1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blind bolt and blind nut which are used to fasten a material to a beam or member with a rear, or back, side inaccessible for mounting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, blind bolts and blind nuts have been used to fasten a material to a wall, or to a member inside or with a back side inaccessible for mounting. For example, a threaded pin such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-311229 rotatably supports a locking piece by a support shaft in a pin main body having a male screw part at one end thereof, and secures the end to both the locking piece and the support shaft by loosely fitting a spring into the support shaft. In addition, the spring energizes the locking piece in such a manner as being sprung out from the pin main body for use of extending even in a vertical direction.
Japanese Utility Model Application No. 53-145060 discloses a simplified inserting bolt having a rotary locking piece with a rotatable axis. In this inserting bolt, there is provided shaft holes in a locking piece and a bolt groove surface thereof, respectively, wherein a sliding ball is fitted. Consequently, the rotation of the sliding ball will cause the locking piece to move on the axis of the bolt, thereby moving the locking piece until it abuts to the bolt end.
The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-311229 has the following problems:
The invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 53-145060 has the following problems.
It is therefore desired to provide a blind bolt and a blind nut which can reduce the number of components and production costs, require no support shaft penetrating therethrough, rotatably support a locking piece and a nut with a remarkably readily-processible structure, and support them against failure to obtain a higher fastening strength.
The blind bolt portion of the present invention is characterized by a bolt main body having a male screw part at one end and an oblong hole provided on the axis thereof at the other end, and a locking piece to be accommodated into said oblong hole when the axis of the bolt main body is matched to the long side of the locking piece. The locking piece is provided on edges of the long sides thereof with a pair of rotary protrusions projecting outwardly in a width direction of the oblong hole, and on edges of the long sides opposite the long sides having the rotary protrusions. A pair of piece holding protrusions are formed so as to project outwardly in a width direction of the oblong hole arranged at spaced longitudinal intervals from the rotary protrusions. On edges opposite the axis of one of the two oblong holes formed in said bolt main body, a pair of rotation supporting grooves is provided so as to accommodate the rotary protrusions and support rotary motion, while a pair of piece holding grooves is provided on edges opposite the axis of the other oblong hole to accommodate the piece holding protrusions.
Preferably, to smoothly rotate the locking piece within the oblong hole, the rotation supporting grooves of the bolt main body are formed in a longitudinal shape axially extending towards the piece holding grooves from the position of one of the rotary protrusions, with the locking piece being accommodated in the oblong hole, and the rotation supporting grooves are provided with an inclined plane so as to smoothly separate the rotary protrusions.
It is desirable that the bolt main body be provided with a stepped part on the top end of the oblong hole, and the locking piece has a convex shape to be adapted to the stepped part, when placed into the oblong hole.
The blind nut portion of the present invention is characterized by a nut main body having a female screw hole passing through a nearly central portion thereof, and a nut frame body to accommodate the nut main body between a pair of arms extending parallel to each other and orthogonal to a flange having a bolt inserting hole when the longitudinal direction of the arms is matched to that of the nut main body. The nut main body is provided on edges of the long sides thereof with a pair of rotary protrusion projecting to be locked to the arms in the direction which is orthogonal thereto and on edges of the long sides opposite the edges with the rotary protrusions, a pair of nut holding protrusions being formed so as to project to be locked to the arms in the direction which is orthogonal thereto arranged at spaced longitudinal intervals from the rotary protrusions. When the longitudinal direction of the nut main body is matched to that of the arms of said nut frame body to accommodate the nut main body, and on edges of each arm to which said rotary protrusions abut, a pair of rotation supporting grooves are provided to accommodate the rotary protrusions and support rotary motion, while a pair of nut holding grooves is provided on edges of each arm to which the nut holding protrusions abut to accommodate the nut holding protrusions.
It is preferable to rotate the nut main body until the long side is orthogonal to the axis of the nut frame body, the longitudinal distance between one of the rotary protrusions and the corresponding one of the nut holding protrusions of the nut main body is set larger than the maximum width of the arm of the nut frame body.
Since the present invention as described above requires no support shaft to pass through a bolt and a nut, fastening strength is not determined by such a shaft, and as a result, ensures a higher fastening strength. In addition, since the press-worked rotary protrusions are designed to rotate on the grooves, it is relatively easy to process products with a reduced number of components and reduced production costs.
