GB2248564A

GB2248564A - Tool for installing collapsible wail fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2248564A
Application number: GB9019861A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ewart Jackson
Original assignee: Futters London Ltd
Current assignee: Futters London Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-11
Filing date: 1990-09-11
Publication date: 1992-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-11
Also published as: GB9019861D0; GB2248564B

Abstract

The tool comprises an elongate body (10) having an external screw thread (12) along its length. A drilling tip (16) is removably supported at one end of said tool body. and coupling means (26) are provided at the other end of the body. With a collapsible fixing positioned on the body (10), the tool is rotated by a drill or the like coupled to the coupling means (26). Rotation of the tool causes the drilling tip (16) to bore a hole. Continued rotation of the tool collapses the fixing. Once the fixing has been collapsed it is only necessary to reverse the rotation to remove the tool from the collapsed fixing which is then ready to receive and hold a screw therein. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE INSTALLATION OF COLLAPSIBLE WALL FIXINGS The present invention relates to a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings, to a combination of an installation tool and a collapsible wall fixing, and to a method of installing wall fixings.

Collapsible wall fixings for anchoring articles to cavity walls are well known. Commonly, the fixing comprises a number of axially extending legs connected to and spacing two end collars, one of the end collars being provided with an internal thread. In use, the fixing is inserted into a predrilled hole in a partition or cavity wall such that the legs extend within the cavity. A screw or threaded tool is then inserted through the fixing and rotated to draw the two end collars towards one another. This collapses the legs and anchors the fixing in position.

Whilst such fixings have wide applicability, they can be time consuming to use. Thus, to anchor an article to a cavity#wall, it is first of all necessary to drill a hole of the correct diameter in the wall.

The fixing is inserted and then has to be collapsed by the insertion and subsequent removal of a suitable tool.

Thereafter, an article can be anchored to the wall by the use of a screw screwed into the fixing.

Not only does this process include a number of separate operations, before beginning, the worker has to ensure that fixings, appropriately sized screws, and appropriately sized drill bits are available.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings, said tool comprising an elongate body having an external screw thread along at least part of its length, a drilling tip supported at one end of said tool body, and coupling means at or near the other end of said tool body.

In use a collapsible fixing is positioned on the body of the tool. Means arranged to rotate the tool, for example a drill, a powerdriver or a screwdriver, are then coupled to the body by way of the coupling means.

Rotation of the tool enables the drilling tip to bore a hole through which the tool carrying the fixing is installed. Continued rotation of the tool collapses the fixing in known manner. Once the fixing has been collapsed it is only necessary to reverse the rotation to remove the tool from the collapsed fixing which is then ready to receive and hold a screw therein.

The tool is preferably arranged to be withdrawn from the fixing so that the tool is reusable. It would be possible for the drilling tip to be permanently attached to said one end of the tool body and thereby withdrawn and reusable therewith. However, in a preferred embodiment, a separate drilling tip is arranged to be engaged at said one end of said drill body. In this respect, engaging means are provided at said one end of said tool body and/or on said drilling tip. In one embodiment said engaging means comprise a slot in said one end of said tool body in which the drilling tip is engageable.

Where the drilling tip is separate from, but engaged on, said tool body it will be left within the cavity on withdrawal of the tool. Although this means that a new tip has to be used to install each wall fixing, it does have the advantage that a fresh sharp tip is utilised for each installation.

Spaced from its one end, said elongate body is provided with flange means against which a fixing may abut. The external screw thread on the body may extend to or proximate to said flange means.

Said coupling means may comprise a slot or slots in said other end of the tool body for engagement by a screwdriver or the like. Preferably, said coupling means comprises a shank for engagement with a drill or driver. For example, the shank may be multi-sided, for example hexagonal.

The invention also extends to a combination of a collapsible wall fixing and a tool as defined above.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided in combination, at least one collapsible wall fixing, at least one drilling tip, and a tool comprising an elongate body having an external screw thread, the tool being arranged to extend through the or each wall fixing, and wherein one end of said tool is provided with means for supporting the or each said drilling tip.

The invention also extends to a method of installing collapsible wall fixings, the method comprising the steps of supporting a collapsible wall fixing on a screw threaded elongate tool, supporting a drilling tip at one end of said tool, rotating the tool carrying the drilling tip to form a bore through which continued rotation of the tool installs the wall fixing, continuing rotation of the tool to collapse the wall fixing, and subsequently rotating the tool in the reverse direction to remove it from the collapsed wall fixing.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a collapsible wall fixing, Figure 2 shows a view corresponding to that of Figure 1, but showing the wall fixing in its collapsed, anchoring position, Figure 3 shows an exploded, perspective view of a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings, for example as shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings, Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the tool of Figure 4 with a drilling tip omitted, and Figure 5a shows a view of an end of the tool of Figure 5, and Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show plan views of alternative drilling tips for a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a substantially conventional collapsible wall fixing and illustrates its use to anchor an article to a cavity wall or partition.

