초록 ▼

The present invention is a wall anchor having a novel finger configuration. This wall anchor has a head and barrel portion with a bore extending therethrough and laterally expandable fingers in general alignment with the bore. Instead of a straight channel, a channel having curved portions separates

The present invention is a wall anchor having a novel finger configuration. This wall anchor has a head and barrel portion with a bore extending therethrough and laterally expandable fingers in general alignment with the bore. Instead of a straight channel, a channel having curved portions separates the fingers. The curved portions of the channel define ramp surfaces that at least partially extend into the path of a securing member created by the bore. Thus, when a securing member, such as a bolt, pin, screw, nail or similar object is inserted into the bore to secure the wall anchor to the wall, the securing member contacts the two ramp surfaces, separating the fingers. As the fingers separate, a portion of the fingers near the ramp surfaces deform such that the ramp surfaces rest on an outer portion of the securing member, thus providing a securing force for connecting the wall anchor to the wall and relieving stress on the area at which the fingers are connected to the barrel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wall anchor comprising: a barrel having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of fingers, at least 2 of which are asymmetrical, said fingers attached to the barrel;wherein a non-linear channel separates the fingers, the channel defining resiliently-deformable ramp surface

1. A wall anchor comprising: a barrel having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of fingers, at least 2 of which are asymmetrical, said fingers attached to the barrel;wherein a non-linear channel separates the fingers, the channel defining resiliently-deformable ramp surfaces on the fingers, each ramp surface facing the bore of the barrel and at least partially extending into the path created by said bore;wherein when a securing member is inserted into the bore, the securing member contacts the ramp faces so as to provide spreading force to the fingers, after which the ramp faces remain in contact with the securing member; andwherein at least one finger further comprises a self-drilling portion so that the wall anchor can be inserted into a wall or support member without pre-drilling a hole into said wall or support member. 2. The wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the self-drilling portion of the one finger comprises a screw tip. 3. The wall anchor of claim 1 further comprising a head having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough that is aligned with the bore of the barrel. 4. The wall anchor of claim 3 wherein the head comprises a means for engaging a screwdriver. 5. The wall anchor of claim 1 further comprising a securing member able to be inserted into the bore. 6. The wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the barrel is notched. 7. The wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the internal bore is at least partially circular in cross-section. 8. The wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the wall anchor is of unitary construction. 9. The wall anchor of claim 1 wherein the wall anchor is made of a resilient plastic material. 10. The wall anchor of claim 9 wherein the wall anchor is made of ABS plastic. 11. The wall anchor of claim 7 wherein the bore has a flattened portion on one side. 12. A wall anchor barrel, adapted to be inserted into an opening in a wall and expanded with a securing member, the barrel having a longitudinal passageway extending partly therethrough, the barrel including a plurality of hinged asymmetrical fingers separated by a non-linear channel having an enlarged proximal end portion adjacent hinge portions of the fingers, at least two of the fingers having a ramp surface generally facing the passageway, the non-linear channel also including a distal end portion adjacent ends of the fingers, and a medial portion immediately adjacent the ramp surfaces between and spaced apart from the distal end portion and the enlarged proximal end portion such that the ramp surfaces are between the medial portion and the enlarged proximal end portion, each of the distal end portion and the medial portion being smaller than the enlarged proximal end portion, the enlarged proximal end portion and distal end portion being respectively located proximally and distally relative to the ramp surfaces on different sides thereof, the enlarged proximal end being located between the ramp surfaces and the longitudinal passageway and being at least as large as or larger than the longitudinal passageway; wherein the ramp surfaces are oriented so that an end of the securing member inserted through the passageway passes one of the ramp surfaces and engages the other one of the ramp surfaces. 13. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the ramp surfaces on the fingers are staggered in distance from an end of the passageway. 14. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the enlarged proximal end portion is configured so as to increase flexibility of the hinge portions of the fingers. 15. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the ramp surfaces are resiliently deformable. 16. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the hinge portions of the fingers cooperate to define the enlarged proximal end portion of the non-linear channel therebetween. 17. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the barrel is configured such that the securing member inserted through the passageway contacts the ramp surfaces to provide a spreading force to the fingers after which the ramp surfaces remain in contact with the securing member. 18. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the ramp surfaces at least partially define at least a portion of the enlarged proximal end portion of the non-linear channel. 19. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the angle defined between a proximal one of the ramp surfaces and a longitudinal centerline of the passageway is different than the angle defined between the distal one of the ramp surfaces and the longitudinal centerline of the passageway. 20. The wall anchor barrel of claim 19 wherein a proximal one of the ramp surfaces is at a steeper angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the passageway than the distal one of the ramp surfaces. 21. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12 wherein the enlarged proximal end portion comprises a bulbous opening defining the ramp surfaces. 22. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12, wherein each of the fingers having a ramp surface is the same length. 23. The wall anchor barrel of claim 12, wherein at least one of the ramp surfaces extends across a longitudinal centerline of the passageway. 24. A wall anchor barrel, adapted to be inserted into an opening in a wall and expanded with a securing member, the barrel having a longitudinal passageway extending partly therethrough, the barrel including a plurality of hinged asymmetrical fingers separated by a non-linear channel having an enlarged proximal end portion adjacent hinge portions of the fingers, at least two of the fingers having a ramp surface generally facing the passageway, the non-linear channel also including a distal end portion adjacent ends of the fingers, and a medial portion immediately adjacent the ramp surfaces between and spaced apart from the distal end portion and the enlarged proximal end portion such that the ramp surfaces are between the medial portion and the enlarged proximal end portion, each of the distal end portion and the medial portion being smaller than the enlarged proximal end portion, the enlarged proximal end portion and distal end portion being respectively located proximally and distally relative to the ramp surfaces on different sides thereof, the enlarged proximal end being located between the ramp surfaces and the longitudinal passageway and being at least as large as or larger than the longitudinal passageway; wherein the ramp surface on a first one of the fingers projects less than half way across an end of the passageway so that the securing member inserted through the passageway contacts the ramp surface on a second one of the fingers before contacting the ramp surface on the first one of the fingers. 25. The wall anchor barrel of claim 24 wherein the ramp surfaces are oriented so that an end of the securing member inserted through the passageway passes one of the ramp surfaces and engages the other one of the ramp surfaces. 26. A wall anchor barrel, adapted to be inserted into an opening in a wall and expanded with a securing member, the barrel having a longitudinal passageway extending partly therethrough, the barrel including first and second asymmetrical fingers separated by a non-linear channel, the first and second fingers including respective first and second ramp surfaces generally facing the passageway, wherein a first angle defined between the first ramp surface and a longitudinal centerline of the passageway is different than a second angle defined between the second ramp surface and the longitudinal centerline of the passageway, wherein at least one of the ramp surfaces extends across the longitudinal centerline of the passageway, wherein the non-linear channel includes an enlarged proximal end portion located between the ramp surfaces and the longitudinal passageway; wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are oriented so that an end of the securing member inserted through the passageway passes the first ramp surface and engages the second ramp surface. 27. The wall anchor barrel of claim 26 wherein the first ramp surface is at a steeper angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the passageway than the second ramp surface. 28. The wall anchor barrel of claim 26 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are staggered in distance from an end of the passageway. 29. The wall anchor barrel of claim 26 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are resiliently deformable. 30. The wall anchor barrel of claim 26 wherein the non-linear channel includes a bulbous opening defining the first and second ramp surfaces. 31. The wall anchor barrel of claim 26 wherein the barrel is configured such that the securing member inserted through the passageway contacts the first and second ramp surfaces to provide a spreading force to the first and second fingers after which the first and second ramp surfaces remain in contact with the securing member. 32. A wall anchor barrel, adapted to be inserted into an opening in a wall and expanded with a securing member, the barrel having a longitudinal passageway extending partly therethrough, the barrel including first and second asymmetrical fingers separated by a non-linear channel, the first and second fingers including respective first and second ramp surfaces generally facing the passageway, wherein a first angle defined between the first ramp surface and a longitudinal centerline of the passageway is different than a second angle defined between the second ramp surface and the longitudinal centerline of the passageway, wherein at least one of the ramp surfaces extends across the longitudinal centerline of the passageway, wherein the non-linear channel includes an enlarged proximal end portion located between the ramp surfaces and the longitudinal passageway; wherein the first ramp surface projects less than half way across an end of the passageway so that the securing member inserted through the passageway contacts the second ramp surface before contacting the first ramp surface. 33. The wall anchor barrel of claim 32 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are oriented so that an end of the securing member inserted through the passageway passes the first ramp surface and engages the second ramp surface.