US 12,168,989 B2
Self-drilling expandable anchor and methods of use and installation thereof
Eddie Kao, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on May 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/323,530.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/031,231, filed on May 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0372449 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B25B 13/50 (2006.01); F16B 13/00 (2006.01); B25B 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 13/003 (2013.01) [B25B 13/50 (2013.01); B25B 23/0035 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A single-bodied self-drilling expandable anchor comprising:
an expandable member including a first end and a second end, the expandable member including a base at the first end and an expandable tube connected to and extending from the base, the base having one or more larger outer dimensions than the expandable tube and a front surface, a back surface, and four side edges, the base and the expandable tube defining an inner passageway, the expandable tube including a first section at the second end and a second section between the first section and the base, the first section including inner threads, the second section not including inner threads and being expandable relative to the base and to the first section;
a hanger including a threaded member connector having inner threads and a hanger base connected to and extending from the threaded member connector;
a threaded member including a partially threaded shaft including a first section including outer threads, a second section that does not have outer threads, and a third section that includes outer threads, the shaft configured to extend through the inner passageway of the expandable member such that the first section extends out of the first end of the expandable member, the third section extends out of the second end of the expandable member, the outer threads of the first section are configured to engage the inner threads of the first section of the expandable tube, the outer threads of the third section are configured to engage the inner threads of the threaded member connector to connect the threaded member connector and the hanger to the threaded member;
a friction reducing element disposed between the base of the expandable member and the threaded member; and
a drill head including a connector and a drill tip connected to and extending from the connector, the connector connectable to the first section of the threaded member,
wherein the drill tip is configured to rotate as the threaded member is rotated,
wherein the self-drilling expandable anchor is configured to be installed in one step, and wherein each of the four side edges includes two top and bottom opposing inwardly beveled surfaces and an outer surface.