A new and improved fastener, uniquely adapted for securing together
vertically oriented stud members and horizontally oriented track members
of wall framework structures, comprises a forwardly extending pointed tip
portion having a tangent ogive configuration so as to facilitate fast and
accurate penetration into and through thin gauge sheet metal members
without causing any excessive enlargement of the apertures formed within
the thin gauge sheet metal member, and a shank portion which comprises a
lower, spiral-threaded shank portion which facilitates the ease of
penetration of the fastener into and through the thin gauge sheet metal
members, and which causes a mating thread to effectively be extruded
within the thin gauge sheet metal members. The upper shank portion may
alternatively comprise a plurality of axially contiguous, annular flute
members, or a plurality of nibs interposed between the spiral threads,
which have oppositely disposed or oriented faces for facilitating the
penetration of the fastener into and through the apertured thin gauge
sheet metal members, and for engaging the annular rim regions of the thin
gauge sheet metal members, which surround the apertures formed within the
thin gauge sheet metal members, so as to significantly enhance the
clamping forces and pull-out resistance values of the fastener with
respect to the thin gauge sheet metal members.