In known manner, the fixing illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a collar portion 1 axially spaced from, and joined to, an end portion 2 by a plurality of axially extending, elongate legs 3. The wall fixing may have any required external shape, but generally the collar portion 1 and the end portion 2 will be cylindrical.

The legs 3 are circumferentially spaced and any required number of such legs, for example four, five or six may be provided. In the embodiment illustrated four such legs 3 are provided. At least part of the internal surface of the end portion 2 is screw threaded. At its free end, the collar portion 1 is provided with a head flange 4 extending substantially transversely relative to the axial extent of the fixing and provided with a number of axially extending spikes 5. For example, the spikes 5 may be formed by being bent out of the flange 4. The fixing may be made from a single metal stamping or from a number of metal components welded together.

Collapsible wall fixings generally as illustrated in Figure 1, and variants thereof, are well known. In use, the fixing is inserted, end portion 2 first, into a hole of sufficient diameter which has been drilled or otherwise formed in a cavity wall or partition which is indicated in dash-dot lines in Figure 2. When the flange 4 is adjacent the wall, the fixing is pressed towards the wall to locate the spikes 5 in the cavity wall. A screw (not shown) is then inserted through the collar portion 1 and through the fixing to engage with the screw thread provided in the end portion 2.

Rotation of the screw draws the end portion 2 towards the collar 1. This movement of the end portion 2 causes the legs 3 to bend at weakened portions provided therein adjacent the collar and end portions 1 and 2 and intermediate their length. The resultant collapsed position of the fixing is illustrated in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that in this position the fixing is anchored to the partition or cavity wall. The screw can then be removed and replaced by a screw connected to an article to be supported by the partition.

With the conventional installation procedure described above, it is necessary initially to drill a suitably sized hole in the wall or partition. The fixing has to be positioned in the hole with its spikes engaged to prevent rotation, and then a screw or threaded tool has to be inserted into the fixing and rotated to collapse the fixing. The screw or tool is removed, and thereafter a further screw is inserted in the fixing to install an article on to the wall or partition by way of the fixing.

Figure 3 shows an exploded, perspective view of a tool for installing collapsible wall fixings which enables such fixings to be installed and collapsed in a single operation.

The tool shown in Figure 3 comprises an elongate body 10 having an external screw thread 12 provided along at least part of its length. Engaging means 14 are arranged at one end of the body 10 to engage with and support a drilling tip 16. In the embodiment illustrated, the engaging means 14 comprise a cylindrical projection 18 having a diametrically and axially extending slot 20 therein. The drilling tip 16 is a substantially planar metal tip having two inclined drilling surfaces 22 at one end thereof. At its other end it is provided with a cut-out 24 of the engaging means 14. The thickness of the drilling tip 16 enables it to be engaged in the slot 20 of the projection 18.

The tip 16 can be positioned in the slot 20 such that its cut-out 24 engages around the internal end of the slot 20. In the engaged position of the tip 16 in the slot 20, the projection 18 surrounds and supports at least part of the length of the drilling tip 16. The engaging means 14 are arranged such that when the tip 16 is supported at said one end of the body 10, it is arranged substantially centrally of the projection 18.

The opposed planar surfaces of said tip 16 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending axis of the elongate body 10.

At its end remote from the engaging means 14, the elongate body 10 is provided with coupling means 26 for coupling the tool to drive means, for example, to a mechanical hand drill, a power drill or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling means 26 comprises a hexagonal shank, arranged to be gripped in a collet or chuck, and a cylindrical post projecting from said shank. The hexagonal shank of the coupling means 26 defines with the elongate body 10 a radially extending flange 28.

In use of the tool of Figure 3, a wall fixing is positioned on the elongate body 10 by sliding and rotation until the head flange 4 of the fixing abuts the flange 28 of the tool. The elongate body is sized such that the whole of the length of the fixing is accommodated thereon with the engaging means 14 protruding. Then a drilling tip 16 is engaged on the tool by way of the engaging means 14. The tip 16 is correctly positioned relative to a wall or partition, and an appropriate drive means is engaged with the tool by way of the coupling means 26. The drive means is then actuated to rotate the tool and fixing thereon and at the same time the drilling tip 16 is pressed into the wall or partition. It will be appreciated that rotation of the tool will cause the drilling tip 16 to drill a hole through the wall.When the drilling tip 16 breaks through the wall or partition, signalled by a sudden reduction in resistance to the drilling, the drilling is halted and the fixing is pushed towards the wall to engage the spikes 5 in the wall's outer surface.

During drilling the fixing has been rotated with the tool. However, when the spikes 5 are engaged with the wall they prevent rotation of the wall fixing. Thus, continued rotation of the tool will then collapse the wall fixing. Increased resistance to the rotation of the tool will then signal that the fixing has collapsed.

When this has happened, the direction of rotation of the tool is reversed whereby the tool is withdrawn from the collapsed fixing. During this withdrawal, the tip 16 is pushed out of the slot 20 of the body 10 and falls within the cavity thereby enabling withdrawal of the tool. Thereafter, a further fixing can be placed on the tool, a new tip provided and a further fixing installed as required.

