Grating fastening methods and systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for fastening a grating to a lower member such as a plate, floor, beam, or substructure below the grating. Such methods and systems can include securing a primary bolt with an interior threaded portion to the lower member and then securing a secondary bolt in the threaded portion of the primary bolt. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

1 . A method for securing a grating to a lower member, the method comprising
 inserting a primary bolt of a securement apparatus through a hole in a member,   the securement apparatus including the primary bolt, a nut to secure the primary bolt to the member, the primary bolt having an interiorly threaded interior channel, a secondary bolt exteriorly threaded and insertable into the interior channel of the primary bolt to threadedly engage the threaded interior channel of the primary bolt, and a washer positionable around the secondary bolt,   securing the primary bolt to the member with the nut,   placing a grating on the member above the primary bolt, the grating having a plurality of spaced-apart grating members,   inserting the secondary bolt through the washer and between two of the plurality of spaced-apart grating members and into the interior channel of the primary bolt so that the exterior threading of the secondary bolt threadedly engages the interiorly threaded interior channel of the primary bolt, and   tightening the secondary bolt to the primary bolt with the washer abutting a top of the grating to secure the grating to the member.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the washer has a washer width sufficient for the washer to cover a portion of each of two adjacent grating members, the method further comprising
 positioning the washer to contact two adjacent grating members.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the primary bolt has a bolt head with bolt faces, the spaced-apart grating members have exterior surfaces, the exterior surfaces parallel to each other, the method further comprising
 positioning the primary bolt between a first grating member and a second grating member so that opposed bolt faces of the bolt head abut an exterior surface of each of the first grating member and the second grating member.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the bolt head is hexagonal with six bolt faces. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the bolt head is rectangular with four bolt faces. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the washer includes a central bucket area. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 loosening of the secondary bolt with respect to the primary bolt, and   the secondary bolt held in position by gravity following said loosening.   
   
   
       8 . A method for securing a grating to a lower member, the method comprising
 inserting a primary bolt of a securement apparatus through a hole in a member,   the securement apparatus including the primary bolt, a nut to secure the primary bolt to the member, the primary bolt having an interiorly threaded interior channel, a secondary bolt exteriorly threaded and insertable into the interior channel of the primary bolt to threadedly engage the threaded interior channel of the primary bolt, and a washer positionable around the secondary bolt,   securing the primary bolt to the member with the nut,   placing a grating on the member above the primary bolt, the grating having a plurality of spaced-apart grating members,   inserting the secondary bolt through the washer and between two of the plurality of spaced-apart grating members and into the interior channel of the primary bolt so that the exterior threading of the secondary bolt threadedly engages the interiorly threaded interior channel of the primary bolt,   tightening the secondary bolt to the primary bolt with the washer abutting a top of the grating to secure the grating to the member,   wherein the washer has a washer width sufficient for the washer to cover a portion of each of two adjacent grating members, the method further comprising
 positioning the washer to contact two adjacent grating members, 
 loosening of the secondary bolt with respect to the primary bolt, and 
 the secondary bolt held in position by gravity following said loosening. 
   
   
   
       9 . A method for securing a grating to lower member, the method including employing a plurality of securement apparatuses to connect the grating to the lower members, the plurality of securement apparatuses spaced-apart above the lower member, the method further comprising
 inserting a primary bolt of each securement apparatus through a hole in the lower member,   each securement apparatus including a primary bolt, a nut to secure the primary bolt to the lower member, the primary bolt having an interiorly threaded interior channel, a secondary bolt exteriorly threaded and insertable into the interior channel of the primary bolt to threadedly engage the threaded interior channel of the primary bolt, and a washer positionable around the secondary bolt,   securing each primary bolt to the lower member with a nut,   placing a grating on the lower member above the primary bolts, the grating having a plurality of spaced-apart grating members,   inserting each secondary bolt through a washer and between two of the plurality of spaced-apart grating members and into an interior channel of a primary bolt so that the exterior threading of each secondary bolt threadedly engages the interiorly threaded interior channel of a primary bolt, and   tightening each secondary bolt to a primary bolt with a washer abutting a top of the grating to secure the grating to the lower member.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the grating has an area of about one square meter and six securement apparatuses are used to secure the grating to the lower member. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein each primary bolt has a bolt head with bolt faces, the spaced-apart grating members having exterior surfaces, the exterior surfaces parallel to each other, the method further comprising
 positioning each primary bolt between two grating members so that opposed bolt faces of each bolt head abut an exterior surface a grating member.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the bolt heads are hexagonal with six bolt faces. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the bolt heads are rectangular with four bolt faces. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each washer includes a central bucket area. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 loosening of the secondary bolts with respect to the primary bolts, and   the secondary bolts held in position by gravity following said loosening.   
   
   
       16 . A securement apparatus for securing a grating to lower member, the securement apparatus comprising
 a primary bolt insertable through a hole in a member,   a nut to secure the primary bolt to the member,   the primary bolt having an interiorly threaded interior channel,   a secondary bolt exteriorly threaded and insertable into the interior channel of the primary bolt to threadedly engage the threaded interior channel of the primary bolt,   a washer positionable around the secondary bolt,   the primary bolt securable to the member with the nut,   the secondary bolt insertable through the washer and between two of a plurality of spaced-apart grating members of a grating placed above the lower member and into the interior channel of the primary bolt so that the exterior threading of the secondary bolt can threadedly engage the interiorly threaded interior channel of the primary bolt, and   the secondary bolt tightenable to the primary bolt with the washer abutting a top of the grating to secure the grating to the member.   
   
   
       17 . The securement apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the washer has a washer width sufficient for the washer to cover a portion of each of two adjacent grating members. 
   
   
       18 . The securement apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the primary bolt has a bolt head with bolt faces, the spaced-apart grating members having exterior surfaces, the exterior surfaces parallel to each other, the primary bolt positionable between a first grating member and a second grating member so that opposed bolt faces of the bolt head abut an exterior surface of each of the first grating member and the second grating member. 
   
   
       19 . The securement apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the washer includes a central bucket area. 
   
   
       20 . The securement apparatus of  claim 16  wherein
 the secondary bolt is loosenable with respect to the primary bolt, and   the secondary bolt is holdable in position by gravity following said loosening.