Double-ended stud with a thin fixed flange on the stud

Abstract

A double-ended stud with a thin fixed flange and a method for using same. A double-ended stud with a thin fixed flange is used to secure a structural member in place during mounting. A structural member is secured against a mounting member with the flange on the stud in proximity to the structural member with a nut on one end of the stud and tightened into place against a mounting member. The flange holds a structural member in place. The flange is thin enough not to require removal of the double-ended stud during completion of the remainder of the mounting process using other structural members and standard nuts and bolts. The precise thickness of the flange varies from application to application depending on the type of nut and bolt required for that particular mounting process, as well as the orientation of the structural member to the mounting member and expected forces applied to the flange during the mounting process.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tool for temporary non-structural load-bearing attachment of a structural member during an assembly process which also allows for permanent structural load-bearing attachment of at least two structural members comprising: 
 (a) a threaded stud of a predetermined diameter and construction to serve as a connector in a structural load-bearing capacity of at least two structural members;    (b) a flange of a predetermined thickness, said predetermined thickness less than said predetermined diameter, permanently attached to said threaded stud;    whereby said threaded stud with flange is used to mount a first structural member against a mounting member, said first structural member held in place during the assembly process by said flange and a first nut threaded onto a first portion of said threaded stud against said mounting member; a second structural member can then be attached on a second portion of said threaded stud with said flange between said second structural member and said first structural member with a second nut threaded on said second portion of said threaded stud to tighten said first structural member, said mounting member, and said third structural member in place in a structural load-bearing capacity and secured in place by said first nut and said second nut where said flange no longer bears any load in said assembly process.    
     
     
         2 . A tool for temporary non-structural load-bearing attachment of at least two structural members of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined thickness of said flange is only of a sufficient thickness to be a means for temporarily securing said structural member to said mounting member during mounting.  
     
     
         3 . A tool for temporary non-structural load-bearing attachment of at least two structural members of  claim 2  wherein said means for temporarily securing requires a predetermined thickness of said flange no greater than {fraction (1/10)} of said predetermined diameter of said threaded stud.  
     
     
         4 . A connecting element for safety connection of girts to a girt clip during mounting of at least two girts comprising: 
 (a) a threaded stud of a predetermined diameter and construction with a first and second threaded segment on said threaded stud defined by a flange of predetermined thickness permanently attached to said threaded stud with said first threaded segment on a first side of said flange and said second threaded segment on a second side of said flange;    (b) at least two nut-like connectors with said nut-like connectors having a bore of a predetermined diameter and internal thread whereby said nut-like connectors thread onto said threaded segments of said threaded stud;    whereby a first girt with a bore of a predetermined diameter is mounted against a girt clip with a bore of a predetermined diameter by passing said first segment of said threaded stud through said first girt's bore and said girt clip's bore, with said flange in proximity to said first girt clip and at least one of said nut-like elements is threaded onto said first threaded segment and tightened into place in proximity to said girt clip to hold said first girt in place so that a second girt with a bore of a predetermined diameter can then be mounted against said first girt by passing said second threaded segment of said threaded stud through said second girt's bore and securing said girt in place by use of at least one of said nut-like connectors threaded onto said second segment of said threaded stud.    
     
     
         5 . A connecting element for safety connection of girts to a girt clip during mounting of at least two girts of  claim 4  wherein said predetermined thickness of said flange is of a sufficient thickness to be a means for temporarily securing said girt to said girt clip during mounting.  
     
     
         6 . A connecting element for connection of structural elements to a mounting element of  claim 5  wherein is said means for temporarily securing requires a predetermined thickness of said flange no greater than {fraction (1/10)} (0.1) of said predetermined diameter of said threaded stud.  
     
     
         7 . A method for temporarily attaching a structural member to a mounting member in an assembly process comprising: 
 (a) placing a structural member and a mounting member in proximity to each other with bores in said first structural member and said mounting member aligned with each other;    (b) placing a first threaded end of a threaded stud of a predetermined diameter having a flange of a predetermined thickness permanently mounted on said threaded stud through said aligned bores in said structural member and said mounting member and securing a nut-like connector to said first end of said threaded stud and tightening it into place;    whereby said flange temporarily secures said structural member to said mounting member while allowing for permanent mounting of a second structural member without removal of said threaded stud from said temporary mounting.    
     
     
         8 . A method for temporarily attaching a structural member to a mounting member in an assembly process of  claim 7  including making the predetermined thickness of said flange sufficient to be a means for temporarily securing said structural member to said mounting member during the assembly process.  
     
     
         9 . A method for temporarily attaching a structural member to a mounting member in an assembly process of  claim 8  including the step of making said predetermined thickness of said flange on said threaded stud no more than {fraction (1/10)} (0.1) in thickness of said predetermined diameter of said threaded stud.