Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Having structure to restrict rotation of threaded – mating... – Comprising a thread lock
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2003-07-22
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Having structure to restrict rotation of threaded, mating...
Comprising a thread lock
C411S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to roof gutters. More particularly, it relates to a roof gutter fastener and method for the application thereof, that utilizes a threaded shank portion for securing the gutter to the facia panel.
2A. Background Information
In the past, using rolled or lathed threads on such threaded prior art fasteners required pilot holes before penetrating into thin pieces of facie wood.
The developmental procedure leading to the invention of the gutter bolt is as follows. First seven inch metal threaded self tapped coated steel Phillips head {fraction (3/16)}″ thick insulation screws were tested. Each was fastened with a #3 Phillips bit/7″ lag bolt hex head.
The results are as follows. Extensive stripping of the bolt head due to the torque applied to the long steel bolt to screw it into the wood that was meant for metal installation. Even cutting a wider and deeper slotted head into steel screws did not solve the problem. Changing it into a universal Phillips or slotted head also failed to solve the problem. The force required for holding a drill that need to be applied caused a splitting of facia boards. The drill tip would pop out and then accidentally mark or puncture the gutter. Pilot holes thusly had to be drilled. The excessive damage and the amount of time required for this procedure did not make those screws commercially applicable in business. A head with more points of controlled contact is provided.
Another attempt was made to use lag bolts. Lag bolts require a pilot hole when fastening into new wood, so that there is no splitting of the facia board. Once again this is a very time consuming procedure. Also the bolt head protruded out from the front of the gutter. Quite often, the lag bolt head projected very far out in front of the gutter. The lag bolts therefore have an unsightly appearance and bring unwanted attention to the fastener for the gutter. Cutting back the heads of the lag bolt is not acceptable, even when the heads are painted to match the color of the gutter. When fastening due to torque of the tool, the fastener paint is removed and chipped away. Touch up painting is required to prevent rusting which starts occurring immediately.
In the past, the spinning motion of the fastener when making contact with the front of the gutter strips the paint off the gutter where the fastener head presses against gutter leaving raw metal exposed to the weather. Rusting occurs along with staining and marking of the gutter. These results are not acceptable due to complaints from homeowners.
Scratching of the gutter occurs when the socket wrench makes the final turns to cause the gutter to be attached to the facia. This problem can be solved by the invention if a washer is built into the head of the gutter bolt. This built-in washer has a large enough diameter to be able to shield the face of gutter from contact with the socket wrench.
After all the testing of the head and the threads was completed to achieve the proper specific requirements for performance and appearance, it was decided to use the same material as that used to manufacture most gutters, namely aluminum. The advantages are that after an installation there will be no electrolysis, rusting or corrosion by bringing into contact different types of metals. This is especially when metals are exposed to many types of weather conditions, or chemical exposure, and humidity variations, that encourage oxidation of the metals to occur.
Beginning with aluminum nails, it was decided to make them into gutter bolts. First there was the head portion and then cutting threading for making a gutter bolt. If the material was too soft, it would snap just going through ¾″ pine board. But with the use of a pilot hole, it would penetrate wood and hold formally. But the metal hardness had to be increased to go through Douglas Fir wood without using a pilot hole. Then a heat treating process was developed to harden the aluminum alloy. Further testing of the materials showed that some would drill right through ¾″ pine board but snapping would occur or heads would strip off on most of the other materials which were used and with the same results. Rods or coil aluminum was used plus heat treating application followed by specific machining techniques. Eventually, five different types of aluminum were tested with eight heat treatment processes involved with the different aluminum material before using current material. Hundreds of tests were made by drilling seven inch bolts into three-quarter inch pine boards. Then there was test drilling into Douglas Fir for the occasional situation wherein the gutter bolt hits the rafter tails that holds up the facia board.
Finally an aluminum bolt material was found that had the strength necessary to achieve the desired results.
It was impossible to locate any type of bolt system comparable to gutter bolts from any hardware stores, Fastening Co., Home Depot and even the Thomas Register, exhausting all possibilities for finding a source of supply for the gutter bolts and materials that was to be tested and then eventually finally perfected. Many types of material such as steel, aluminum, or copper, etc., from which gutters are made, or any other product in existence or similar metal used for any other fastener was unsuccessful. Attempts were made to find a manufacturer to make gutter bolts through the Yellow Pages, The Business to Business Telephone Book, and the Thomas Register, and by contacting hundreds of manufacturers. The most often heard response was “What is a gutter bolt?” After providing the manufacturer with a copy of the specifications, the response after reviewing the specification was that machining and tooling to produce this type of bolt due to length, and for the thread pitch would take a great deal of labor. New techniques and new technologies would be needed to produce this combination of length and the unique threading for the bolt. The threading was very unique and was not similar to the threads of thousands of observed wood screws. A search of this prior art found nothing comparable to the pitch, depth, and length of the threading of the inventive gutter bolt.
2B. The Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,905 to Giordano, discloses gutter installation tools. The invention consists of a spacer tool having a U-shaped channel and being positioned between the front and rear panels of the gutter. When the tool is in place, a conventional spike can be driven through the front gutter panel into the U-shaped channel and the rear gutter panel to fasten the gutter to the structure. Once the spike has been driven in, the tool can be removed and used again. In addition, the prior art discloses a novel spike design that adds a notch on the shaft near the head for engaging the front portion of the gutter. The notch enables a more secure coupling between the spike and the gutter.
These prior art gutter fasteners are nails that ultimately end up having to be re-secured over time. As such, the gutter partially detaches from the facia panel and thereby prevents the efficient operation of the gutters.
In addition, by providing a more secure connection between the gutter and the facia panel, the safety of the working conditions for workers in the roofing, siding and gutter fields is significantly increased. On many occasions, these workers find themselves leaning on the gutters, which causes stress on the gutter fasteners and usually requires the gutter to be re-secured. A more secure connection will alleviate this stress. Furthermore, it often happens that one of these workers loses their balance while working and grabs onto the gutter for support. With the old gutter fasteners, the weight of an adult would literally rip the gutter from the facia panel causing the worker to fall to the ground. Depending on the height of the gutter, this can be a potentially fatal circumstance. A more secure connection between the gutter and facia panel would be desirable to eliminate this danger by preven
Friedman Carl D.
Keusey, Tutunjian & & Bitetto, P.C.
Slack Naoko
LandOfFree
Fastener having torque reducing thread does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fastener having torque reducing thread, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fastener having torque reducing thread will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3032492