US2908196A

US2908196A - Toggle bolt

Info

Publication number: US2908196A
Application number: US674209A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alex A Apfelzweig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-25
Filing date: 1957-07-25
Publication date: 1959-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1959 A. A. APFELzwElG `2,908,196

TOGGLE YBOLT Filed Jul;r 25, 1957 fIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIHMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII' lI IIIIII ATTORNEY 2,908,196 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 TOGGLE BOLT Alex A. Apfelzweig, Palm `Springs, Calif. Application July 25, 1957, Serial No. 674,209

3 claims. -(cl. ss-s) .Y

The present invention relates to a toggle bolt.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toggle bolt or fastener for use in securing various objects to lath and plaster Walls and similar structures wherein the material of which they are composed is not adapted to be screw-threaded for coaction with a threaded bolt or to coact frictionally with a retaining means. l

A further important object of the invention is to provide a toggle bolt which can be manufactured very cheaply and economically, and which mayemploy as the screw-threaded member thereof an ordinary stove bolt or screw of standard design, there being'no necessity to employ a specially machined screw, or the' like.

Another important object of the invention is to provide Va toggle bolt having a construction and mode of operation enabling the device to be used in any position, such as horizontal or vertical, vand wherein the toggle element is not wholly dependent upon lgravity for the proper operation of the bolt. Y

Another object is to provide a toggle bolt construction, wherein the improved toggle element has a novel coaction with the standard screw employed for shifting the toggle element to the active position, regardless of the position of the toggle bolt assembly during use.

A still further object is to provide a toggle bolt of the above-mentioned character which is highly compact in construction, very slender when the toggle element is in the inactive position, and reliable and efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide a toggle bolt for use upon walls, ceilings or other panels having a relatively wide range of thicknesses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forminlg a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toggle bolt in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the toggle bolt showing one adjusted position of the same during use.

Figure 4 is a further sectional view similar to Figure 3 and showing a subsequent adjusted position of the toggle bolt in use. I f

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a similar section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a similar section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a slightly modiiied form of toggle bolt.

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention,

nited States Patent Otlce attention is directed iirst to Figures l through 7, wherein the numeral 10 designates generally an elongated cylindrical barrel or sleeve of preferred length, and provided at one end with an enlarged flat annular head 11, preferably formed integral therewith. Near its end having the head 11, the barrel comprises a relatively short thick walled portion 12 having a central longitudinal opening 13 formed therethrough forthe free passage of a screw 14, such as an ordinary stove bolt or the like. The screw 14 has a head 15 provided with the usual screwdriver slot 16, as shown. If preferred, the inner face of the head 11 may be provided at diametrically opposed throughout the major portion of its length. The end Vof the barrel 10 remote from the head 11 is partly closed by a ring 20, soldered, welded or otherwise rigidly secured therein as indicated. The ring 20, in eliect, constitutes a barrier at the adjacent endsof the slots 18, as shown.

A plate-1ike clamp or toggle element 21 is provided, and being of a thickness to engage snugly through the slots 18 of the barrel 10 in the manner shown.` The toggle element 21 is provided near its longitudinal center with a spherically curved enlargement 22, integral there` with, and projecting equidistantly beyond opposite sides `of the toggle element, as `shown clearly in Figure 5. The spherical enlargement 22 is adapted to be received snugly yet slidably within the smooth cylindrical bore 23 of the barrel 10, whereby the toggle element 21 is rendered freely pivotal upon the barrel in'the plane ot the slots 18. The toggle element 2.1 has a screw-threaded opening 24 formed therethrough transversely at the center of the spherical enlargement 22. This screw-threaded opening-24 is parallel to the opposite flat sides of the toggle element 21 and normal to the narrow longitudinal edges of the toggle element, as shown in the drawings. The screw-threaded opening 24 is countersunk at one end thereof as indicated at 25, to form a pilot or guide for the forward end of the screw 14. l

