the protrusion to the stop face. This increases the strength of the protrusion, and the interaction between the stop element and the upper end will interact more smoothly, i.e. the interacting forces will change more smoothly.

In an aspect of the invention, the stop element may comprise a transverse clamping arrangement.

The clamping arrangement enables a user to displace the stop element along the rod, and this directly affects the depth of the mounting screw in the floor insulation. Thus, the user may calibrate the device, such that the device can use any mounting screw having any length.

Likewise, the clamping arrangement enables a user to rotate the stop element relative to the rod and most importantly relative to the complementary upper end or the second protrusion extending from the upper end. Thus, the rotation of the stop element enables the user to determine the orientation of the mounting screw.

The skilled person would by simple trial and error be able to determine the optimal position of the stop element.

In an aspect of the invention, the support may comprise a feed channel connected to the load chamber between the friction element and the upper end.

The feed channel enables a user to position a mounting screw in the load chamber by releasing a mounting screw into the feed channel from where the mounting screw will slide down into the load chamber. The friction element in the load chamber will catch the mounting screw.

The mounting screw will, when sliding down the feed channel, push air towards the load chamber causing the mounting screw to fall at a slower rate compared to a free fall. The effect increases with decreasing tolerance between the feed channel and the mounting screw.

Thus, a user may in a fast manner prepare the device for driving a new mounting screw into the floor insulation as the user just has to release a mounting screw into the feed channel.

In an embodiment, the feed channel may have a length, such that the user does not have to bend over to reach the feed channel. This will further increase the speed and makes the device more ergonomic.

The device is not made to have more than a single mounting screw in the feed channel.

In an aspect of the invention, the friction element may comprise at least two ball catches in a horizontal plane. The ball catches are adapted for temporarily securing the mounting screw.

The at least two ball catches have in tests proven to be reliable when positioning a mounting screw in the load chamber.

The reliability further increases when the friction element comprises three ball catches in a horizontal plane.

The mounting screw will when the cup forces the screw towards the insulation floor push the balls radially outwards relative to a centre of the load chamber. Thereby, the mounting screw will move past the ball catches.

In an aspect of the invention, the cup may comprise a curved outer shape for pushing a mounting screw back towards the feed channel when retracting the cup from the bottom end.

Thereby the user may release a mounting screw into the feed channel while screwing another mounting screw into the floor insulation, because the curved upper outer shape enables that the mounting screw is pushed back up the feed channel when retracting the cup as the mounting screw will slide along the curved shape.

In an aspect of the invention, the support may comprise air channels for expelling air from the load chamber.

The tolerance between a mounting screw and the feed channel and/or the load chamber may be so low that there is a further need of expelling air to prevent an uncontrollable rise in pressure which may cause the mounting screw to move uncontrollably.

In an embodiment, the air channels are positioned at the bottom end and tests have shown that enables a smooth and reliable movement of a mounting screw in the feed channel and/or the load chamber.

In an aspect of the invention, the device may comprise a mounting screw. The mounting screw may comprise a tube retainer for retaining a tube, an insertion end distal to the tube retainer, a thread between the tube retainer and the insertion end, and a radially extending flange positioned between the thread and the tube retainer, wherein the flange engages with the friction element. Thereby, the device is ready to screw the mounting screw into the floor insulation.

The flange of the mounting screw is the part of the mounting screw on which the friction element, such as the ball catches, uses to secure the mounting screw.

In an aspect of the invention, the support may comprise an extension section extending from above the load chamber to the upper end.

The extension section enables the support to also support the rod at two points. The extension section determines the distance between the two points and the device will be more stable with distance between the two points.

In an embodiment, the upper part of the support also supports the feed channel. This will further increase the structural stability.

An object of the invention is achieved by a method for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation, the method comprising acts of:

- positioning a device equipped with the mounting screw on the floor insulation; and

- screwing the mounting screw into the floor insulation.

An object of the invention is achieved by use of a device for screwing one or more mounting screws in floor insulation.

Description of the Drawing

Embodiments of the invention will be described in the figures, whereon:

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device;

Fig. 2 illustrates cross-section of a support;

Fig. 3 illustrates part of a support;

Fig. 4 illustrates a mounting screw;

Fig. 5 illustrates a cup;

Fig. 6 illustrates an upper end of a support;

Fig. 7 illustrates a stop element;

Fig. 8 illustrates an electric screwdriver connected to a device; and

Fig. 9 illustrates a method for inserting a mounting screw in floor insulation.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Item	No
Device	10
Support	20
Bottom end	22
Upper end	24

Second protrusion	26
Air channel	28
Extension section	30
Load chamber	40
Friction element	42
Ball catches	43
Cup	50
Inner shape	52
Curved upper shape	54
Rod	60
Stop element	72
Stop face	73
First protrusion	74
Slope	75
Depth distance	76
Anvil	78
Clamping arrangement	79
Feed channel	80
Mounting screw	90
Tube retainer	92
Insertion end	94
Thread	96
Flange	98
Screwdriver	100
Method	1000
Positioning	1100
Screwing	1200

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device 10 in a front view and from a side crosssection view (A). The device 10 comprises a support 20 with a bottom end 22 and an upper end 24.

