Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6609866
-
Patent Number
6,609,866
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, September 19, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 26, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 411 30
- 411 31
- 411 432
- 411 437
- 411 528
- 411 61
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An expandable body of expansion bolt comprises an upper section having a hollow upper circular member including a cut and a connection member coupled to the upper section, and a hollow lower circular member including a cut and a dent with the connection member received therein; a middle section having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slots; and a lower section having a plurality of substantially rectangular members on a lower portion. In operation, a piece of object is fastened between lower portion of the lower section and the middle section by driving the bolt in response to an insertion of the bolt through the body and the piece of object. A variety of configurations of upper section and circular members are provided for enhancing the positioning of the expandable body and guiding of the thread of bolt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to expansion bolts and more particularly to an expandable body of an expansion bolt with improved characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An exploded perspective view of an unfinished expandable body
10
of a conventional expansion bolt is shown in FIG.
1
. Expandable body
10
comprises a metal expansion section
12
including an upper section
122
welded to a nut
11
, a middle section
24
having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slats
124
with an elongate slot
121
disposed between any two adjacent slats
124
, and a lower section
123
welded to a base
13
. Once expandable body
10
is formed, a bolt may insert through base
13
, enclosed by middle section
24
, nut
11
(to form as an expansion bolt), and a piece of object for threadedly securing the expansion bolt to the piece of object. However, the previous design suffered from several disadvantages. For example, the welding processes of nut
11
and base
13
are time consuming and high in manufacturing cost. Further, the structural strength of such welded nut
11
and/or base
13
is not sufficient, resulting in a shortening of the useful life of expansion bolt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt including a bolt and an expandable metal body comprising an upper section having a hollow upper circular member including a cut and a connection member coupled to the upper section, and a hollow lower circular member including a cut and a dent with the connection member received therein; a middle section having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slots; and a lower section having a plurality of substantially rectangular members on a lower portion. In operation, a piece of object is fastened between lower portion of the lower section and the middle section by driving the bolt in response to an insertion of the bolt through the body and the piece of object. A variety of configurations of upper section and circular members are provided for enhancing the positioning of the expandable body and guiding of the thread of bolt.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of an unfinished expandable body of a conventional expansion bolt;
FIG. 2A
is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 2B
is a sectional view of upper portion of
FIG. 2A
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 2A
expandable body;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of
FIG. 2A
expandable body driven through by a bolt to form an expansion bolt;
FIG. 5
is a sectional view showing the
FIG. 4
expansion bolt fastened to a piece of object;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 6
expandable body;
FIG. 8
is a sectional view of
FIG. 6
expandable body driven through by a bolt to form an expansion bolt;
FIG. 9
is a sectional view showing the
FIG. 8
expansion bolt fastened to a piece of object;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 10
expandable body;
FIG. 12
is a sectional view of
FIG. 10
expandable body driven through by a bolt to form an expansion bolt;
FIG. 13
is a sectional view showing the
FIG. 10
expansion bolt fastened to a piece of object;
FIG. 14
is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 15
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 12
expandable body;
FIG. 16
is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 17
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 16
expandable body;
FIG. 18
is a sectional view of
FIG. 16
expandable body driven through by a bolt to form an expansion bolt;
FIG. 19
is a sectional view showing the
FIG. 18
expansion bolt fastened to a piece of object;
FIG. 20
is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of expandable body of an expansion bolt according to the invention;
FIG. 21
is a perspective view of a metal sheet for manufacturing the
FIG. 20
expandable body;
FIG. 22
is a sectional view of
FIG. 20
expandable body driven through by a bolt to form an expansion bolt; and
FIG. 23
is a sectional view showing the
FIG. 20
expansion bolt fastened to a piece of object.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 2A
,
2
B and
3
, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of expandable body
20
of an expansion bolt constructed in accordance with the invention. In
FIG. 3
, an extended metal sheet
2
comprises an upper section
21
having an upper circular member
25
including a central hole
251
, a cut
252
, and a narrow connection member
253
coupled to upper section
21
, and a lower circular member
26
including a central hole
261
, a cut
262
, and a dent
263
; a middle section
22
having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slots
221
; and a lower section
23
having a plurality of parallel cuts
232
for dividing the lower portion of lower section
23
into a plurality of substantially rectangular members
231
. Consequently, an expandable body
20
is formed by shaping the metal sheet
2
as detailed below. First bend two sides of metal sheet
2
toward each other. Next, bend upper and lower circular members
25
and
26
to cause connection member
253
to receive in dent
263
, thus forming a top
27
. Then bend rectangular members
231
outwardly to form a base
23
. Cuts
252
and
262
are bent upwardly slantingly to form a guide
28
for guiding thread of bolt. This forms a complete expandable body
20
.
Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the operation of expansion bolt of the first embodiment of the invention is detailed below. First insert bolt
31
through base
23
, middle section
22
, top
27
(to form as an expansion bolt), and a piece of object W
1
. Then use a tool to drive head of bolt
31
to compress middle section
22
to urge against piece of object W
1
by threadely advancing thread
311
with respect to guide
28
until piece of object W
1
is secured between base
23
and middle section
22
as shown in FIG.
