System and method for joining and hanging ducts
AssigneeH J Fischer, LLC
InventorHerbert J. Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastening member for joining together adjacent duct sections includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion threadedly engaging a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in flange of a first duct section. When the fastening member is fully inserted, the inserted corner plate positioned in the flange of the first duct section is retained within the unthreaded space.
Claims19
A HVAC duct fastening member for joining together adjacent duct sections without the need for a complimentary nut or washer, the HVAC duct fastening member comprising:
- a head;
- a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion threadedly engaging a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in a flange of a first duct section;
- wherein when the fastening member is fully inserted in said hole via rotation in a first direction, the inserted corner plate positioned in the flange of the first duct section is retained within the unthreaded space;
- wherein an endmost thread adjacent to the unthreaded space includes a bearing portion, said bearing portion being oriented to be substantially parallel to an underside of said head and extending only approximately 20-40% around said shank;
- wherein when said fastening member is fully inserted in said hole, said threaded portion threadedly disengages from said hole and said bearing portion inhibits threaded reengagement with said hole when said fastening member is rotated in a second direction, said second direction being different than said first direction;
- and
- wherein said bearing portion accomplishes said inhibition of said threaded reengagement of said threads with said hole without the use of any complimentary said washer and said nut.
A HVAC duct fastening member for joining together first and second duct sections without working in combination with a nut or washer, each of said first and second duct sections having two terminal open ends and a flange disposed around each of the open ends for abutting connection to the flange of an adjacent duct section, each flange having an inserted corner member positioned therein, comprising:
- a head;
- a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion being configured to threadedly engage a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in a flange of one of the duct sections;
- wherein an endmost thread of said threaded portion includes a bearing portion, the bearing portion being substantially parallel to an underside of the head and extending only approximately 20% around the shank, said bearing portion effectively retaining said first and second duct sections together without use of said nut and said washer;
- and
- wherein when said fastening member is fully inserted in said hole, said threaded portion threadedly disengages from said hole and said bearing portion inhibits threaded reengagement with said hole when said fastening member is rotated.
A HVAC duct fastening member for insertion through an aperture of a HVAC duct flange workpiece, said fastening member fixing itself within said aperture without the use of either a nut or washer, comprising:
- a head;
- a shank extending from said head, said shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to said head and a threaded portion extending from said unthreaded space;
- wherein an endmost thread adjacent to said unthreaded space includes a bearing portion that is substantially parallel to a plane of an underside of said head;
- wherein said bearing portion of said endmost thread adjacent to said unthreaded space extends at most 40% around a perimeter of said shank;
- wherein when said fastening member is fully inserted in said aperture via rotation in a first direction, said threaded portion threadedly disengages from said aperture and said bearing portion inhibits threaded reengagement with said aperture when said fastening member is rotated in a second direction, said second direction being opposite to said first direction;
- and
- wherein said threaded portion of said fastening member, including said endmost thread, assists in inhibiting reengagement of said threaded portion with said aperture once said threaded portion passes through said aperture, all without use of said washer and said nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.