Wedge anchor

Claim 2

A wedge anchor of a type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor fitting into the hole to be expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section formed on a first end of the bolt, said first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a second section formed on the bolt adjacent to the first section, said second section forming a substantially cylindrical surface coextensive with the surface of the bolt, a tapered section, a reduced diameter section between said second section and said tapered section, a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a substantially rectantular, imperforate strip of metal and being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides upon the said tapered section facilitating outward swaging of the said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs, said annular grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are substantially mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt, the inner edges at each axial end of said collar including bevels which provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit gouging of said tapered section by said collar, said collar including at least two spaced protuberances on the outer surface thereof and extending outwardly therefrom which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances enabling a better fit between the hole and said collar and inhibiting rotation between said collar and said hole, said tapered section extending between said reduced diameter section and a second end of said expansion bolt, and a third section of said expansion bolt formed adjacent the second end of said bolt, said third section including a knurled surface fitting inside the collar as the collar swages outwardly to help hold the anchor in the hole and to help prevent rotation of said anchor in the hole.

Claim 3

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two spaced protuberances on the outer surface of said collar are oriented so that said collar is strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grasps said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, if not prevent relative rotation between said collar and said bolt.

Claim 4

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor fitting into the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section, a reduced diameter section bEtween said first and tapered sections, a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said tapered section including at least a first section and a second section having different tapers so that as said collar is urged against said tapered section, it is initially swaged outwardly of said bolt at a first angle by said first section and then upon engaging said second section, said collar is swaged outwardly at a second, increased angle to provide an abrupt increase in the wedging action whereby less axial movement of said bolt is required to set said anchor in place than is required with a tapered section having a single taper, said tapered section extending between said reduced diameter section and one end of said expansion bolt, the largest diameter portion of said tapered section having an irregular surface which will engage and bite into the inner surface of said collar when said collar is urged upon said tapered section during expansion of said anchor and said engagement between said irregular surface and said inner surface of said collar serving to inhibit, if not prevent, pull-out of said bolt from the hole in addition to inhibiting, if not preventing, relative rotation between said bolt and said collar, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides up on said tapered section upon axial movement of said bolt facilitating outward swaging of said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs, and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt.

Claim 5

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor fitting into the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section, a reduced diameter section bEtween said first and tapered sections, a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said tapered section including at least a first section and a second section having different tapers so that as said collar is urged against said tapered section, it is initially swaged outwardly of said bolt at a first angle by said first section and then upon engaging said second section, said collar is swaged outwardly at a second, increased angle to provide an abrupt increase in the wedging action whereby less axial movement of said bolt is required to set said anchor in place than is required with a tapered section having a single taper, said tapered section extending between said reduced diameter section and one end of said expansion bolt, the largest diameter portion of said tapered section having an irregular surface which will engage and bite into the inner surface of said collar when said collar is urged upon said tapered section during expansion of said anchor and said engagement between said irregular surface and said inner surface of said collar serving to inhibit, if not prevent, pull-out of said bolt from the hole in addition to inhibiting, if not preventing, relative rotation between said bolt and said collar, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides up on said tapered section upon axial movement of said bolt facilitating outward swaging of said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs, and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt.

Claim 6

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner edges at each axial end of said collar are beveled on said inner edges to provide smooth tapers free of burrs substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered sections by said collar and to facilitate a smooth sliding engagement between one axial end of said collar and said tapered sections when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 7

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said collar has at least two spaced protuberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a better fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, if not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt.

Claim 8

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides upon said Tapered section upon axial movement of said bolt facilitating outward swaging of the said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt, the inner edges at each axial end of said collar including bevels providing smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section by said collar and to facilitate a smooth sliding engagement between the one axial end of said collar and said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 9

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides upon said Tapered section upon axial movement of said bolt facilitating outward swaging of the said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt, the inner edges at each axial end of said collar including bevels providing smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section by said collar and to facilitate a smooth sliding engagement between the one axial end of said collar and said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 10

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inner edges at each axial end of said collar are beveled free of burrs on said inner edges to provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges.