5
.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of expandable body
40
constructed in accordance with the invention. In
FIG. 7
, an extended metal sheet
4
comprises an upper section
41
having an upper circular member
45
having a central hole
451
, a radial cut
452
, and a connection member
453
for coupling to upper section
41
, a lower circular member
46
having a central hole
461
, a radial cut
462
, and a dent
463
on the outer edge, and a sharp member
49
having a slanted blade
491
disposed between upper and lower circular members
45
and
46
so that sharp member
49
is projected from an outer edge of upper section
41
after being formed; a middle section
42
having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slots
421
; and a substantially rectangular lower section
43
, on the lower portion, having two rectangular members
431
and
431
′ and two triangular members
4311
and
4311
′ disposed between rectangular members
431
and
431
′ in which the side coupling triangular member
4311
(or
4311
′) is less than the width of rectangular member
431
(or
431
′).
Consequently, expandable body
40
is formed by shaping the metal sheet
4
as detailed below. First bend two sides of metal sheet
4
toward each other. Next, bend upper and lower circular members
45
and
46
to cause connection member
453
to receive in dent
463
, thus forming a top
47
. Then bend rectangular members
431
outwardly to form a base
43
as indicated by dash lines with triangular members
4311
and
4311
′ bent upwardly. Cuts
452
and
462
are bent upwardly slantingly to form a guide
48
for guiding thread of bolt. This forms a complete expandable body
40
(FIG.
6
).
As to the operation of the second embodiment of the invention (FIGS.
8
and
9
), it is substantially the same as the first embodiment, i.e., in brief, drive a bolt
32
through expandable body
40
to form an expansion bolt for securing to a piece of object W
2
. The only differences are that sharp member
49
is first inserted through piece of object W
2
as well as the insertion of one angle of each of triangular members
4311
and
4311
′ into piece of object W
2
. This can facilitate operation and enhance securing.
Referring to
FIGS. 10 and 11
, there is shown a third preferred embodiment of expandable body
50
constructed in accordance with the invention. The differences between first and third embodiments are detailed below. As shown, two opposite triangular positioning members
564
and
565
are extended from sides of dent
563
of lower circular member
56
and a triangular positioning members
551
is extended from outer edge of upper circular member
55
.
As to the operation of the third embodiment of the invention (FIGS.
12
and
13
), it is substantially the same as the first embodiment, i.e., in brief, drive a bolt
33
through expandable body
50
to form an expansion bolt for securing to a piece of object W
3
. The only differences are that triangular positioning members
564
,
565
, and
551
are first inserted through piece of object W
3
. This can also facilitate operation and enhance securing.
Referring to
FIGS. 14 and 15
, there is shown a fourth preferred embodiment of expandable body
60
constructed in accordance with the invention. The differences between first and fourth embodiments are detailed below. As shown, two opposite positioning sharp members
611
and
612
are extended upwardly from the outer edge of upper section
61
. Similar to second and third embodiments, sharp members
611
and
612
are first inserted through piece of object. This can also facilitate operation and enhance securing.
Referring to
FIGS. 16 and 17
, there is shown a fifth preferred embodiment of expandable body
70
constructed in accordance with the invention. The differences between first and fourth embodiments are detailed below. As shown, a sleeve
78
having an inner thread
781
is extended from central hole
751
of upper section
75
. As to the operation of the fifth embodiment of the invention (FIGS.
18
and
19
), it is substantially the same as the first embodiment, i.e., in brief, drive a bolt
34
through expandable body
70
to form an expansion bolt for securing to a piece of object W
4
. The only difference is that sleeve
78
is first inserted through piece of object W
4
for guiding advancing thread of bolt
34
. This can also facilitate operation and enhance securing.
Referring to
FIGS. 20 and 21
, there is shown a sixth preferred embodiment of expandable body
80
constructed in accordance with the invention. The differences between fifth and sixth embodiments are detailed below. As shown, a plurality of equally spaced projected positioning member
882
(four are shown) are provided on the top edge of sleeve
88
. As to the operation of the sixth embodiment of the invention (FIGS.
22
and
23
), it is substantially the same as the first embodiment, i.e., in brief, drive a bolt
35
through expandable body
80
to form an expansion bolt for securing to a piece of object W
5
. The only difference is that projected positioning members
882
are first inserted through piece of object W
5
and sleeve
88
can guide advancing thread of bolt
35
. This can also facilitate operation and enhance securing.
While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
Claims
- 1. An expandable metal body for an expansion bolt comprising:a) a middle portion having a plurality of elongated longitudinal slots; b) an upper portion including an upper circular member connected by a connection member, the upper circular member having a first central hole therethrough with a first cut extending therefrom, and a lower circular member having a second central hole therethrough, a second cut extending therefrom and an outer recess; and, c) a lower portion having a plurality of tabs on a distal end, whereby the middle portion has an annular cross-sectional configuration, the lower circular member is positioned such that the outer recess is engaged with the connection member, the upper circular member is positioned over the lower circular member such that the first and second central holes are aligned and the tabs are positioned so as to extend outwardly from the lower portion.
- 2. The expandable metal body of claim 1 further comprising a member having a slanted blade extending upwardly from the upper portion.
- 3. The expandable metal body of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of triangular members extending upwardly from the tabs.
- 4. The expandable metal body of claim 1 further comprising first and second triangular positioning members extending from the lower circular member on opposite sides of the recess, and a third triangular positioning member extending from the upper circular member.
- 5. The expandable metal body of claim 1 further comprising two members having slanted blades extending upwardly from the upper portion.
US Referenced Citations (8)