Anchor assembly for fastener

Abstract

An anchor assembly for walls comprises a toggle member and a strap member pivotally mounted together, and a locking member. In a first position thereof, the toggle member is aligned with the strap member for insertion through the wall, whereas in a second position thereof, the toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to the strap member which extends from the toggle member through the hole in the wall. The locking member is adapted to be displaced along the strap member until it engages the wall and to be locked on the strap member to prevent the locking member from displacing away from the toggle member. Therefore, the locking member and the toggle member are connected by the strap member and imprison the wall by abutting respectively the visible and hidden sides thereof. A fastener introduced through the locking member and the wall threadably engages an opening defined in the toggle member.

1 . An anchor assembly for walls, comprising a strap member, a spring member, a toggle member pivotally mounted to said strap member, and a locking member slidable along said strap member, said toggle member being displaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in said first position said toggle member is substantially aligned with said strap member for insertion through a hole in the wall while biasedly engaging said spring member, wherein said toggle member once behind the wall is displaced towards said second position by said spring member, and wherein in said second position said toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to said strap member with said strap member extending from said toggle member through the hole in the wall, said locking member being adapted to be displaced along said strap member and towards the wall and said toggle member, locking means being provided for preventing said locking member from being displaced away from said toggle member, whereby once the anchor is installed, said locking member and said toggle member are connected by a distal section of said strap member and imprison the wall by abutting opposed sides thereof, a proximal section of said strap member located forwardly of said locking member being adapted to be removed, said toggle member being adapted to be engaged by a fastener introduced through said locking member and through the hole in the wall. 
     
     
         2 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said spring member is located at a distal end of said strap member, said spring member being substantially unsolicited when said toggle member is in said second position, whereas in said first position said spring member is biased, wherein said strap member does not deform when said toggle member passes between said first and second positions. 
     
     
         3 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said spring member comprises a tab extending at said distal end of said strap member, said tab being biasedly engaged by said toggle member when said toggle member is in said first position such that once said toggle member has been inserted through the hole, said tab under a bias thereof forces said toggle member to pivot to said second position. 
     
     
         4 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said spring member comprises a substantially V-shaped tongue having an apex thereof facing towards said toggle member when in said second position thereof. 
     
     
         5 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said strap member defines a series of successive ratchet-type teeth, said locking member having at least one locking element adapted to co-act with said teeth for preventing said locking member from being displaced away from said toggle member. 
     
     
         6 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said locking member includes a proximal flange and a skirt depending from said flange, said locking member defining a non-circular opening with said strap member extending therethrough, said strap member having a cross-section such that said locking member is unable to rotate around said strap member and is thus restricted to translational displacements therealong. 
     
     
         7 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said non-circular opening is delimited by a pair of shoulders, engaged by respective longitudinal edges of said strap member thereby preventing relative rotation therebetween. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said toggle member includes a cutting end defining a pointed tip, wherein in said first position said toggle member is adapted to be handled such that said toggle member cuts a hole in the wall via said cutting end so as to extend through the wall. 
     
     
         11 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said cutting end defines at least one cutting edge. 
     
     
         12 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein a recess is defined at an end of said toggle member opposite said cutting end, said recess being adapted to be engaged by a rotatable tool. 
     
     
         13 . An anchor assembly for walls, comprising a strap member, a toggle member pivotally mounted to said strap member, said strap member being provided with a single strap, and a locking member slidable along said single strap, said toggle member being displaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in said first position said toggle member is substantially aligned with said strap member for insertion through a hole in the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to said strap member with said strap member extending from said toggle member through the hole in the wall, said locking member being adapted to be displaced along said single strap and towards the wall and said toggle member, locking means being provided for preventing said locking member from being displaced away from said toggle member, whereby once the anchor is installed, said locking member and said toggle member are connected by a distal section of said strap member and imprison the wall by abutting opposed sides thereof, a proximal section of said strap member located forwardly of said locking member being adapted to be removed, said toggle member being adapted to be engaged by a fastener introduced through said locking member and through the hole in the wall. 
     
     
         14 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said single strap defines a series of successive ratchet-type teeth, said locking member having at least one locking element adapted to co-act with said teeth for preventing said locking member from being displaced away from said toggle member. 
     
     
         15 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said locking member includes a proximal flange and a skirt depending from said flange, said locking member defining a non-circular opening with said single strap extending therethrough, said single strap having a cross-section such that said locking member is unable to rotate around said single strap and is thus restricted to translational displacements therealong. 
     
     
         16 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said non-circular opening is delimited by a pair of shoulders, engaged by respective longitudinal edges of said single strap thereby preventing relative rotation therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . An anchor assembly for walls, comprising at least one strap member, a toggle member pivotally mounted to said strap member, and a locking member slidable along said strap member, said toggle member having a cutting end and being displaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in said first position said toggle member is adapted to be handled such that said toggle member cuts a hole in a wall via said cutting end such as to extend through the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to said strap member with said strap member extending from said toggle member through the hole in the wall, said locking member being adapted to be displaced along said strap member and towards the wall and said toggle member, whereby once the anchor is installed, said locking member and said toggle member are connected by a distal section of said strap member and imprison the wall by abutting opposed sides thereof, said toggle member being adapted to be engaged by a fastener introduced through said locking member and through the hole in the wall. 
     
     
         18 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said cutting end defines a pointed tip. 
     
     
         19 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein a recess is defined at an end of said toggle member opposite said cutting end, said recess being adapted to be engaged by a rotatable tool. 
     
     
         20 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said cutting end defines at least one cutting edge. 
     
     
         24 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein locking means are provided for preventing said locking member from being displaced away from said toggle member. 
     
     
         25 . An anchor assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein, once said locking member and said toggle member imprison the wall by abutting the opposed sides of the wall, a proximal section of said strap member located forwardly of said locking member is adapted to be removed.