Post-to-beam fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12546355-B2
Application number	US-202318315299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2023
Priority date	Sep 26, 2018
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A fastener assembly comprising:
a drill bit including a hexagonal shaped first end and an opposite second end having a tip; and a fastener including:
a head;
a threaded shank section including exterior threaded formations and interior surfaces defining a hexagonal shaped recess configured to removably receive the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit, wherein the interior surfaces are configured to engage the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit, wherein the interior surfaces enable the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit to be removed from the hexagonal shaped recess; and
a non-threaded shank section connected to the head at a first end and to the threaded shank section at a second end, the non-threaded shank section having a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the threaded shank section, the non-threaded shank section including a first portion closest to the head that does not include any thread formations and a second portion closest to the threaded shank section that does not include any thread formations, wherein the first portion of the non-threaded shank section and the second portion of the non-threaded shank section are approximately three times longer than the threaded shank section,
wherein the drill bit has a length that is longer than the non-threaded shank section and that is longer than the threaded shank section,
wherein the head, the threaded shank section, and the non-threaded shank section are integrally formed.

2 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the head has a hexagonal shape.

3 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the head defines a recess.

4 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , which includes a washer integrally connected to a bottom portion of the head.

5 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , which includes a washer positionable adjacent to a bottom portion of the head.

6 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , which includes locking ribs under the head.

7 . The fastener assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the locking ribs extends radially outwardly.

8 . The fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the length of the drill bit is approximately as long as the non-threaded shank section and the threaded shank section combined.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Dill Michael C
• Stemper Daniel J
• Studenroth Brent A
• Versino Anthony M

Classifications

• E04B1/003

  Balconies; Decks · CPC title

• F16B35/042

  for retention or rotation by a tool, e.g. of polygonal cross-section · CPC title

• F16B23/0092

  with a head engageable by two or more different tools (F16B23/0076 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B23/0038

  substantially prismatic with up to six edges, e.g. triangular, square, pentagonal, Allen-type cross-sections · CPC title

• F16B23/0007 Primary

  characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool (F16B23/0069 and F16B23/0076 take precedence) · CPC title