WO2000025030A1

WO2000025030A1 - Hook and anchor assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2000025030A1
Application number: PCT/CA1999/000971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas W. Mcsherry; Pierre Mcduff
Original assignee: Cobra Fixations Cie Ltee - Cobra Anchors Co. Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-10-27
Filing date: 1999-10-27
Publication date: 2000-05-04
Also published as: AU6454499A; WO2000025030B1; CA2252173A1

Abstract

A hook (H, H'') and anchor (A, A'') assembly for use with hollow panels (W) such as walls and ceilings made of gypsum, comprises an anchor (A, A'') having first (10, 80/88) and second (12, 90) sections, a hook (H, H'') adapted to be secured to the anchor (A, A'') and to abut a visible surface (O) of the hollow wall (W). The anchor (A, A'') is adapted to be engaged to the hollow wall (W) such that its second section (12, 90) is located behind the wall (W) with the first section (10, 56, 80/88) extending through a hole defined in the wall (W). The hook (H, H'') has a wall-engaging flange (44, 94). The hook (H, H'') and the first section (10, 80/88) of the anchor (A, A'') are provided with adjustable cooperating threads for connecting them together while allowing for various relative positions therebetween, whereby the distance between the second section (12, 90) and the wall engaging flange (44, 94) may be varied such that the second section (12, 90) and the wall engaging flange (44, 94) act as a vice on the wall (W) for tightly installing the anchor (A, A'') and the hook (H, H'') thereon. Also, the anchor (A') may comprise successive first and second sections (54, 56) having different threads with the first section (54) being adapted to be engaged in a wooden member and with the hook being adapted to be engaged to the second section (56) such as to abut the wooden member.

Description

HOOK AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hangers for supporting objects on a wall and, more particularly, to a hook and anchor assembly for attachment to hollow walls, such as wallboards which typically comprise a relatively thick layer of gypsum sandwiched between paper layers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Patent No. 3,256,661 issued to Fischer on June 21, 1966 teaches two size thread sites on the same shaft of an anchor where the distal thread 5 a engages a sleeve 4 received in a plaster wall 2, whereas the proximal thread 5b engages a hole 7 drilled in the support structure 1. In Figures 3 and 4, a bush 30 secured to the structure 21 by its external thread engaging a nut 31 defines inner threads 30a adapted to mesh with the external threads 25b of the screw 25. It is noted that the bush 30 is installed to the structure 21 before the screw 25 and the sleeve 24 are engaged through the bush 30 and into the hole 23 defined in the wall 22.

U.S. Patent No. 3,219,302 issued to Smith on November 23, 1965 teaches a hanger 10 of stiff yet flexible wire construction engaged through a wall 11. The curved portion 16 exerts pressure on the inside wall surface and pulls a leg portion 14 of the hanger against the front or inner surface of the wall and thus into firm or even locked relationship therewith. The hanger 10 includes an engagement portion 19 which is threaded to receive a nut 20 thereon for reasons which are unclear. Perhaps, the nut 20 acts as a lip to retain the wire of a picture hanging from section 19 of the hanger 10. Various terminal endings for the hangers are shown in Figures 2 to 4. In this patent, the nut 20 is not used to tighten the hanger 10 against the wall.

U.S. Patent No. 4,986,709 issued to Hachtel et al. on January 21, 1991 teaches a fastening element for use in hard materials, such as concrete, masonry and the like, which includes a sleeve and a bolt. The sleeve which has a leading end defining a cutting edge forms a blind bore in the receiving material. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, once the sleeve 1 has been inserted in the receiving material, the bolt 3 is driven through the sleeve 1 and into the receiving material 4 thereby radially expending the sleeve 1 into engagement with the borehole 4a. The threaded section 3c of the bolt 3 protrudes inwardly of the wall and provides an engagement for attaching a load to the anchored bolt. In Figure 6, a nut 7 is engaged on the threaded end of the bolt for securing a structural component 5 against the wall 4. Therefore, the bolt 3 is securely fastened to the wall 4 without any assistance from the nut 7 on the protruding threaded end 13c thereof.

