Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
1
'f~tBADSaIrY ~~EIrS COUPLt~ DSVICS
Fz~ a~ ~ ~v~rloN
2"his invention relates to a threadedly engageable coupling
device, more particularly to a threadedly engageab7.e coupling
device that is threadedly engageable with a complett~enntary coupling
device for tightening two article pieces together.
$RIBF DSSC~iIPTIC~T OF THS DRAW"Ii~iGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional schematic view of a conventional
thxeadedly engaging tightening assembly for tightening two article
pieces together;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional threadedly
engageable coupling dt~rice;
Fig. 3 is a sectional schematic view of the eorw~entional
threadedly e~ageable cQUpling device of Fig. 2 when used with a
screw bolt for tightening two article pieces together;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment
of a threadadly engageable coupling device according to this
invex~tion;
Fig. 5 i$ a secti~a7, schematic view of the first preferred
embodiment when used with a screw bolt for tightening two artzcle
pieces together;
Fig. 6 is a sectional schematic view of the first preferred
Cmbodimer~t when an, abut~nt head thereof aborts against one of the
v
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
2
tightened pieces;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment
of a threadedly engageable coupling device according to this
invention;
S Fig. 8 is a sectional schematic view of the second preferred
embodiment when v.s~ with a screw nut for tiqhttv~ article
pieces together; and
Fig. 9 is a sectional schematic view of tlae second preferred
embodiment wh,exi an abutment head thereof abuts against one of the
tightened pieces.
81~1~ O~ T~ ~lv~lTit7N
Fig. 1 shows a c~rrventional threadedly engaging tightening
assembly for tightening two article pieces 21,22 together, such
as wood pieces. The assembly includes a screw lao7.t Z1 passing
1S through the pieces 21, 22, and a screw nut 12 threadedly engaging
the screw bolt 17. for tightening purposes. Sincc the screw bolt
~.1 and the screw nut 12 are rotated relative to each otk~er during
the screwizyg movement, the user has to grip one of the screw bolt
11 and the screw nut 12, and rotate the other ane of the ~crew bolt
11 and the screw nut 12 by a hand tool, thereby resulting in
inconvenience during use.
To solve the shave problem, another cornrentional threadedly
engaging tightening assembly is proposed. Referring to Figs. 2 and
3, the assembly includes a threadedly engageable coupliru3 device
32 which has an abutment head 323 and a cylindrical shank 321
extending from the head 323 along an axis. The shank 321 has a
plurality of blade portions 3211 formed on a distal segment 321
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
3
thereof, and an internally threaded surface 322 surround~.ng the
axis so as to threadedly engage an eacternally threaded surface 37,1
of a screw bolt 31. The blade portiarls 3211 incrementally incise
one of two wood pieces 41, 42 adj scent to a through bore 421 thereof
during the screwing tmvement of the internally ar=d Externally
threaded surfaces 322,311 so as to guard against rotatiari of the
cylindrical shank 321 relative to the piece 42. As such, the user
can. move the coupling device 32 along the axis by merely rotating
the screw bolt 31. However, since the blade portions 3211 are distal
from the abutment wall 323, they have to be moved a relatively long
distance in order for the abutment head 323 to abut against the
wood piece 42 and they may get stuck in the wood piece 42, thereby
adversely affecting the operation of tightening the two wood pieces
~kl, 42 .
1S B~RY OF T~ 'ICS
The object of the present iixvention is to provide a threadedly
errgageable coupling device which can erbgage threadedly a
Gomplementaxy coupling device for tightenizbg tr~ao article pieces
together and which can be easily operated to abut against one of
the pieces.
According to this invention, the thread,edly errgageable coupling
device is adapted for use in a threadedly engaging tightening
assembly which includes a complementary coupling device provided
w~,th a complementary threaded surface, and which is used for
tightening first and second article pieces together. The first
article piece is made from a material of a first hardness, and has
abutment and tightened wall surfaces opposite to each other, and
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
4
a tubular bore extending through the abutment and tightened wall
surfaces. '
The threadedly engageable coupling device includes an abutment
head, a cylindrical shank, and a plurality of blade portions which
are of an integrally formed structure.
The abutment head has an abutment wall which extends in radial
directions, and which has a central area and an abutment peripheral
area surrounding the central area.
xhe cylindrical shank extends from the central area along an
1.0 axis, and has an outer diameter that is smaller than a caliber of
the tubular bore. The cylindrical shank includes proximate and
distal segments relative to the central area, and a middle segment
that is interposed between the proximate and distal segments, and
that forms a juncture with the p~ximate segment . The distal segment
has a primary threaded surface which is adapted to mesh with the
complementary threaded surface, and is adapted to be moved relative
to the complementary coupling device along the axis by a friction
force that is generated through screwing movement of the primary
threaded surface relative to the complen~entaxy threaded surface.
