WO1998001647A1

WO1998001647A1 - Fastener for adjustable fastening of a frame in a wall-opening

Info

Publication number: WO1998001647A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/001106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kurt SÖDERSTRÖM
Original assignee: Soederstroem Kurt
Priority date: 1996-07-04
Filing date: 1997-06-19
Publication date: 1998-01-15
Also published as: AU3469297A

Abstract

A fastener device for adjustably fitting a frame (3) into an opening (2) in a wall (1) includes a sleeve (15) that has an external screw thread (171) for engagement with a corresponding internal screw thread (171, 171') on the frame (3). The sleeve (15) includes a fastener driving means (40) by means of which the sleeve can be rotated with the aid of a tool engaging the means (40). The outer end of the sleeve is provided with a support element (70) with which the sleeve (15) supports against an edge surface (7) of the wall opening. The support element (70) is intended to be dogged by the sleeve (15) in both directions of the sleeve axis. The support element (70) is mounted for rotation around the sleeve axis and is also mounted to enable it to be positioned obliquely in relation to a plane normal to the sleeve axis.

Description

FASTENER FOR ADJUSTABLE FASTENING OF A FRAME IN A WALL-OPENING

The present invention relates to a fastener device of the kind defined in the preamble of Claim 1 for adjustably securing a frame in a wall opening.

The inventive fastener device thus includes a sleeve having an external thread which engages an internal thread connected to a frame member, wherein the sleeve includes means whereby the fastener device can be rotated with the aid of an appropriate tool in engagement with said means.

A frame screw retailed under the trademark Programa®, Programa AB, Box 241, S-434 01 Kungsbacka 1, Sweden, is known in the art. The known frame screw has the features described above. When fitting the known frame screw, difficulties arise because the sleeve of the frame screw is connected axially with a anchoring screw that is intended to be anchored in the wall structure and that rotates relative to the sleeve, whereby it is necessary to supply several different types of frame screw with anchoring screws of different lengths.

Furthermore, wedges are required for adjustment of the frame in the wall opening prior to drilling holes for the frame screws.

PCT/SE96/00039 shows a fastener device of the aforesaid kind which enables the use of separate fastener elements of selective lengths for anchoring the device to the wall, and which also enables the frame to be aligned in the wall opening more easily. By frame is meant a window frame, door frame or some similar frame.

Several problems occur in the case of a fastener device with which a sleeve can be screwed into the frame such that the outer end of the fastener device will support against the edge surface of an opening defining surface.

One problem is that adjustment, i.e. rotary movement of the sleeve, can be troublesome as a result of the high friction between the outer end of the sleeve and said edge surface.

Another problem is that adjustment of the window in the wall opening can result in a change in the direction of a sleeve and in the position of the point of contact between the outer end of the sleeve and said edge surface. If it is impossible to axially displace the outer end of the sleeve on the edge surface, the sleeve is liable to bite, jam or the like and therewith make it difficult to screw-in the sleeve. Turning of the sleeve is difficult to achieve should the sleeve axis deviate slightly from the direction normal to the plane of the edge surface, even when the end of the sleeve can be displaced on the edge surface.

Another problem is that fastener devices of the kind taught by WO 96/22442 (PCT/SE96/00039 ) require the use of a hole plug of a special tubular configuration with an expander means .

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastener device with which these problems are eliminated either completely or partially. This object is achieved with a fastener device according to Claim 1.

Further development of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying dependent Claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a window frame fitted in a wall opening with the aid of inventive fastener devices.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view through the frame sleeve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the connection of the support element to the outer end of the sleeve.

Fig. 5 illustrates a variant of the fastener device in a view corresponding to Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a wall structure 1 having provided therein an opening 2 which is defined by wall surfaces 7. The Figure also shows a window frame 3 placed in the opening 2. The frame 3 is supported against the wall surfaces 7 of the opening 2 by means of spacing sleeves 15.

As will be evident from Fig. 2, the frame 3 includes a bore 13 which extends perpendicularly to the rear frame member concerned, and also perpendicularly to an adjacent wall surface 7. A sleeve 15 includes an external thread 151 which engages with a corresponding thread 171 in the wall of the bore 13. Alternatively, a plate 17 provided with an internal screw-thread 71 may be attached to the outside of the frame 3 (in this case, the diameter of the bore 13 may be slightly larger than the sleeve 15 and no thread 171 need be provided in the wall of the bore 13).

