GB2376511A

GB2376511A - Fastener anchor

Info

Publication number: GB2376511A
Application number: GB0114253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Henry Berry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2002-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-12
Also published as: GB2376511B; GB0114253D0

Abstract

A fastener anchor (2) for anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity wall, particularly a plasterboard wall comprises an anchor body (4) and a bridging member (6). The bridging member (6) is movable to change the length of the fastener anchor (2).

Description

Improvements in and relating to Fastener Anchors Field of the Invention This invention relates to fastener anchors, particularly of the type used to permit insertion of a fastener through a hollow or cavity surface structure. The invention further relates to a method of securing a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure, and to a kit of parts.

Background to the Invention There are many examples of hollow or cavity surface structures, which consist of a front surface structure which is spaced apart from a rear surface structure.

Examples include cavity walls, comprising a front plasterboard wall separated from a rear brick wall by a cavity, and cupboards hung on uneven wall surfaces where the uneven surface of the wall creates pockets of space separating the rear wall of the cupboard from the front surface of wall on which it is hung.

In the case of the cavity wall, problems are encountered when attempting to hang items on the wall, such as brackets or pictures, due to the plasterboard wall being relatively soft and deformable. If conventional fasteners such as screws and bolts are inserted into the plasterboard, the pressure created by the fastener during insertion causes the plasterboard wall around the insertion point to sag inwardly. This can lead to cracking of the plasterboard and weakening of the plaster to such a degree that the plaster round the insertion

point breaks off if an item is hung on the wall near the insertion point.

Anchors are available which LL y to reduce the amount of sagging experienced by the plasterboard wall near the point of insertion of the fastener. Known devices generally comprise an anchor which comprises an elongate body having a number of deformable flanges extending radially round the body. A hole is normally drilled into the plasterboard and the anchor inserted into the hole. A fastener is then screwed into a bore running through the anchor. The diameter of the bore is slightly less than the diameter of the fastener so as the fastener is screwed in, the anchor expands, causing the deformable flanges to extend radially outwardly and urge against the rear face of the plasterboard. The pressure of the deformable flanges acting on the rear face of the wall reduces the sag caused by the pressure of the screw during insertion.

However not all the sagging is eliminated and the plasterboard may still be deformed.

In the case of cupboards hung on uneven walls, the cavity formed by the uneven wall must be filled in with a suitable filling material before a fastener can be inserted through the rear wall of the cupboard and into the wall behind. Alternatively extra long fasteners may be inserted through the rear wall of the cupboard, into the cavity and then into the wall behind. However, this can cause splintering or cracking of the rear wall of the cupboard due to the lack of support behind the rear wall in the region of the cavity.

It is therefore an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a fastener anchor for a hollow or cavity surface structure which overcomes or mitigates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art, whether expressly described herein or not.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a fastener anchor for anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure, the fastener anchor comprising an anchor body and a bridging member, which bridging member is movable to extend the length of the fastener anchor, and wherein the fastener anchor comprises means to receive a fastener.

By hollow or cavity surface structure we mean a structure which comprises a first surface spaced apart from a second surface by way of a cavity.

Suitably the bridging member is movable from a first position in which the bridging member does not substantially protrude from the anchor body, to a second position, in which the bridging member extends beyond the anchor body.

Suitably the anchor body is an elongate body, preferably an elongate cylindrical body.

Preferably the anchor body has a protruding member extending laterally from one end thereof.

Suitably the protruding member comprises a collar at one end thereof, having a larger diameter than the diameter of the anchor body.

Thus, if the anchor body is inserted into an aperture in a surface of the hollow or cavity surface structure, the protruding member abuts the surface in the region around the aperture, preventing the anchor body from being pushed completely through the aperture.

Preferably the anchor body comprises a bore running therethrough, in which the bridging member is located in the first position.

Suitably the bore is circular in cross-section, and the bridging member is dimensioned to be located concentrically within the bore, in the first position.

Preferably the bore extends along the whole of the anchor body. Suitably the bore is open at both ends of the anchor body.

Preferably the bore comprises an internal or external thread extending along at least part of the bore, and which thread is arranged to operatively cooperate with a corresponding external or internal thread extending along at least part of the external surface of the bridging member.

Suitably the thread of the bore extends along the whole of the bore. Preferably the thread of the bridging member extends along the whole of the external surface of the bridging member.

Thus, the bridging member may be inserted into the bore of the anchor body by threading the bridging member into the bore. The bridging member may be moved between the first and second positions by rotation of the bridging member within the bore, effecting linear movement of the bridging member along the longitudinal axis of the bore.