The support 20 has a load chamber 40 extending from the bottom end 22 towards the upper end 24.

The bottom end 22 has a large radial extend to decrease pressure between the device 10 and floor insulation when in intended use.

The load chamber 40 comprises a cup 50 above a mounting screw 90, which is inserted into the load chamber 40 and temporarily secured by a friction element 42.

The mounting screw 90 is fed into the load chamber 40 from a feed channel 80 connected to the load chamber 40. For illustrated purposes the feed channel 80 is shown with a mounting screw 90I, although the feed channel 80 is only designed to be fed a mounting screw 90I when the mounting screw 90 in the load chamber 40 is driven into floor insulation or if the load chamber 40 is empty.

The cup 50 is displaceable within the load chamber 40, and the cup 50 is configured for engaging with the mounting screw 90.

A rotatable rod 60 is connected to the cup 50 and rotation and displacement of the rod 60 is transmitted to the cup 50. The rod 60 has distal to the cup 50 a drive end configured for engagement with an electric screwdriver 100.

The screwdriver 100 is displaceable connected to the feed channel 80, such that the screwdriver 100 may be moved parallel to the rod 60. The screwdriver 100 will connect with the rod 60 when a downward force is exerted on the screwdriver 100.

A stop element 72 is connected to the rod 60 defining a depth distance 76, which is the distance between the stop element 72 and the upper end 24. The depth distance 76 determines the depth of the mounting screw 90 into floor insulation.

The stop element 72 has a first protrusion 74 extending towards the upper end 24. The upper end 24 has a complementary shape to the first protrusion 74 configured for preventing further rotation at a certain displacement and rotation.

The upper end 24 stabilises the rod 60 at the feed channel 80. The support 20 has an extension section 30 between the load chamber 40 and the upper end 24.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a support 20. The support 20 comprises a bottom end 22 with a load chamber 40 extending upwards towards an extension section 30 and a not shown upper end 24. The load chamber 40 is equipped with three ball catches 43 in plane. The figure is a cross-section of the support 20, and therefore only two ball catches 43I, 43II are visible.

A cup 50 is arranged within the load chamber 40 and the cup is configured to be displaced within the load chamber 40. A rod 60 is connected to the cup 50, and the rod 60 extends upwards through the extension section 30 and the not shown upper end 24. Rotation and/or displacement of the rod 60 is transferred to the cup 50.

The support 20 further comprises a feed channel 80 connected to the load chamber 40 for feeding the load chamber 40 with mounting screws 90.

The figure discloses how a mounting screw 90 is fed into the load chamber 40.

The mounting screw 90 comprises a tube retainer 92 for retaining a tube, an insertion end 94 distal to the tube retainer 92, a thread 96 between the tube retainer 92 and the insertion end 94, and a radially extending flange 98 positioned between the thread 96 and the tube retainer 92.

A single mounting screw 90 is placed in the feed channel when the cup 50 is at a bottommost position, afterwards the cup 50 is pulled upwards relative to the bottom end 22.

The cup 50 has a curved upper shape 54 by having outer shape which radially increases relative to the rod 60.

The curved upper shape 54 enables the cup 50 to push the mounting screw 90, in the feed channel 80, backwards. In the figure, the mounting screw 90 will, when the cup is pulled further upwards, slide down into the load chamber 40 into a position where the flange 98 engages with the three ball catches 43.

The cup 50 has an inner shape 52 complementary to the mounting screw 90.

The bottom end 22 has an air channel 28 for expelling air, because the mounting screw 90 with the flange 98 will push air towards the bottom end 22 when falling through the feed channel 80.

The ball catches 43 are positioned at a height above the bottom end 22, a height which is equal to the distance from the flange 98 to the insertion end 94, such that when the mounting screw 90 is pushed downwards by the cup 50 then the insertion end 94 will grip into floor insulation. This will make the insertion of the mounting screw 90 more reliable, because uncontrolled movement of the mounting screw 90 is limited.

Fig. 3 illustrates part of a support 20. The support 20 is identical to the support in figure 2.

The support 80 has a feed channel 80 above three ball catches 43. In the figure, only ball catches 43I, 43III are visible.

The support 20 comprises a bottom end 22 with an air channel 28 for expelling air, because a mounting screw 90 with a flange 98 will push air towards the bottom end 22 when falling through the feed channel 80.

The air channel 28 reveals when a mounting screw 90 is in the not shown load chamber 40.

Fig. 4 illustrates a mounting screw 90. The mounting screw 90 comprises a tube retainer 92 for retaining a tube, an insertion end 94 distal to the tube retainer 92, a thread 96 between the tube retainer 92 and the insertion end 94, and a radially extending flange 98 positioned between the thread 96 and the tube retainer 92.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cup 50 from a side top view (A), a bottom side view (B), and a dashed line view.

The cup comprises a curved upper shape 54 for pushing a mounting screw 90 back in a reliable manner. The curved upper shape 54 reduces the risk of the mounting screw 90 to block the cup 50, when pulling the cup upwards by because the mounting screw 90 can slide along the curved upper shape 54.