I'he toggle element 21is provided upon its longitudinal edge remote from the counter-bore 25 with an integral stop lug or element 26, which projects slightly beyond the opposite ilat faces or sides of the toggle element for limiting pivotal movement of the toggle element in both directions, as will be further explained. The stop element 26 is of thin `or shallow construction, asy shown, so as to be substantially `Hush with the periphery of the barrel 10 when the toggle element 21 is in the longitudinal or inactive position indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Toggle element 21 is constructed so as to be overbalanced at one end upon its pivotal portion 22. Such overbalanced end of the toggle element is provided with anl integral longitudinal extension 27 of reduced width, althoughbeing of the same thicknes as the remainder of the toggle element. 'Ihe reduced extension 27 is formed adjacent to the longitudinal edge -28 of the toggle element which carries the stop element 26, Figure 3. The end 29 of the extension 27 is smoothly rounded, as shown, for camming engagement with the end of the screw 14. The reduced extension 27 has astraight longitudinal edge portion 30, joined smoothly with the rounded end portion 29, and disposed substantially at the longitudinal center line of the .toggle element. The ystraight edge portion 30 leads to and blends smoothly into ya reversely curved shoulder or cam portion 31Uof -It may thus he seen that the slots 18 extend longitudinally of the barrel 10 j 3. the toggle element, which in turnileads to and yblends with a smoothly curved or rounded shoulder portion 32. The rounded shoulder 32 in turn joins smoothly with the adiacent ilongit-udirialv edge .33V of the toggle' ele'men't ref.Y mote frornfthelongitudina'l edge 28 thereof.l The; end of 5 the toggle elementZI' remote from the reduced extensionV 27 is -lireferablyy smoothly curyedor: roundedas Yindi.- cated'. at' 34,- and; as shown in the: drawings;l their end' 34 isvclrvedgenerallyfreversely of the` cunv'ed end` 29,4` for'thefull width of thetoggle element. The curved end f 34'extends somewhat diagonallyof the toggle element 21, to' format one side of the same arounded corner 35.

The'use'or operation of the toggle bolt is `as` fol'lowszl4` With the' toggle'eleni'ent 21 Aassembled to the Abarrel'V 101 in' the mannershownfthe toggle element is swung ,to there. inactive position whereinA Yit extends `longitudinally t of or parallel to the barrel. In this position, the st'opelement i 2-6 will engage the barrel upon opposite sides of. the adjacent slot `18 to limit pivoting of the toggle element in one direction. It will be observedtthat whenthe toggle: element is in theinactive position, .Figure 3it is housed bodilyiwithinz the barrel 10 Vin* flush relation withothe Y barrel, so that the `assembly has only the diameter oft-he brrel andis entirely smooth and iush.` ,When inzthepinactiveposition longitudinally` of theV barrel,.the Itoggle element lZ1' may yhe shifted longitudinallyof the bore-of thebarrelasdesired. .Y The barrel 10, withthe'toggle element intheinactive; position, may now be inserted through an opening 136,',V form'edpin'fa-fplaster Wall 37 or the like, VWitllthelgea'd 11" of the barrel arranged outermost for engagement 'With j theface ofthe wall. The screw 14'isnowinsertedthrough the guide opening 13 and thrust forwardly until its leading end comes into camming, engagement with the rounded end 29 ofthe extension'ZT. Whenthis ocours, continued .35 forward movement of the screw 14 will immediately or pivot the toggleelement 21 to the active position at l .right angles to the barrel;10, as indicated inLFigures 1 v and 4 of the drawings.V In such position, the'stop element 26- will again engagethe sidewall of the b arrel to. pref. 40 vent further pivoting of thetoggle element beyondjits position at` right angles to the i:arreLf4 When the; toggle bolt is employed in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position, movement'of the toggle element tothe active position 4 will be assisted byl gravity, since'fthetoggle element" i s overbalanc'ed at its yend adjacent to the extension 2751 45 However, an important featurepf the present, invention", resides *in `the' fact' thatr the-operation ofthe toggle v element is not wholly dependent upon gravity, rand Where itYV is desired to use: the toggle bolt in 4avertical;position, ;as when-fasteningj-an object Y toa ceiling or the'like, gravity 50 will not effectl theoperation ofthe toggle element 21, but the insertion of theyscrew lflalonewill serve toshigftthe. toggle; element to theactive position atmightfanglesjtol the barrel, becausebfhe c amrningl engagement between; the forward end oflthe screw andthe rounded' portion 29 55 of theextension 27. Y

After:thetoggleclementi has Lbeen turned by the'screw to 'the 'active position shown in Figuresl and 4, thel forward endof Athe screwwillengage within thecoun'terbore 25 andbe guided smoothly into' the screw-threaded opening^2 4 When this occurs, it is-merely necessary Ato-turn therswli with a Screwdriver for threading the ysameVV i fhoush. the. vpeningrzl and subsequently" drawing-lhs. Y. toggle element 2 1 intojclamping engagement with the innerinaccessible face of Vthewall 37. Y f 65 lith@ @Veuf .fhatflfhe toggle 'element 2l Whilrin, the; inactiveposition,I Figure 3 ,isA initially near 'the head `v`11,l ratherthan nearthe ring 2 0 as shown in Figure -3, t h e Scfswlfi. Williirst; .Shiitithetoggle v@lementlengthwise of: the barrely 10 ja 4sullcient distance `to"V clear th e inner face 0f the, nell renflilin; thescrw, will; @aci Withih; Y rounded portion 2.9 to ypivot the toggle element into-its active positionat rightangles to the barrel l1.0.` Additionf` i ally, ifklthej toggle bolt is employed ina horizontal 'position as shevvna'rigure, therofcf gravity tend te @freetime/ 1,10 Amn 'pins Y tior1 .Qr...the scope. ofthe subjoined .fz a

