TIE FOR COMPOSITE WALL SYSTEM THAT IS BOTH SCREWABLE AND AXIALLY PUSHABLE

摘要

Ties, and related methods, for use in making insulating composite wall structures including first and second structural layers comprising a hardenable material and an insulating layer having a high thermal resistance disposed between the structural layers. The tie includes features that allow it to readily be either axially pushed through the insulating layer (e.g., by hand), or screwed through the insulating layer, (e.g., using a powered tool such as a drill). Thus, a tie of a single configuration is provided which is suitable for both methods of installation. The tie may include discontinuous helical ribs including limited prominence so as to not interfere with the ability to axially push the tie into the insulating layer by hand, yet, the ribs are prominent enough to catch the insulating layer as the tie is drilled in, helping it to “screw” into the insulating layer.

主权项

1. A tie for use in making an insulating composite wall structure including first and second structural layers comprising hardenabie material and an insulating layer having a high thermal resistance disposed between the first and second structural layers, the tie comprising:
an elongate shaft including a penetrating segment, an impact segment, and a mesial segment therebetween; a generally conical pointed tip at an end of the penetrating segment for penetrating the insulating layer, the generally conical pointed tip including a cut-out therein to form at least one rotatable cutting edge in the generally conical pointed tip wherein the cut-out in the conical pointed tip comprises a notch extending from a distal tip towards a base of the generally conical pointed tip, wherein the notch comprises a generally planar triangular shaped floor extending from an apex at a longitudinal axis of the shaft to the base of the generally conical pointed tip, the generally planar triangular shaped floor being vertical when the longitudinal axis of the shaft is horizontal: and a plurality of helical ribs extending laterally outward from the mesial segment of the shaft, wherein the helical ribs extend laterally from the shaft no more than about 20% of a thickness of the shaft, so that the ribs do not substantially interfere with axially pushing the mesial segment into the insulating layer without rotating the tie during advancement, such that the tie may be axially pushed into the insulating layer and first structural layer, or screwed into the insulating layer and first structural layer, as selected by a user.