Combination wedge-type fastener and installing tool

Abstract

A wedge-type fastener and tool for installing the same for preventing the separation of structural members during drilling or other operations. The fastener includes four spring biased pins which are adapted to be extended into aligned holes in the structural members providing four prongs of engagement increasing the bearing surface of the fastener without deformation of the structural members.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A combination wedge-type fastener and tool adapter for installing the same, said wedge-type fastener having a main body portion, a screw member having a head at one end and a threaded portion, a plurality of spaced prongs mounted in said main body portion coupled to the other end of said screw member, and a spindle mounted in said main body portion rotatable therein, disposed between said prongs, the improvement which comprises: 
 said fastener having an irregularly configured main body portion, said spindle having an irregularly configured end on the outer surface thereof extending out of said main body portion, said irregularly configured end being rotatable with respect to said main body portion, said tool adapter having a socket therein receiving said main body portion configured to said main body portion, said tool adapter also having irregularly configured end engaging means adapted to engage said irregularly configured end to rotate the same while holding said main body portion in a stationary position.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said configured end engaging means is a socket configured to said irregularly configured end.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said configured end includes an irregularly configured socket therein, said tool adapter having a spindle portion configured to said irregularly configured socket for insertion therein.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said tool adapter includes an inner threaded wall adapted to threadably engage mating threads of a power tool, said irregularly configured end engaging means having a threaded end rotating opposite said end adapted to engage said irregularly configured end.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein said adapter from includes resilient means encircling said configured end engaging means resiliently biasing the same toward said irregularly configured end when said fastener is inserted into said tool adapter.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prongs comprise: 
 four prongs, each having a wedging tip disposed in a circle of substantially 360°, each of said prong tips having a shoulder adapted to abut against said main body portion when said prongs are retracted into said main body portion.  
 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein said prongs are spring-biased.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prongs comprises: 
 four elongated prongs mounted in said main body portion, each having a tip at one terminal end with an elongated arcuate main body portion terminating at an enlarged head at the other end, and a shoulder at the intersection of the tip and the arcuate main body portion, the tips extending out of said main body portion; and  
 an elongated spindle mounted in said main body portion terminating at one end in a spacer portion disposed between said prongs having an intermediate threaded portion engaging like mating threads on said enlarged heads, and terminating at the other end in an end portion.  
 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8  including a spring washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said enlarged heads.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9  including a washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said heads.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 8  including a washer mounted on said spindle between said end portions and said main body portion abutting against a stop member on said spindle.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said main body portion has an enlarged diameter portion into which said washer is disposed.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein said main body portion has a hollow throughbore terminating at one end in an opening of lesser diameter than said throughbore forming a shoulder, said enlarged heads abutting against said shoulder.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said main body portion has an opening of larger diameter than said throughbore at its other end, and a washer disposed in said opening of larger diameter between said main body portion and said end portion.  
     
     
         15 . In the combination of a wedge-type fastener and a power tool adapter for installing the same, wherein said fastener comprises: 
 a main body portion;    a screw member having a head at one end and a threaded portion, a plurality of spaced prongs mounted in said main body portion coupled to the other end of said screw member; and    a spindle mounted in said main body portion rotatable therein, disposed between said prongs, each of said prongs having a wedging tip disposed in a circle of substantially 360°, each of said prong tips having a shoulder adapted to abut against said main body portion when said prongs are retracted into said main body portion.    
     
     
         16 . In the combination of  claim 15  wherein said prongs are spring-biased.  
     
     
         17 . In a combination of a wedge-type fastener and a power tool adapter, for installing the same, wherein said fastener comprises: 
 a main body portion;    four elongated prongs mounted in said main body portion, each having a tip at one terminal end with an elongated arcuate main body portion terminating at an enlarged head at the other end, and a shoulder at the intersection of the tip and the arcuate main body portion, the tips extending out of said main body portion; and    an elongated spindle mounted in said main body portion terminating at one end in a spacer portion disposed between said prongs having an intermediate threaded portion engaging like mating threads on said enlarged heads, and terminating at the other end in an end portion.    
     
     
         18 . In the combination of  claim 17  including a spring washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said enlarged heads.  
     
     
         19 . In the combination of  claim 18  including a washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said heads.  
     
     
         20 . In the combination of  claim 17  including a washer mounted on said spindle between said end portions and said main body portion abutting against a stop member on said spindle.  
     
     
         21 . In the combination of  claim 20  wherein said main body portion has an enlarged diameter portion into which said washer is disposed.  
     
     
         22 . In the combination of  claim 17  wherein said main body portion has a hollow throughbore terminating at one end in an opening of lesser diameter than said throughbore forming a shoulder, said enlarged heads abutting against said shoulder.  
     
     
         23 . In the combination of  claim 22  wherein said main body portion has an opening of larger diameter than said throughbore at its other end, and a washer disposed in said opening of larger diameter between said main body portion and said end portion.  
     
     
         24 . A wedge-type fastener comprising: 
 a main body portion;    four elongated prongs mounted in said main body portion, each having a tip at one terminal end with an elongated arcuate main body portion terminating at an enlarged head at the other end, and a shoulder at the intersection of the tip and the arcuate main body portion, the tips extending out of said main body portion; and    an elongated spindle mounted in said main body portion terminating at one end in a spacer portion disposed between said prongs having an intermediate threaded portion engaging like mating threads on said enlarged heads, and terminating at the other end in an end portion.    
     
     
         25 . The fastener of  claim 24  including a spring washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said enlarged heads.  
     
     
         26 . The fastener of  claim 25  including a washer mounted in said main body portion encircling said spindle between said end portion and said heads.  
     
     
         27 . The fastener of  claim 24  including a washer mounted on said spindle between said end portions and said main body portion abutting against a stop member on said spindle.  
     
     
         28 . The fastener of  claim 27  wherein said main body portion has an enlarged diameter portion into which said washer is disposed.  
     
     
         29 . The fastener of  claim 24  wherein said main body portion has a hollow throughbore terminating at one end in an opening of lesser diameter than said throughbore forming a shoulder, said enlarged heads abutting against said shoulder.  
     
     
         30 . The fastener of  claim 29  wherein said main body portion has an opening of larger diameter than said throughbore at its other end, and a washer disposed in said opening of larger diameter between said main body portion and said end portion.