Method for Fastening a Panel

Technical Field

The invention relates to a screw fastener, to a fastening kit for fastening a panel and to a method for fastening a panel .

Background

During construction, wall panels (e.g. drywall panels) are cut to size and are then fixed to a wall structure with

special screws . The installation of such screws is performed either manually using conventional screwdrivers or

automatically using power tools such as electric screwdrivers . Even the use of such power tools can be very exhausting for the user since the user has to permanently apply a certain pressure against the power tool during screwing .

Summary

The invention provides a screw fastener and a

corresponding fastening kit which allow a user to fasten panels in a more efficient way.

To this end, the invention provides a screw fastener (e . g . a screw) for fastening (e.g. attaching) a panel, which (screw fastener) comprises a screw shaft having a shaft core with a core diameter, a pointed screw tip at a leading end portion of the screw shaft (which e.g. extends along an axial direction), a screw head at a trailing end portion of the screw shaft, a first threaded portion (e.g. axially) extending from the leading end portion to an intermediate portion of the screw shaft along an axial axis (e.g. longitudinal axis) of the screw shaft and having a first exterior thread with a first thread orientation and a first thread pitch, and a second threaded portion (e.g axially) extending from the

intermediate portion to the trailing end portion of the screw shaft along the axial axis of the screw shaft and having a second exterior thread with a second thread orientation and a second thread pitch, wherein the second thread orientation is opposite to the first thread orientation, the second thread pitch is larger than the first thread pitch, the screw head is a countersunk head, the core diameter of the shaft core in the leading end portion decreases along the axial axis in a

direction towards the pointed screw tip, and a thread depth of the first exterior thread in the leading end portion decreases along the axial axis in a direction towards the pointed screw tip.

The first threaded portion may be at least two times, e.g. 2,5 times or e.g. three times , longer than the second threaded portion.

The first exterior thread may be a right-handed thread, and the second exterior thread may be a left-handed thread.

Both the first exterior thread and the second exterior thread may be V-shaped threads (e.g. sharp threads) .

The first exterior thread and/or the second exterior thread may have a (respective) outer diameter (e.g. a metric thread outer diameter) in a range of greater than or equal to 3 mm (e.g. M3) and less than or equal to 5 mm (e.g. M5 ) (e.g. in a range of greater than or equal to 3,5 mm (e.g. M3, 5) and less than or equal to 4 mm (e.g. M4 ) ) , wherein, optionally, the respective outer diameters are equal to each other, and wherein, further optionally, the first exterior thread and the second exterior thread both are of any one of type M3, 4 or M3 , 5 or M3 , 6 or M3 , 7 or M3 , 8 or M3 , 9 or M4 or M4 , 1 (e.g. being in a range of greater than or equal to M3 , 4 and less than or equal to M4 , 1, and further optionally in a range from M3 , 4 to M3 , 8) .

The countersunk head may be a conical countersunk head or a bugle head.

The screw fastener may have a total length (defined between an outer end face of the screw head and the pointed screw tip) which is in a range of greater than or equal to 25 mm and less than or equal to 60 mm (e . g . in a range of greater than or equal to 30 mm and less than or equal to 33 mm, or e . g. in a range of greater than or equal to 39 mm and less than or equal to 42 mm) .

The core diameter of the screw shaft may be constant for at least half (e . g . for at least 60% of, or e.g, for at least

70% of, or e.g. for at least 80% of, or e.g. for at least 85% of) the length of the screw shaft (e.g. the overall axial length of the screw shaft) (e.g. excluding/without the leading end portion) , wherein a relation between the constant core diameter and a maximum diameter of the screw shaft (e.g. at the screw head) (e.g. a maximum diameter of the screw head) is in a range of 1/3 ± 10% (e.g. in a range of 1/3 ± 5%), and/or wherein a (respective) relation between the constant core diameter of the screw shaft and the (respective) outer

diameter of the first exterior thread and/or the second exterior thread may be in a range of 1/2 ± 10% (e.g. in a range of 1/2 ± 5% , or e.g. in a range of 1:1,8 ± 10%, or e.g. in a range of 1:1,8 ± 5%) , wherein, optionally, the respective relations are equal to each other, and wherein, further optionally, the relation between the constant core diameter of the screw shaft and the outer diameter of the first exterior thread and the relation between the constant core diameter of the screw shaft and the outer diameter of the second exterior thread both are 4:7,3 or 4:7,8. Further, for example, both the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion

excluding/without the leading end portion may have said constant core diameter. Furthermore, for example, the

respective outer diameter of the first exterior thread and the second exterior thread may be equal to each other in the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion

excluding/without the leading end portion, wherein both the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion have said constant core diameter. The relation between the constant core diameter and the maximum diameter of the screw shaft may be of help in reliably sinking the screw head into the panel.