4 Y partially pivot .the toggleielement toward its active posi. tion prior to the introduction of the screw 14. In this event, the forward end of the screw will merely engage the rounded edges 311 and 32 rather than. the rounded part 29for completing the pivoting of the toggle ele-V ment to its active position as shown in Figure 4.. The rounded end 34 of the toggl element will aure that there is no binding ofthe to le element with the ring 20, during the action of thlscrew for shifting the toggle element to the.astir'r..positionfY With reference tFigures 8 an 9, a sli'gltitodication of the nventionlisllshotwn, ,whereimther longitudinal .edges of one of the slots 18 are beveled in `dim/erging relation, Figure 9. For cactin with the slot 18 having the beveled edges', the toggle element 21 is provided along one longitudinal edge with an elongated flared enlargement having diverging beveled edges 26 to be seated 1 against the`.bevel ed.= edges of-.the slot' 4Iii-when thejtoggle elementsis extending longitudinally; of the barrel 10.

Withlthisarr'angement, thebevelediedgeszl of tleztoggleelement ,zlgconstitutean integralt'stop forithe toggle-Seelen; ment ,to limt its pivoting in bothdirections asrshovm inr Figures 8 and9. When the toggle element 21 ;is in` the;

inactive pitofnshQwnn-Eigure 8, 1theedges..zsiuengagen: within. the beve1ed,s1 .t LA Sfandgthe stop; enlargement I.0f the.y toggle .element .is perfectly ,i-ush: with; the @utensils-:f face of thecylindrical barrel 10. Whenthe toggle element, 21 is inthe active position, at right angles ,tothe barrel; 10 as shown in-broken lines in figure 8 ,g t he integral-stop. enlargementthayina theedges 295' alqsofliniitsi-.theswinging motemntpfrthetoggleelemen .through contact of the =Sf9p enlargement. ,with thebarre Thestonenlargefg--- mentvteitendsffrpm -aroint adjal ont the vscripting einher;

' barrgllgutg, to thefend ofthe togglelernent havingw 'thelgcam pqr-tion 21o.;Thestoplenlargement doestnotf extend along thel remainder ofthe longitudinal edge of theslemelitZl-.- l Y @eine its it' om"Laagiiaotiiiyinaignith:sin@i above arrangementjn to ,employing Separate stQp element 26,. Shown. andtdef, scribed in the S't fsirinn;tiisairirnitif i1,.fwhigh@ermital Step element f. .ne'rfetly Hush with ihepeiirhery tiomwith. the parts prcviouslvdescribedin connectionY with the rst form of the invention. f ln.- CQnnwtimn-,With both; .formsot th; invention, ,it is @desiredtestatethatgitrissntielyfea :10mm the.: various parts from metal, mold e d pl as t i csmaterial Q rL-f.

the likel .lf'the Aparts are molded Lfromplastics inthe like, the ring4 lement 20 may be formedintegral Withfrthe. barlll an. i i la; n.ijgoig'a: iff; lil It is tobeunderstood ha theforms of the invention. herewith Shown audfdescribedtare, to, beiaken asspre-ff; ferred-embodimjegts o-.f the saine, andthat yanousicharig'es in the Shape, size and arrangementnf p.artjs, n1av;betre:; Sorted t0,...with0ut nepartngt'nom. thespit of the inven- Having'thusdescribed mvinvention, Isgclaim; Af'

1. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel ghaving;a;cyl1n l;- dricalrtbpre andllincluding a-.r2l'1.1g.at.itsA outerl endl-,Said P1ug;l 1=1.v1.1 .i Qlfililigr' tml.chlsrriallerr ings-limieten; said bore and arranged in spaced concentric relation? to` if the, wlliof the boren said 'barreltbeingprovided with pair of longitudinally extending slots which#iegt'erdb`e-- tveeni the` outer and',n'ner ends; ofthelbarrel, sadi's'lt's being generally of the same length, a toggle elementi?! Y permanently mounted withinthe'fslots vand movablelbodily Within theslots `and guided in suchV d'3 Cms-11PM? @heftig n2, 11H0 uslwigitudmaigenie' movement by i movement of the toggle element with respect to the barrel when the toggle element is arranged transversely of said barrel, said pivot member having a radial screwthreaded opening formed therein at its center and extending transversely of the toggle element, said toggle element being provided adjacent to its longitudinal center with an outwardly flaring guide recess leading into one end of the screw-threaded opening, a .cam element carried by one end of the toggle element and extending to the outer adjacent edge of the toggle element and having a cam face extending from lsaid adjacent longitudinal edge of the cam element to a point adjacent to the longitudinal center of the toggle element, said cam face extending radially outwardly beyond the longitudinal center of the toggle element when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinal position, a screw longitudinally movably mounted through the opening in the plug at the outer end of the barrel, said screw having an exterior diameter which is much smaller than the diameter of the bore of the barrel whereby the leading contacting end of the screw is concentric with the barrel and arranged at the llongitudinal center of the barrel, the arrangement being such that when the screw is shifted longitudinally within the barrel its leading end will rst contact with the cam element and thereby swing the toggle element upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantially -a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and the leading contacting end of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and the Haring guide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded opening of the spherically curved member, and means to limit the swinging movement of the toggle element with relation to the barrel.

2. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel having a cylindrical bore and including a plug at its outer end, said plug having an opening much smaller in diameter than said bore and arranged in spaced concentric relation to thel wall of the bore, said barrel being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots which extend between the outer and inner ends of the barrel, said slots being generally of the same flength, 'a toggle element permanently mounted within the yslots and movable bodily within the slots and guided in such movement by said slots, a spherically curved pivot member rigidly mounted upon the toggle element adjacent toits longitudinal center and slidably mounted within the cylindrical bore of the barrel, the spherically curved pivotrmember pivotally mounting the toggle element upon the inner face of said cylindrical bore and also permitting of the longitudinal movement of the toggle element with respect-to the barrel when the toggle element Iis arranged transversely of said barrel, said pivot member having a radial screwthreaded opening formed therein at its center and extending transversely of the toggle element, said toggle element being provided adjacent to its longitudinal center with an outwardly flaring guide recess leading into one end of the screw-threaded opening, a cam element carried by one end of the toggle element and extending to the outerv adjacent edge of the toggle element and having a cam face extending from said adjacent longitudinal edge of the cam element to a point adjacent to the longitudinal center of the toggle element, said cam face extending radially outwardly beyond the longitudinal center of the toggle element when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinal position, a screw longitudinally movably mounted through the opening in the plug at the outer end of the barrel, said screw having an exterior ldiameter which is much smaller than the diameter of the bore of the barrel whereby the leading contacting end of the screw is concentric with the barrel and arranged at the cam element and thereby swing the toggle element upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe barrel and the leading contacting end of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and the aring guide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded opening of the spherically curved member, 4and a stop element mounted upon the toggle element to engage the exterior of the barrel.

3. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel having a cylindrical bore and including a plug at its outer end, said plug having an opening much smaller in diameter than said bore and arranged in spaced concentric relation to the wall of the bore, said barrel being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots which extend between the outer and inner ends ofthe barrel, said slots being generally of the same length, one of said slots having inwardly converging beveled edges, a toggle element permanently mounted within the slots and movable bodily within the slots and guided in such movement by said slots, a sphericailly curved pivo-t member rigidly mounted upon the toggle element adjacent to its longitudinal center and slidably mounted within the cylindrical bore of the barrel, the spherically curved pivot member pivotally mounting the toggle element upon the inner face of said cylindrical bore and also permitting of the longitudinal movement of the toggle element with respect to the barrel when the toggle element is arranged transversely of the barrel,` said pivot member having a radial screw-threaded opening formed therein at its center and extending transversely of the toggle element, said toggle element being provided adjacent to its longitudinal center with an outwardly flaring guide recess leading into one end of the screw-threaded opening, a cam element carried by one end of the toggle element and extending to the outer adjacent edgeof the toggle element and having a cam face extending from said adjacent longitudinal edge of the cam element to a point adjacent to the longitudinal center of the toggle element, said cam face extending radially outwardly beyond the longitudinal center of the toggle element when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinal position, a screw longitudinally movably mounted through the opening in the plug at the outer end of the barrel, said screw having an exterior diameter which is much smaller' than the diameter of the bore of the barrel whereby the leading contacting end A of the Iscrew is concentric with the barrel and arranged at the longitudinal center of the barrel, the'arrangement being such that when the screw is shifted longitudinally within the barrel its leading end will rst contact with the cam element `and thereby swing the toggle element upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and. the leading contacting end of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and the flaring guide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded opening of the spherically curved member, and means forming inwardly converging beveled faces upon the toggle element adjacent to its longitudinal edge and inwardly of such edge, said beveled faces engaging the beveled edges of said slot when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinal position and to engage the exterior of the barrel when the toggle element is in the outer transverse position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 557,361 Church Mar. 31, 1896 1,084,284 Merrill Ian. 13, 1914 2,609,723 Stubbs Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 115,373 Germany Nov. 191900