In order to effect rotational and linear movement of the bridging member along the bore of the anchor body, the bridging member is preferably provided with receiving means to receive a twist-drivable implement, such as a hexagon key or screwdriver. The means to receive a twistdrivable implement may comprise suitably shaped recesses or protrusions arranged to cooperate with corresponding protrusions or recesses on the twist-drivable implement.

Thus rotation of the twist-drivable implement causes rotational movement of the bridging member within the bore of the anchor body, which is converted to linear movement by cooperation of the respective threads of the external surface of the bridging member and the bore of the anchor member.

Most preferably the bridging member comprises means to receive a hexagon key.

The bridging member may comprise a bore running therethrough. Suitably the bore is circular in crosssection. Preferably the bore extends along the whole bridging member, and is more preferably open at both ends of the bridging member.

Suitably the bore of the bridging member comprises the means to receive the twist-drivable implement.

Suitably, the means to receive a fastener comprises the bore of the bridging member.

The bore of the bridging member may comprise an internal or external thread extending along at least part of the bore, and arranged to operatively cooperate with a corresponding external or internal thread of a fastener, such as a screw or bolt. More preferably the bore comprises an internal thread.

Suitably the thread extends along the whole of the bore of the bridging member.

The fastener is preferably a threaded fastener such as screw or bolt, able to cooperate with the thread of the bore of the bridging member, but may be a fastener lacking a thread, such as a nail or baton stud.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure, the surface structure comprising a first surface spaced apart from a second surface by a cavity, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a fastener anchor with the first surface, the fastener anchor comprising an anchor body, a bridging member and means to receive a fastener; (b) extending the bridging member to span the cavity between the first and second surfaces, such that

the bridging member contacts the second surface ; and (c) inserting a fastener into the fastener receiving means.

Preferably the anchor member is inserted into an aperture formed in the first surface. The aperture may be formed in the first surface by drilling or cutting, prior to insertion of the anchor member.

The aperture and anchor member preferably have substantially the same dimensions, so that, when inserted into the aperture, the anchor member is firmly anchored.

Suitably the bridging member comprises a bore running therethrough, and preferably the bore comprises the fastener receiving means.

Suitably, when the fastener is inserted into the fastener receiving means, the fastener is arranged to operatively cooperate with the second surface. The fastener may also operatively cooperate with the first surface.

The method may further comprise the step of forming a cavity in the second surface, so that the fastener can be received by the cavity when inserted through the bridging member.

The method may comprise the step of inserting a hollow plug into the cavity in the second surface, the plug being arranged to receive the fastener when it is inserted through the bridging member.

The method may comprise the step of orienting an article on the first surface, in front of the anchor member between steps (b) and (c), so that the fastener, when inserted through the anchor body and bridging member, first passes through the article, thereby fastening the article to the first surface.

Preferably the article is a bracket or clamp, such as a bracket for a television, cupboard or shelving, but may be any suitable article desired to be fastened to the first surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided the method of anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure of the second aspect using the fastener anchor of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit comprising at least one fastener anchor of the first aspect of the present invention and at least one fastener.

The or each fastener may be as described herein above.

The last may further comprise a twist-drivable implement such as a screwdriver or hexagon key.

Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention, and to show embodiments of the same can be put into effect, a preferred embodiment of the invention will

now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the fastener anchor of the invention with the bridging member of the fastener anchor in the first position.

Figure 2 shows the side cross-sectional view of the fastener anchor of figure 1, with the bridging member in the second position.

Figure 3 illustrates a rear end view of the fastener anchor of figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a cutaway side view through a cavity wall having an uneven brick rear wall, showing a bracket fixed to the outside of the plasterboard wall of the cavity wall by two fastener anchors of figure 1 to 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a cutaway side view through a cupboard attached to an uneven brick wall by two of the fastener anchors illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring firstly to figures 1 to 3, a preferred embodiment of a fastener anchor 2 of the invention comprises a cylindrical elongate anchor body 4, which comprises a bore 8 in which is concentrically located an elongate cylindrical bridging member 6, as shown in Figure 1. The bore 8 of the anchor body 4 has an internal thread (not shown) which cooperates with an external thread (not

shown) on the outer surface of the bridging member 6. The anchor body 4 also comprises a protruding collar 14 at one end thereof. The collar 14 includes a chamfered edge 16 on the surface or the collar facing towards the elongate anchor body 4.

The bridging member 6 comprises a bore 10 running therethrough and open at both ends of the bridging member.

The bridging member 6 is movable from a first position, as shown in figure 1, in which the bridging member 6 is substantially located within the bore 8 of the anchor body 4, to a second position in which the bridging member 6 extends beyond the anchor body 4, as shown in figure 2.

The bridging member 6 is also movable to any length of extension between the first and second positions. In order to effect movement of the bridging member 6 between the first and second positions, a recess 12 is provided in the bridging member which comprises a hexagonal internal configuration, as illustrated in figure 3, for receiving drive means in the form of a hexagonal allen key (not shown). The recess 12 extends partway along a bore 10 running through the bridging member 6.