In U.S. Patent No. 965,826 issued to Lynch on July 26, 1910, there is shown a L-shaped support 14 (see Figure 4) having a pointed end and a threaded end. However, as seen in Figure 3, the nail portion engages the ground perpendicularly and is fixed thereto in this position with the threaded end being engaged to a block 11 lying on the ground for then supporting a fishing rod with support 1 itself being engaged in the block 11. The L-shaped support 14 of this patent does not require any structural element to be secured at its threaded end for it to be firmly attached to its receiving surface, namely the ground.

U.S. Patent No. 4,325,528 issued to Martin on April 20, 1982 discloses a bracket which has a pointed end and an elbow, and the installation steps thereof are shown in Figures 2 to 4. The bracket appears to be sufficiently fixed in this patent without having to be engaged by a distinct component in view of its portion 2 abutting the wall W.

U.S. Patents No. 4,509,713 issued to Hogg on April 9, 1985, No. 2,789,783 issued to Jones on April 23, 1957 and No. 5,028,030 issued to Lewis on July 2, 1991 are similar in each disclosing a hanger which includes an arcuate section having a pointed distal end which is driven through the wall while rotating the hanger until a flange thereof abuts the inside or front wall with a hook being provided proximally of this flange. In Lewis, there is no flange but the hook acts as both an abutment on the inner surface of the wall as well as a component for hanging pictures.

U.S. Patent No. 2,408,366 issued to Boyer on October 1, 1946 discloses a toggle bolt consisting of a threaded bolt portion 10 and a L-shaped toggle 16 displaceable relative to the bolt portion 10 between axially and perpendicularly oriented positions, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. The assembly of the bolt portion 10 and the toggle 16 is inserted through an opening 23 defined in an article 22 and the toggle 16 is then rotated to assume its position of Figure 2. The bolt portion 10 is then held stationary by engaging a screw driver in a slot 24 defined at the proximal end of the bolt portion 10 while a nut 21 is rotated against a concave washer 20 so as to compress a gasket 19. The assembly then becomes firmly secured to the article 22. In Figure 5, an article 25 is shown held firmly against a supporting wall 26 by way of the general bolt and toggle assembly described hereinbefore. The construction of this toggle bolt results from the assembly of a number of components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved hook and anchor assembly for hollow walls.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a hook and anchor assembly for hollow walls which is adapted for use on walls of various thicknesses.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a hook and anchor assembly for installation on hollow walls opposite a structural wooden component thereof.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a holding member and anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprising an anchor having first and second sections, a holding member adapted to be secured to said anchor and to abut a visible surface of a hollow panel, said anchor being adapted to be engaged to the hollow panel such that said second section is located behind the panel with said first section extending through a hole defined in the panel, said holding member having wall engaging means, said holding member and said first section being provided with cooperating connection means having adjustable relative positions for adjusting a distance between said second section and said wall engaging means such that said second section and said wall engaging means act as a vice on the panel for tightly installing said anchor and said holding member thereto.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a holding member and anchor assembly for use with a wooden member, comprising an anchor having successive first and second sections having different threads, said second section being adapted to be engaged in the wooden member, the holding member being adapted to be threadably engaged to said first section such as to abut the wooden member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an anchor of the hook and anchor assembly of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the anchor of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the anchor of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of

Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1 ; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of part of the hook of

Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the hook and anchor assembly of the present invention shown mounted to a hollow wall illustrated in cross-section;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of an anchor also in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 9 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of an anchor of a hook and anchor assembly also in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the anchor of Figure 9 shown mounted to a wall and of a hook for use with the anchor of Figure 9 shown about to be engaged with the anchor; and

Figure 11 is a schematic elevational view showing a first step of possible way of installing the anchor of Figure 9 in a hollow wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, Figure 7 illustrates an assembly of a hook H and an anchor A shown mounted in a vice-like fashion to a hollow wall W. The wall W is typically a hollow wall, such as a wallboard, that is a thick gypsum layer coated on each side thereof with a paper layer.

Now referring mainly to Figures 1 to 3, the anchor A has a general elbowed configuration and, more particularly, comprises a head portion 10 adapted to extend through a hole defined in the wall W and a vice portion 12 extending substantially at right angles from the head portion 10 as a result of an elbow portion 14 being defined therebetween.