The screw head may be provided with one or more cutting edges arranged (e . g . integrally formed in one-piece with the screw head) on a circumferential outer surfa(ce e .g. on a circumferential outer tapering surface) of the screw head and circumferentially spaced from each other .

While there are many suitable materials for manufacturing the screw fastener depending on the application, in an example, the screw fastener may be manufactured from (e . g . made of) steel , optionally, carbon steel (such as, e . g . ,

C1022 ) .

The screw fastener (i . e . one or more screw fasteners) as described in this application may be used for fastening a drywall panel on a panel holding structure, the drywall panel optionally being a drywall panel as described in this

application, and the panel holding structure optionally being a metal holding structure, e .g. a holding structure as described in this application.

The invention further provides a fastening kit for fastening (e . g. attaching) a panel , whic(h fastening kit) comprises one or more screw fasteners as described in this application, and a pneumatic driving and screwing tool (such as , e . g . , a Makita ^a AR411HR HP) which comprises a screw engagement element, by which the respective screw fastener is individually engageable to be held on the pneumatic driving and screwing tool, a linear and rotary drive mechanism which is pneumatically driven and which is configured to allow driving the screw engagement element together with the screw fastener, which is engaged by the screw engagement element, in a linear manner, to thereby allow the screw fastener to be forwarded in a linear pushing manner, and in a rotary manner, to thereby allow the screw fastener to be forwarded in a screwing manner, wherein the linear and rotary drive mechanism is further configured to, in a first driving phase, linearly driv(e e .g . linearly push) the screw engagement element together with the screw fastener engaged thereby such as to linearly push the screw fasten(er e .g. along the axial direction thereof) with a forward pushing speed, which, in case of an optional simultaneous application of a driving of the screw engagement element in a rotary manner, is greater than a then occurring forward screwing speed resulting from said optional simultaneous application of a driving of the screw engagement element in a rotary manner, thereby allowing the screw fastener to be , in the first driving phase, linearly pushed into the panel , and to, in a subsequent second driving phase (that is , after the first driving phase) , drive the screw engagement element together with the screw fastener engaged thereby such as to allow the screw fastener, after the first driving phase , to be finally forwarded into the panel only in a screwing manner .

The inventors have found that said combination of screw fastener and pneumatic driving and screwing tool allows to quickly attach drywall panels on metal (e . g. sheet metal) holding structures in a reliable manner . The linear and rotary drive mechanism may be configured to, in the first driving phase, allow driving the screw engagement element together with the screw fastener engaged thereby only in a linear manner to thereby allow the screw fastener to be forwarded only in a linear pushing manner without rotati(on e g. about a longitudinal axis thereof).

Further, the fastening kit may comprise an air supply source (e.g. a compressor) and an air supply line (e . g. a flexible air supply hose) configured to connect the air supply source with the pneumatic driving and screwing tool and to allow provision of pressurized air to the pneumatic driving and screwing tool for pneumatically operating the linear and rotary drive mechanism thereof .

The pneumatic driving and screwing tool may further comprise a housing accommodating at least the linear and rotary drive mechanism, a handle provided on the housing, a trigger arranged on the housing in vicinity of the handle and configured to trigger the pneumatic operation of the linear and rotary drive mechanism, and an air supply connector connectable to the air supply line .

The linear and rotary drive mechanism may comprise a linear drive sub-mechanism and a rotary drive sub-mechanism . The linear drive sub-mechanism is configured to apply a linear pushing force to the screw engagement element to thereby linearly push the screw engagement element e.g. together with the screw fastener engaged by the screw engagement element.

The rotary drive sub-mechanism is configured to apply a torque to the screw engagement element to thereby rotate the screw engagement element e.g. together with the screw fastener engaged by the screw engagement element (around the

longitudinal axis of the screw fastener to thereby allow screwing of the latter) The fastening kit (e . g . the pneumatic driving and screwing tool ) may further comprise a pressure adjusting mean (e .g accommodated in/on the housing of the pneumatic driving and screwing tool and/or arranged with the air supply source and/or arranged with the air supply line) configured to allow selectively adjusting a pressure of the pressurized air

(provided by the air supply source) acting on the linear and rotary drive mechanism to thereby allow adjusting a linear pushing force acting on the screw engagement element in the first driving phase , whereby a penetration depth of the screw fastener, which the screw fastener reaches in the first driving phase, can be adjusted, e.g. in dependence on the thickness and/or the hardness and/or the density of the (e.g. drywall) panel to be penetrated.

