Fastener alignment guide, connector and method
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a fastener alignment guide comprising a generally planar body and an angled element arranged at an acute angle Θ to the body, a first aperture arranged through the angled element and a second aperture arranged through the body, wherein the first aperture and the second apertures are aligned such that a fastener may be inserted progressively through the first and second apertures in use. The present invention also provides a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising a body at least partially arranged in a first plane, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener; and a guidewall extending out of the first plane for guiding the fastener, in use, into the first aperture at an acute angle a to the first plane, wherein the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of the fastener can bear in use, the body further comprises a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, and the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in a first direction parallel to the first plane. The present invention also provides a method of forming the fastener alignment guide and slip-resisting fastener alignment guide.
1. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising;
a body at least partially arranged in a first plane, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener, the first aperture having a selected width; and
a guidewall extending out of the first plane for guiding the fastener, in use, into the first aperture at an acute angle α to the first plane; wherein
the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of the fastener can bear in use, and the first bearing edge or surface is only as wide as the selected width of the first aperture;
the body further comprises a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, and the second bearing edge or surface is wider than the first bearing edge or surface;
the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in a first direction parallel to the first plane;
the body further comprises a stop configured/arranged to resist or block movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in the first direction; and
the stop comprises a recess, aperture or protrusion for receiving a portion of the head of the fastener in use, the second bearing edge or surface comprising at least a portion of an edge or surface of the recess, aperture or protrusion.
2. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each arranged substantially transverse to the first direction.
3. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guidewall comprises a portion of the body which is bent out of the first plane, thereby forming the first aperture.
4. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guidewall is arranged at an angle of α to the first plane.
5. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface comprises an end face or edge of the guidewall.
6. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein;
a fastener alignment axis is defined through the first aperture;
a second plane is defined perpendicular to first plane, the fastener alignment axis being arranged in the second plane and at an acute angle α to the first plane and
the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are configured such that load transfer between the fastener and the fastener alignment guide in use is equally balanced on either side of the second plane.
7. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a fastener.
8. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastener comprises a head having a generally planar underside and a shank having a central axis, the central axis being generally perpendicular to the generally planar underside of the head.
9. A slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bearing edge or surface and/or the second bearing edge or surface is linear.
10. A connector comprising a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as claimed in claim 1 .
11. A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein the connector is formed from sheet metal.
12. A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein the slip-resisting fastener alignment guide is formed as an integral part of the connector.
13. A connector as claimed in claim 12 wherein the connector is a joist hanger, bracket, angle bracket or portal frame connector or other connector for use in construction.
14. A method of forming a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising the steps of:
forming a piece of sheet metal comprising a guidewall arranged at an acute angle α to a first plane, wherein;
the first plane is defined by a body of the piece of sheet metal, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener, the first aperture having a selected width; and the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of a fastener can bear in use, and the first bearing edge or surface is only as wide as the selected width of the first aperture; and
forming a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, and the second bearing edge or surface is wider than the first bearing edge or surface wherein:
the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener a first direction parallel to the first plane;
the step of forming the second bearing edge or surface comprises forming a stop in the body; and
the stop is one of a recess, an aperture or a protrusion in or on the body.
15. A method of forming a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide as in claim 14 wherein the guidewall is formed by bending a portion of the body out of the first plane.