The sleeve 15 includes an internal thread 152. The rear end of the sleeve is provided with sleeve driving means 40, which in the illustrated case has the form of a diametrical groove for coaction with a screwdriver. Alternatively, the means 40 may have the form of a socket head (not shown). Alignment of the frame 3 in the wall opening 2 is achieved by backing-off the sleeves 15 through their respective bores 13, so as to bring the outer end 153 of respective sleeves 15 into abutment with a respective wall surface 7. Naturally, the position of the frame in the frame opening may be corrected and finely adjusted, by screwing the sleeves 15 into their guide threads, in a known manner.

A hole 11 is then drilled in the wall 1, with the drill passing through the bore 13 and the sleeve 15. A wall plug 29 is then inserted through the bore 13 and the sleeve 14, such that the anchoring part of the plug 29 is pressed into the hole 11 in the wall. The rear end of the plug 29 carries a head 30 which has an outer thread 31 that meshes with the internal thread 152 of the sleeve 15. Thus, subsequent to being pressed into the hole 11, the plug 29 can be screwed with the aid of a tool (screwdriver) engaging the fastener driving means 35 (a diametrical groove or slot) in the rear end of the plug head 30, therewith bringing the external thread 31 in meshing engagement with the thread 152 and screwing the plug 29 into the hole 11 to a desired depth, for instance a depth in which the head 30 lies midway along the sleeve 15. The opening at the front end of the sleeve 15 may be reduced so as to enable the anchoring stem of the plug 29 to pass through, but not the head 30 of the plug.

When the plug 29 has been positioned in the hole 11 and in the sleeve 15, a fastener element 25, which in the illustrated case is a screw (with a slide washer 23) is driven through an axial opening extending through the plug 29. The screw 25 is thus inserted from the inside of the frame 3 and into the sleeve 15 and in through the plug 29, through the bore 13. Extending through the rear parts of the plug 29 is a passageway which is larger than the stem of the screw 25, whereas the front part of the plug 29 is designed to be expanded by the stem of said screw 25, so as to anchor the front part of the plug in the wall. The head of the screw 25 supports against the rear edge of the plug head 30 inside the sleeve 15. Although not shown, the head of the screw 25 may have an external, peripheral thread for coaction with the inner thread 152 of the sleeve 15.

Naturally, a nail may be used instead of the screw 25, optionally with the aid of a nail driving device.

The bore 13 may be filled-in with a plug, and fillets may be fitted to bridge the gap between the frame 3 and the edge surface 7 defining the wall opening 2. The threads 152, 171 have mutually different pitches (and preferably the same direction of hand or pitch). The person skilled in this art will realise that subsequent adjustments to a frame 3 fitted in this way can be readily made by screwing the sleeves 15 along the bore 13 with the aid of a tool in engagement with the fastener driving means 40.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pitch of the screw thread 31 is approximately half of the pitch of the screw thread 171.

As will be evident from Fig. 2, a perforated plate 70 is mounted coaxially on the outer end of the sleeve 15.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, one end of the sleeve 15 has a radially extending flange 72 which engages in a corresponding recess 71 in the perforated plate 70 with an axial clearance therebetween, Fig. 4 showing the flange 72 projecting radially out from the sleeve. The forward end- surface of the plate 70 lies in front of the forward end- surface of the sleeve 15.

As evident from Fig. 3, at least one axial slot 155 is formed through the wall of the sleeve 15, from the forward end of the sleeve. The slot 155 forms an opening through which drill cuttings can depart. Naturally, more slots or openings 155 may be provided in the sleeve wall. As a result of the slot/slots 155, the outer end-part of the sleeve 15 can be easily squeezed together elastically so as to enable the forward end-part of the sleeve carrying the peripheral flange 72 to be inserted into the perforated plate, such that the flange 72 is able to spring out in the aperture 71 when load on the forward end-part of the sleeve is removed. Lubricant or a slide plate or washer may be inserted between the perforated plate and said end of the sleeve.

The connection between the perforated plate or washer 70 and the end of the sleeve 15 may be such as to enable the plate 70 to rotate in relation to the sleeve 15, and such as to enable the sleeve 15 to be positioned obliquely in relation to said plate 70. The connection between the perforated plate 70 and the sleeve 15 may also be such as to enable the plate 70 to move radially in relation to the sleeve 15. However, the connection must be such as to ensure that the plate 70 will accompany the sleeve 15 in both directions in the direction of the sleeve axis. As a result of the support element 70 and its connection with the sleeve 15, the sleeve 15 can be easily turned to adjust the position of the frame in the wall opening, even should the sleeve 15 have a tendency towards being positioned obliquely in relation to the edge surface 7 of the wall opening.