The screw head of the screw fastener may have an/the outer end face facing oppositely away from the leading end portion of the screw shaft , which outer end face has a (e.g.

cruciform, e.g. polygon, e.g. hexaobular, e.g. slotted) tool accommodation recess, into which the screw engagement element can engage in a manner so as to allow transference of a (e.g. the above-described) linear pushing force and a (e.g. the above-described) torque from the screw engagement element to the screw fastener to thereby provide for the forwarding of the screw fastener in a linear pushing manner and the

forwarding of the screw fastener in a screwing manner .

A leading end portion of the screw engagement element may be a counter-element to the tool accommodation recess (e.g. the counter-element being configured complementary to the tool accommodation recess) , which (counter-element) is engageable in the tool accommodation recess in a manner so as to allow the transference of a/the linear pushing force and a/the torque from the screw engagement element to the screw

fastener . The linear and rotary drive mechanism may be configured such that the driving in a linear manner (linear

pushing) /linear pushing force is (or are) , in the first driving phase, applied without applying any driving in a rotary manner/torque to the screw engagement element/screw fastener. However, the linear and rotary drive mechanism may also be configured such that driving in a linear manner

(linear pushing) and driving in a rotary manner may, in the first driving phase, at least partly overlap, wherein, however, in any case a driving/torque is, in the second driving phase, applied to the screw engagement element/screw fastener such as to allow the screw fastener to be forwarded into the panel only in a screwing manner (e . g . to a final position) after the first driving phase and/or after the screw tip has reached a/the linear panel penetration depth as described in this application. The linear and rotary drive mechanism may, e . g . , also be configured to, in the second driving phase, apply a/the linear pushing force such as to linearly push the screw engagement element and the screw fastener engaged thereby with a forward pushing speed being equal to the occurring forward screwing speed such as to allow the screw engagement element to follow the (engaged) screw fastener and to maintain engagement of the screw engagement element with the screw fastener while forwarding the screw fastener into the panel only in a screwinq manner to thereby allow for a mere screwing of the screw fastener into the panel in/during the second driving phase . As a result of the forward pushing speed beinq equal to the occurring forward screwinq speed in/during the second driving phase, the screw fastener (e.g. the first threaded portion of the screw fastener) may be allowed to form (e.g. cut ) threads ( in/into the panel and/or a panel holding structure as described hereinafter to which the panel is to be fastened/attached) during the second driving phase , wherein said threads may be allowed to remain intact/unbroken due to the mere screwing of the screw fastener

(engaged with the screw engagement element) thereby allowing the screw fastener to obtain a reliable anchorage.

The linear and rotary drive mechanism may, in the first driving phase, take advantage of a pressure shock occurring when triggering the pneumatic driving and screwing tool to thereby provide for a strong (initial) impulse allowing the required linear pushing, and wherein, in the second driving phase, the then rather constantly occurring operational pressure is merely sufficient to provide for that linear pushing force which is able to keep the screw engagement element in operational contact with the screw fastener to allow further screwing thereof .

The fastening kit as described in this application may also be provided in combination with a drywall panel and a metal holding structure (e.g. a sheet metal holding structure) (e . g. a panel holding structure as described in this

application) , to which the drywall panel is to be attached by one or more screw fasteners as described in this application, wherein, optionally, the drywall panel may be configured as described in this application.

The fastening kit as described in this application may be used for fastening a drywall panel on a panel holding

structure, the drywall panel optionally being a drywall panel as described in this application, and the panel holding structure optionally being a metal holding structure, e.g. a holding structure as described in this application.

Still further, the invention provides a method for fastening (e.g. attaching) a panel on (e.g. to) a panel holding structure using one or more screw fasteners as

described in this application, optionally using the fastening kit as described in this application, wherein the panel has a panel thickness. The method comprises (the steps of) placing the panel against the panel holding structure such that the panel abuts with a panel connection portion thereof against the panel holding structure , positioning the screw fastener on the panel connection portion such that the pointed screw tip faces the panel connection portion, driving, in a first driving phase , the screw fastener (e g . along the axial direction thereof) into the panel at the panel connection portion in a linear and optional rotary manner , to thereby forward the screw fastener in a linear pushing (manner) and optionally in a screwing manner such as to linearly push the screw fastener into the panel with a forward pushing speed, which, in case of an optional simultaneous application of the driving of the screw engagement element in rotary manner, is greater than a then occurring forward screwing speed resulting from said optional simultaneous application of the driving of the screw engagement element in a rotary manner, until the pointed screw tip reaches (e . g . is moved to) a linear panel penetration depth which is in a range of greater than 50%

