SLEEVE BOLT

BOULON DE DOUILLE

English Abstract

A sleeve bolt for insertion in a hole delimited
by a wall comprises a threaded fastener and an
expansion member. The threaded fastener has a stem
that includes a proximal cylindrical shank and a
distal threaded section. The shank has substantially
the diameter of the hole defines at a distal end
thereof a conical expander portion. The expansion
member comprises a distal threaded member and a
proximal expansion wedge, the threaded member being
threadably engaged to the threaded section of the
stem. The expansion wedge has a proximal end adapted,
upon axial displacement of the expansion member
towards the shank resulting from a rotation of the
stem, to engage the conical expander portion such as
to expand the proximal end of the expansion wedge
outwardly into engagement with the wall. The
expansion wedge fractionally engages the wall upon
introduction of the stem in the hole, whereas the
threaded member is spaced from the wall. The threaded
member comprises a distal conical section which
tapers towards the expansion wedge and which is
adapted to displace towards and relative to both the
expander portion and the expansion wedge such that
the conical section causes a distal end of the
expansion wedge to expand outwardly into engagement
with the wall.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sleeve bolt for insertion in a hole delimited
by a wall, comprising a threaded fastener and an
expansion means, said threaded fastener having a
stem, said stem including a proximal stem section and
a distal threaded section, said proximal stem section
having substantially a diameter of the hole and being
provided at a distal end thereof with an expander
means, said expansion means being adapted to be
threadably engaged onto said distal threaded section
and having a proximal end adapted, upon axial
displacement of said expansion means towards said
proximal stem section resulting from a rotation of
said stem, to engage said expander means such to
expand outwardly into engagement with the wall.

2. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 1, wherein
said expansion means comprise a distal threaded
member and a proximal expansion wedge, said threaded
member being adapted to be threadably engaged to said
threaded section of said stem, said expansion wedge
being adapted to fractionally engage the wall upon
introduction of said stem in the hole while said
threaded member is spaced from the wall such that,
upon sufficient subsequent rotation of said stem,
said expansion means displace towards said expander
means.

3. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 2, wherein a
transversal size of said expander means reduces in
direction of said distal threaded section of said
stem such that, upon displacement of said expansion
wedge along said distal threaded section and towards
said expander means, a proximal end of said expansion
wedge engages said expander means and gradually
expands outwardly.

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4. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 3, wherein
said expander means defines a taper.

5. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 4, wherein
said expander means comprises a frusto-conical
portion.

6. A sleeve bolt as defined in claims 2 to 5,
wherein said threaded member of said expansion means
comprises a conical section which tapers towards said
expansion wedge, said conical section being adapted,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, to displace towards and relative to
both said expander means and said expansion wedge
such that said conical section causes a distal end of
said expansion wedge to expand outwardly into
engagement with the wall.

7. A sleeve bolt as defined in claims 2 to 6,
wherein said expansion wedge defines at least one
opening means, said distal threaded member of said
expansion means being engaged in said opening means
such that said expansion wedge and said distal
threaded member rotate jointly with respect to said
stem.

8. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 7, wherein
said distal threaded member comprises a tab means
extending into said opening means, said tab means
being capable of displacing along said opening means,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, and of causing said expansion wedge
to expand outwardly.

9. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 8, wherein
said expansion wedge defines a longitudinal slit
extending along a whole length thereof and through

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said opening means, said opening means comprising a
proximal end portion tapering in direction of
expander means, whereby said tab means, upon engaging
said proximal end portion of said opening means,
cause said expansion wedge to gradually outwardly
expand into the wall.

10. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 9, wherein
said tab means is adapted, once having displaced past
said proximal end portion of said opening means, to
lodge in a proximal portion of said slit and maintain
said expansion wedge engaged to the wall.

11. A sleeve bolt as defined in claims 8 to 10,
wherein two diametrically opposed opening means are
defined in said expansion wedge, a pair of tabs
extending outwardly from a proximal end of said
threaded member being engaged in said opening means,
said slit extending through one of said opening
means.

12. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 7, wherein
said distal threaded member comprises a tab means
extending into said opening means, said tab means
being capable of displacing along said opening means,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, said opening means being closed at a
proximal end thereof.

13. A sleeve bolt for insertion in a hole
delimited by a wall, comprising a threaded fastener
and an expansion means, said threaded fastener having
a stem, said stem including a proximal stem section
and a distal threaded section, said proximal stem
section being provided at a distal end thereof with
an expander means, said expansion means being adapted
to be threadably engaged onto said distal threaded

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section and having a proximal end adapted, upon axial
displacement of said expansion means towards said
proximal stem section resulting from a rotation of
said stem, to engage said expander means such to
expand outwardly into engagement with the wall.

14. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 13, wherein
said expansion means comprise a distal threaded
member and a proximal expansion wedge, said threaded
member being adapted to be threadably engaged to said
threaded section of said stem, said expansion wedge
being adapted to fractionally engage the wall upon
introduction of said stem in the hole while said
threaded member is spaced from the wall such that,
upon sufficient subsequent rotation of said stem,
said expansion means displace towards said expander
means.

15. A sleeve bolt as defined in claim 14, wherein a
transversal size of said expander means reduces in
direction of said distal threaded section of said
stem such that, upon displacement of said expansion
wedge along said distal threaded section and towards
said expander means, a proximal end of said expansion
wedge engages said expander means and gradually
expands outwardly.

16. A sleeve bolt as defined in claims 14 and 15,
wherein said threaded member of said expansion means
comprises a conical section which tapers towards said
expansion wedge, said conical section being adapted,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, to displace towards and relative to
both said expander means and said expansion wedge
such that said conical section causes a distal end of
said expansion wedge to expand outwardly into
engagement with the wall.

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17. A method of setting a sleeve bolt in a hole
delimited by a wall, comprising the steps of: (a)
providing a threaded fastener and an expansion means
threadably engaged to a distal end of said fastener;
(b) inserting said expansion means and part of said
threaded fastener in the hole; (c) rotating
sufficiently said fastener with said expansion means
being fractionally engaged to the wall for causing
said expansion means to displace towards a proximal
end of said fastener and for causing a proximal end
of said expansion means to be expanded by said
fastener into engagement with the wall.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said
fastener has a stem, said stem including a proximal
stem section and a distal threaded section, said
proximal stem section having substantially a diameter
of the hole and being provided at a distal end
thereof with an expander means for expanding said
expansion means in step c), said expansion means
being adapted to be threadably engaged onto said
distal threaded section and having a proximal end
adapted, upon axial displacement of said expansion
means towards said proximal stem section resulting
from a rotation of said stem, to engage said expander
means such to expand outwardly into engagement with
the wall.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein said
expansion means comprise a distal threaded member and
a proximal expansion wedge, said threaded member
being adapted to be threadably engaged to said
threaded section of said stem, said expansion wedge
being adapted to fractionally engage the wall upon
introduction of said stem in the hole while said
threaded member is spaced from the wall such that,
upon sufficient subsequent rotation of said stem,

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said expansion means displace towards said expander
means.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein a
transversal size of said expander means reduces in
direction of said distal threaded section of said
stem such that, upon displacement of said expansion
wedge along said distal threaded section and towards
said expander means, a proximal end of said expansion
wedge engages said expander means and gradually
expands outwardly.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said
expander means defines a taper.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said
expander means comprises a frusto-conical portion.

23. A method as defined in claims 19 to 22, wherein
said threaded member of said expansion means
comprises a conical section which tapers towards said
expansion wedge, said conical section being adapted,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, to displace towards and relative to
both said expander means and said expansion wedge
such that said conical section causes a distal end of
said expansion wedge to expand outwardly into
engagement with the wall.

24. A method as defined in claims 19 to 23, wherein
said expansion wedge defines at least one opening
means, said distal threaded member of said expansion
means being engaged in said opening means such that
said expansion wedge and said distal threaded member
rotate jointly with respect to said stem.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein said
distal threaded member comprises a tab means

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extending into said opening means, said tab means
being capable of displacing along said opening means,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, and of causing said expansion wedge
to expand outwardly.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein said
expansion wedge defines a longitudinal slit extending
along a whole length thereof and through said opening
means, said opening means comprising a proximal end
portion tapering in direction of expander means,
whereby said tab means, upon engaging said proximal
end portion of said opening means, cause said
expansion wedge to gradually outwardly expand into
the wall.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein said
tab means is adapted, once having displaced past said
proximal end portion of said opening means, to lodge
in a proximal portion of said slit and maintain said
expansion wedge engaged to the wall.

28. A method as defined in claims 25 to 27, wherein
two diametrically opposed opening means are defined
in said expansion wedge, a pair of tabs extending
outwardly from a proximal end of said threaded member
being engaged in said opening means, said slit
extending through one of said opening means.

29. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein said
distal threaded member comprises a tab means
extending into said opening means, said tab means
being capable of displacing along said opening means,
upon sufficient rotation of said stem and once said
expansion wedge is substantially stationary onto said
expander means, said opening means being closed at a
proximal end thereof.

