Plastic anchor for drywall, plaster, brick and concrete

Abstract

An anchoring device for insertion in a hole provided in a structure such as a wall (hollow or solid) comprises proximal and distal sections. The proximal section includes a head defining an aperture for receiving a fastener, and the distal section includes a pair of expandable wings displaceable between collapsed and expanded positions. Each wing is biased towards its expanded position such that the wings can engage the structural material delimiting the hole or a distal surface of the structure. The distal section comprises, proximally of the wings, a variable-length flexible portion for allowing the wings to engage the distal surface of the structure for various structure thicknesses. The distal section comprises, distally of the wings, a tip section adapted to spread outwardly when engaged by the fastener. The proximal section comprises a pair of legs each having a toothed rack for engaging the structural material.

1 . An anchoring device for insertion in a hole provided in a structure, in combination with a fastener, the anchoring device comprising proximal and distal sections, said proximal section comprising a head defining an aperture for receiving a fastener, said proximal section comprises at least two legs separated by at least two slots, at least one lateral retention member being pivotally mounted to the legs for engaging the structural material, wherein the fastener when being introduced in the anchoring device is adapted to cause the retention member to pivot relative to at least one of the legs and into engagement in the structural material. 
     
     
         2 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said distal section comprises at least one expandable wing displaceable between inwardly collapsed and outwardly expanded positions, said wing being biased towards said expanded position such that said wing is adapted to at least one of engaging structural material delimiting the hole and engaging a distal surface of the structure. 
     
     
         3 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said distal section comprises, proximally of said wing, a variable-length portion for allowing said wing to engage the distal surface of the structure for various structure thicknesses, said variable-length portion comprises a flexible member capable of longitudinal size reduction. 
     
     
         4 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said distal section comprises a pair of said wings which are provided in substantially diametrically opposed positions, wherein each said wing extends at an angle towards said proximal section. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein a connecting member is provided between an outer end of each said wing and said proximal section. 
     
     
         7 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said distal section comprises, distally of said wing, a tip section adapted to spread outwardly when engaged by the fastener. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein there are provided at least two retention members each provided with at least one tooth. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said legs are substantially diametrically opposed. 
     
     
         13 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said distal section comprises at a proximal end thereof at least one wedge portion adapted to engage at least one of said slots when said distal section is drawn towards said proximal section, for spreading at least one of said legs outwardly into the structural material. 
     
     
         14 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein there are provided two said wedge portions each being associated with a respective one of said slots. 
     
     
         15 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each said leg comprises one said retention member, each retention member being provided with a series of teeth adapted to engage the structural material. 
     
     
         16 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein there are provided two said legs separated by a pair of slots. 
     
     
         17 . An anchoring device for insertion in a hole provided in a structure, comprising proximal and distal sections, said proximal section comprising a head defining an aperture for receiving a fastener, said proximal section comprising at least one leg, said distal section comprising a spreading member, said distal and proximal sections being displaceable towards one another such that said spreading member causes said leg to displace outwardly into engagement with the structural material delimiting the hole, wherein the leg comprises a retention member pivotally mounted thereto, the retention member being adapted to pivot outwardly and into engagement in the structural material. 
     
     
         18 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the retention member is provided with at least one tooth. 
     
     
         19 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said legs are substantially diametrically opposed. 
     
     
         20 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said spreading member is adapted to engage at least one of said slots when said distal section is drawn towards said proximal section, for spreading at least one of said legs outwardly into the structural material. 
     
     
         21 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 20 , wherein there are provided two said spreading members each adapted to engage a respective one of said slots. 
     
     
         22 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said spreading members each comprise a wedge portion, said wedge portions being slidable in said slots for spreading said legs. 
     
     
         23 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each said leg includes one said retention member, said retention members being adapted, when the fastener is engaged in said proximal section, to pivot outwardly into engagement in the structural material. 
     
     
         24 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein each retention member is provided with at least one tooth. 
     
     
         25 . The anchoring device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein each retention member is provided with a rack of teeth adapted to engage the structural material