(e . g. greater than 60%, or e ,g. greater than 70%, or e.g.

greater than 80% , or e.g. greater than 90%) of the panel thickness and less than or equal to 100% of the panel

thickness , and driving, in a subsequent second driving phase (that is, after the screw fastener has been linearly pushed into the panel, i . e . after the first driving phase) , the screw fastener such as to forward the screw fastener only in a screwing manner to thereby screw the screw fastener into the panel holding structure at least until the screw head is (at least substantially) flush with a corresponding outer surface of the panel connection portion of the panel to thereby fasten the panel on the panel holding structure .

The driving, in the first driving phase, of the screw fastener into the panel at the panel connection portion may be carried out only in a/the linear manner to thereby forward the screw fastener only in a/the linear pushing manne(r without rotation (e . g. about a longitudinal axis thereof)).

When using the fastening kit as described in this

application the method may further comprise, after the step of placing the panel against the panel holding structure and before the step of positioning the screw fastener on the panel connection portion, engaging the screw fastener with the screw engagement element .

When using the fastening kit as described in this

application the step of positioning the screw fastener on the panel connection portion comprises positioning the screw fastener on the panel connection portion together with the pneumatic driving and screwing tool .

When using the fastening kit as described in this

application the linear and rotary drive mechanism may carry out driving the screw fastener into the panel at the panel connection portion in a/the linear and optional rotary manner such as to linearly push the screw fastener into the panel ( in/during the first driving phase) and then driving the screw fastener such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner ( in/during the second driving phase) ,

Further, during the second driving phase (i.e. during driving the screw fastener such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner) , the linear and rotary drive mechanism may also carry out maintaining engagement of the screw

engagement element with the screw fastener (e.g, by a (linear) pushing force and/or a linear movement of the screw engagement element) .

The panel holding structure may comprise (e.g. may be) a profile frame, optionally, a metal profile frame (e.g. a sheet metal profile frame) (e.g. a profile frame comprising (e.g. metal) C- shaped profiles and/or (e.g. metal) U- shaped profiles) .

The profile frame may comprise profile elements (e.g. C- shaped and/or ϋ-shaped and/or rectangle-shaped and/or angular- shaped (in cross-section) profile elements), against which the panel is abutted with its panel connection portion, wherein the profile elements have a hollow profile chamber structure or have an angular structure (being part of their profile) , Further, the profile elements may have a side wall which abuts against the panel connection portion after the step of placing the panel against the panel holding structure (e.g. which is abutted against the panel connection portion in the step of placing the panel against the panel holding structure) and which has a wall thickness .

The method may further comprise, prior to the step of placing the panel against the panel holding structure,

selecting the one or more screw fasteners having a/the

respective total length (defined between the outer end face of the screw head and the pointed screw tip) which is larger than the sum of (e.g. at least) the panel thickness and the wall thickness of the side wall of the profile element .

The panel may be a drywall panel , wherein, optionally: (1) the drywall panel may be a fiber-reinforced drywall panel , and/or (2) the panel may have a density in a range of greater than 700 kg/m ³ ± 10% (e.g. greater than 700 kg/m ³ ± 5%) and less than or equal to 1200 kg/m ³ ± 10% (e.g. less than or equal to 1200 kg/m ³ ± 5%) , and/or (3) the panel may have a density greater than or equal to 800 kg/m ³ (e.g. greater than or equal to 825 kg/m ³ , e.g. greater than or equal to 850 kg/m ³ , e.g.

greater than or equal to 875 kg/m ³ , e.g. greater than or equal to 900 kg/m ³ , e.g. greater than or equal to 925 kg/m ³ ) . The panel may comprise one or more sub-panels which respectively have a sub-panel thickness and which are stacked such as to form the panel, with the panel thickness being equal to the sum of the corresponding sub-panel thicknesses.

The invention may allow a panel to be fastened on (e . g. to) a panel holding structure in an ergonomical and a fast manner because the screw fastener may overcome a part (e.g. a substantial part) (e.g. more than 50%) of the panel thickness by forwarding the screw fastener in a pushing manner

(in/during the first driving phase) before the screw fastener is further forwarded to its final position only in a screwing manner in/during the second driving phase. Hence, the time period of applying pressure to the screw fastener by the user during the second driving phase (i.e. during forwarding the screw fastener only in a screwing manner) may be shortened in comparison to conventionally screwing a screw fastener into a panel . Further, the time period of installing the screw fastener into the panel and the panel holding structure may also be shortened by forwarding the screw fastener in a pushing manner .

