Molly - generic?

[Jan Ivarsson TransEdit]

Molly is a registered trade mark, and it might be interesting to know what the fabricating company knows of the origin of the word. I found this on a Google search:

Cobra Anchors Corp.
Address: 504 Mt. Laurel Ave., Temple, PA 19560
Phone number: 610-929-5764
Web address: www.cobraanchors.com
Product description: The company is one of the largest manufacturers of mechanical anchors used in the industrial, construction and consumer markets.
History: The company, formally known as Molly Fasteners, was founded in 1992. Pierre McDuff, president and owner of Cobra Anchors Ltd., located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, purchased the Molly Fastener Plant. The two divisions combined into one operation with the Montreal Division named Cobra Anchors Ltd. and the U.S. Division named Cobra Anchors Corp.

But the www address seems not to be working. A phone call might give results.

Jan Ivarsson, Sweden
jan.ivarsson at transedit.st

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Krahnke" <krahnke at LAMAR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 7:56 AM
Subject: Molly - generic?


> As sometimes happens with this group I am astonished to hear that
> "molly" is used generically for both a molly AND a screw anchor.  As I
> have to, I'll accept your usage, but I doubt that it is widespread,
> especially among regular users of these things.  I'll check with the
> pros in the next few days.
>
> The web site referenced in Mark Odegard's post is clear on the
> distinction.  There are three types of fastener used in drilled holes:
> mollies, a patented expanding metal sleeve containing an integrated nut
> and pulled open by a bolt; a toggle fastener, in which a toggle opens in
> the hollow space behind a panel and holds a threaded nut attached to a
> bolt; a screw anchor made of plastic, fiber, or soft metal that expands
> around a screw (not on a nut) and holds by friction.
>
> It may be that the distinction only exists for some users of these
> things, but that would be the first I have heard of it.  You just can't
> use a molly where you use an anchor.  Mollies and toggles are relatively
> interchangeable in application.