Fasteners, fastening systems and methods

Abstract

A fastener for attaching a component to a support structure includes a fastening element comprising a shaft having an end face facing the fastening direction, a clip member having a support element, and a trap element that moves from an open position to a closed position to capture the eyelet of the component on the fastening element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener for attaching a component to a support structure. Further, the present invention relates to a fastening system and a method for attaching a component to a support structure.

Background Art

[0002] Fasteners and fastening systems are known for attaching components such as rails or hangers to support structures such as walls or ceilings. It is well known to temporarily attach such a fastener to the tool tip of a fastening tool and then use the fastening tool to fasten the fastener to the support structure. During fastening, the component needs to be manually held in a predetermined position between the fastener and the support structure, which can be cumbersome in some situations, especially when the fastening point is poorly accessible.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fastener for attaching a component having an eyelet to a support structure in a fastening direction includes a fastening element having a shaft configured to be driven into the support structure and having an end face facing in the fastening direction, a clip member having a support element attached to the fastening element, and a trap element configured to move from an open position to a closed position. In the open position, a gap having a gap width is formed between the trap element and the end face, allowing the eyelet to be placed on the fastening element across the end face through the gap. In the closed position, the gap width decreases to capture the eyelet on the fastening element. According to a preferred embodiment, the gap is completely closed in the closed position of the trap element. By capturing the eyelet on the fastening element, the component can be locked to the fastener and more easily held in a predetermined position or even held without the need for manual operation. In this way, for example, overhead applications are facilitated.

[0004] According to one embodiment, the clip member includes a sheet material having a support portion that forms a support element and a trap portion that forms a trap element. According to a preferred embodiment, the sheet material has a bend portion, around which the trap portion is bent relative to the support portion when the trap element is moved from an open position to a closed position. According to a more preferred embodiment, the bend portion is brittle or perforated.

[0005] According to a further embodiment, the trap element includes a hole configured to receive a fastening element. Once the fastening element is received in the hole, it becomes easier for the user to ensure that the gap width becomes small enough to capture the eyelet.

[0006] According to a further embodiment, the support element includes a bumper configured to absorb the residual drive energy of the fastening element. Absorbing such residual drive energy by the support element helps prevent the fastening element from being overdriven onto the eyelet.

[0007] In a further embodiment, the support element is formed as an end stop for the component or eyelet in the fastening direction. The eyelet may be fixed between the support element and the trap element by moving the trap element to a closed position when the component or eyelet contacts the support element, thereby preventing the component from swinging loosely during fastening.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the end face has a pointed or rounded tip facing the fastening direction. In another embodiment, the end face is flat, or slightly convex or concave. In yet another embodiment, the fastening element includes a nail, pin, stud, rivet, anchor, or screw.

[0009] According to further aspects of the present invention, the fastening system includes fasteners and components as described herein. According to a preferred embodiment, the components include a ceiling hanger.

[0010] A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for fastening an eyelet-containing component to a support structure in a fastening direction, comprising providing a fastening system as described herein, the method comprising: providing a trap element in an open position; positioning an eyelet on the fastening element across the end face through a gap; moving the trap element from an open position to a closed position to capture the eyelet on the fastening element; and driving the fastening element into the support structure. The method steps are preferably, but not required, to be performed in the order described above. According to a preferred embodiment, moving the trap element from an open position to a closed position includes bending the trap element relative to the support element.

[0011] In a further embodiment, positioning the eyelet on the fastening element includes bringing the eyelet into contact with a support element. The eyelet may be fixed between the support element and the trap element by moving the trap element to a closed position when the eyelet contacts the support element, thereby preventing the component from swinging loosely during fastening.

[0012] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, merely as an example. The embodiments described are merely possible configurations, in which individual features can be implemented independently of or omitted from each other. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a fastener. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening element. [Figure 3] This is a side view of a fastening system with the trap element in the open position. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a side view of the fastening system shown, with the trap element in the closed position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Figures 1 and 2 show fasteners 10 for attaching components (as shown in Figures 3 and 4) to a support structure (not shown) in the fastening direction 20.

[0015] The fastener 10 comprises a fastening element 30 configured to be driven into a support structure. For this purpose, the fastening element 30 is formed as a nail having a shaft 32 having an end face 34 facing the fastening direction 20 and a head 36. The end face 34 is formed as a pointed tip facing the fastening direction 20. In other embodiments (not shown), the fastening element may be formed as a pin, stud, rivet, or screw, each having a particularly pointed or rounded tip.

[0016] The fastener 10 further comprises a clip member 40 having a support element 42 attached to the fastening element 30. For this purpose, the support element 42 has a passage or bore having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft 32, and the fastening element 30 is inserted into or press-fitted into the passage of the support element 42. In embodiments not shown, the diameter of the passage in the support element is the same as or larger than the diameter of the shaft. The support element 42 includes a bumper 43 formed as a curved portion of the support element 42, such as a raised portion or dome, and configured to absorb the residual drive energy of the fastening element 30 when the fastening element 30 is driven into the support structure. The support member 42 further comprises a contact surface 49 facing the fastening direction 20, the contact surface 49 dropping forward from the end face 34 in the fastening direction 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface 49 surrounds the bumper 43.

[0017] The clip member 40 further includes a trap element 44, shown in the open position in Figures 1-2, and configured to move from the open position to the closed position, as described below with reference to Figures 3-4. In the open position, a gap 50 with a gap width w is formed between the trap element 44 and the end face 34 of the fastening element 30, as is best seen in Figure 2. The trap element 44 is provided with holes 45, in particular through holes or blind holes. The holes 45 are configured to receive the fastening element or the end face of the fastening element, as similarly described below.