Further, during the second driving phase (i.e. during forwarding the screw fastener only in a screwing manner) , panel material loosed in/at/around a/the penetration passage of the screw fastener generated during the first driving phase

(i.e. during forwarding the screw fastener in a pushing manner) may be transferred out of the penetration passage in a direction towards the screw head by means of the second exterior thread having an orientation opposite to the first exterior thread, whereby the screw head may be sunk into the panel in a more reliable manner .

Brief Description of the Drawings In the following, the invention will be described by means of embodiments with reference to the figures. In the figures:

Fig. XA schematically shows a side view of a screw

fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. IB schematically shows an enlarged view of a leading end portion of the screw fastener of Fig. 1A,

Fig. 2 schematically shows a side view of a screw fastener according to another embodiment of the present invention,

Fig . 3A schematically shows a side view of a screw

fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 3B schematically shows a rear view of a screw head of the screw fastener of Fig. 1A and/or Fig . 2 and/or Fig. 3A,

Fig . 4 schematically shows a side view of a fastening kit according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 5 depicts a flowchart of a method for fastening a panel on a panel holding structure according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figs . 6A-6C schematically show different states/positions of the screw fastener of Fig. 1A and/or Fig . 2 and/or Fig. 3A while applying the method of Fig . 5, respectively,

Figs . 7A-7D schematically show different steps of the method of Fig. 5, respectively,

Fig. 8 schematically shows an alternative step of the method of Fig . 5 , and

Fig. 9 schematically shows a state/position of the screw fastener of Fig . 1A at the end of the method of Fig . 5.

Throughout the figures, same reference signs are used for same structural parts. Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to Figs 1A-4 and 6A-9 , a screw fastener 10 (e.g a screw) for fastening (e.g attaching) a panel 20 comprises a screw shaft 30 having a shaft core 40 with a core diameter D, a pointed screw tip 50 at a leading end portion 60 of the screw shaft 30 , a screw head 70 at a trailing end portion 80 of the screw shaft 30, a first threaded portion 90 extending from the leading end portion 60 to an intermediate portion 100 of the screw shaft 30 along an axial axis (e.g. longitudinal axis) ΆΆ of the screw shaft 30 and having a first exterior thread 110 with a first thread orientation and a first thread pitch, and a second threaded portion 120

extending from the intermediate portion 100 to the trailing end portion 80 of the screw shaft 30 along the axial axis AA of the screw shaft 30 and having a second exterior thread 130 with a second thread orientation and a second thread pitch, wherein the second thread orientation is opposite to the first thread orientation, the second thread pitch is larger than the first thread pitch, the screw head 70 is a countersunk head, the core diameter D of the shaft core 40 in the leading end portion 60 decreases along the axial axis AA in a direction towards the pointed screw tip 50 (cf . enlarged view of Fig .

IB) , and a thread depth H of the first exterior thread 110 in the leading end portion 60 decreases along the axial axis AA in a direction towards the pointed screw tip 50 (cf . enlarged view of Fig. IB) .

Referring to Figs . 1A-4 and 6A-9, the first threaded portion 90 is at least two times (e.g. 2,5 times, or e.g. 3 times) longer than the second threaded portion 120.

As shown in Figs , 1A-4 and 6A-9 , the first exterior thread 110 is a right-handed thread, and the second exterior thread 130 is a left-handed thread. Referring to Figs. 1A-4 and 6A- 9 , for the most part

(approximately 85% exemplar!ly shown in the figures) of the screw shaft 30 (that is, excluding the leading end portion 60 and without the screw head 70 ) the core diameter D is constant {e.g. the core diameter D of the screw shaft 30 is constant for at least half the length of the screw shaft 30) , wherein a relation between the constant core diameter D and a maximum diameter of the screw shaft 30 (in the present case , at the screw head 70) is in a range of 1/3 ± 10% .

The embodiment of Fig . 2 is similar to the embodiment of Fig . 1A with the only exception that the screw head 70 of the embodiment of Fig . 2 is provided with a plurality of cutting edges 150 arranged (e.g integrally formed) on a

circumferential outer ( tapering) surface 160 of the screw head 70 and circumferentially spaced from each other .

