Patent US5758768A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5758768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Supporting deflective screwstrip
Assignee: Simpson Strong Tie Co Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-21
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2016-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A collated screwstrip comprising a plastic holding strip and a plurality of threaded fasteners with the holding strip holding the fasteners in a row in spaced side by side relation. The holding strip comprises a web member extending axially relative the screws and between screws. A reinforcing rib is disposed centrally on a side of the web member outboard of the screws which rib has a constant cross-sectional shape and size throughout the length of the holding strip and has a height less than that of the web member.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Lyle Habermehl
- 👤 Troy D. Hale
- 👤 William Stacy Kepley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:26
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B25/00; F16B27/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A collated screwstrip comprising a plastic holding strip and a plurality of threaded fasteners; each fastener disposed about an axis and having a head at an upper end, a tip extending from the other lower end and a shank extending from below the head to the tip about the axis, threads about the shank, the holding strip holding the fasteners in a row in spaced side-by-side relation with the axis of the fasteners in a common plane; the holding strip comprising an elongate beam member on one, outboard side of the common plane and with, for each fastener, at least one fragile strap member bridging the beam member across the shank of its respective fastener and passing on the other inboard side of the common plane to retain the fastener on the beam member, the beam member including an uppermost portion closest the head of the fastener and an enlarged reinforcing portion closer to the tip than the uppermost portion; an outboardmost surface of the beam member having substantially the same profile in any cross-section normal the common plane throughout the length of the beam member; in any cross-section normal the common plane the reinforcing portion having a width normal the common plane greater than a width of the uppermost portion normal the common plane such that the outboardmost surface of the beam member on the reinforcing portion extends farther outboard from the common plane than outboardmost surface of the beam member on the uppermost portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A collated screwstrip comprising a plastic holding strip and a plurality of threaded fasteners; each fastener disposed about an axis and having a head at an upper end, a tip extending from the other lower end and a shank extending from below the head to the tip about the axis, threads about the shank, the holding strip holding the fasteners in a row in spaced side-by-side relation with the axis of the fasteners in a common plane; the holding strip comprising an elongate beam member on one, outboard side of the common plane and with, for each fastener, at least one fragile strap member bridging the beam member across the shank of its respective fastener and passing on the other inboard side of the common plane to retain the fastener on the beam member, the beam member including an uppermost portion closest the head of the fastener and an enlarged reinforcing portion closer to the tip than the uppermost portion; an outboardmost surface of the beam member having substantially the same profile in any cross-section normal the common plane throughout the length of the beam member; in any cross-section normal the common plane the reinforcing portion having a width normal the common plane greater than a width of the uppermost portion normal the common plane such that the outboardmost surface of the beam member on the reinforcing portion extends farther outboard from the common plane than outboardmost surface of the beam member on the uppermost portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein in any cross-section normal the common plane the beam member having an outboardmost beam segment extending from said profile towards the common plane, which beam segment is of substantially identical shape and size throughout the length of the beam member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 2 wherein the identical shape and size of the beam segment throughout the length of the beam member is the same shape and size as a cross-section through the beam member normal the common plane through an axis of a fastener outboard of the shank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the beam member throughout the length of the beam member outboard of a plane parallel the common plane and passing immediately outboard of each of the fastener having a cross-section normal the common plane of substantially constant size and shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 3 wherein the beam member further includes a lowermost portion closer to the tip than the reinforcing portion, in any cross-section normal the common plane the reinforcing portion having a width normal the common plane greater than a width of the lowermost portion normal the common plane such that the outboardmost surface of the beam member on the reinforcing portion extends farther outboard from the common plane than outboardmost surface of the beam member on the lowermost portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reinforcing portion having a height measured parallel the axis of the fasteners which is greater than a height of either of the uppermost portion or the lowermost portion measured parallel the axis of the fasteners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 6 wherein the beam segment has a height measured parallel the axis of the fasteners greater than its width measured normal the common plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the height of the beam segment is at least about twice its width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 8 wherein the height of the reinforcing portion is about one half of the height of the beam segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 9 wherein the height of the uppermost portion is greater than the height of the lowermost portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 5 wherein the beam segment has a substantially T-shape in cross-section normal the central plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reinforcing portion extends outboard substantially a constant distance from the common plane measured parallel the axis of the fasteners to present the outboardmost surface over the reinforcing portion generally in a first outboard plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 12 wherein the uppermost portion and lowermost portions both extend outboard substantially the same constant distance from the common plane throughout their height measured parallel the axis of the fasteners.