Use of the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 1

to 3 will now be described with reference to figures 4 and 5.

In a first preferred use of the fastener anchor 2 of the invention, as illustrated in figure 4, the anchor 2 is used to anchor a fastener to the front plasterboard surface 18 of a cavity wall system. The cavity wall system comprises a plasterboard wall 18, and a brick wall

20, spaced apart from each other by a cavity 21. In a first step, apertures 19 are drilled through the plasterboard wall 18. Recesses are then drilled into the brick wall 20 and wall plugs 24 are inserted into the recesses in the brick wall 20. The wall plugs may be standard wall plugs such as plastic plugs comprising an internal screw thread for receiving the thread of a screw or bolt.

The apertures 19 in the plasterboard 18 may then be widened to a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the anchor body 4 of the fastener anchor 2. A fastener anchor 2 is then inserted through each aperture 19 until the collar 14 of each anchor 2 abuts the outside edge of the plasterboard 18 in the region of each aperture 19. Thus each fastener anchor 2 is positioned such that the anchor body 4 extends through the aperture 19 and partway into the cavity 21. In order to bridge the cavity 21, an allen key is inserted down the bore 8 of the anchor body 4 into the hexagonal recess 12 of each bridging member 6. Rotation of the allen key then causes rotational and linear movement of the bridging member 6 along the bore 8 of the anchor body 4. The bridging member 6 thus begins to extend beyond the anchor body 4.

The allen key is rotated until the free end of the bridging member 6 abuts the brick wall 20. The free end of the bridging member 6 abuts the region of the brick wall 20 around the wall plug 24, such that the bore 10 of the bridging member is in line with the wall plug 24 to provide a continuous passage thereto.

Each bridging member 6 of each fastener anchor 2 is adjusted in this way. From figure 4 it can be seen that

if the brick wall 20 is uneven, the bridging member 6 of each fastener anchor 2 will need to be extended to different lengths in order to span the cavity 21 and abut the brick wall 20.

Thus the fastener anchor 2 of the preferred embodiment of the invention can be used to provide secure anchorage for fasteners intended to be inserted through hollow or cavity surface structures where one or both of the surfaces of the structure is uneven and the cavity therebetween does not have a constant width.

Once all the fastener anchors 2 are secured to the plasterboard wall 18 and adjusted such that the bridging member 6 of each anchor 2 spans the cavity 21, a bracket 22 for mounting an article such as a television (not shown) may be mounted to the plasterboard wall 18 by inserting fasteners in the form of screws 26 through apertures in the bracket and then inserting the screws 26 into the bore 8 of the anchor body 4, through the hexagonal recess 12 of the bridging member and into the bore 10 of the bridging member 6. A screwdriver can then be used to twist-drive the screw into the wall plug 24 in the brick wall 20.

The bore 10, in an alternative embodiment, may comprise a thread for cooperating with the thread of a fastener inserted through the bore 10.

Depending on the length each bridging member 6 has been extended, screws may be chosen of sufficient length to ensure that each screw extends fully into each wall plug

24 and the bracket 22 is urged tightly against the outer surface of the plasterboard wall 18.

As the fastener anchor provides a bridge spanning the entire cavity 21, the pressure of the screw being inserted through the fastener anchor will not cause bulging or sagging of the plasterboard wall 18 in the region around the insertion point of the screw. Thus, the danger that the plasterboard wall 18 will crack or collapse is much reduced.

Referring now to figure 5, the preferred embodiment of the fastener anchor 2 of the invention can also be used to anchor a fastener to a thicker surface such as a cupboard wall which is to be mounted on another surface such as an interior brick wall which may be uneven or have crevices or recesses caused by damage to the wall.

Thus figure 5 illustrates a fastener anchor 2 which is situated in a crevice 32 between the rear surface of a cupboard wall 30 and the front surface of an interior brick wall 28 to which the cupboard is mounted.

Firstly recesses are drilled into the wall 28 and filled with wall plugs 24. A fastener anchor 2 is then positioned within the crevice 32 such that the bore 10 of the bridging member 6 is orientated adjacent and parallel with the wall plug 24 within the crevice 32. The bridging member 6 is then extended as described hereinabove, until the collar of the anchor body is positioned parallel with the substantially planar interior face 34 of the interior brick wall 28.

The cupboard is then lifted to the required level over the brick wall 28 and the rear wall 30 of the cupboard positioned flush against the interior face 34 of the interior brick wall 28.