The embodiment of Fig . 3A is similar to the embodiments of Figs . 1A and 2, wherein the screw head 70 of the embodiment of Fig . 3A is a bugle head and both the first exterior thread 110 and the second exterior thread 130 are V-shaped threads (e.g. sharp threads) .

With reference to Fig . 4, a fastening kit 200 for

fastening (e.g. attaching) a panel 20 comprises one or more screw fasteners 10 as described above (wherein Fig . 4

exemplarily shows one screw fastener 10 ) and a pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 which comprises a screw

engagement element 220 , by which the screw fastener 10 is individually engageable to be held on the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 , a linear and rotary drive mechanism 230 which is pneumatically driven and which is configured to allow driving the screw engagement element 220 together with the screw fastener 10, which is engaged by the screw engagement element 220 , in a linear manner, to thereby allow the screw fastener 10 to be forwarded in a linear pushing manner, and in a rotary manner, to thereby allow the screw fastener 10 to be forwarded in a screwing manner, wherein the linear and rotary drive mechanism 230 is further configured to, in a first driving phase, linearly drive the screw engagement element 220 together with the screw fastener 10 engaged thereby such as to linearly push the screw fastener 10 with a forward pushing speed, which, in case of an optional simultaneous application of a driving of the screw engagement element 220 in a rotary manner, is greater than a then occurring forward screwing speed resulting from said optional simultaneous application of a driving of the screw engagement element 220 in a rotary manner , thereby allowing the screw fastener 10 to be, in the first driving phase, linearly pushed into the panel 20, and to, in a subsequent second driving phase, drive the screw engagement element 220 together with the screw fastener 10 engaged thereby such as to allow the screw fastener 10, after the first driving phase, to be finally forwarded into the panel 20 only in a screwing manner .

As shown in Fig . 4, the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 is provided together with an air supply source 240 (e . g . a compressor) and an air supply line 250 (e g. a

flexible air supply hose) which (air supply line 250 ) connects the air supply source 240 with the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 thereby allowing provision of pressurized air to the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 such that the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 is operable .

The pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 shown in Fig. 4 further comprises a housing 260 accommodating (at least) the linear and rotary drive mechanism 230, a handle 270 provided on the housing 260 , a trigger 280 arranged on the housing 260 in vicinity of the handle 270 and configured to trigger the operation of the linear and rotary drive mechanism 230 , and an air supply connector 290 , to which the air supply line 250 is connected to thereby provide the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 with pressurized air supplied from the air supply source 240 (via the air supply line 250)

Still referring to Fig 4, the linear and rotary drive mechanism 230 comprises a linear drive sub-mechanism 300 and a rotary drive sub-mechanism 310. The linear drive sub-mechanism 300 is configured to apply a linear pushing force to the screw engagement element 220 to thereby allow linearly pushing of the screw engagement element 220 together with the screw fastener 10, which is engaged by the screw engagement element 220. The rotary drive sub-mechanism 310 is configured to apply a torque to the screw engagement element 220 to thereby allow rotating the screw engagement element 220 together with the screw fastener 10 , which is engaged by the screw engagement element 220.

With reference to Fig . 3B, the screw head 70 of the screw fastener 10 shown in Figs . 1A-4 and 6A- 9 has an outer end face 320 facing oppositely away from the leading end portion 60 of the screw shaft 30, wherein the outer end face 320 has a cruciform tool accommodation recess 330 (also cf . dashed lines of the screw head 70 in Fig 3A) , into which the screw

engagement element 220 can engage in a manner so as to allow transference of the above-described linear pushing force and the above-described torque from the screw engagement element 220 to the screw fastener 10 to thereby provide for the forwarding the screw fastener 10 in a linear pushing manner and the forwarding of the screw fastener 10 in a screwing manner .

Referring to Figs . 6A-9, a screw fastener 10 or a

fastening kit 200 (cf . Figs . 7A-8 , wherein only the screw engagement element 220 is illustrated as representation of/for the whole pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210 in order to intelligibly simplify the figures) both as described in this application can be used in a method for fastening (e . g .

attaching) a panel 20 on a panel holding structure 340 , wherein the panel 20 has a panel thickness T .