Fig. 5 shows a variant in which the plug 29 and the expander element 35 of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-4 have been replaced with a screw 80 whose head 81 has an external thread for coaction with the internal thread 152 of the sleeve 15. The thread on the screw stem enables the screw to be anchored in the wall 1. If the wall is comprised of soft wood or some like material, the screw 80 may be screwed directly into the wall without needing to provide a hole 11 beforehand. The screw thread 81 may be a self-tapping thread which will cut a screw thread in a hole in the wall. If the wall material is weak, for instance if the wall is built of lightweight concrete, a pre-drilled hole may first be filled with a filler and the screw 80 then screwed into the hole 11. The screw stem 8 will engage the wall 1 with a relatively high turning resistance, so as to enable the sleeve to be later screwed onto the screw thus anchored against rotation in the wall 1.

The fastener screw 80 is screwed into the surface 1 with the aid of a tool, for instance a screwdriver, that engages a screw driving means 35 (e.g. a diametrical groove) on the rear end of the head 82. When the internal screw thread 152 of the sleeve 15 and the screw thread on the stem 81 of the fastener screw have mutually the same pitch and the same pitch direction or hand, the fastener screw 80 can be readily screwed down to a desired depth in the surface 1, with the head 82 of the fastener screw lying midway of the region of the internal thread 152, for instance.

The passageway through the sleeve has an enlarged section 90 in the proximity of one end of the sleeve, adjacent a shoulder against which the head of the fastener screw is intended to abut.

The axial length of the cylindrical, enlarged section 90 corresponds to the length of the head 82 of the fastener screw. When the head 82 has been received in the enlarged section 90, the sleeve can be dogged axially as the screw 80 is screwed further in. When the screw is unscrewed, or backed-off, the screw enables meshing engagement between the head 82 and the internal thread 152 of the sleeve 15 to be re-established.

Claims

1. A fastener device for adjustably fastening a frame (3) in an opening (2) in a wall (1), said fastener device including a sleeve (15) having an external thread (171) which engages with a corresponding internal thread (171, 171') provided on the frame (3), said sleeve (15) including a sleeve driving means (40) for rotation of the sleeve with the aid of a tool engaging said means, characterized in that the sleeve (15) carries at its outer end a support element (70) with which the sleeve (15) supports against an edge surface (7) of the wall opening, wherewith the support element (70) is adapted to be dogged by the sleeve (15) in both axial directions of the sleeve; in that the support element (70) is mounted for rotation around the sleeve axis; and in that said support element is mounted to enable the sleeve to be positioned obliquely in relation to a plane normal to the sleeve axis.

2. A fastener device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a fastener element (29, 80) connects with the sleeve (15) and the wall (1) to anchor the fastener element in the wall (1/11), wherewith the fastener element (29, 80) has a first end-part provided with means (35, 81) for anchoring the fastener element in the wall (1/11), and wherewith the other end-part of the fastener element includes an external thread (31, 83) which meshes with an internal thread (152) in the sleeve.

3. A fastener device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer end of the sleeve (15) carries at least one outwardly projecting or inwardly drawn formation (72) which engages with at least one corresponding radial formation (71) in the support element (70) with clearance between said formations in the direction of the sleeve axis.

4. A fastener device according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the support element (70) includes a central opening which is directed towards the sleeve opening such as to enable a fastener element (29, 80) to pass through the support element.

5. A fastener device according to any one of Claims 2-4, characterized in that the rear end of the fastener element (29, 80) includes a driving means (35) with which a tool can engage to turn the fastener element (80) in relation to the sleeve (15) .

6. A fastener device according to any one of Claims 2-5, characterized in that the fastener element is a radially expandable fixing plug (29); and in that the plug (29) is of a conventional design which enables the plug to be fixed in a hole (11) pre-drilled in the wall (1), by driving-in a fastener element (35) through an axial passageway in the plug such as to expand the end of the plug located in the hole (11) in said wall.

7. A fastener device according to any one of Claims 2-5, characterized in that the fastener element (80) is a screw (80) whose one end-part comprises an externally threaded screw stem (81) and whose other end-part is comprised of a screw head (82) having an external thread which meshes with the internal thread of the sleeve (15).

8. A fastener device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the head and stem of the fastener element (80) have screw threads (81, 83) of the same pitch and the same direction of pitch.

9. A fastener device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that one end-part of the passageway through the sleeve includes a widened section whose inner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the head (82, 83) of the fastener element (80), wherewith the axial length of said widened section (90) is at least equal to the length dimension of the head (82) of the fastener element.

10. A fastener device according to any one of Claims 7-9, characterized in that the end of the widened section (90) remote from the internal thread on said sleeve forms a shoulder against which the head (82) of the fastener screw (80) can support.