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the uppermost portion has an inboard camming surface facing the common plane, the camming surface angled to extend upwardly and away from the shank of the fastener for engagement with an undersurface of the head of the fastener to assist in deflecting the fastener relative the holding strip away from the beam member in a direction perpendicular the common plane on the fastener being threaded axially downwardly relative the beam member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 14 wherein the camming surfaces comprise bevelled uppermost inboard top surfaces of the uppermost portion extending continuously the entire length of the beam member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fasteners are held in the holding strip with the axis of the fasteners in parallel relation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the common plane is planar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 16 wherein the beam member comprises an elongate member of discrete length wherein, having regard to the size and weight of the fasteners, the beam member is sized such that the beam member, if held in a cantilevered fashion at one end, provides sufficient strength to support the entire length of the beam member with the fasteners disposed therein without substantial vertical deflection of the beam member when the common plane is vertical.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 5 wherein two fragile strap members are provided for each screw comprising an upper strap member proximate the juncture between the uppermost portion and the reinforcing portion and a lower strap member proximate the juncture between the reinforcing portion and the lowermost portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the beam member has a lowermost strip supporting surface disposed at a constant height from the head of each fastener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 3 wherein the reinforcing portion having a height measured parallel the axis of the fasteners which is greater than a height of the uppermost portion measured parallel the axis of the fasteners.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein threads of the threaded shank engaging in corresponding thread grooves formed in an inboard surface of the beam member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A screwstrip as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the holding strip holds the fasteners in a generally curved configuration wherein the heads of the screws lie on a first curve in the common plane and the tips of the screws lie on a second curve in the common plane, wherein at each fastener in the portion a radius of curvature of the first curve is less than a radius of curvature of the second curve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
135 words
In combination, a holding strip and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener disposed about an axis and having a head and an upper end, a tip extending from the other end and a shank extending from below the head to the tip about the axis, the holding strip holding the fasteners in a row spaced side-by-side relation with the axis of the fasteners in a common plane, the holding strip comprises an elongate beam member which extends axially relative the fasteners and longitudinally between fasteners, at least a portion of the holding strip holding the fasteners in a generally curved configuration wherein the heads of the fasteners lie on a first curve in the common plane and the tips of the fasteners lie in a corresponding second curve in the common plane of greater radii.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
135 words
In combination, a holding strip and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener disposed about an axis and having a head and an upper end, a tip extending from the other end and a shank extending from below the head to the tip about the axis, the holding strip holding the fasteners in a row spaced side-by-side relation with the axis of the fasteners in a common plane, the holding strip comprises an elongate beam member which extends axially relative the fasteners and longitudinally between fasteners, at least a portion of the holding strip holding the fasteners in a generally curved configuration wherein the heads of the fasteners lie on a first curve in the common plane and the tips of the fasteners lie in a corresponding second curve in the common plane of greater radii.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fasteners are disposed a constant distance from a center point in said common plane with the axis of each fastener extending through the center point.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
129 words
A combination as claimed in claim 25 wherein, the fasteners comprise threaded fasteners with threads about the shank, the beam member carrying spaced sleeves with one of the fasteners received in each sleeve, each fastener received in each sleeve spaced a uniform distance from adjacent fasteners with the fastener's head extending from one rear end of the sleeve and the fastener's tip extending from the other forward end of the sleeve, the sleeve threadably engaging the threads on the shank, the sleeve having a reduced strength portion such that a fastener on being threaded tip first into a workpiece is automatically separated from its sleeve while maintaining the length of the strip substantially intact and while guiding the fastener by threaded engagement of the fastener in its respective sleeve.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
A combination as claimed in claim 24 wherein the beam member comprises an elongate member of discrete length wherein, having regard to the size and weight of the fasteners, the beam member is sized such that the beam member, if held in a cantilevered fashion at one end, provides sufficient strength to support the entire length of the beam member with the fastener disposed therein when the common plane is vertical without deflection of the beam member sufficiently beyond deflection necessary to place the heads of the fasteners in a straight line in the common plane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |