Illinois Tool Works Inc.

George B Dowse

Richard J Ernst

James W Robinson

George G Dewey

Cheryl L Panasik

Joseph J Dunk

A self drilling anchor for use in a friable material mounted on a member comprises an elongated body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive an elongated fastener, a flared end having torque transmitting surfaces therein, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, a distal portion, and a drilling tip generally opposite the flared end, wherein the proximal portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter, and a thread height, the intermediate portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion, and the distal portion has a threaded exterior with a root that tapers toward the drilling tip, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion.

Self-drilling anchor

A method of installing a self drilling anchor for use in a friable material mounted on a member comprising an elongated body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive an elongated fastener, a flared end having torque transmitting surfaces therein, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, a distal portion, and a drilling tip generally opposite the flared end, wherein the proximal portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter, and a thread height, the intermediate portion has a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion, and the distal portion has a threaded exterior with a root that tapers toward the drilling tip, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the crest diameter of the proximal portion, and a thread height substantially smaller than the thread height of the proximal portion.

Method of installing a self-drilling anchor

In one aspect, an anchor may include a threaded body, and a coaxial nut, wherein the anchor has a driving mode and an anchoring mode with the nut drawn rearwardly into the body by a threaded fastener to open the body radially outwardly. In another aspect, a one-piece self-drilling anchor includes a generally cylindrical threaded body with a pair of diametrically opposed inverted Y-shaped slits each having a generally axial slit and an inverted V-shaped pair of slits, a nut having splines for engage a threaded fastener, a pair of diametrically opposed inverted V-shaped wedges that are demarcated from the body by the V-shaped slits so that the body is relasably connected to the body, and a generally flat V-shaped drill tip. In still another aspect, a self-drilling anchor includes a threaded body that forks into a pair of diametrically opposed legs, a coaxially nut having splines for engaging a threaded fastener and a pair of diametrically opposed wedges, wherein when in the driving mode the wedges are connected between the legs to form a generally cylindrical portion, and wherein when in the anchoring mode the nut is drawn rearwardly into the body by the threaded fastener to pivot the legs radially outwardly.

In one aspect, a holder mountable to a friable substrate may include a self-drilling anchor, a wall engaging flange having an opening for receiving a fastener, and at least one leg extending from the flange for holding an object. In another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling anchor having a drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a wall engaging flange, and at least one leg for holding an object. In still another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling anchor having a screw-like drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a drywall engaging flange having a recess for receiving a rotary driver and a pair of openings each capable of receiving a threaded fastener and engaging threads thereof.

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Huntley, IL, United States of America

George B Dowse