Referring to Fig . 5, the method comprises the steps of: placing the panel 20 against the panel holding structure 340 (S10 ) such that the panel 20 abuts with a panel connection portion 350 thereof against the panel holding structure 340 ( cf Figs . 6A-9) , positioning the screw fastener 10 on the panel connection portion 350 (S20) such that the pointed screw tip 50 faces the panel connection portion 350 ( initial

position of the screw fastener) (cf , Figs . 6A and 7A) , driving, in a first driving phase , the screw fastener 10 into the panel 20 at the panel connection portion 350 (S30) in a linear and optional rotary manner (cf. Figs . 7B and 8), to thereby forward the screw fastener 10 in a linear pushing and optionally in a screwing manner such as to linearly push the screw fastener 10 into the panel 20 with a forward pushing speed, which, in case of an optional simultaneous application of the driving of the screw engagement element 220 in a rotary manner, is greater than a then optionally occurring forward screwing speed resulting from said optional simultaneous application of the driving of the screw engagement element 220 in a rotary manner , until the pointed screw tip 50 reaches ( e.g. is moved to) a panel penetration depth which is in a range of greater than 50% of the panel thickness T and less than or equal to 100% of the panel thickness T (intermediate position of the screw fastener) (cf . Figs 6B, 7B and 7C) , and driving, in a subsequent second driving phase , the screw fastener 10 (S40) such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner to thereby screw the screw fastener 10 into the panel holding structure 340 (cf . Fig. 7C) at least until the screw head 50 is flush (that is, at least substantially flush) with a corresponding outer surface 360 of the panel connection portion 350 of the panel 20 (final position of the screw fastener) (cf . Figs 6C, 7D and 9) to thereby fasten the panel 20 on the panel holding structure 340.

In the embodiment of Figs . 6A, 6B and 6C, the panel holding structure 340 is a (e g. metal) profile frame

comprising profile elements 370, wherein the figures

exemplarily show a C-shaped profile element, against which the panel 20 being a (e . g . fiber-reinforced) drywall panel is abutted with its panel connection portion 350.

In the shown embodiment , positioning the screw fastener 10 on the panel connection portion 350 (520) is carried out when the panel 20 is placed against the panel holding structure 340 such that the screw shaft 30 is substantially perpendicular (e . g . 90° ± 10%, or e .g. 90° ± 5%) to the outer surface 360 of the panel connection portion 350 of the panel 20 (cf . Fig.

6A) .

As illustrated in Fig. 6B, driving (S30) in a linear and optional rotary manner according to the first driving phase is/has been carried out until the pointed screw tip 50 of the screw fastener 10 is/has been linearly pushed into close proximity of another outer surface of the panel connection portion 350 , which other outer surface faces the panel holding structure 340, such that the pointed screw tip 50 reaches/has reached a panel penetration depth of approximately 95% ± 5% of the panel thickness T. Then, the step of driving the screw fastener 10 (S40) such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner according to the second driving phase is carried out only after the step of driving (S30) in a linear and optional rotary manner according to the first driving phase .

With reference to Fig . 6C, after the step of driving the screw fastener 10 (S40) such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner is/has been completed, the screw head 50 is (at least substantially) flush with the corresponding outer surface 360 of the panel connection portion 350 of the panel 20 and the pointed screw tip 50 of the screw fastener 10 has penetrated through ( the other outer surface of the panel connection portion 350 of the panel 20 and) a side wall 380 of the profile element 370 abutting against (the other surface of ) the panel connection portion 350 in a screwing manner to thereby fasten the panel 20 on the profile element 370 and, therefore, on the panel holding structure 340. The side wall 380 has a wall thickness , wherein the pointed screw tip 50 which has penetrated through the side wall 380 protrudes from the side wall 380 with a protruding extension having a

(maximal) length resulting from the subtraction of the sum of the panel thickness T and the wall thickness from a/the total length L of the screw fastener 10 defined between the outer end face 320 of the screw head 70 and the pointed screw tip 50.

As to the embodiments of Figs 7A-8, the fastening kit 200 as described in this application is used in the method for fastening (e , g . attaching) a panel 20 on a panel holding structure 340. In this respect, in order to intelligibly simplify the figures, only the screw engagement element 220 is illustrated as representation of/for the whole pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210. Further, the embodiments of Figs . 7A-8 generally comprise the features of the embodiment of Figs . 6A- 6C, so that , in the following, merely the

differences between these embodiments are described .

With reference to the embodiment of Figs . 7A-7D, when using the fastening kit 200 , the screw fastener 10 is engaged with the screw engagement element 220 by carrying out a

(further) step of engaging the screw fastener 10 with the screw engagement element 220 after the step of placing (S10) the panel 20 against the panel holding structure 340 and before the step of positioning (S20) the screw fastener 10 on the panel connection portion 350. In this respect, as shown in Pig. 7A, the step of positioning (S20 ) the screw fastener 10 on the panel connection portion 350 comprises positioning the screw fastener 10 on the panel connection portion 350 together with the screw engagement element 220 (here , representing the whole pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210) , i . e . the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210.