Claim 11

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein said collar has at least two protuberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a greater interference fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, if not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt.

Claim 12

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, and a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said collar having at least two spaced protuberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a closer interference fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, if not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt, said collar having a substantially annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end of said collar so that as the collar rides upon the tapered section it is swaged outwardly about the line of weakness formed by one of said annular grooves, the inner edges at each axial end of said collar being beveled to remove substantially all of the burrs on said inner edges to provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section and to facilitate by said collar a smooth sliding engagement between one axial end of said collar and said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 13

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first section including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, and a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said collar having at least two spaced protuberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a closer interference fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, if not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt, said collar having a substantially annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end of said collar so that as the collar rides upon the tapered section it is swaged outwardly about the line of weakness formed by one of said annular grooves, the inner edges at each axial end of said collar being beveled to remove substantially all of the burrs on said inner edges to provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section and to facilitate by said collar a smooth sliding engagement between one axial end of said collar and said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 14

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first seCtion including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, and a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said tapered section extending between said reduced diameter section and one end of said expansion bolt, the longest diameter portion of said tapered section having an irregular or knurled surface which will engage and bite into the inner surface of said collar when said collar is urged upon said tapered section during expansion of said anchor and said engagement between said irregular surface and said inner surface of said collar serving to inhibit, if not prevent, pull-out of said bolt from the hole in addition to inhibiting, if not preventing, relative rotation between said bolt and said collar, said tapered section including at least a first section and a second section which have different tapers so that as said collar is urged against said tapered section, it is initially swaged outwardly of said bolt at first angle by said first section and then, upon engaging said second section, said collar is swaged outwardly at a second, increased angle, to provide an abrupt increase in the wedging action whereby less axial movement of said bolt is required to set said anchor in place then is required with a tapered section having a single taper, said collar having at least two spaced proturberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a greater interference fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, it not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides up on said tapered section facilitating outward swaging of the said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are substantially mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt, and the inner edges at each axial end of said collar including bevels which provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section by said collar and to facilitate a smooth sliding engagement between one said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 15

A wedge anchor of the type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole before it is expanded therein, said anchor comprising an expansion bolt having a first seCtion including means for enabling a longitudinal force which tends to urge said bolt from the hole to be applied to said bolt, a tapered section and a reduced diameter section between said first section and a reduced diameter section between said first and tapered sections, and a one-piece split expansion collar, said split expansion collar including an integral split ring formed from a generally rectangular, imperforate strip of metal, said collar being positioned around said reduced diameter section, said tapered section extending between said reduced diameter section and one end of said expansion bolt, the longest diameter portion of said tapered section having an irregular or knurled surface which will engage and bite into the inner surface of said collar when said collar is urged upon said tapered section during expansion of said anchor and said engagement between said irregular surface and said inner surface of said collar serving to inhibit, if not prevent, pull-out of said bolt from the hole in addition to inhibiting, if not preventing, relative rotation between said bolt and said collar, said tapered section including at least a first section and a second section which have different tapers so that as said collar is urged against said tapered section, it is initially swaged outwardly of said bolt at first angle by said first section and then, upon engaging said second section, said collar is swaged outwardly at a second, increased angle, to provide an abrupt increase in the wedging action whereby less axial movement of said bolt is required to set said anchor in place then is required with a tapered section having a single taper, said collar having at least two spaced proturberances on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage and bear into the side wall of the hole when said bolt is moved axially of said collar to swage said collar outwardly of said bolt, said protuberances also serving to create a greater interference fit between the hole and said anchor than would be the case without said protuberances such that said collar is more strongly pressed against said bolt and frictionally grips said bolt with a gripping force sufficient to inhibit, it not prevent, relative rotation between said collar and said bolt, said collar having a generally annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end thereof, said groove at the axial end which rides up on said tapered section facilitating outward swaging of the said axial end of said collar by providing a generally annular weakened area where bending occurs and said two grooves providing a substantially symmetrical collar having axial ends which are substantially mirror images of each other whereby no particular orientation of said collar is necessary when mounting said collar on said bolt, and the inner edges at each axial end of said collar including bevels which provide smooth tapers substantially about said inner edges thereby to inhibit, if not prevent, gouging of said tapered section by said collar and to facilitate a smooth sliding engagement between one said tapered section when said bolt is moved axially of said collar.

