- 1 SCREW WITH BREAKAWAY AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates generally to fasteners. More specifically, the invention relates to screws and their use in joints. Background 10 Small, hand held fastening devices are used in the mechanical and construction industries. There is an increasing need for adaptations that 15 facilitate the manipulation of such small, hand held fastening devices. Summary of the Invention 20 A first aspect of the present invention provides a screw with a screw head and an elongated stem, the screw head comprising a first surface having a driver slot thereon and a second surface facing away from the first surface; the elongated stem comprising: 25 a threaded first portion at a proximal end thereof non-releasably coupled to the second surface of the screw head; a non-threaded second portion extending from the distal end of the threaded first portion; and 30 a breakaway between the threaded first portion and the non-threaded second portion releasably coupling the non-threaded second portion to the distal end of the threaded first portion. 35 In one embodiment, the threaded first portion of the elongated stem is adapted to engage with and screw into a threaded hollow channel of a hinge; the non-threaded second portion is adapted to pass through and extend - 2 out of the threaded hollow channel after a user inserts the screw into the threaded hollow channel; and the non-threaded second portion is adapted to be released from the threaded first portion by the user after the 5 threaded first portion has caught at least one thread the hollow threaded channel of the hinge. In one embodiment, a diameter of the non-threaded second portion is smaller than a diameter of the 10 threaded first portion and the screw is adapted to be manipulated by hand by a user. In one embodiment, the diameter of the non-threaded second portion is between about 0.036 inches and about 15 0.044 inches. A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of replacing a screw of the first aspect of the 20 invention into the hinge, the screw being adapted to be manipulated by hand by a user, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the non-threaded second portion of the elongated stem into the hollow threaded channel in the 25 hinge so that the non-threaded second portion of the elongated stem extends out of the hollow threaded channel of the hinge; rotating the screw in the hollow threaded channel so that the threaded first portion catches at 30 least one thread of the hollow threaded channel; and releasing the non-threaded second portion. Brief Description of the Figures 35 Fig. 1A depicts a top plan view of a first surface of a screw head of a screw, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; - 3 Fig. 1B depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the screw depicted in Fig. 1A, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 5 Fig. 2 depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a kit, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 10 Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Fig. 1A depicts a top plan view of a first surface 19 of a screw head 15 of a screw 10. The screw head 15 includes a driver slot 17. The screw 10 may be a round 15 head 15 made of stainless steel, brass, nickel/sliver, carbon steel, titanium, or other appropriate metals or metal alloys. The driver slot 17 may be a single groove, a Phillips@ cross shaped groove, an hexagonal groove for turning with a hex wrench. 20 Fig. 1 B depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the screw 10. The screw 10, comprises: the screw head 15, comprising: a first surface 19 having a driver slot 17 thereon, and a second surface 18, wherein the second 25 surface 18 of the screw head 15 faces away from the first surface 19. The screw 10 comprises an elongated stem 11. The elongated stem 11 comprises a threaded first portion 20. A proximal end A of the threaded first portion 20 is mechanically and physically coupled 30 to the second surface 18 of the screw head 15. The mechanical and physical coupling between the second surface 18 of the screw head 15 and the proximal end A of the threaded first portion 20 is not a breakaway 25. The elongated stem 11 comprises a non-threaded second 35 portion 30 extending from a distal end C of the threaded first portion 20; and a breakaway 25 therebetween.
