IP Library Granted Patent US 10,837,480
Granted Patent B2
US 10,837,480 · App. 15/845,069 · Granted Nov 17, 2020

Hollow wall anchor

Inventors: Byron K. Grice (Phoenix, AZ); Wayne R. Mayville (Phoenix, AZ); Michael J. Schmidt (Gilbert, AZ); Jordan D. Shoenhair (Phoenix, AZ); Gary J. Schorr (Mesa, AZ)
Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
F16B13/003F16B37/067
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,837,480
App. No.
15/845,069
Granted
Nov 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hollow wall anchor includes a wall penetrating component having an externally threaded portion and a wall penetrating end portion, and a body component having a wall face engaging portion and an internally threaded portion that receives the externally threaded portion of the wall penetrating component. Rotation of the components together in a first direction for wall penetration moves both the wall penetrating component and the body component into the wall until the wall face engaging portion of the body component engages the wall to limit further rotation of the body component while the wall penetrating component continues to rotate such that interacting threads of the two components pull the wall penetrating component further into the body component. As the wall penetrating component is pulled further into the body component one or more retention arms are expanded outwardly behind a rear surface of the wall.

Claims (40)

1. A hollow wall anchor, comprising:

a wall penetrating component having an externally threaded portion and a wall penetrating end portion;

a body component having a wall face engaging portion and an internally threaded portion that receives the externally threaded portion of the wall penetrating component;

wherein rotation of the wall penetrating component and the body component together in a first direction for wall penetration moves both the wall penetrating component and the body component into the wall until the wall face engaging portion of the body component engages the wall to limit further rotation of the body component while the wall penetrating component continues to rotate such that interacting threads of the wall penetrating component and the body component pull the wall penetrating component further into the body component;

wherein the wall penetrating component includes a cylindrical end edge for coring a hole in wallboard;

wherein a central stabilizing member protrudes beyond the cylindrical end edge;

wherein the central stabilizing member is formed by a removable screw threadedly engaged with the wall penetrating component.

2. The hollow wall anchor of claim 1 , wherein:

as the wall penetrating component is pulled further into the body component one or more retention arms are expanded outwardly behind a rear surface of the wall for retaining the hollow wall anchor within the wall.

3. The hollow wall anchor of claim 2 , wherein:

the one or more retention arms are integrally formed with, and remain connected to, the body component.

4. The hollow wall anchor of claim 3 , wherein:

each retention arm has a free end facing toward the wall penetrating end portion of the wall penetrating component.

5. The hollow wall anchor of claim 4 , wherein:

the wall penetrating end portion includes a tubular part with a cylindrical cutting end that defines the cylindrical end edge, and the tubular part moves internally of and engages the one or more retention arms to expand the retention arms outwardly.

6. The hollow wall anchor of claim 2 , wherein:

the wall penetrating component includes an internal end within the body component, the internal end including a tool receiving part shaped to enable rotation via a tool,

the body component includes a through passage to provide tool access to the tool receiving part.

7. The hollow wall anchor of claim 6 , wherein:

the internal end of the wall penetrating component further includes an internal passage that is threaded and in which the removable screw is threadedly engaged.

8. The hollow wall anchor of claim 6 , wherein:

the wall face engaging portion of the body component comprises an end flange for seating against an external surface of the wall and one or more ribs at a rear side of the end flange for biting into the wall.

9. The hollow wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical end edge includes one or more cutting teeth.

10. The hollow wall anchor of claim 1 wherein an internal end face of the externally threaded portion includes a plurality of dimples and a head of the removable screw is engaged with the dimples.

11. A hollow wall anchor, comprising:

a wall penetrating component having an externally threaded portion and a wall penetrating end portion;

a body component having a through passage with a forward end and a distal end, wherein at least part of the through passage is internally threaded, wherein the externally threaded portion of the wall penetrating component is received within the distal end of the through passage and threadedly engages the internally threaded part of the through passage, wherein rotation of the wall penetrating component relative to the body component in a first direction pulls the wall penetrating component further into the body component by way of thread interaction; and

a plurality of movable retention arms located along the anchor, each retention arm movable between a collapsed install orientation and an expanded retention orientation, wherein as the wall penetrating component is pulled further into the body component each retention arm is shifted from its collapsed install orientation to its expanded retention orientation;

wherein the forward end of the through passage is defined by an opening that enables access to an inner end of the wall penetrating component such that the wall penetrating component can be engaged and rotated;

wherein the inner end of the wall penetrating component includes an opening to an internally threaded fastener receiving passage within the wall penetrating component.

12. The hollow wall anchor of claim 11 wherein the wall penetrating end portion includes a tubular end edge for coring a hole in wallboard, and a central stabilizing member protrudes outward beyond the tubular end edge.

13. The hollow wall anchor of claim 12 wherein the central stabilizing member is formed by a removable threaded fastener threadedly engaged within the wall penetrating component, where the inner end includes a plurality of protrusions and a head of the screw is engaged with the protrusions.

14. A hollow wall anchor, comprising:

a wall penetrating component having an externally threaded portion and a wall penetrating end portion;

a body component having a wall face engaging portion and an internally threaded portion that receives the externally threaded portion of the wall penetrating component;

wherein rotation of the wall penetrating component and the body component together in a first direction for wall penetration moves both the wall penetrating component and the body component into the wall until the wall face engaging portion of the body component engages the wall to limit further rotation of the body component while the wall penetrating component continues to rotate such that interacting threads of the wall penetrating component and the body component pull the wall penetrating component further into the body component;

wherein the wall penetrating component includes an opening to an internally threaded passage within the wall penetrating component.

15. The hollow wall anchor of claim 14 , wherein the wall penetrating component includes a cylindrical end edge.

16. The hollow wall anchor of claim 14 , wherein a removable screw is engaged in the internally threaded passage.

17. The hollow wall anchor of claim 14 , wherein the internally threaded passage is an axial through passage.

Assignments (6)
TERM PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 15, 2021
From: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 056883/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2021
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.; NB PRODUCTS LLC; BIG TIME PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056885/0264 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY Recorded Oct 3, 2018
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 047189/0543 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2018
From: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 046291/0256 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2018
From: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 046291/0617 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2017
From: GRICE, BYRON K.; MAYVILLE, WAYNE R.; SCHMIDT, MICHAEL J.; SHOENHAIR, JORDAN D.; SCHORR, GARY J.
To: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 044421/0412 →