Self-drilling, self-cleaning panel fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709086-B2
Application number	US-201514832323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2014
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

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 diameter, the knurled region having a plurality or 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;
a threaded region adjacent the knurled region, the threaded region having a diameter less than the 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 self-drilling driving point at an end opposite the head,
wherein a first portion of the fastener from the driving point to a location along the threads is formed from a first material and wherein a second portion of the fastener from an end of the first portion to the head is formed from a second material.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first portion material is a hardened material.

3. The fastener of claim 2 wherein the second portion material is a corrosion resistant material.

4. The fastener of claim 3 wherein the first portion material is carbon steel and the second portion material is stainless steel.

5. The fastener of claim 1 including a coating on the fastener.

6. The fastener of claim 5 wherein the coating is one or both of a corrosion resistant material and an ease of driving material.

7. The fastener of claim 1 including a coating on the fastener, wherein the coating is one or both of a corrosion resistant material and an ease of driving material.

8. The fastener of claim 1 including a transition at a juncture of the shank and the head, the transition having a taper that widens from the shank to the head.

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

• F16B25/0057

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

• F16B25/103 Primary

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

• F16B25/0021

  the material being metal, e.g. sheet-metal or aluminium (F16B25/0031 takes precedence) · 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