For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGS. 14(a)-14(d) illustrate a preferred application of the blind bolt according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 21(a)-21(d) illustrate a preferred application of the blind nut according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a blind bolt 1A of the first embodiment includes a bolt main body 2 having a male screw part 21 provided at one end thereof and an oblong hole 22 formed on the axis thereof at the other end, the oblong hole 22 rotatably holding a locking piece 3 to lock a beam X (
Each component shown in the first embodiment will be described in further detail. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a pair of rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 provided along the oblong hole 22 of the bolt main body 2 so as to face with each other on edges of one opening of the oblong hole 22 on the axis thereof The locking piece 3 is made in the form of a nearly rectangular solid, and on edges of the long sides thereof, a pair of rotary protrusions 35, 35 is provided so as to be accommodated in the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27. These press-worked rotary protrusions 35, 35 include a shallow pressed groove 35a as shown in
Additionally, the rotary protrusions 35, 35 are formed off the center of the long side of the locking piece 3, whereby the locking piece 3 may rotate downwardly by gravitation. Obviously, the rotary protrusions 35, 35 may be formed in the center of the long side of the piece 3 if the locking piece 3 rotates by gravitation.
As illustrated in
A pair of piece holding grooves 28, 28 is formed so as to accommodate the piece holding protrusions 36, 36. The piece holding protrusions 36, 36 are arranged at spaced longitudinal intervals from the rotary protrusions 35, 35. As shown in
Referring to
It is preferable to make the longitudinal length of the oblong hole 22 shorter in light of bolt strength and costs for processing and materials. Consequently, referring to
To further shorten the axial length of the oblong hole 22, the locking piece 3 is designed to rotate backwardly towards the male screw part 21 to provide a smaller space for rotating locking piece 3. In the first embodiment, the distance between one of the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 and the end inner surface 22b of the oblong hole 22 is set less than a short side of the locking piece 3, and an inclined plane 29 is formed on the bolt main body 2 to smoothly separate the rotary protrusions 35, 35 from the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27. Thus, the locking piece 3 can move backwardly sliding on the inclined plane 29 by rotary momentum and a reaction force from the end inner surface 22b as the locking piece 3 rotates by gravitation. When beam X applies a pushing force to the locking piece 3 towards the bolt top end as the nut 5 is fastened, the locking piece 3 rotates sliding on the inclined plane 29 to move backwardly. Therefore, the oblong hole 22 can be axially cut by the length of backward movement of the locking piece 3, which would otherwise rotate the rotary protrusions 35, 35 merely within the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27.
Referring to
In order for the blind bolt 1A in the first embodiment to secure the member Y to the beam X, the inside of which is inaccessible for mounting, the beam X and the member Y are fist perforated to provide a prepared hole h therein to link to each other. Subsequently, the locking piece 3 is completely accommodated within the oblong hole 22 of the bolt main body 2. For this purpose, by turning the piece holding grooves 28, 28 of the bolt main body 2 upwardly so as to accommodate the piece holding protrusion 36, 36 of the locking piece 3 therein and the rotary protrusions 35, 35 in the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27, the long side of the locking piece 3 is matched to the axis of the bolt main body 2. Then, since an end at the side of the piece holding grooves 28, 28 of the locking piece 3 is locked being abutted to an end inner surface of the male screw part 21 of the oblong hole 22, the locking piece 3 will not rotate, with being accommodated within the oblong hole 22. As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and (b), the bolt main body 2 is inserted into the prepared hole h to dispose the locking piece 3 inside the beam X, the locking piece 3 being completely accommodated within with oblong hole 22.
Afterwards, the bolt main body 2 is rotated around the axis approximately at an angle of 180 degrees so as to turn the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 upwardly. Thus, the locking piece 3 pivots about the rotary protrusions 35, 35 by gravitation within the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 (as shown in
Accordingly, by pulling back the bolt main body 2 as shown in
In the first embodiment described above, since the rotary protrusions 35, 35 are placed on the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 for rotation, no rotating shaft as employed in conventional systems is necessary. Consequently, reduced number of components and unnecessary cutting work for inserting a shaft will save production processes and costs. Moreover, since the locking piece 3 can readily move within the oblong hole 22, the space therefore can be saved, resulting in improved fastening strength and reduced processing and material costs. Additionally, since springs are not used for rotating the locking piece 3, the locking piece 3 is prevented from springing out from the oblong hole 22 while the bolt main body 2 is inserted into the prepared hole h. Therefore, even though there is space between the beam X and member Y, the locking piece 3 will not spring or get stuck into the space.
The embodiment of the blind bolt 1A according to the present invention is not intended as a definition of the limits of the above described first embodiment, but may be modified accordingly. For example, to accommodate the locking piece 3 into the oblong hole 22 when the bolt main bolt 2 is inserted into the prepared hole h, the oblong hole 22 may be positioned horizontally, rather than being provided with the piece holding protrusion 36, 36.
In another version, the locking piece 3 may be provided with the rotary protrusions 35, 35 and the piece holding protrusion 36, 36 in alternate positions thereof. However, since the locking piece 3 comes closer to the male screw part 21 after it completes rotation, the thickness of a fastened member will be smaller.
Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 14, there is described a blind bolt 1B in the second embodiment of this invention. If components in the second embodiment are the same or equal to those in the first embodiment, the above described numerals are used to denote counterparts.