The cup 50 has an inner shape 52, which is complementary to a mounting screw 90. The inner shape 52 in this embodiment is also shaped to be a one-way grip.

It is important that the mounting screws 90 are orientated in the same direction and the one-way grip limits the risk of a user changing the orientation when lifting the device after screwing a mounting screw into floor insulation.

Fig. 6 illustrates an upper end 24 of a support 20.

Fig. 6 could be the upper end 24 of the support disclosed in figures 2 and 3.

The upper end 24 supports a feed channel 80 and the upper end 24 is connected to an extension section 30. The extension section 30 is stabilising.

A rod 60 extends through the extension section 30 and the upper end 24. A stop element 72 is connected to the rod 60. The stop element 72 comprises a clamping element 79 enabling the stop element 72 to be moved along the rod 60 and to be rotated relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the rod 60.

The stop element 72 further comprises a first protrusion 74 extending towards the upper end 24, and the upper end 24 further comprises a second protrusion 26 extending towards the stop element 72, wherein the first protrusion 74 and the second protrusion 26 are mutually complementary to prevent further rotation.

In the figure it is not possible to push the rod 60 further downwards nor is it possible to rotate the rod 60 in one direction, i.e. in the direction into the figure.

Fig. 7 illustrates a stop element 72 from a top view (A), from a bottom side view (B) and in intended use (C).

The stop element 72 has a stop face 73, which must face the upper end 24 of a support 20.

The stop element has 72 a central through-going bore for a rod 60.

The stop element 72 has a clamping arrangement 79 for clamping onto the rod 60 at any position and any orientation relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the rod 60.

The clamping arrangement 79 includes the slit going from a periphery through the central through-going bore. The slit enables the stop element 72 to bend and thus grip the rod.

The stop element 72 has a downwards extending first protrusion 74 which defines an anvil 78 for engaging with a complementary upper end 24 of a support 20.

The first protrusion 74 has, opposite to the anvil 78, a slope 75 extending to the stop face 73.

In fig. 7C, the stop element 72 is mounted on a rod 60 and the first protrusion engages with a second protrusion 26 of an upper end 24 of a support 20, thereby preventing further rotation in one direction.

Fig. 8 illustrates an electric screwdriver 100 connected to a device 10. The screwdriver 100 is placed in a holder connected to a feed channel 80. The holder is displaceable parallel to the rod 60.

Fig. 9 illustrates a method 1000 for inserting a mounting screw 90 in floor insulation.

The method 1000 comprising acts of:

- positioning 1100 a device 10 equipped with the mounting screw 90 on the floor insulation; and

- driving 1200 the mounting screw 90 into the floor insulation.

This method may be repeated multiple times to cover the entire floor insulation.

The device 10 must be orientated in the same direction each when positioning the device 10, such that the mounting screws have the same orientation when inserted into the floor insulation.

Claims

A device (10) configured to insert a mounting screw (90) into floor insulation, the device (10) comprising a support (20) having a lower end (22), an upper end (24) and a charging chamber (40) there extends from the lower end (22) towards the upper end (24), characterized in that the charge chamber (40) comprises a friction element (42) and a cup (50) displaceable in the charge chamber (40), the cup (50) ) is configured for coupling with a mounting screw (90), the device (10) further comprises a rotatable rod (60) coupled to the cup (50) and extending through the upper end (24), and a stop member (72) coupled to the rod (60), the stop member (72) has a first protrusion (74) extending toward the upper end (24), and the upper end (24) is complementary to the first protrusion (74).

Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop element (72) comprises a stop surface (73) facing the support (20), and the first projection (74) extends from the stop surface (73), the first protrusion (74) defines an anvil (78) substantially perpendicular to the stop surface (73).

Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stop element (72) comprises a transverse fastening device (79) for fastening the rod (60).

Device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (20) comprises a feeding channel (80) coupled to the charge chamber (40) between the friction element (42) and the upper end (24).

Device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the friction element (42) comprises at least two ball snap locks (43) in a horizontal plane, the ball snap locks (43) being adapted to temporarily secure the mounting screw (90).

Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the cup (50) comprises a curved outer mold (54) for pressing a mounting screw (90) back against the feeding channel (80) when the cup (50) is withdrawn from the lower end (22).

Device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (20) comprises air ducts (28) for expelling air from the charge chamber (40).

Device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that

The arrangement (10) comprises a mounting screw (90) comprising a pipe holder (92) for holding a pipe, an insertion end (94) distal to the pipe holder (92), a thread (96) between the pipe holder (92) and the insertion end (94) and a radially extending flange (98) disposed between the thread (96) and the pipe holder (92), the flange (98) being coupled to the friction member (42).

A method (1000) for inserting a mounting screw (90) into floor insulation, the method (1000) comprising operations of:

positioning (1100) a device (10) according to one or more of claims 1-8, equipped with the mounting screw (90) on the floor insulation; and

15 - screwing (1200) of the mounting screw (90) into the floor insulation.

Use of a device (10) according to one or more of claims 1-8 for screwing one or more mounting screws (90) in floor insulation.