Screw with breakaway and methods of using the same
AssigneeFBB Asset Management Limited Partnership
InventorNancy Tedeschi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener with a breakaway and methods of using the same. In one embodiment the fastener is a screw having a head and elongated stem, adapted to be easily manipulated by a user when using the screw as a fastener in a hinge or joint. A means of holding a screw by providing a breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem which can be used to align and insert the screw into a screw hole in the process of engaging threads in the screw hole with threads of the screw. After engaging the threads in the screw hole, such as after the screw has been essentially completely inserted into the screw hole, the breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem of the screw may be broken off at a breakaway and discarded.
Claims7
A method of inserting a screw into a threaded screw hole (100), comprising:
- providing a screw comprising:
- a head;
- an elongated stem, comprising:
- a threaded first portion (20) having a proximal end adjacent to the head;
- a non-threaded second portion (30) extending from the threaded first portion (20);
- and
- a breakaway (25) therebetween, wherein the breakaway (25) releasably couples the non-threaded second portion (30) to the distal end (C) of the threaded first portion (20),
- said second portion (30) having a length (L2−L1) greater than a length (L1) of the threaded first portion (20),
- said second portion (30) having a diameter (W3) smaller than a diameter (W2) of the threaded first portion (20) along the length (L2−L1);
- inserting the screw into a threaded screw hole (100) by manipulating the non-threaded second portion (30) of the elongated stem (11) by a user by hand without the use of a tool,
- wherein at least one thread (67) of the threaded first portion (20) engages at least one thread of the threaded screw hole (100), and
- wherein at least a distal end (B) of the non-threaded second portion (30) of the elongated stem (11) extends out of the threaded screw hole (100);
- screwing the screw (10) into the threaded screw hole (100);
- and
- removing the non-threaded second portion (30) on complete insertion of the screw (10) into the threaded screw hole (100) by manipulating the non-threaded second portion (30) of the elongated stem (11) by the user by hand without the use of a tool, resulting in breaking or cleaving the breakaway (25).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.