- 4 Hereinafter, a "breakaway" is defined as a releasable coupling between a removable piece such as the proximal end 12 of the non-threaded second portion 20 and the distal end C of the threaded first portion 20. 5 Hereinafter, "distal end" is defined as the further point along the elongated stem 11 in reference to the second surface 18 of the screw head 15, and "proximal" is defined as the nearer point along the elongated stem 10 11 in reference to the second surface 18 of the screw head 15. Hereinafter "releasing" is defined as breaking or cleaving or severing a mechanical and physical coupling 15 between the removable piece such as the proximal end 12 of the non-threaded second portion 20 and the distal end C of the threaded first portion 20. Hereinafter "screwing the screw 10, 13 into a screw 20 hole 59, 100 or threaded hollow channel of a hinge 64" is defined as engaging the threads 63 in the screw hole 59, 100 or hollow threaded channel 64 of a hinge 66, by rotating the screw 10, 13 about its longitudinal axis in a clockwise motion, resulting in the screw 10, 13 25 being essentially completely inserted into the screw hole 59, 100 or hollow threaded channel 64 of the hinge 66. Such engaging the threads 63 in the screw hole or hollow threaded channel 64 has the ultimate end that the screw 10, 13 has been essentially completely 30 inserted into the screw hole 59, 100. In one embodiment, the screw 10 comprises a non threaded first portion 30 for making it easier to handle the screw 10. You insert the non-threaded first 35 portion 30 of the screw 10 into a screw hole 100 first and then you are able to pull the threaded second portion 20 of the screw 10 into the screw hole 100 as the non-threaded second portion 30 is removed from the - 5 screw hole 100. This adapts the screw 10 to be more easily manipulated by hand by a user. In one embodiment, a length Li from about 0.3375 inches to about 0.4125 inches may separate the proximal end A 5 of the threaded first portion 20 and the distal end C of the threaded first portion 20. In one embodiment, a length L2 from about .6973 in. to about 0.8525 inches may separate the proximal end A of 10 the threaded first portion 20 and the distal end B of the non-threaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11. In one embodiment, a diameter W3 of the non-threaded 15 second portion may be smaller than a diameter W2 of the threaded first portion 20 of the elongated stem 11. In one embodiment the diameter W3 is from about 0.036 inches to about 0.044 in. 20 In one embodiment, the threaded first portion 42 has a 6-32 UNF thread, wherein conventional UNC or UNF thread is a 60 degree thread. Fig. 2 depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 25 kit 65. In one embodiment, the kit 65 comprises: a hinge 66, comprising first and second straps 60, 61, pivotably coupled to a cylinder 62. The cylinder 62 has a hollow threaded channel 64 therein. The kit 65 comprises: a screw 10, comprising: a head 19 and an 30 elongated stem 11. The elongated stem 11, comprises a threaded first portion 20 adjacent to the head 15 and a non-threaded second portion 30 extending from the threaded first portion 20 and a breakaway 25 therebetween. The breakaway 25 releasably couples the 35 threaded first portion 20 of the elongated stem 11 to the non-threaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11. The nonthreaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11 has been aligned with the hollow - 6 threaded channel 64 in the hinge 66. The non-threaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11 can be inserted into the hollow threaded channel 64 in the hinge 66 so that the threaded first portion 20 of the 5 elongated stem 11 catches at least one of the threads 63 of the hollow threaded channel 64 of the hinge 66. In all preferred embodiments, the proximal end E of the threaded first portion 42 and the second surface 48 of 10 the screw head 50 are mechanically and physically non releasably coupled. An embodiment of the method of the second aspect of replacing a screw 10 of the first aspect of the 15 invention in a hinge 66, depicted in Fig. 2, is described below and in associated text. First and second straps 60, 61 may be pivotably coupled to a cylinder 62. The cylinder 62 has a hollow threaded channel 64 therein. The non-threaded second portion 30 20 of the elongated stem 11 may be inserted into the hollow threaded channel 64 in the hinge 66 so that the non-threaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11 extends out of the hollow threaded channel 64 of the hinge 66. The first threaded portion 20 of the 25 elongated stem 11 may be screwed into the hollow threaded channel 64 of the hinge 66 by rotating the threaded first portion 20 of the elongated stem 11, 14 that has been aligned with the threads 63 of the threaded hollow channel 64 of the hinge 66. The non 30 threaded second portion 30 of the elongated stem 11 may be broken off at the breakaway 25 from the threaded first portion 20 of the elongated stem 11 after the threaded first portion 20 of the elongated stem is essentially completely screwed into the threaded hollow 35 channel 64 of the hinge 66. Alternatively, a user may remove the non-threaded second portion 30 from the elongated stem 11 of the screw 10 after catching at least one thread 63 of the hollow threaded channel 64 -7 of the hinge 66. The description of the embodiments of the present invention is given above for the understanding of the 5 present invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without 10 departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 15 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive 20 sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 25 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 30