Method and apparatus for fastening steel framing members using helical features

Abstract

A method for fastening two or more steel framing members together with a fastener. The fastening technique employs a fastener having a coil section with an elastic characteristic.

1 . A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a spring shaped fastener, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a spring-shaped fastener having a head section and a coil section, where the coil section exhibits an elastic characteristic and has a first relaxed radial dimension;    (b) positioning the fastener adjacent a hole that extends through the framing members and rotating the fastener about an axial axis that substantially aligns with a center of the hole in the framing members, the hole having a second radial dimension less than the first relaxed radial dimension of the coil section;    (c) applying an axial force to the rotating fastener, such that at least a portion of the coil section of the fastener passes entirely through the hole in the framing members; and    (d) compressing at least a portion of the coil section that resides in the hole to a third compressed radial dimension substantially equal to the second radial dimension.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) includes maintaining the head section of the fastener on an opposite side of the framing members than the portion of the coil section of the fastener that passes entirely through the hole.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising axially stretching the coil section between opposite sides of the framing members such that the fastener pulls the framing members toward one another as the fastening member resists the axial stretching.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes providing a fastener having a coil section with a plurality of axially spaced apart coils.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coil section includes a plurality of coils and (c) includes passing at least one of the coils through the hole formed in the framing members.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes providing a steel fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes providing a reinforced plastic fastener.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising elastically deforming the coil section while applying the axial force.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming the hole through the framing members.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming the hole includes punching the hole through the framing members.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming the hole includes drilling the hole through the framing members.  
   
   
       12 . A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a spring shaped fastener, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a spring-shaped fastener having a head section and a coil section, where the coil section exhibits an elastic characteristic, the head section includes a first end that extends axially relative to the coil section, and the coil section includes a second end that curves axially relative to the coil section;    (b) positioning the fastener adjacent a hole that extends through the framing members and rotating the fastener about an axial axis that substantially aligns with a center of the hole in the framing members;    (c) applying an axial force to the rotating fastener, such that at least the second end of the coil section of the fastener passes entirely through the hole formed in the framing members and resides on a surface of the framing members opposite a surface upon which the head section resides and the first and second ends extend away from the framing members; and    (d) securing the framing members together with the fastener through the engagement of the head section and the coil section with opposite surfaces of the framing members.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein (d) includes maintaining the first end free of engagement with the framing members.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (d) includes maintaining tips of the first and second ends free of engagement with the framing members.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising elastically deforming the coil section while applying the axial force.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein elastically deforming the coil section includes radially compressing the coil section from a relaxed radial dimension to a compressed radial dimension less than the relaxed radial dimension.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein (d) includes engaging side walls of the hole in the framing members with at least a portion of the coil section.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming the hole in the fastening members, the hole having a radial dimension less than a relaxed radial dimension of the coil section.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein (d) includes securing the framing members together with portions of the coil section engaging with opposite surfaces of the framing members.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein (a) includes providing at least one of a steel fastener and a reinforced plastic fastener.