The vice portion 12 includes a pointed distal end 16 having a conical shape and being provided on an outer surface thereof with a male thread 18. The pointed distal end 16 also defines an opening 20 (best seen in Figure 3). The vice portion 12 also includes a cylindrical section 22 which defines an open cavity 24 which is in communication with the opening 20.

The pointed distal end 16 is used to perforate the gypsum wall by manual rotation of the anchor A with the male thread 18 providing assistance for gradually introducing again by rotation, the distal end 16 in the wall W until the distal end 16 has extended through the wall W. The configuration of the distal end 16 renders easy and substantially effortless the introduction of the vice portion 12 in and through the wall W.

The distal end 16 defines a leading cutting edge 26 which easily cuts through the paper and the gypsum layers of the hollow wall W and which directs debris from the wall W into the opening 20 and ultimately in the cavity 24. Indeed, the cavity 24 collects the gypsum wall debris instead of forcing these debris outwardly of the vice portion 12.

The cavity 24 of the cylindrical section 22 of the vice portion 12 defines a second cutting edge 28 which also cuts through the gypsum and directs the wall debris inside the cavity 24. This second cutting edge 28 is higher than an opposite third edge 30 which does not cut through the wall material.

The cylindrical section 22 defines a planar wall 32 which is adapted to abut an inside surface I of the wall W, as seen in Figure 7.

The elbow portion 14 of the anchor A causes the latter to deviate sideways with respect to an axis of the head portion 10 such that the vice portion 12 extends substantially parallel to the wall W and is in position to abut the inside surface I of the wall W when the hook H and anchor A are secured together in a vice-like way, as described in detail hereinafter.

The head portion 10 of the anchor A defines a longitudinal passage 34 which extends throughout the head portion 10. This passage 34 is adapted to receive a screw, or other similar fasteners, therein, with such a screw S being shown in phantom lines in Figure 7. Four zinc longitudinal ribs 36 extend longitudinally and radially inwardly in the passage 34 of the head portion 10. When the screw S is rotatably engaged in the head portion 10, the male threads of the screw S will tap these ribs 36 such that the screw S is solidly secured to the head portion 10 and thus to the anchor A.

The head portion 10 also includes a radially outwardly extending tab 38 which is used for aligning the anchor A and also for preventing a rotation thereof when the head portion 10 is inserted in the hole defined in the wall W. The head portion 10 is also provided with a proximal thin flange or collar 40 which prevents the anchor A from being pushed through the hole defined in the wall W and from thus falling therebehind.

With reference to Figure 6, the screw S, when partially inserted in the head portion 10, may be used as leverage for facilitating the pivot of the anchor A after the vice-portion 12 thereof has been passed through the hole in the wall W. The vice portion 12, between its cylindrical section 22 and the elbow portion 14 defines a stem section 42 of reduced area designed to allow for the anchor A to be pivoted, once the distal end 16 and the cylindrical section 22 of the vice portion 12 have defined the hole in the wall W and have been completely passed therethrough, from a position where the vice portion 12 is co-axial with an axis of the hole defined in the wall W to the vice position of the vice portion 12 shown in Figure 7. The reduced area of the stem section 42 prevents damage to the hole defined in the wall when the anchor A is pivoted.

It is noted that the diameter of the cylindrical section 22 is substantially similar to that of the head portion 10 between the elbow portion 14 and the collar 40 and without considering the tab 38, whereby, once the distal end 16 and the cylindrical section 22 of the vice portion 12 have defined a circular hole in the wall W, the anchor A can be pivoted while the head portion 10 thereof is translationally fitted into the hole defined in the wall W with the tab 38 cutting a slot in the wall W for the receipt thereof.

Now referring to Figure 7, the hook H includes a bowl- shaped base section 44 which is hollow and open ended at its top, the screw S extending perpendicularly and upwardly from a bottom 46 of the base section 44, and a hook member 48 extending downwardly from the base section 44. The screw S of the hook H is adapted to engage the passage 34 of the head portion 10 such that the hook H is rotated until the wall W is imprisoned in the vice formed by the cylindrical section 22 of the vice portion 12 of the anchor A and the upper edge of the base section 44 of the hook H.