The blade portions are disposed on the proximate segment, and
are angularly displaced ~rom one ar~.other about the axis. Each of
the blade portions is made from a material of a second hardness
that is greater than the first hardness of the first axticle piece,
and extends from the proximate segment radially and outwardly to
tezminate at a cutting edge. 'fhe cutting edge is configured to
gz~adually deviate firom the proximate segment as the Cutting edge
extends from the juncture towards the abutment wall. As such, when
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
the cylindrical shank is inserted into the tubular bore frcxn the
first tightened wall surface to permit the abutment wall to be
bmught to abut against the first tightened wall surface by the
friction force, the cutting edge incrementally incises the first
S article piece along the axis towards the first abutment wall surface
so as to guard against rotation of the cylindrical shank relative
to the first article piece during the screwing mc~voment, thereby
tightening the first and second article pieces together.
~ETAI~D D~IPTxL~1 OF ~ P&~FER~ s~I~B
sefoxe the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that same reference n»gals have been used to
denote like el~ments throughout the specificatia~n.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of
a threadedly engageable coupling device 5 according to the present
irwen.tion is shown to be used with a camplc~ntary coupling device
6 to form a threadedly engaging tightening assembly for tightening
first and second article pieces 71, 72 together, such as wood, rubber
or plastic pieces. The first and second article pieces 71,72
respectively hams first tightened and abutment wall surfaces 75, 76
2Q and second tightened and abutment wall surfaces 77, 78 opposite to
each other,' and first and second tubular bores 73,74 extending
through the first and second abutment and tightened wall surfaces
75,76,77,78, respectively. In this embodiment, the complementary
coupling device 6 is a screw bolt which includes a bolt stem 61
that xa configured to extend through the second tubular bore 74
in the second article piece 72, and that has an outer threaded
surface 67.1 to serrvrr as a complementary threaded surface, and a
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
s
bolt head 62 that is connected to the bolt stem 61 to abut against
the second tightened wall surface 77 of the secmd article piece
72.
The threadedly erx~ageable eouplir~ device 5 comprises an
abutment head 9, a cylindrical shark 8, and a plurality of blade
portions 7. ~'k~e abutment head 9 has an abutment wall 91 which e~ctends
in radial directions, and which has a central area 911 and an
abutment peripheral area 9i2 that surrounds the central area 911.
The cylindrical shank 8 extends from the central area 92~. of
the abutment wah 9z alorvg an axis (L) , and has a first outer
diameter that is smaller than a caliber of the f first tubular bore
73 in the first article piece 71 _ The cylindrical shank 8 inelude~
proximate and distal segments 82,81 relative to the central area
911, and a middle segment 84 which is interposed between the
proximate and distal segments 82,81, and which forms a juncture
831 with the pxnxi.mate aegmer~,t 82. The cylindrical shank 8 has an
inner tubular wall which extenc3.s along the axis (L) and through
the distal segmetlt 81, and which has an inner threaded surface 811
to serve as a primary threaded surf ace so as to mesh with the outer
threaded surface 611 of the complementazy couplirx~ device 6, i.e.
the straw bolt . Thus, the cylir~dri.cal shank 8 is adapted to be cnvved
relative to the complementary coupling device 6 along the axis (L)
by a friction force generated through screwing movement of the inner
threaded surface 811 relative to the outer threaded surface 611.
T'he b7.ade portiorie 7 are disposed on and are integrally formed
with the proximate segment 82, and are a,ngularly displaced from
one another about the axis (L). Each of the blade portions 7 is
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
7
made from a material of a hardness that is greater than that of
the first article piece 71. Each of the blade portions 7 extends
from the proximate segment 82 radially and outwardly, and
terminates at a cutting edge. The cutting edge is configured to
gradually deviate from the proximate segment 82 as the cutting edge
extends frecn the juncture 831 towards the ab~utmant wall 91. As such,
when the cylindrical shank 8 is inserted into the first tubular
bore 73 from the first tightened wall surface 75 to permit the
abutment wall 91 to be brought to abut against the first tightened
~0 wall surface 75 by the friction force, the cutting edge
incrementally inc~.ses the first article piece 71 along the axis
(L) towards the first abutment wall surface 76 so as to guard against
rotaticxi of the cylindrical shank 8 relative to the first article
piece 71 during the screwing movement to thereby tighten the first
IS and second article pieces 71,72 together.