As shown in Fig . 7B, the screw fastener 10 is driven only in a linear manner (cf . linear arrow in Fig . 7B) (e.g. the screw fastener 10 is forwarded only in a linear pushing manner) into the panel 20 at the panel connection portion 350 by a (mere) linear pushing force transferred to the screw fastener 10 via the screw engagement element 220 and applied by/originated from the linear drive sub-mechanism 300 of the pneumatic driving and screwing tool 210.

Then, as shown in Fig. 7C, when the pointed screw tip 50 has been moved to a panel penetration depth of approximately 95% ± 5% of the panel thickness T and when driving (only) in a linear manner (S30) has been accordingly stopped, the screw fastener 10 is driven such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner (cf . curved arrow in Fig. 7C) to thereby linearly advance further in a (mere) screwing manner (wherein the screw engagement element 220 is (linearly) moved up/after (e.g. follows) the screw fastener 10 by the linear drive submechanism 300 (e.g. by a (linear) pushing force) such as to maintain engagement with the screw fastener 10) such that the screw fastener 10 completely penetrates the panel 20 and penetrates through the side wall 380 of the profile element 370 of the panel holding structure 350 until the screw head 50 is (at least substantially) flush with the corresponding outer surface 360 of the panel connection portion 350 of the panel 20, as shown in Fig . 7D, thereby fastening the panel 20 on the profile element 370 , hence, on the panel holding structure

340.

As indicated in Fig. 7B, driving (S30) , in the first driving phase, the screw fastener 10 into the panel 20 at the panel connection portion 350 is carried out only in the linear manner to thereby forward the screw fastener 10 only in the linear pushing manner without rotation (e.g. about the

longitudinal axis thereof) . However, as shown in the

embodiment of Fig . 8 , driving (S30) , in a/ the first driving phase, the screw fastener 10 into the panel 20 at the panel connection portion 350 can also be carried out in a linear and rotary manner, to thereby forward the screw fastener 10 in a/the linear pushing and in a/the screwing manner (as

indicated by the linear arrow and the curved arrow shown in Fig. 8) . In this respect , linearly pushing the screw fastener 10 ( into the panel 20) is carried out with a forward pushing speed which is greater than a forward screwing speed resulting from the simultaneous application of the driving of the screw engagement element 220 in a rotary manner .

After driving (S40) the screw fastener 10 such as to forward the latter only in a screwing manner until the screw head 50 is substantially flush with the outer surface 360 of the panel connection portion 350 , the screw engagement element 220 may be disengaged from the screw fastener 10 (not shown in the figures) .

In the embodiment of Fig . 9, the panel 20 comprises three sub-paneIs 390 which respectively have a sub-panel thickness ST1 , ST2, ST3 and which are stacked such as to form the panel 20 with the panel thickness I being equal to the sum of the corresponding sub-panel thicknesses ST1, ST2 , ST3. In the shown embodiment , the sub-panel thicknesses STl , ST2 , ST3 are equal to each other, wherein, however, the sub-panel thicknesses ST1, ST2 , STS may also differ from one another.

Even though, the invention has been described by means of the foregoing embodiments, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Instead, the skilled person also considers alternatives and modifications to be within the scope of the invention as long as these alternatives and modifications are within the scope of protection defined by the claims .

List of Reference Signs

10 : screw fastener

20 : panel

30 : screw shaft

40 : shaft core

50 ; pointed screw tip

60 : leading end portion

70 : screw head

80 : trailing end portion

90: first threaded portion

100: intermediate portion

110: first exterior thread

120: second threaded portion

130: second exterior thread

150 : cutting edge

160 : outer tapering surface of screw head 200 : fastening kit

210 : pneumatic driving and screwing tool 220 : screw engagement element

23 0 : linear and rotary drive mechanism

240 : air supply source

250 : air supply line

260 : housing

270 : handle

280 : trigger

290 : air supply connector

300: linear drive sub-mechanism

310 : rotary drive sub-mechanism

320: outer end face of screw head

330: tool accommodation recess

340: panel holding structure

350 : panel connection portion

360: outer surface of panel connection portion 370: profile element 380 : side wall of profile element

390 : sub-panel

AA: axial axis of screw shaft

D: core diameter

H: thread depth

L: total length of screw fastener

ST1, ST2 , STB : sub-panel thickness

T: panel thickness