Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Including settable material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-08-14
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Including settable material
C411S180000, C411S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273657
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an anchoring device for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an anchoring system for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material, which anchoring system is designed to alleviate the stresses caused during use when water trapped within the anchoring system expands upon freezing.
Devices for fixing threaded members in a substrate material are known. These known devices typically comprise an anchoring sleeve designed to receive a threaded member and to be poured or otherwise incorporated into a substrate material (e.g. drilling a hole into the substrate material and adhering the anchoring sleeve therein).
These existing devices are plagued with failures resulting from the entrapment of water between the anchoring sleeve and the threaded member. Typically, water becomes entrapped in the anchoring sleeves in one of two ways. First, water may enter the anchoring sleeve during the manufacturing and shipping of the substrate material incorporating the anchoring sleeve (i.e., concrete railroad ties) before the threaded member is installed. Second, water may seep into the anchoring sleeve once the threaded member is installed through the interstices between the anchoring sleeve and the threaded member. If enough water becomes trapped between the anchoring sleeve and the threaded member, the force generated when that water expands upon freezing will be sufficient to cause the anchoring sleeve to fail (e.g., deform or fracture), which in turn will cause the surrounding substrate material to fail (e.g., fracture or crumble).
Accordingly, what is needed is an anchoring system for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material which is designed to alleviate the stresses caused when entrapped water expands upon freezing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an anchoring device for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material. Specifically, the present invention provides an anchoring system designed to alleviate the stresses caused when water trapped within the anchoring system expands upon freezing.
The term substrate material as used herein includes, but is not limited to, concrete, plaster and epoxy.
The term threaded member as used herein includes screws, bolts and other threaded implements used to secure items to a substrate.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an anchoring device for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material is provided, having an anchoring sheath with a first end, a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the body portion has an internal bore adapted to receive the threaded member and an internal cavity. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the body portion also has at least one longitudinal rib extending outwardly from the body portion along at least a segment of the body portion. Preferably, the at least one longitudinal rib has a generally triangular cross-section. In another preferred embodiment, the body portion has at least two longitudinal ribs, wherein each longitudinal rib is disposed in a different plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the anchoring sheath. Preferably, the body portion has three longitudinal ribs spaced around the body portion approximately 120° apart. In another preferred embodiment, the anchoring sheath optionally has a protective coating applied to at least part of its external surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material is provided, having (a) an anchoring sheath having a first end, a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end; wherein the body portion has an internal bore adapted to receive a threaded member and an internal cavity; and, (b) at least one compressible freeze protection element; wherein the internal cavity is adapted to retain the at least one compressible freeze protection element. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the at least one compressible freeze protection element is at least partially compressed to facilitate its insertion into the internal cavity. In another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the at least one compressible freeze protection element is a single compressible element, preferably a single compressible element having a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a cylinder, a polyhedron, more preferably, a sphere, a cylinder, a cube or a hexahedron; most preferably, a sphere. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one compressible freeze protection element is a plurality of individual compressible elements of the same general size and shape. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one compressible freeze protection element is a plurality of individual compressible elements of varying shapes and sizes.
In another aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material is provided, having: (a) an anchoring sheath with a first end, a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end; wherein the body portion has an internal bore adapted to receive a threaded member and an internal cavity; wherein the internal bore opens into the internal cavity; (b) at least one compressible freeze protection element disposed within the internal cavity; (c) an optional protective coating on at least a portion of an external surface of the anchoring sheath; and, (d) at least one longitudinal rib extending outwardly from the body portion along at least a segment of the body portion. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the at least one freeze protection element is at least partially compressed to facilitate its insertion into the internal cavity through the internal bore.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an anchoring device for anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material is provided, having: (a) an anchoring sheath with a first end, a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end; wherein the body portion has an internal bore adapted to receive a threaded member and an internal cavity; wherein the internal bore opens into the internal cavity; (b) three longitudinal ribs of generally triangular cross-section, extending outwardly from the body portion along at least a segment of the body portion and spaced around the body portion 120° apart; and, (c) a compressible freeze protection element disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the compressible freeze protection element is at least partially compressed to facilitate its insertion into the internal cavity; wherein the body portion has a top region extending part way from the first end towards the second end, which top region is devoid of longitudinal ribs.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material is provided, which method alleviates the concerns associated with the freeze and thaw cycle of water experienced in many geographic regions. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of anchoring a threaded member in a substrate material comprising: (a) incorporating into the substrate material an anchoring sleeve, which is designed to anchor the threaded member to the substrate material; by, for example, (a.1) forming the substrate material around the anchoring sleeve, or, alternatively (a.2) drilling a hole in the substrate material and adhering the anchoring sleeve into the hole using a suitable adhesive, preferably an epoxy; (b) inserting at least one compressible freeze protection element into the anchoring sleeve; and (c) threading the threaded member into the anchoring sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate material will comprise a concrete railroad tie or concrete slab and the threaded member will cooperate with a variety of know
Dechert
Penn Rail Systems, Inc.
Wilson Neill
LandOfFree
Anchoring device for securing a threaded member to a substrate does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Anchoring device for securing a threaded member to a substrate, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Anchoring device for securing a threaded member to a substrate will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544043