The hollowness of the base section 44 of the hook H allows for the same assembly of the present hook H and anchor A to be used for various thicknesses of gypsum walls W. Indeed, once the anchor A has been positioned in the wall W, that is with the collar 40 abutting an outside surface O of the wall W, the screw S of the hook H is rotatably engaged in the head portion 10 of the anchor A and, once the base section 44 of the hook H abuts the outside wall surface O, a further rotation of the hook H will translationally draw the anchor A from inside out of the wall W, that is towards the hook H, until the planar wall 32 of the cylindrical section 22 of the vice portion 12 of the anchor A abuts the inside wall surface I. Figure 7 shows the hook H and anchor A of the present invention assembled to the wall W having a thickness of 3/8 inch which represents a substantially thin wall and, in such a case, the collar 40 the head portion 10 of the anchor A does not abut the outside wall surface O, as clearly seen in Figure 7. The assembly of the hook H and the anchor A is still solid as the screw S of the hook H is firmly engaged to the anchor A with the hook H and anchor A being solidly mounted to the wall W in view of the vice-like action of the cylindrical section 22 of the anchor A and the base section 44 of the hook H.

Reference lines 50 and 52 of Figure 7 show the outside wall surfaces for gypsum walls having thicknesses of 1/2 and 5/8 inch, respectively. In the case of a wall W having a thickness of 1/2 inch, the collar 40 will be less deeply located in the base section 44 and, in the case of a wall W having a thickness of 5/8 inch, the collar 40 could well abut the outside wall surface O of the wall W. The distance between the plane of the planar wall 32 and that of the collar 40 as well as the depth of the cavity defined in the base section 44 can be adjusted such that the hook H and anchor A of the present invention can be used for a multitude of wall thicknesses. The distance between the planar wall 32 and the collar 40 will define the thickest wall for which the present anchor A can be used, whereas the minimum wall thickness for which the hook H and anchor A can be used will be equal to the aforementioned distance between the planar wall 32 and the base section 44 minus the depth of the cavity defined by the base section 44 as this cavity can receive part of the head portion 10 of the anchor A if needed, that is when the thickness of the wall W is less than the distance between the planar wall 32 and the collar 40 of the anchor A.

Figure 8 shows a variant anchor A' which includes a wood screw section 54 and a machine screw section 56. This anchor A' is used for when the location of the anchor in the wall lies opposite a wooden stud or other wooden structural member provided behind the hollow gypsum wall. In such a case, the wood screw 54 is engaged through the wall W and into the wooden structural component. The machine screw section 56 protrudes outwardly from the wall and can be engaged by a hook similar to the hook H of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 but in which the base section thereof defines a threaded cavity adapted to be engaged to the machine screw section 56 of the anchor A'. Obviously, the machine screw section 56 could be replaced by an inwardly threaded head, such as the head portion 10 of the previous anchor A, with the hook having generally the configuration of above hook H of Fig. 7 but with a machine screw instead of wood screw S. In such a case, obviously the machine screw of the hook must be of a length such that it does not need to extend past the passage defined the head portion as the screw would then be interfered by the wood screw section 54. In the previous embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7, the head section 10 of the anchor A was open at both ends of its passage 34 thereby allowing for the screw S to extend past the head portion 10, as seen in Figure 7.

Figures 9 and 10 show an anchor A" and a hook H" as a variant to the Anchor A and hook H of Figs. 1 to 7. The anchor A" includes opposed threaded and pointed ends 80 and 82, respectively, and an elbow 84 therebetween. Between the threaded and pointed ends 80 and 82, the anchor A" includes a substantially smooth stem 86, for instance of circular or square cross section, which defines proximal and distal stem sections 88 and 90, respectively, on each side of the elbow 84. Distance 100 is preferably at least 1.5 inch. Once a hole, possibly made by the pointed end 82, has been pierced through the gypsum wall W (see Figure 11 where the anchor A" is about to be held by pliers P so as to then be forced along arrow 108 through the wall W), the anchor A" is slid while being pivoted through this hole such as to adopt its position shown in Figure 10 where the distal stem section 90 is parallel to and abuts the inside surface I of the wall W and where the proximal stem section 88 extends in the hole defined in the wall W. Obviously, in this position, the anchor A" will be somewhat loose.

