Self-drilling expandable anchor and methods of use and installation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12168989-B2
Application number	US-202117323530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2021
Priority date	May 28, 2020
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

A self-drilling expandable anchor operable with a self-drilling expandable anchor installation tool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A single-bodied self-drilling expandable anchor comprising:
an expandable member including a first end and a second end, the expandable member including a base at the first end and an expandable tube connected to and extending from the base, the base having one or more larger outer dimensions than the expandable tube and a front surface, a back surface, and four side edges, the base and the expandable tube defining an inner passageway, the expandable tube including a first section at the second end and a second section between the first section and the base, the first section including inner threads, the second section not including inner threads and being expandable relative to the base and to the first section;
a hanger including a threaded member connector having inner threads and a hanger base connected to and extending from the threaded member connector;
a threaded member including a partially threaded shaft including a first section including outer threads, a second section that does not have outer threads, and a third section that includes outer threads, the shaft configured to extend through the inner passageway of the expandable member such that the first section extends out of the first end of the expandable member, the third section extends out of the second end of the expandable member, the outer threads of the first section are configured to engage the inner threads of the first section of the expandable tube, the outer threads of the third section are configured to engage the inner threads of the threaded member connector to connect the threaded member connector and the hanger to the threaded member;
a friction reducing element disposed between the base of the expandable member and the threaded member; and
a drill head including a connector and a drill tip connected to and extending from the connector, the connector connectable to the first section of the threaded member,
wherein the drill tip is configured to rotate as the threaded member is rotated,
wherein the self-drilling expandable anchor is configured to be installed in one step, and wherein each of the four side edges includes two top and bottom opposing inwardly beveled surfaces and an outer surface.

2. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the connector of the drill head is fixedly connected to the first section of the threaded member.

3. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the expandable tube defines a series of slots that facilitate the expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

4. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the expandable tube has an outward bulge that facilitates the expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

5. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , which is configured such that without the base being held stationary, rotation of the hanger causes rotation of the threaded member, rotation of the expandable member, and rotation of the drill head.

6. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 5 , which is configured such that with the base being held stationary, rotation of the hanger causes rotation of the threaded member and rotation of the drill head, does not cause rotation of the expandable member, and causes expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

7. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the connector of the drill tip is directly fixedly connected to the second section of the threaded member.

8. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the connector of the drill tip is welded to the second section of the threaded member.

9. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 1 , wherein the drill tip is forged.

10. A self-drilling expandable anchor comprising:
an expandable member including a base and an expandable tube connected to and extending from the base, the base having one or more larger outer dimensions than the expandable tube and a front surface, a back surface and four side edges, the base and the expandable tube defining an inner passageway, the expandable tube including a first section and a second section between the first section and the base, the first section including inner threads, the second section not including inner threads and being expandable relative to the base and to the first section;
a threaded member configured to extend through the expandable member, the threaded member having a head and a threaded shaft connected at a first end to the head, the threads configured to engage the inner threads of the first section of the expandable tube, the threaded shaft having a second end opposite first end, and configured to be connected to the connector of the drill head;
a drill head including a connector and a drill tip connected to and extending from the connector, wherein the drill tip includes inner threads configured to threadably engage the outer threads of the second section of the threaded member;
a friction reducing element disposed between the base of the expandable member and the threaded member; and
a hanger including a threaded member connector having inner threads and securely attachable to the head of the threaded member and a hanger base connected to and extending from the threaded member connector,
wherein the self-drilling expandable anchor is configured to be installed in one step, and
wherein each of the four side edges includes two top and bottom opposing inwardly beveled surfaces and an outer surface.

11. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , wherein the second section of the expandable tube defines a series of slots that facilitate the expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

12. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , wherein the second section of the expandable tube has an outward bulge that facilitates the expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

13. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , which is configured such that without the base being held stationary, rotation of the hanger causes rotation of the threaded member, rotation of the expandable member, and rotation of the drill head.

14. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 13 , which is configured such that with the base being held stationary, rotation of the hanger causes rotation of the threaded member and rotation of the drill head, does not cause rotation of the expandable member, and causes expansion of the second section of the expandable tube.

15. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , wherein the connector of the drill tip is directly fixedly connected to the second section of the threaded member.

16. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , wherein the connector of the drill tip is welded to the second section of the threaded member.

17. The self-drilling expandable anchor of claim 10 , wherein the drill tip is machined.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kao Eddie

Classifications

• B25B13/50

  for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes · CPC title

• B25B23/0035

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title

• B25B31/00

  Hand tools for applying fasteners (nailing or stapling tools B25C) · CPC title

• B25B21/007

  Attachments for drilling apparatus for screw or nut setting or loosening · CPC title

• F16B13/061

  of the buckling type · CPC title