The blind bolt 1B in the second embodiment is characterized by a stepped part 8 formed on an end inner surface 22b of an oblong hole 22 as shown in
Since the locking piece 3 is required to be completely accommodated with the oblong hole 22, it is formed so as to be adapted to the stepped part 8. Referring to
As in the first embodiment, there is provided the locking piece 3 having rotary protrusions 35, 35 and piece holding protrusion 36, 36 to be accommodated in rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 and piece holding grooves 28, 28 formed on the bolt main body 2, respectively. Since the curved surface 38 may prevent smooth rotation of the locking piece 3 when it is abutted to the stepped part 8, the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 are axially formed in a longitudinal shape. Consequently, the rotary protrusions 35, 35 of the locking piece 3 can move backwardly on the rotation supporting grooves 27, 27 towards the male screw part 21, whereby the curved surface 38 can smoothly separate from the stepped part 8.
Next, referring to
If a member Y is secured to a beam X, the inside of which is inaccessible for mounting by means of the blind bolt 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the locking piece 3 is completely accommodated within the oblong hole 22 as shown in
Further, as shown in
As described above in the second embodiment, since the locking piece 3 is abutted to the stepped part 8 in the oblong hole 22 to fasten the member Y to the beam X in addition to the features described in the first embodiment, the bolt main body 2 may be inserted inwardly towards the beam X by the axial length of the stepped part 8. This means that the length of the male screw part 21 projected from the surface of the nut 5 can be cut when the nut 5 is fastened. Therefore, reduced protrusion of the male screw part 21 generates no injury and improves the appearance of the work.
Referring to
The blind nut 11 of the third embodiment is characterized by having no rotating shaft for a nut main body 12 and disposing protrusions within grooves for rotating the nut. In addition, if the nut main body 12 normally receives force energized by springs and other devices, it will get stuck into space between a beam X and a member Y. The third embodiment aids in overcoming this type of problem.
As shown in
Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, the nut main body 12 is formed in the shape of nearly rectangular solid, and on edges of the long sides thereof a pair of rotary protrusions 122, 122 is formed by means of press working. These rotary protrusions 122, 122 are designed to project on both sides outwardly so that they are hooked onto the arms 132, 132 to accommodate the nut main body 12 by matching the long side thereof of the longitudinal direction of the arms 132, 132. The nut frame body 13 is provided with a pair of rotation supporting grooves 133, 133 on upper edges of arms 132, 132 to which the rotary protrusions 122, 122 abut when the nut main body 12 is contained between the pair of arms 132, 132, whereby the rotation supporting grooves 133, 133 accommodate the rotary protrusions 122, 122 and support rotary motion of the locking piece.
In addition, the rotary protrusions 122, 122 are formed off the center of the nut main body 12 in the longitudinal direction, whereby the nut main body 12 rotates by gravitation. If the nut main body 12 rotates by gravitation, the rotary protrusions 122, 122 may be provided in the center thereof in the longitudinal direction.
Moreover, on the nut main body 12 as shown in
The nut frame body 13 is provided with the nut holding grooves 134, 134 for accommodating the nut holding protrusions 123, 123 when the nut main body 12 is contained into the arms 132, 132. The nut holding protrusions 123, 123 and the rotary protrusions 122, 122 are formed being spaced at a required interval in the longitudinal direction. This interval is determined as more than the height of the arms 132, 132 as shown in
Additionally,
Referring to
Referring to
When a member Y is secured to a beam X, the inside of which is inaccessible for mounting, the beam X and the member Y are perforated to provide a prepared hole h therein to link to each other. Subsequently, the arms 132, 132 are turned to completely accommodate the nut main body 12 therebetween. At this time, the rotary protrusions 122, 122 and the nut holding protrusions 123, 123 of the nut main body 12 are placed in the rotation supporting grooves 133, 133 and the nut holding grooves 134, 134 of the nut frame body 13, respectively. The nut main body 12 will not rotate since it is placed on the upper surface of the lower arm 132. As shown in
Subsequently, the nut frame body 13 is rotated around the axis at approximately right angles so as to turn the rotation supporting grooves 133, 133 upwardly, whereby the nut main body 12, as shown in
Referring to
Since the rotary protrusions 122, 122 are designed to rotate on the rotation supporting grooves 133, 133 according to the third embodiment of this invention as described above, the nut main body 12 is not required to include any rotating shaft. Therefore, the increase in a fastening strength of the nut main body 12 may not be influenced by the axial strength, and the number of components may be lowered. Moreover, cutting processes for inserting a shaft is eliminated, resulting in remarkably reduced production costs. Additionally, since springs are not utilized, the nut main body 12 is prevented from springing out, and when the blind nut 11 is inserted into the prepared hole h, the nut main body 12 will not get stuck in space between the beam X and the member Y.
While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP04/10126 | Jul 2004 | WO | international |