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Description

CA 02301352 2000-03-20
SLEEVE BOLT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fasteners
and, more particularly, to expandable fasteners for
mounting to concrete structures, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Expandable anchors of many different types
are already known. More particularly, expandable
anchors have been developed for insertion into a hole
formed in a support structure such that an expansion
sleeve of the anchor may be selectively expanded into
frictional contact with the inside peripheral surface
of the hole such that the anchor becomes fractionally
anchored in the support structure. Typically, the
expandable anchor includes an elongated expander
member having a threaded first end and a flared
second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical
surface extending between the first and second ends
around which there is provided the aforementioned
expansion sleeve which generally has the shape of a
cylinder. The threaded first end is like a headless
screw and extends outwardly of the support structure
once the expandable anchor is positioned in the hole
thereof. A nut threaded on the visible part of the
threaded first end may be used as an actuating
mechanism with an object to be secured to the support
structure being typically located between the nut and
the support structure as the threaded first end of
the expandable anchor extends through this object.
By rotating the nut, it engages the outer surface of
the object and thus bears upon it such as to pull the
expander member in an outward direction. As the
expansion sleeve is already sufficiently fractionally
engaged with the inside surface of the hole, when the
expandable anchor is pulled by the rotation of the
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
nut, the expansion sleeve stays substantially
stationary in the hole and thus, as the expander
member is pulled out of the hole, the flared second
end of the expander member causes the radial
expansion sleeve to expand outwardly thereby
increasing a friction between the expansion sleeve
and the hole and thus securing the expandable anchor
therein.
Since the expansion sleeve must already be
fractionally engaged with the hole before the
expandable anchor is pulled, the outside diameter of
the expansion sleeve must be similar to the inside
diameter of the hole and even slightly greater
therefrom in order to ensure an initial frictional
contact therebetween which will then allow the
expansion sleeve to remain still in the hole while
the expander member is pulled outwardly thereof and
thus allow the expansion sleeve to be expanded by the
flared end of the expander member. This diameter of
the expander member, at rest, results in that the
expandable anchor when initially inserted in the hole
must be inconveniently driven with significant force
therein as the expansion sleeve is already
fractionally engaged with the inside wall of the
hole. The flared end acts as a wedge to expand the
expansion sleeve into greater frictional contact with
the inside of the hole.
Also known are undercut wedge anchors,
wherein the hole formed in the support structure is
enlarged at a distance from the visible opening of
the hole such that the expansion sleeve may be
inserted behind a shoulder defined at the junction of
the enlarged area and the remainder of the hole.
Once expanded, the expansion sleeve may abut this
shoulder and thus retain the anchor in position in
the support structure.
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present
invention to provide an improved expandable anchor
for use in holes in various materials, e.g. concrete.
It is also an aim of the present invention
to provide an expandable bolt, such as a sleeve bolt,
having an expander member and an expansion member
capable of spring-like deformation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature
of the invention, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration
a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Figs. 1 to 3 are front elevational views of
a sleeve bolt in accordance with the present
invention shown respectively in first, second and
third positions thereof;
Figs. 4 to 6 are bottom plan views of the
expansion sleeve of the sleeve bolt of Figs. 1 to 3;
Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the sleeve
bolt of Figs. 1 to 3;
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively front
elevational and top plan views of the fastener of the
sleeve bolt of Figs. 1 to 3;
Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively front
elevational and bottom plan views of the threaded
member of the expansion sleeve of the sleeve bolt of
Figs. 1 to 3;
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the expansion
member of the expansion sleeve of the sleeve bolt of
Figs. 1 to 3, this expansion member being shown in
its initial manufactured state, i.e. before being
shaped for use in the sleeve bolt;
Figs. 13 to 15 are respectively front
elevational and top and bottom plan views of the
expansion member of Fig. 12, but shown in its
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
position for mounting to the threaded member of Figs.
10 and 11;
Figs. 16 to 18 are respectively front
elevational, vertical cross-sectional and top plan
views of a second embodiment of the sleeve bolt of
Figs. 1 to 3, also in accordance with the present
invention;
Figs. 19 to 21 are front elevational,
vertical cross-sectional and top plan views of the
home expansion sleeve of the sleeve bolt of Figs. 16
to 18;
Figs. 22 and 23 are front elevational views
of a third embodiment of a sleeve bolt in accordance
with the present invention shown respectively in
first and second positions thereof;
Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the sleeve
bolt of Fig. 23;
Figs. 25 and 26 are front elevational and
cross-sectional views of a threaded member of the
sleeve bolt;
Figs. 27 to 30 are respectively front
elevational, side elevational, top plan and bottom
plan views of an expansion member of the sleeve bolt;
Fig. 31 is a front elevational of the
expansion member in an unfolded, manufacture,
position thereof; and
Figs. 32 to 41 are views similar to Figs.
22 to 31, respectively, a fourth embodiment of a
sleeve bolt in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with the present invention,
Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate a sleeve bolt A comprising a
threaded fastener 10 and an expansion sleeve 12. The
fastener 10 includes a stem 14 having a proximal
smooth cylindrical section 16, a reduced diameter
threaded distal section 18 and an intermediate
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
frusto-conical section 20. The fastener 10 also
includes a bolt head 22 and a washer 24, both to be
located outside of the hole defined in a structure,
in which hole the stem 14 is to be inserted such that
an object may be held secure by the bolt head 22
against the structure.
The expansion sleeve 12 includes a
cylindrical internally threaded member 26 (Figs. 10
and 11) and an expansion member 28 (Figs. 12 to 15) .
The expansion member includes a central ring 30 and,
for instance, three anchor legs 32 extending
therefrom. When the threaded member 26 and the
expansion member 28 are assembled together as in
Figs. 1 to 6, narrow sections 34 of the legs 32 are
lodged in notches 36 defined on the periphery of the
threaded member 26.
The threaded section 18 of the fastener 10
is adapted to threadably mate with the threaded
member 26 of the expansion sleeve 12 with the
threaded section 18 extending through the central
ring 30 and with the legs 32 extending exteriorly
along the threaded section 18 , as seen in a f first or
inoperative position of the sleeve bolt A shown in
Fig. 1.
When the sleeve bolt A of Fig. 1 is
positioned in the aforementioned hole defined in the
support structure, the expansion sleeve 12
fractionally contacts the walls of the hole in a
sufficient manner such that the subsequent rotation
of the fastener 10 by way of its bolt head 22 will
cause the fastener 10 to move further into the hole
of the structure, as the expansion sleeve 12 remains
stationary in the hole (in view of its frictional
contact with the walls thereof) and in view of the
threaded engagement of the distal section 18 of the
fastener 10 with the threaded member 26 of the
expansion sleeve 12. Indeed, the rotation of the
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
fastener causes the same to displace through the
expansion sleeve 12, whereby, as seen in Figs. 2 and
3, the expansion sleeve 12 is displaced relative to
the fastener 10 such that the legs 32 thereof climb
along the frusto-conical section 20 of the stem 14 of
the fastener 10 and are forced outwardly by the
frusto-conical section 20 until the proximal edges 38
of the legs 32 come into strong angled engagement
with the walls of the hole. The angle of the legs 32
in Fig. 3 and their engagement with the walls of the
hole prevent the bolt sleeve A from being forcibly
removed form the hole.
In Figs. 16 to 21, a variant sleeve bolt A'
includes the same fastener 10 which is now used with
an expansion sleeve 12' having four legs 32'. The
expansion sleeve 12' is also of unitary construction
in that the threaded member and expansion members 26
and 28 of the sleeve bolt A of Figs. 1 to 15 are
manufactured integrally with each other.
In Figs. 22 to 31, there is shown a further
sleeve bolt B having a threaded fastener 40, an
expansion member 42 and a threaded member 44 and, in
this embodiment, the expansion member 42 and the
threaded member 44 are not mounted together as for
above sleeve bolts A and A' . The expansion member 42
has the form of a cylinder which can expand, whereas
the threaded member 44 is internally threaded such as
to be threadably engaged to the distal threaded end
of the threaded fastener 40 and has a shape which
defines a flare 48, increasing in size from the
expansion member 42 outward. The threaded fastener 40
defines a flare at 46 on an inward side of the
expansion member 42 such the expansion member 42 is
located between the flare 46 of the threaded fastener
40 and the flare 48 of the threaded member 44.
Once the sleeve bolt B' has been introduced
in a hole defined in a structure, both the expansion
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CA 02301352 2000-03-20
member 42 and the threaded member 44 are sufficiently
fractionally engaged to the walls of the hole such
that rotation of the threaded fastener 40 by way of
its bolt head causes it to move further into the hole
of the structure . As the expansion sleeve 42 and the
threaded member 44 remains stationary in the hole (in
view of their frictional contact with the walls
thereof), the flare 46 gradually gets closer to the
expansion member 42 and, once it abuts it, it forces
the expansion member 42 downwardly towards the
threaded member 44 such that the expansion member 42
becomes imprisoned between the flare 46 of the
threaded fastener 40 and the flare 48 of the threaded
member 44. Continued rotation of the treaded
fastener 40 will cause both ends of the expansion
member 42 to climb along the aforementioned flared
sections of the threaded fastener 40 and the threaded
member 44 such that both these ends expand outwardly
into strong engagement with the walls of the hole.
Figs. 32 to 41 illustrate a variant sleeve
bolt B' of the sleeve bolt B of Figs. 22 to 31 in
which the expansion sleeve 42' is of different
configuration.
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Representative Drawing