Fastener alignment guide, connector and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12509877-B2
Application number	US-202318123932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2023
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

The present invention provides a fastener alignment guide comprising a generally planar body and an angled element arranged at an acute angle θ to the body, a first aperture arranged through the angled element and a second aperture arranged through the body, wherein the first aperture and the second apertures are aligned such that a fastener may be inserted progressively through the first and second apertures in use. The present invention also provides a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising a body at least partially arranged in a first plane, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener; and a guidewall extending out of the first plane for guiding the fastener, in use, into the first aperture at an acute angle α to the first plane, wherein the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of the fastener can bear in use, the body further comprises a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, and the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in a first direction parallel to the first plane.The present invention also provides a method of forming the fastener alignment guide and slip-resisting fastener alignment guide.

First claim

I claim:

1 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising;
a body at least partially arranged in a first plane, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener; and a guidewall extending out of the first plane for guiding the fastener, in use, into the first aperture at an acute angle to the first plane; wherein the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of the fastener can bear in use; the body further comprises a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use; the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in a first direction parallel to the first plane; the body further comprises a stop configured/arranged to resist or block movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in the first direction; and the stop comprises a second, separate aperture for receiving a portion of the head of the fastener in use, the second bearing edge or surface comprising at least a portion of an edge or surface of the second, separate aperture.

2 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each arranged substantially transverse to the first direction.

3 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guidewall comprises a portion of the body which is bent out of the first plane, thereby forming the first aperture.

4 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guidewall is arranged at an angle to the first plane.

5 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface comprises an end face or edge of the guidewall.

6 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein;
a fastener alignment axis is defined through the first aperture;
a second plane is defined perpendicular to first plane, the fastener alignment axis being arranged in the second plane and at an acute angle to the first plane and
the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are configured such that load transfer between the fastener and the fastener alignment guide in use is equally balanced on either side of the second plane.

7 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a fastener.

8 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastener comprises a head having a generally planar underside and a shank having a central axis, the central axis being generally perpendicular to the generally planar underside of the head.

9 . A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface and/or the second bearing edge or surface is straight.

10 . A connector comprising a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 .

11 . A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein the connector is formed from sheet metal.

12 . A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein the slip-resisting fastener alignment guide is formed as an integral part of the connector.

13 . A connector as claimed in claim 12 wherein the connector is a joist hanger, bracket, angle bracket or portal frame connector or other connector for use in construction.

14 . A method of forming a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising the steps of:
forming a piece of sheet metal comprising a guidewall arranged at an acute angle to a first plane, wherein;
the first plane is defined by a body of the piece of sheet metal; and
the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of a fastener can bear in use; and
forming a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, wherein: the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener a first direction parallel to the first plane; the step of forming the second bearing edge or surface comprises forming a stop in the body; and the stop is a second, separate aperture in the body.

15 . A method of forming a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as in claim 14 wherein the guidewall is formed by bending a portion of the body out of the first plane.

Assignees

• Simpson Strong Tie Co Inc

Inventors

• Allen Dean

Classifications

• E04B2001/389

  Brackets · CPC title

• F16B5/0621

  in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• E04B2001/2652

  Details of nailing, screwing, or bolting · CPC title

• E04B2001/2644

  Brackets, gussets or joining plates · CPC title

• E04B1/2612 Primary

  Joist hangers · CPC title