GB2033523A - Nails or screws - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting member in the form of a nail or screw, comprising a shaft portion 1 and a head portion 12, the head portion 12 having an extension portion 2 welded axially thereto to project in a direction opposite to that of the shaft portion 1. A further head portion may be provided on the free end of the extension portion 2, and may have a tool- receiving aperture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Headed connecting member The present invention relates to a headed connecting member such as a nail or screw intended to be used for securing insulation panels to a substructure. These insulating panels, or head insulating elements, are generally plywood panels which have been glued together or fibreboard panels which have insulating layers of plastics material applied thereto. These elements or panels are used, inter alia, for insulating roofs. For securing the insulation material, the nails or screws must be driven through the insulating layer so that the head thereof abuts on the plywood panel located therebelow.

A two-headed nail is known for such a purpose which has an intermediate head formed on the shaft by upsetting the intermediate head being spaced from the upper head. The spacing between the two heads corresponds substantially to the thickness of the insulation layer. When such a nail is driven home, the lower shaft portion of the nail first penetrates the insulation layer, then the plywood panel and then enters a securing base member, for example, a roof beam. When completely driven home, the intermediate head of the nail abuts against the punctured plywood panel. Further driving in of the nail is not possible. The upper head of the nail lies flush with the surface of the insulation layer.

Insulating layers in general use often have a thickness of between 100 and 150 mm and are usually formed of foamed plastics materials such as polyurethane. To secure insulating panels of this thickness, has, hitherto, proved difficult to achieve successfully. Thus, building regulations in some countries require nails or screws to be standardised with regard to the ratios between the shaft length and the shaft diameter respectively relative to the diameter of the head. It is difficult to consistently produce headed nails complying with such regulations if the intermediate head is formed by upsetting, since the dimensions of the intermediate head obtained in this manner are generally not acceptable.

The present invention seeks to provide a headed connecting member such as a nail or screw for securing insulating panels having a thick insulating layer.

According to the present invention, there is provided a headed connecting member in the form of a nail or screw, comprising a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion having an extension portion welded axially thereto which projects in a direction opposite to that of the shaft portion Preferably, a further head portion is provided on the free end of the extension portion. Although it is preferred to provide a second head, the upper end of the connecting member need not be headed and may, instead have a tool-receiving aperture for receiving, for example, an Allan key. Since these extension portions do not form a part of the actual securing element, they are not subject to the regula- tions referred to hereinbefore. Accordingly, the type and dimensions of the extension portions can be selected as desired.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa sectional view through an insulating panel having a thick insulating layer secured to a plywood panel and a base structure by a connecting member in accordance with the present invention and Figure 2 shows an elevational view of the connecting member.

In the drawings, a connecting member in the form of a nail 1 is shown which has a head portion 12 and a tip portion 13. The head portion 12 has an extension portion 2 welded axially thereon. This extension may be in the form of a basically identical nail from which the tip portion has been removed.

The blunted end face 21 of this second nail is welded to the upper surface of the head 12. Such second nail, as shown, has a head portion 22.

As shown in Figure 1,such a nail provided with an extension portion may be driven home through thick, foamed plastic, layers. The point of the nail first passes through the insulating layer 3, then through a multi-plywood panel 4. The nail is then driven in further until the head portion 12 abuts against the upper surface of the panel 4. The point of the nail, at such time, has penetrated into a securing beam 5.

Suitable headed screws may also be formed in the same manner, the extension portion being suitably formed to permit a screw-tightening tool to be applied thereto.

The extension portion welded onto the main portion of the nail or screw prevents any damage being caused to the foamed panel in the securing region.

1. A headed connecting member in the form of a nail or screw, comprising a shaft portion and a head portion,the head portion having an extension portion welded axially thereto which projects in a direction opposite to that of the shaft portion.

2. A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further head portion is provided on the free end of the extension portion.

3. A connecting member constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Headed connecting member The present invention relates to a headed connecting member such as a nail or screw intended to be used for securing insulation panels to a substructure. These insulating panels, or head insulating elements, are generally plywood panels which have been glued together or fibreboard panels which have insulating layers of plastics material applied thereto. These elements or panels are used, inter alia, for insulating roofs. For securing the insulation material, the nails or screws must be driven through the insulating layer so that the head thereof abuts on the plywood panel located therebelow. A two-headed nail is known for such a purpose which has an intermediate head formed on the shaft by upsetting the intermediate head being spaced from the upper head. The spacing between the two heads corresponds substantially to the thickness of the insulation layer. When such a nail is driven home, the lower shaft portion of the nail first penetrates the insulation layer, then the plywood panel and then enters a securing base member, for example, a roof beam. When completely driven home, the intermediate head of the nail abuts against the punctured plywood panel. Further driving in of the nail is not possible. The upper head of the nail lies flush with the surface of the insulation layer. Insulating layers in general use often have a thickness of between 100 and 150 mm and are usually formed of foamed plastics materials such as polyurethane. To secure insulating panels of this thickness, has, hitherto, proved difficult to achieve successfully. Thus, building regulations in some countries require nails or screws to be standardised with regard to the ratios between the shaft length and the shaft diameter respectively relative to the diameter of the head. It is difficult to consistently produce headed nails complying with such regulations if the intermediate head is formed by upsetting, since the dimensions of the intermediate head obtained in this manner are generally not acceptable. The present invention seeks to provide a headed connecting member such as a nail or screw for securing insulating panels having a thick insulating layer. According to the present invention, there is provided a headed connecting member in the form of a nail or screw, comprising a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion having an extension portion welded axially thereto which projects in a direction opposite to that of the shaft portion Preferably, a further head portion is provided on the free end of the extension portion. Although it is preferred to provide a second head, the upper end of the connecting member need not be headed and may, instead have a tool-receiving aperture for receiving, for example, an Allan key. Since these extension portions do not form a part of the actual securing element, they are not subject to the regula- tions referred to hereinbefore. Accordingly, the type and dimensions of the extension portions can be selected as desired. The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa sectional view through an insulating panel having a thick insulating layer secured to a plywood panel and a base structure by a connecting member in accordance with the present invention and Figure 2 shows an elevational view of the connecting member. In the drawings, a connecting member in the form of a nail 1 is shown which has a head portion 12 and a tip portion 13. The head portion 12 has an extension portion 2 welded axially thereon. This extension may be in the form of a basically identical nail from which the tip portion has been removed. The blunted end face 21 of this second nail is welded to the upper surface of the head 12. Such second nail, as shown, has a head portion 22. As shown in Figure 1,such a nail provided with an extension portion may be driven home through thick, foamed plastic, layers. The point of the nail first passes through the insulating layer 3, then through a multi-plywood panel 4. The nail is then driven in further until the head portion 12 abuts against the upper surface of the panel 4. The point of the nail, at such time, has penetrated into a securing beam 5. Suitable headed screws may also be formed in the same manner, the extension portion being suitably formed to permit a screw-tightening tool to be applied thereto. The extension portion welded onto the main portion of the nail or screw prevents any damage being caused to the foamed panel in the securing region. CLAIMS

1. A headed connecting member in the form of a nail or screw, comprising a shaft portion and a head portion,the head portion having an extension portion welded axially thereto which projects in a direction opposite to that of the shaft portion.

2. A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further head portion is provided on the free end of the extension portion.

3. A connecting member constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.