Claim 16

A wedge anchor of a type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole, said anchor comprising: A. an integral elongate body having i. a threaded section along a substantial length thereof comprising the outer portion of said body and at least a part of said threaded section adapted to protrude from the hole, ii. an unthreaded section adjacent said threaded section inwardly thereof and having its diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of said anchor, iii. a cylindrical section adjacent said unthreaded section and inwardly thereof and of a diameter substantially less than that of said unthreaded section, an annular ring of knurling provided on said cyLindrical section, and iv. a conical tapered section extending from said cylindrical section to the innermost end of said body, the smallest diameter of said conical section being the same as that of said cylindrical section and being connected thereto, and the largest diameter of said conical section being substantially the same as that of the said unthreaded section, and B. a split one-piece collar engaged on said cylindrical section, said collar i. being formed from a substantially rectangular, imperforate strip of metal which is enwrapped about said cylindrical section with the juxtaposed ends thereof slightly spaced apart, ii. having a protuberance extending outward from the center of the collar to engage and wedge into the side of a drilled hole, iii. having an axial length which is greater than the axial length of said cylindrical section such that when said metal strip is enwrapped about said cylindrical section to form said collar as a cylindrical split sleeve or ring from a single slit, one end of said collar engages against said shoulder and the other end extends well onto said conical section, and iv. having a substantially annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end of said collar said split collar being adapted to expand and ride up on said tapered section when said anchor body is moved axially out of the hole, such as when said anchor body is taken up by a nut received on said threaded section and said collar is swaged into engagement with the side wall of the hole by bending about an annular weakened area provided by said grooves.

Claim 17

A wedge anchor of a type adapted to be expanded in a predrilled hole in concrete or the like, the hole being substantially the same diameter as said anchor and said anchor making at least a slight interference fit with the hole, said anchor comprising: A. an integral elongate body having i. a threaded section along a substantial length thereof comprising the outer portion of said body and at least a part of said threaded section adapted to protrude from the hole, ii. an unthreaded section adjacent said threaded section inwardly thereof and having its diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of said anchor, iii. a cylindrical section adjacent said unthreaded section and inwardly thereof and of a diameter substantially less than that of said unthreaded section, an annular ring of knurling provided on said cyLindrical section, and iv. a conical tapered section extending from said cylindrical section to the innermost end of said body, the smallest diameter of said conical section being the same as that of said cylindrical section and being connected thereto, and the largest diameter of said conical section being substantially the same as that of the said unthreaded section, and B. a split one-piece collar engaged on said cylindrical section, said collar i. being formed from a substantially rectangular, imperforate strip of metal which is enwrapped about said cylindrical section with the juxtaposed ends thereof slightly spaced apart, ii. having a protuberance extending outward from the center of the collar to engage and wedge into the side of a drilled hole, iii. having an axial length which is greater than the axial length of said cylindrical section such that when said metal strip is enwrapped about said cylindrical section to form said collar as a cylindrical split sleeve or ring from a single slit, one end of said collar engages against said shoulder and the other end extends well onto said conical section, and iv. having a substantially annular groove defining an area of minimum thickness in cross-section proximate each axial end of said collar said split collar being adapted to expand and ride up on said tapered section when said anchor body is moved axially out of the hole, such as when said anchor body is taken up by a nut received on said threaded section and said collar is swaged into engagement with the side wall of the hole by bending about an annular weakened area provided by said grooves.

Claim 18

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 11, wherein a ring of knurling is provided on the widest diameter portion of the tapered section.

Claim 19

The wedge anchor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tapered section is divided into two sections which have different tapers so that as the collar rides up on the tapered end it is swaged outwardly at increased angles.