Figure 10 also shows one example of a hook to be used with the aforementioned anchor A", that is hook H" which includes an internally threaded body 92 which is adapted to be screwingly engaged by rotation thereof onto the threaded end 80 of the anchor A" until a rear flange 94 of the hook H" bears tightly against the wall W (see partial representation of hook H" in phantom lines), with the distal stem section 90 of the anchor A", which is located inside of the wall W, bearing against the hidden inside surface I thereof such that the assembly of the hook H" and the anchor A" is solid and fixed with respect to the wall W. A longitudinal axis 102 of the distal stem section 90 may be slightly angled with respect to a plane 105 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 102 of the proximal stem section 88, as seen at angle 106 in Fig. 9, such that only the pointed end 82 and possibly the free distal end of the distal stem section 90 abut the inside surface I of the wall W. The threads of the threaded end 80 and of the internally threaded body 92 may of the machine screw type, but other appropriate threads could also be used.

Before and while the hook H is assembled to the anchor A", the distal stem section 90, as does the vice portion 12 in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7, prevents the anchor A" from falling off the wall W or from the ceiling.

The hooks H and H" can take various forms including forms including forms other than that of "hooks" per se, such as holding systems of all kinds, e.g. for securing towel racks, plant holders, mirrors, shelving, etc.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A holding member and anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprising an anchor having first and second sections, a holding member adapted to be secured to said anchor and to abut a visible surface of a hollow panel, said anchor being adapted to be engaged to the hollow panel such that said second section is located behind the panel with said first section extending through a hole defined in the panel, said holding member having wall engaging means, said holding member and said first section being provided with cooperating connection means having adjustable relative positions for adjusting a distance between said second section and said wall engaging means such that said second section and said wall engaging means act as a vice on the panel for tightly installing said anchor and said holding member thereto.

2. An assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein said second section extends at an angle with respect to said first section such that while said first section extends through the hollow panel, said second section extends substantially along a general orientation of the hollow panel.

3. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein an elbow extends intermediate said first and second section.

4. An assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein said second section is provided with a pointed distal end for facilitating an introduction of said second section through the hollow panel.

5. An assembly as defined in Claim 4, wherein said distal end is threaded.

6. An assembly as defined in Claims 4 and 5, wherein said distal end defines at least a first distal cutting edge for cutting through a material of the hollow panel.

7. An assembly as defined in Claim 6, wherein said second section defines, proximally of said distal end, a cavity for receiving material cut from the hollow panel.

8. An assembly as defined in Claim 7, wherein said distal end defines an opening which communicates with said cavity.

9. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said second section defines a plane portion adapted to abut on a surface of the hollow panel opposite the visible surface thereof.

10. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said first section defines a passage adapted to receive a threaded fastener of said holding member.

11. An assembly as defined in Claim 10, wherein longitudinal ribs are defined in said passage for being tapped by the threaded fastener upon rotational insertion thereof in said passage.

12. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said first section comprises tab means for at least one of aligning said anchor during installation thereof in the hollow panel and preventing said first section from rotating once engaged in the hollow panel.

13. An assembly as defined in Claim 12, wherein said tab means extends radially from a periphery of said first section and in a direction substantially opposite that of said second section.

14. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said first section is provided with collar means for preventing said anchor from falling behind the hollow panel.

15. An assembly as defined in Claim 14, wherein said collar means is provided on a proximal end of said first section for contacting the visible surface of the hollow panel.

16. An assembly as defined in Claim 10, wherein said holding member comprises a hollow base adapted to contact the visible surface and to accommodate part of said first section in the event that a distance between said second section and a proximal end of said first section is greater than a thickness of the hollow panel, whereby said assembly can accommodate hollow panels of various thicknesses.

17. An assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein said holding member comprises a hook.

18. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said second section defines, for facilitating a pivot of said anchor when being installed in the hollow panel, a proximal portion of smaller transverse dimensions than that of a distal portion of said second section, said distal portion being adapted to abut the hollow panel.

19. An assembly as defined in Claim 12, wherein said first section defines a male thread adapted to engage a female thread defined in the holding member.

20. An assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said second section extends at an angle slightly less than 90° relative to said first section such that only a distal end of said second section contacts the hollow panel.

21. A holding member and anchor assembly for use with a wooden member, comprising an anchor having successive first and second sections having different threads, said second section being adapted to be engaged in the wooden member, the holding member being adapted to be threadably engaged to said first section such as to abut the wooden member.