Post-to-beam fastener

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.

1 . A method of securing a deck post to a deck beam, said method comprising:
 inserting a hexagonal shaped first end of a drill bit into a hexagonal shaped recess in a shank of a fastener such that interior surfaces of the shank that define the hexagonal shaped recess engage the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit, and such that the interior surfaces of the shank enable the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit to be removed from the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener;   positioning a tip of the drill bit that is at a second end of the drill bit opposite the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit adjacent to one of the deck post and the deck beam;   rotating a head of the fastener that is at an end of the fastener opposite the recess in the shank of the fastener to:
 cause the fastener to rotate the drill bit to drill a hole extending through the deck post and the deck beam, 
 cause the drill bit to move through the hole in the deck post and the deck beam, and 
 cause the shank of the fastener to extend through the hole in the deck post and the deck beam and out of the hole such that:
 the head is adjacent to one of the deck post and deck beam, 
 a non-threaded shank section of the shank of the fastener that is connected to the head of the fastener extends through a portion of the hole, 
 a threaded shank section of the shank of the fastener having an exterior thread formation and connected to the non-threaded shank portion extends out of the hole, 
 wherein the non-threaded shank section is approximately three times longer than the threaded shank section, and 
 wherein the drill bit has a length that is longer than the non-threaded shank section and that is longer than the threaded shank section; 
 
   removing the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit from the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener; and   connecting a nut to the threaded shank section of the shank of the fastener and tightening the nut on the fastener to connect the deck post and deck beam.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a hexagonal shape, and wherein rotating the head of the fastener includes using a power tool to engage and rotate the head. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the head defines a recess, and wherein rotating the head of the fastener includes using a power tool to engage and rotate the head. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes positioning a washer adjacent to a bottom portion of the head before inserting the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit into the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener. head. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the washer is integrally connected to the 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the head includes locking ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the drill bit is approximately as long as the non-threaded shank section and the threaded shank section combined. 
     
     
         8 . A method of securing a deck post to a deck beam, said method comprising:
 inserting a hexagonal shaped first end if a drill bit into a hexagonal shaped recess in a shank of a fastener such that interior surfaces of the shank that define the hexagonal shaped recess engage the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit, and such that the interior surfaces of the shank enable the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit to be removed from the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener;   positioning a tip of the drill bit that is at a second end of the drill bit opposite the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit adjacent to one of the deck post and the deck beam;   rotating a head of the fastener to:
 cause the fastener to rotate the drill bit to drill a hole extending through the deck post and the deck beam, 
 cause the drill bit to move though and out of the beam and the post, and 
 cause the shank of the fastener to extend through the hole in the deck post and the deck beam and out of the hole such that:
 the head is adjacent to one of the deck post and deck beam, 
 a threaded shank section of the shank of the fastener having an exterior thread formation is at least partially in and extends out of the hole, and 
 wherein the drill bit has a length that is longer than one-half of a length of the exterior threaded formation; 
 
   removing the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit from the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener; and   connecting a nut to the threaded shank section of the shank of the fastener and tightening the nut on the fastener to connect the deck post and deck beam.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the head has a hexagonal shape, and wherein rotating the head of the fastener includes using a power tool to engage and rotate the head. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the head defines a recess, and wherein rotating the head of the fastener includes using a power tool to engage and rotate the head. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , which includes positioning a washer adjacent to a bottom portion of the head before inserting the hexagonal shaped first end of the drill bit into the hexagonal shaped recess in the shank of the fastener. head. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the washer is integrally connected to the 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the head includes locking ribs. 
     
     
         14 . A method of fastening a deck post to a deck beam, the method comprising:
 inserting a drill bit into a recess defined by interior surfaces of a shank of a fastener;   attaching the fastener to a drill at a retaining feature operable to removably secure the fastener to the drill;   drilling the drill bit and the fastener through the deck post and the deck beam;   removing the drill bit from the recess defined by the shank;   detaching the fastener from the drill; and   installing and tightening a nut on the fastener to connect the deck post and deck beam.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the recess includes a hex recess and inserting the drill bit into the recess includes aligning the drill bit with the hex recess and inserting the drill bit into the hex recess. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the recess includes an indent defined by one or more of the interior surfaces of the shank and inserting the drill bit into the recess includes positively retaining the drill bit within indent of the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , which includes threads defined on the interior surfaces of the shank and inserting the drill tip into the recess includes threading the drill tip into the threads.