Self-drilling, self-cleaning panel fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10330137-B2
Application number	US-201715473076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Aug 26, 2014
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A self-drilling, self-cleaning fastener for a panel includes a head having a top side and an underside. The head has a diameter. A shank depends from an underside of the head and has a diameter less than the diameter of the head. A knurled region is adjacent the shank. The knurled region has a diameter and a plurality of spiral formed knurls having a twist in a first direction. The knurls define a major circumference as measured around peaks of the knurls. A threaded region is adjacent the knurled region and has a diameter less than the diameter of the knurled region. The threaded region has a thread form having a twist in a second direction opposite the first direction. A driving point is at an end opposite the head.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-drilling, self-cleaning fastener comprising:
a head having a top side and an underside, the head having diameter;
a shank depending from an underside of the head, the shank having a diameter less than the diameter of the head;
a knurled region adjacent the shank, the knurled region having a plurality of spiral formed knurls therein having a twist in a first direction, the knurled region having a major circumference as measured around peaks of the knurls and a major diameter measured across peaks of opposing knurls;
a threaded region adjacent the knurled region, the threaded region having a major diameter less than the major diameter of the knurled region, the threaded region having a thread formed therein having a twist in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a driving point at an end opposite the head,
wherein a transition between the threaded region and the knurled region defines a step formed by a difference between the major diameter of the knurled region and the major diameter of the threaded region, and wherein the fastener is a bi-metal fastener.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the threaded region has a right-hand twist and the knurled region has a left-hand twist.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the threaded region has a left-hand twist and the knurled region has a right-hand twist.

4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the knurled region includes 6 knurls equally spaced about a periphery of the fastener to define a major diameter across peaks of opposing knurls.

5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the driving point is a self-drilling point.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Gong Yongping
• Sherrer Daniel A

Classifications

• F16B25/10

  Screws performing an additional function to thread-forming, e.g. drill screws {or self-piercing screws} · CPC title

• F16B25/103 Primary

  by means of a drilling screw-point, i.e. with a cutting and material removing action · CPC title

• F16B25/0057

  the screw having distinct axial zones, e.g. multiple axial thread sections with different pitch or thread cross-sections · CPC title

• F16B25/0031

  the screw being designed to be screwed into different materials, e.g. a layered structure or through metallic and wooden parts · CPC title

• F16B25/0094

  the screw being assembled or manufactured from several components, e.g. a tip out of a first material welded to shaft of a second material · CPC title