It is envisaged that a tool as described and illustrated will be packaged and sold together with a number of replaceable drilling tips 16. Of course, a plurality of collapsible wall fixings may also be provided in the same package.

Figure 4 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the tool with the drilling tip 16 attached thereto. In this respect, it will be seen that the coupling means 26 of the tool of Figure 4 are different to those of Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the tip 16 in position on the body 10, and it will be seen how the engaging means 14 ensure that the substantially planar tip 16 is held substantially centrally of the projection 18, and hence of the tool 10, and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 10. The inclined cutting surfaces 22 extend forwardly to the front of the tip 16.

The embodiment of the tool shown in Figure 4 has a radially extending flange 28 defined by a movable cylindrical washer 30. This washer 30 is engaged on a knurled portion 32 of the body 10, which portion 32 is visible in Figure 5. Thus, the washer 30 is movable axially of the elongate body 10 to facilitate the engagement of the head flange 4 of the fixing against the flange 28. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the coupling means 26 for engagement with rotatable drive means comprises an hexagonal shank.

Figure 5 shows the tool of Figure 4 with the washer 30 and the tip 16 omitted. It will be seen that the screw thread 12 of the elongate body 10 only extends over part of the overall length of the tool. It will also be apparent from Figure 5a that the end of the coupling means 26 is provided with a slot 36 for engagement with said drive means. These drive means may comprise a screw driver, and in this case the blade of the screw driver is engaged in the slot 36.

Figures 6a to 6c show plan views of alternative drilling tips 16 for use with tools as illustrated and described. Each of the drilling tips 16 of Figures 6a, 6b and 6c has two inclined drilling surfaces 22 inclined at a 600 angle relative to each other to form a 600 tip.

However, the external diameter of each said drilling tip is different whereby different sized holes may be drilled.

In a preferred embodiment, the end of the elongate body 10 in which the slot 20 opens is preferably provided with a conical surface as can be seen in Figure 5. However, the base of each cut-out 24 of the drilling tip 16 and the base of the slot 20 in the projection 18 are preferably substantially planar.

It will be appreciated that collapsible wall fixings are provided in a variety of shapes and sizes, and differently sized tools are therefore required.

Thus, a range of tools with different body sizes, that is, with different overall lengths and diameters will generally be provided. It is also possible that the percentage of the body length which is screw threaded may be varied as required.

However, the applicants have found that the length and depth of the slot 20 can generally be kept constant, and that only three different drilling tips 16, which vary in diameter only, are all that are required for all tools. Furthermore, the dimensions and arrangement of the coupling means 26 are generally standardized.

It will be appreciated that modifications to and variations in the apparatus as described above may be made within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tool for installing collapsible wall fixings, said tool comprising an elongate body having an external screw thread along at least part of its length, a drilling tip supported at one end of said tool body, and coupling means at or near the other end of said tool body.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein engaging means are provided at said one end of said tool body for engaging a separate drilling tip at said one end.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said engaging means comprise a slot in said one end of said tool body in which a drilling tip is engageable.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said elongate body is provided with flange means spaced from its one end.

5. A tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the external screw thread on the body extends to, or proximate to, said flange means.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said coupling means comprises a slot or slots in said other end of the tool body.

7. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said coupling means comprises a shank for engagement with a drill or driver.

8. A tool as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said shank is multi-sided.

9. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with a collapsible wall fixing, wherein the tool extends through said wall fixing.

10. In combination, at least one collapsible wall fixing, at least one drilling tip, and a tool comprising an elongate body having an external screw thread, the tool being arranged to extend through the or each wall fixing, and wherein one end of said tool is provided with means for supporting the or each said drilling tip.

11. A combination as claimed in Claim 10, wherein rotation of the tool is arranged to enable the drilling tip to bore a hole, and continued rotation of the tool is arranged to collapse the fixing.

12. A combination as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein the drilling tip is permanently attached to said one end of the tool body.

13. A combination as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein a separate drilling tip is engaged at said one end of said tool body.

14. A combination as claimed in Claim 13, further comprising engaging means provided at said end of said tool body and/or on said drilling tip for engaging the drilling tip on said one end of said tool body.

15. A combination as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 14, wherein said elongate body is provided with flange means spaced from its one end, and wherein said collapsible fixing abuts said flange means.

16. A combination as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the external screw thread on the body extends to or proximate to said flange means.

17. A combination as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 16, further comprising coupling means at or near the other end of said tool body, said coupling means comprising a shank.

18. A method of installing collapsible wall fixings, the method comprising the steps of supporting a collapsible wall fixing on a screw threaded elongate tool, supporting a drilling tip at one end of said tool, rotating the tool carrying the drilling tip to form a bore through which continued rotation of the tool installs the wall fixing, continuing rotation of the tool to collapse the wall fixing, and subsequently rotating the tool in the reverse direction to remove it from the collapsed wall fixing.

19. A tool for installing collapsible wall fixings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A combination of at least one collapsible wall fixing, at least one drilling tip, and a tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of installing collapsible wall fixings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.