IP Library Granted Patent US 11,148,263
Granted Patent B2
US 11,148,263 · App. 16/402,668 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Centering sleeve and method for fastening

Inventors: Roland Mair (Gotzis, AT); Erich Palm (Au, CH)
Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
B25B23/005B21D39/00E04F13/0832B23B49/02E04F13/0837F16B19/02F16B41/002Y10T29/49963
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,148,263
App. No.
16/402,668
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sleeve ( 20 ) for centering fasteners during the assembly of components such as facade elements on the substructure of a building envelope includes a sleeve body ( 23 ) and a connection bracket ( 25 ). The sleeve body ( 23 ) has a plurality of sleeve elements ( 21, 22 ) which are grouped around a central center axis A and are spaced apart from each other by gaps running in the sleeve longitudinal direction. At least a first ( 21 ) and a second ( 22 ) sleeve piece are connected to each other at an axial longitudinal end of the sleeve body ( 23 ) by a separable connection bracket ( 25 ), preferably the connection bracket is separable via predetermined breaking points. Such a sleeve is used in the construction of facades, wherein it is inserted into a pilot hole of a facade element, the connection bracket is broken off and a fastener is inserted into the sleeve. Driving the fastener centers the fastener in the sleeve and the sleeve is removed from the pilot hole.

Claims (23)

1. A sleeve ( 20 ) for centering fasteners during assembly of components, the sleeve comprising:

a sleeve body ( 23 ) formed of a plurality of sleeve elements ( 21 , 22 ) which are grouped around a central center axis (A) and spaced apart from each other by gaps running in a sleeve longitudinal direction;

a separable connection bracket ( 25 ) that connects at least first ( 21 ) and second ( 22 ) ones of the sleeve elements to each other at an axial longitudinal end of the sleeve body ( 23 ): and

the first sleeve element ( 21 ) and the second sleeve element ( 22 ) each have at least one driver element ( 28 , 29 ) formed as a radially inwardly directed projection that extends into a longitudinal opening of the sleeve.

2. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the connection between the first ( 21 ) and the second ( 22 ) sleeve elements is exclusively made by the connection bracket ( 25 ) before use of the sleeve.

3. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first ( 21 ) and the second ( 22 ) sleeve elements each have a radially outward flange-shaped overhang ( 26 , 27 ).

4. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the flange-shaped overhangs ( 26 , 27 ) are arranged at the axial longitudinal end of the sleeve body ( 23 ).

5. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the driver element ( 28 , 29 ) comprises a cam, a web, a flange ring section or a pin-shaped cylinder.

6. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve ( 20 ) is an injection molded element or compression molded element.

7. The sleeve ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve ( 20 ) is formed of at least one of a plastic, a biodegradable plastic, bonded paper fibers, vegetable fibers, or composite materials.

8. The sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is adapted for assembly of a facade element to the substructure of a building envelope.

9. A sleeve ( 20 ) for centering fasteners during assembly of components, the sleeve comprising:

a sleeve body ( 23 ) formed of a plurality of sleeve elements ( 21 , 22 ) which are grouped around a central center axis (A) and spaced apart from each other by gaps running in a sleeve longitudinal direction; and

a separable connection bracket ( 25 ) that connects at least first ( 21 ) and second ( 22 ) ones of the sleeve elements to each other at an axial longitudinal end of the sleeve body ( 23 );

wherein the connection bracket ( 25 ) has a predetermined breaking point ( 31 , 32 ) each at the transition to the first and second sleeve element ( 21 , 22 ).

10. A method for fastening a facade element to a substructure of a building envelope, comprising the following steps:

a) inserting a sleeve ( 20 ), including a sleeve body ( 23 ) formed of a plurality of sleeve elements ( 21 , 22 ) which are grouped around a central center axis (A) and spaced apart from each other by gaps running in a sleeve longitudinal direction and a separable connection bracket ( 25 ) that connects at least first ( 21 ) and second ( 22 ) ones of the sleeve elements to each other at an axial longitudinal end of the sleeve body ( 23 ), in a hole of said facade element, with flange-shaped overhangs ( 26 , 27 ) of the first and the second sleeve elements resting on a surface of the facade element,

b) breaking off the connection bracket ( 25 ) along predetermined breaking points ( 31 , 32 ) to the sleeve elements ( 21 , 22 ),

c) inserting a fastener in a longitudinal opening of the sleeve,

d) driving the fastener,

e) countersinking the fastener in the substructure, wherein the sleeve ( 20 ) achieves a centering in the hole of the facade element and driver elements ( 28 , 29 ) of the first and second sleeve elements lock in the thread grooves of the fastener,

f) ejecting the sleeve elements ( 21 , 22 ) from the hole of the facade element by driving the fastener, and

g) completing the fastening wherein no remainder of the sleeve ( 20 ) remains in a completed fastener-facade—element substructure combination.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2022
From: SFS INTEC HOLDING AG
To: SFS GROUP INTERNATIONAL AG
Reel/Frame 061328/0559 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2019
From: MAIR, ROLAND; PALM, ERICH
To: SFS INTEC HOLDING AG
Reel/Frame 049292/0019 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18170723 · May 4, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190337129A1 · Nov 7, 2019