In particular, the blade portions 7 and the cylindrical shank
8 are farmed by p~mchis~g a cylindrical blank body. The cylindrical
blatzk body includes a pro~si.mata segment blank which has an iru~,er
annular blank portion that is substantially of the same shape and
20 dimension as the proximate segment 82, and an outer annular blank
portion that surrounds the inner armular blank portion about the
axis (L) . The outer axulular blank portion has a second outer
diameter that is slightly smaller than the caliber of the first
tubular bore 73, and that is larger than the f~.rst outer diameter
25 of the cylindrical shank 8 so as to form an annular shoulder 835
in proximity to the juncture 831. Preferably, the annular shoulder
835 is configured to converge fz~n the proximate segrt~nt 82 towards
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
8
the middle segment 84 along a direction parallel to the axis so
ae to ease the incrcmGntal incisioal of the cutting edge into the
first article piece 71.
Moreover, a plurality of block regions s3 are angularly
displaced from one another about the axis (L). Each of the block
regions 83 is alternately positioned with a corresponding one of
the blade portions 7. The bleck regions 83 are foamed by keeping
a plurality of corresponding areas of the outer anrnalar blank
portion intact when the outer aru~ular blank portion is punched to
~0 form the blade portions 7.
Each of the block regions 83 is dimez~sio~ned such that when the
abutment wall 91 is brought to abut against the first tightened
wall surface 75, the block regions 83 are brought to abut agaixast
the first article piece 71 ire the first tubular bore 73, amd the
distal segment 81 is in the first tubular bore 73 . Preferably, each
of the block regions 83 has distal and proximate edges which are
respectively disposed at the puncture 831 and the central area 911
and which respectively have smaller and largex lengths,
respectively, a first 3.ateral side face 833 which extends in the
direction parallel to the axis (L) to interconnect ends of the
dimtal az~d proximate edges, andl a second lateral aide fact 834 which
interconnects other ends of the distal andproximate edges and which
is connected to Ghe first lateral side face 833 of the adjacent
block region 83 so as to define an included angle o~ about 10 to
45 degrees.
As illustrated, in use, after the bolt stem 61 of the screw
bolt 6 passes through the first and second tubular bores 73,74,
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
9
the inner threaded surface 811 of the cylindrical shaxik 8 is engaged
threadedly with the outer threaded surface 611. At this time, by
rotating the screw belt 6, the cutting edges of the blade portions
7 can incrementally incise the first article piece 71, and the block
regions 83 can abut against the first article piece 71 in the first
tubular bore 73, thereby guarding against the rotation of the
cylindrical shank 8 relative to the first article piece 71. As such,
the threadedly engageable coupling device 5 is gradually
along the axis (L) by the screwing move~uent to permit abutment of
the abutment wall 9~, against the first tightened wa7.l surface 75
fox tightening the first and second article pieces ~~., 72 together.
Ft~xthernare, a label tape 85 is adhered to an outer surface
of the abutmez~t wall 91 for marking purposes.
Referring to Figss. 7 to 9, the second preferred embodiment of
the threadedly engageable coupling device 5' according to the
present invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiment
in construction. The differences reside in that the cylindrical
shank 8' is inserted into the first tubular bore 73 in the first
article piece7l from the first tightened wall surface 75, and the
ZO middle segment 84' extends through tt~ second tubular bore ~~ so
a,~s to permit the distal sent 81' to extend outwardly of the second
tightened wall surface 77 of the second article piece 72, and that
the distal segment 81' has an outer surrounding wall which extends
to the middle segment 84' , which surrounds the axis iL) , and which
has arr outer annular thraaded surface 811' to serve as the primary
threaded surface. The complementary coupling device 6 ~ is a screw
nut which has an inner annular threaded surface 61' to serve as
CA 02461949 2004-03-19
1~
the co~plementary threaded surface.
In use, after the cylindrical shank B' is inserted into the
tubular burs 73 in the first article p~.ece 71, the distal segment
81' extends outwardly of the second tubular bore 74, and the inner
annular threaded surface 61' is engaged threadedly with the outer
annular threaded surface 8z1'. The rotation of the cylindrical
shank a relative to the first article piece 71 carp be prevented
by the incremental incision of the cutting edges of the blade
portions 7 into the first article piece 71 and by the abutment of
lU the block regions 83' against the first axticle piece 71 in the
first tubular bore 73 . As such, the threadedly engageable coupling
device 5 is moved gradually along the axis (L) by the screwirx3
movement to permit abutment of the abutment wall 91 against the
first tightened wall suxface 75 for tightening the first and second
article pieces 71,72 together.
Tahile the present inventior~ has b~en described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited
to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
intexgretation3 and equivalent arra~zigements.
