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Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoringRelated Patent Categories: Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-deformed, Or Locked-threaded Fastener, Externally Threaded Fastener Element, E.g., Bolt, Screw, Etc., Pilot End Having Means Enhancing Fastening Or Installation, Drill-tip-type End, Resembling A Twist-drill-type Bit, And Specified Cutting Edge, Face, Rake, Relief Surface, Or Flute Angle (e.g., Axially Facing Facets)Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoring description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080014048, Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoring. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/988,998 filed Nov. 12, 2004, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/519,223, filed Nov. 12, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to systems, apparatuses and methods for anchoring. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a two-stage drill bit and a method for anchoring into brittle materials such as concrete, stone, masonry and cementuous materials using a common nail. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In construction applications it is often necessary or desirable to anchor into an existing concrete structure. In many construction applications the anchor is intended to be permanent to tie in a newer structure with an existing concrete structure. In such permanent anchoring applications, removal of the anchors is generally not a concern. Thus, the removal of such permanent anchors from the concrete will undoubtedly result in damage to the surface of the concrete. [0004] A number of construction applications currently exist in which it is desirable to provide an anchor into an existing concrete structure that is removable. An example of such an application is present in the commercial construction business in which concrete tilt-wall construction is often employed. In a tilt-wall construction, forms are usually anchored into an existing concrete floor in the shape of the wall. A release agent is applied to the floor and the forms and concrete mix is poured into the forms. When the concrete has hardened, the forms are removed and the wall is lifted from the floor and positioned upright using a crane. [0005] A number of "removable" anchoring systems currently exist for use with concrete. The most common of such systems include either a nail or screw, both of which require pre-drilling of a pilot hole. When a standard nail, such as an 8 common, 8 duplex, 16 common, 16 duplex or the like, is utilized, the pilot hole is usually drilled to be a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the nail so as to provide a tight frictional fit between the nail and the concrete when the nail is driven into the hole. A common problem with such applications is that the surface of the concrete is usually damaged as the nail is removed from the concrete. [0006] The most common type of damage to the surface of the concrete is known as spawling, which is caused when the surface of the concrete surrounding the pilot hole is pulled upward by friction with the nail as the nail is pulled upward and breaks away leaving an indentation or pit in the surface of the concrete. When the diameter of the pilot hole is slightly smaller than the diameter of the nail, spawling usually occurs around the entire circumference of the pilot hole. Spawling in a concrete surface is undesirable as it creates an unattractive surface and patching a spawled surface is difficult as the patch will usually flake off. [0007] In an attempt to reduce or eliminate spawling, many contractors will drill a pilot hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the nail that is being utilized. Because the diameter of the hole is larger than the nail diameter, it is then necessary to insert a softer (than the nail and the concrete) material, such as lawn trimmer cord or a wire, into the hole to provide the frictional fit between the nail and the concrete. Insertion of the softer material is extremely time consuming and requires that the contractor have an ample supply of the material on hand. Furthermore, spawling often still occurs when the nail is removed, as the softer material is usually located on one side of the nail and the opposite side is pressed up against the concrete. When the nail is removed, spawling occurs on the side of the concrete which the nail is pressed against. In some instances contractors will use a specially designed nail that includes a section of the nail shank near the end of the nail that protrudes outward. The outward protrusion provides frictional contact between the nail and the wall of the pilot hole and functions in much the same manner as the softer material described above. Such specially designed nails are extremely expensive when compared to standard nails, and also result in the same one-sided spawling discussed above. [0008] As an alternative to nails, many contractors now use a screw anchor when a removable anchor is desired. An example of a screw anchoring system is currently marketed by "Tapcon". This system includes a drill bit, a hex (or Phillips) driver and sleeve, and a screw. In operation a contractor will drill a pilot hole with a drill bit that is smaller than the diameter of the screw. The contractor then slides the sleeve over the drill bit so that the hex driver is powered by the drill. The contractor then uses the driver to drive the screw into the pilot hole. When it is desired to remove the screw the contractor reverses the driver. While this system does reduce spawling to the concrete surface when the screw can be reversed out of the pilot hole, some spawling often does still occur when the screw is reversed, and a number of other disadvantages exist. Screws are relatively expensive (approx. $0.18 each) when compared to the cost of standard nails (less than. $0.01 each). The wear on the contractor's drill is significant as it is used not only to drill the pilot hole, which necessitates very little torque, but also to drive and reverse the screw, which necessitates considerable torque. The time requirement of driving and reversing the screws is significant. In addition, the heads of the screws often strip out, making reversal of the screws impossible and resulting in substantial spawling to the concrete surface when the screw must be forcefully extracted from the concrete. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a low cost concrete anchoring system that can be removed without resulting in spawling to the surface of the concrete. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] An object of the instant invention is to provide a system, apparatuses and methods for anchoring, particularly into materials that are relatively brittle under tension, such as concrete, stone, masonry and cementuous materials. Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system, apparatuses and methods for anchoring that are low cost. Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system, apparatuses and methods for anchoring, particularly into concrete and other "brittle" materials, which can be removed without causing spawling to the surface. [0010] The objects of the instant invention are accomplished through the use of a two stage masonry drill bit. The drill bit includes two masonry cutting surfaces/stages having two different cutting diameters. The first cutting surface is located at the outer end of the drill bit and has a first diameter. The second cutting surface is located along the shank of the drill bit a distance away from the end and has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. In operation, the drill bit is inserted into a drill and the end of the bit is pressed against the surface of the material that is to be drilled (e.g. a concrete floor). The first cutting surface will cut a hole having a first diameter. As the bit cuts into the material the second cutting surface will advance and ultimately widen a portion of the hole to a second diameter. When the bit is removed, a hole is left in the material having two concentric diameters. A first, narrower diameter will extend into the material to a depth in which the end of the drill bit was driven. The second, larger diameter will extend from the surface down to a depth in which the second cutting surface was driven. [0011] In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a depth gage is located on the shank of the drill bit a distance away from the second cutting surface in a direction opposite the first cutting surface. The depth gage can fixed or repositionable/adjustable. In one embodiment the depth gage is a member that protrudes from the shank of the drill bit to prevent the bit from advancing into the hole once the gage contacts the surface of the material that is being drilled. [0012] The preferred embodiment of the anchoring system and methods of the instant invention utilize the two stage bit discussed above. In the method of the instant invention, the object that is to be anchored, such as a wooden form, reveal or the like, is placed on a concrete surface. A first hole is then drilled through the form and into the concrete to a first depth. A second hole of a diameter larger than the diameter of the first hole, and having the same center point as the first hole, is drilled to a second depth that is less than the first depth (although the terms first and second are used to describe the holes of the instant invention, it will be appreciated that the order of drilling the holes of the instant invention can be reversed without departing from the scope of the invention; however it is appreciated that by drilling the narrower hole first, the wider hole can be automatically centered). A standard nail is then driven through the hole in the form that is being anchored and into the hole in the concrete. The diameter of the first hole is slightly smaller than, equal to, or slightly larger than, the diameter of the nail shank so as to provide a desired frictional fit between the nail and the concrete. The diameter of the second hole is larger than the diameter of the nail shank, such that relief is provided between the surface of the nail shank and the circumference of the second hole at the concrete surface. The diameter of the second hole is less than the diameter of the head of the nail so as to prevent the nail head from being driven into the hole drilled in the form. The depth of the second hole can be varied to provide the desired amount of frictional force to the nail when located in the hole. Increasing the depth of the second hole increases the size of the relief, reducing the frictional force on the nail. Alternatively, decreasing the depth of the second hole decreases the size of the relief, increasing the frictional force on the nail. When the form is desired to be removed the nail is removed with a hammer or a crow bar. Because the shank of the nail never contacts the circumference of the second hole, which extends to the surface of the concrete, no spawling will occur. The holes can easily be filled with concrete patch. In some instances, the clean edges of the holes do not even need to be patched, as the clean edges do not result in an unattractive surface. [0013] The instant invention results in a significant time savings over the anchoring systems of the prior art. In the instant invention, all that is required to install and anchor is the drilling of a two-stage pilot hole and driving a standard nail into the hole. This results in substantial time savings over prior art systems that require insertion of a separate softer material into the hole and over systems that require an anchor be screwed into the concrete. The removal, or tear down, or anchors of the instant invention, which requires only the use of a crow bar, provides significant time savings over removal of the screw anchors of the prior art, and eliminates spawling caused sometimes by screw anchors and almost always by nail anchor systems of the prior art. In addition to the significant time savings for both installation and tear down of the anchors, the instant invention also results in a substantial cost savings and convenience. The instant invention utilizes standard nails that are already purchased in bulk at low cost by most contractors. The contractors do not need to purchase any special tools, other than the inventive drill bit, to install and remove the anchors; instead the contractor merely uses a common hammer and/or crow bar. In addition, the life of the contractor's drill will be increased significantly as it is not being used for high torque driving and reversing of screws. [0014] The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention and various features thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. [0016] FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an embodiment of a two-stage drill bit of the instant invention. [0017] FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a two-stage drill bit of the instant invention. [0018] FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a nail anchoring a two-by-four form to a concrete surface through use of the method of the instant invention. [0019] FIG. 4 shows a front sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a nail anchoring a two-by-four form to a concrete surface through use of the method of the instant invention. [0020] FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5c(i), 5c(ii), 5d, 5d(i) and 5d(ii) show various views of another alternative embodiment of a two-stage drill bit and corresponding cutters of the instant invention. Continue reading about Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoring... Full patent description for Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoring Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Anchoring drill bit, system and method of anchoring patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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