[0018] The clip member 40 includes or is made of a sheet material such as a thin metal sheet, for example iron or aluminum, or an alloy, for example galvanized carbon steel or other steel. The sheet material extends in a plane perpendicular to the fastening direction 20 and has a support portion that forms a support element 42, a trap portion that forms a trap element 44, and a bend portion that forms a bend element 46, the trap portion may be bent around the bend portion relative to the support portion when the trap element 44 is moved from an open position to a closed position. At least in the closed position, the trap portion may extend in a plane parallel to the support portion, i.e., in a plane perpendicular to the fastening direction 20. The bend element 46 is provided with a cut line 47 to weaken the bend element 46 and to make the bend element 46 easier to bend, thereby making it easier to move the trap element 44 from an open position to a closed position.

[0019] Figures 3-4 illustrate a method for fastening a retaining element, such as a ceiling hanger, a component 60 having an eyelet 62, to a support structure (not shown) in a fastening direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the component 60 includes a wire, the end of which is bent to form the eyelet 62. In an embodiment not shown, the component may include a sheet material bent and / or punched to form the component, and may include a threaded element having a punch-through hole for forming the eyelet, or a hole for forming the eyelet. A fastening system is provided, including the component 60 and a fastener such as a fastener 10 as shown in Figures 1-2. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener 10 is provided with a trap element 44 in an open position.

[0020] In particular, in the first step which is performed manually, the eyelet 62 is positioned on the fastening element 30 across the end face 34 through the gap 50. The gap width w is configured to give the eyelet 62 sufficient tolerance to be positioned through the gap 50. In a preferred embodiment, the component 60 or the eyelet 62 abuts against the support element 42 or the contact surface 49, which serves as an end stop for the eyelet 62 in the fastening direction 20. In an embodiment not shown, the eyelet is positioned on the support element or between the support element and the trap element before the fastening element is inserted into or through the eyelet.

[0021] In a further step, particularly one performed manually, the trap element 44 is moved or bent from an open position (Figure 3) to a closed position (Figure 4) relative to the support element (see arrow 70 in Figure 3), thereby reducing the gap width or closing the gap 50 to capture the eyelet 62 on the fastening element 30. A hole 45 (not shown in Figures 3-4) in the trap element 44 receives the end face 34 of the fastening element 30, facilitating the closing of the gap 50. By contacting the support element 42 or the contact surface 49, the eyelet 62 can be fixed between the support element 42 and the trap element 44 by moving the trap element 44 to the closed position. In this way, loose swinging by the component 60 during fastening can be prevented. The step of moving the trap element from the open position to the closed position is performed, for example, by a tool or power tool, such as the tool used to drive the fastening element into the support structure, at the same time as driving the fastening element into the support structure.

[0022] In a further step, when the eyelet 62 is captured on the fastening element 30 by the fastener 10 or trap element 44, i.e., when the fastening system is in the configuration shown in Figure 4, the fastening element 10 is driven into the support structure. For this purpose, a fastening tool, or a power-operated fastening tool such as a nail gun or screwdriver, in particular a pole tool, may be used, where the fastening system is pre-positioned, particularly manually, on the tool tip of the fastening tool. The support structure may be an architectural element such as a wall or ceiling, and may be made of concrete, metal, or an alloy such as steel or wood. After the fastening system is fastened to the support structure, the components may be reshaped or bent to form a final configuration such as a ceiling hanger provided for a suspended ceiling structure.

[0023] While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to its elements and that equivalents can be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. All elements and features of the disclosed embodiments may exist individually or in any combination in all other embodiments, as long as they do not contradict each other. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt the teachings of the invention to specific situations or materials without departing from the essential teachings of the invention.

Claims

1. A fastener for attaching a component having an eyelet to a support structure in the fastening direction, A fastening element comprising a shaft configured to be driven into the support structure and having an end face facing the fastening direction, A clip member having a support element attached to the fastening element and a trap element configured to move from an open position to a closed position, Equipped with, A fastener wherein, in the open position, a gap having a gap width is formed between the trap element and the end face, allowing the eyelet to be positioned on the fastening element across the end face through the gap, and in the closed position, the gap width is reduced to capture the eyelet on the fastening element.

2. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the gap is completely closed in the closed position of the trap element.

3. The fastener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clip member includes a sheet material having a support portion that forms the support element and a trap portion that forms the trap element.

4. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the sheet material has a bent portion, and when the trap element is moved from the open position to the closed position, the trap portion is bent relative to the support portion.

5. The fastener according to claim 4, wherein the bent portion is weakened or perforated.

6. The fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the trap element includes a hole configured to receive the fastening element.

7. The fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support element includes a bumper configured to absorb the remaining driving energy of the fastening element.

8. The fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support element is formed as an end stop for the component or the eyelet in the fastening direction.

9. The fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the end face includes a pointed or rounded tip facing the fastening direction.

10. The fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fastening element includes a nail, pin, stud, rivet, anchor, or screw.

11. A fastening system comprising a fastener and components according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The fastening system according to claim 11, wherein the aforementioned components include a ceiling hanger.

13. A method for attaching a component having an eyelet to a support structure in the fastening direction, To provide a fastening system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the trap element is in the open position, The eyelet is positioned on the fastening element across the end face through the gap, The trap element is moved from the open position to the closed position to capture the eyelet on the fastening element, A method comprising driving the fastening element into the support structure.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein moving the trap element from the open position to the closed position includes bending the trap element relative to the support element.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein arranging the eyelet on the fastening element includes bringing the component or eyelet into contact with the support element.

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