Floor nail

Claim 2

A fastener which includes a shank having a head on one end and a conical portion of circular section on the other, the apex of said portion constituting a piercing point for the fastener, the conical portion having a base diameter, the shank including a smooth cylindrical portion adjacent the conical portion, and a threaded portion adjacent the head, the axial section of the fastener exhibiting an abrupt, angled transition between the conical portion and the smooth cylindrical portion, the threaded portion having threads of which the outer thread diameter is greater than the diameter of said smooth cylindrical portion, the latter being the same as the base diameter of said conical portion, the thread angle of said threads being between about 35° and about 55°, such that the fastener is self-tapping and self-threading, the included cone angle of said conical portion being between about 23° and about 35°.

Claim 3

The fastener claimed in claim 1, in which the thread angle is substantially 45°, and in which the number of separate threads is between six and ten inclusive.

Claim 4

In combination: a metal joist layer having a first thickness, a panel layer having a second thickness and juxtaposed in contact with and against said metal joist layer, and a fastener passing through both layers, said fastener including a shank having a head on one end and a conical portion of circular section on the the other, the apex of said portion constituting a piercing point for the fastener, the conical portion having a base diameter, the shank including a smooth cylindrical portion adjacent the conical portion and a threaded portion adjacent the head, the axial section of the fastener exhibiting an abrupt, angled transition between the conical portion and the smooth cylindrical portion, the threaded portion having threads of which the outer thread diameter is greater than the diameter of the smooth cylindrical portion, the latter being the same as the base diameter of said conical portion, the thread angle of said threads being between about 35° and about 55°, such that the fastener is self-tapping and self-threading, the included cone angle of said conical portion being between about 23° and about 35°.

Claim 5

In combination: a metal joist layer having a first thickness, a panel layer having a second thickness and juxtaposed in contact with and against said metal joist layer, and a fastener passing through both layers, said fastener including a shank having a head on one end and a conical portion of circular section on the the other, the apex of said portion constituting a piercing point for the fastener, the conical portion having a base diameter, the shank including a smooth cylindrical portion adjacent the conical portion and a threaded portion adjacent the head, the axial section of the fastener exhibiting an abrupt, angled transition between the conical portion and the smooth cylindrical portion, the threaded portion having threads of which the outer thread diameter is greater than the diameter of the smooth cylindrical portion, the latter being the same as the base diameter of said conical portion, the thread angle of said threads being between about 35° and about 55°, such that the fastener is self-tapping and self-threading, the included cone angle of said conical portion being between about 23° and about 35°.

Claim 6

The combination claimed in claim 3, in which the length of the fastener from the piercing point to the junction of the threaded portion with the smooth cylindrical portion is substantially the same as said second thickness, the length of the threaded portion of the fastener being at least as great as the combined first and second thicknesses, the fastener securing said layers together with its head against the panel layer remote from the metal joist layer and with said threaded portion extending through both said layers, the thread angle being substantially 45°.