The cupboard may have predrilled apertures through the rear wall 30, through which screws 26 are inserted, or the screws may be screwed through the rear wall 30 by a screwdriver, in the required positions, adjacent to where the fastener anchors 2 and wall plugs 24 are oriented, when the cupboard is raised into position. The screw 26 which is inserted through the rear wall 30 adjacent to the anchor 2 is then screwed through the fastener anchor 2 as described hereinabove and into the wall plug 24 which is abutted by the bridging member 6.

Another screw may simply be inserted through the rear wall 30 of the cupboard and into the wall plug 24 where there is no cavity between the rear wall 30 of the cupboard and interior face 34 of the interior brick wall 28.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination,

except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A fastener anchor for anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure, the fastener anchor comprising an anchor body and a bridging member, which bridging member is movable to extend the length of the fastener anchor, and wherein the fastener anchor comprises means to receive a fastener.
2. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bridging member is movable from a first position in which the bridging member does not substantially protrude from the anchor body, to a second position, in which the bridging member extends beyond the anchor body.
3. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the anchor body has a protruding member extending laterally from one end thereof.
4. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the protruding member comprises a collar at one end thereof, having a larger diameter than the diameter of the anchor body.
5. A fastener anchor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anchor body comprises a bore running therethrough, in which the bridging member is located in the first position.
6. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the bore is circular in cross-section, and the bridging

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member is dimensioned to be located concentrically within the bore, in the first position.
7. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claims 5 or 6, wherein the bore extends along the whole of the anchor body.
8. A fastener anchor as claimed in any one of Claim 5 to 7, wherein the bore is open at both ends of the anchor body.
9. A fastener anchor as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the bore comprises an internal or external thread extending along at least part of the bore, which thread is arranged to operatively cooperate with a corresponding external or internal thread extending along at least part of the external surface of the bridging member.
10. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the thread of the bore extends along the whole of the bore.
11. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claims 9 or 10, wherein the thread of the bridging member extends along the whole of the external surface of the bridging member.
12. A fastener anchor as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 11, wherein the bridging member is moved between the first and second positions by rotation of the bridging member within the bore, effecting linear movement of the bridging member along the longitudinal axis of the bore.

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13. A fastener anchor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bridging member is provided with receiving means to receive a twist-drivable implement.
14. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the bridging member comprises means to receive a hexagon key.
15. A fastener anchor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein bridging member comprises a bore running therethrough.
16. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the bore is circular in cross-section.
17. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claims 15 or 16, wherein the bore extends along the whole bridging member.
18. A fastener anchor as claimed in any of Claim 15 to 17, wherein the bore of the bridging member comprises the means to receive the twist-drivable implement.
19. A fastener anchor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means to receive a fastener comprises the bore of the bridging member.
20. A fastener anchor as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 19, wherein the bore of the bridging member comprises an internal or external thread extending along at least part of the bore, and is arranged to

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operatively cooperate with a corresponding external or internal thread of a fastener.
21. A fastener anchor as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the thread extends along the whole of the bore of the bridging member.
22. A method of anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure, the surface structure comprising a first surface spaced apart from a second surface by a cavity, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a fastener anchor with the first surface, the fastener anchor comprising an anchor body, a bridging member and means to receive a fastener; (b) extending the bridging member to span the cavity between the first and second surfaces, such that the bridging member contacts the second surface; and (c) inserting a fastener into the fastener receiving means.
23. A method as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the anchor member is inserted into an aperture formed in the first surface.
24. A method as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the aperture is formed in the first surface by drilling or cutting, prior to insertion of the anchor member.
25. A method as claimed in Claims 23 or 24, wherein the aperture and anchor member have substantially the same

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dimensions, so that, when inserted into the aperture, the anchor member is firmly anchored.
26. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 25, wherein, when the fastener is inserted into the fastener receiving means, the fastener is arranged to operatively cooperate with the second surface.
27. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 26, wherein the fastener also operatively cooperate with the first surface.
28. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 27, wherein the bridging member comprises a bore running therethrough, and the bore comprises the fastener receiving means.
29. A method as claimed in Claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the step of forming a cavity in the second surface, so that the fastener can be received by the cavity when inserted through the bridging member.
30. A method as claimed in Claims 28 or 29, wherein the method comprises the step of inserting a hollow plug into the cavity in the second surface, the plug being arranged to receive the fastener when it is inserted through the bridging member.
31. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 30, wherein the method comprises the step of orienting an article on the first surface, in front of the anchor member between steps (b) and (c), so that the

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fastener, when inserted through the anchor body and bridging member, first passes through the article, thereby fastening the article to the first surface.
32. A method of anchoring a fastener to a hollow or cavity surface structure as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 31, using the fastener anchor of any one of Claims 1 to 21.
33. A kit comprising at least one fastener anchor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21 and at least one fastener.
34. A fastener anchor substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
35. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.