U.S. patent application number 11/489246 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for method and apparatus for fixing assembly having resilient tool connection.
This patent application is currently assigned to Powers Fasteners Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul Gaudron, Jeffrey R. Powers.
Application Number | 20070050964 11/489246 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34550453 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070050964 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Powers; Jeffrey R. ; et
al. |
March 8, 2007 |
Method and apparatus for fixing assembly having resilient tool
connection
Abstract
A fixing assembly for attaching a fixing to a workpiece, having
a fixing and a resilient member. The fixing includes an aperture
and is adapted for mating with the workpiece and holding the
fixture. The resilient member includes a first portion secured in
the aperture, and a second portion adapted for frictional
engagement with a nosepiece of a fastener-driving tool.
Inventors: |
Powers; Jeffrey R.;
(Larchmont, NY) ; Gaudron; Paul; (Stamford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1111 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Assignee: |
Powers Fasteners Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34550453 |
Appl. No.: |
11/489246 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10697799 |
Oct 31, 2003 |
7093338 |
|
|
11489246 |
Jul 19, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/432 ;
29/525.01; 29/798 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/30 20130101; F16L
3/123 20130101; Y10T 29/49833 20150115; Y10T 29/5343 20150115; Y10T
29/49947 20150115; F16B 43/00 20130101; F16B 19/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/432 ;
029/798; 029/525.01 |
International
Class: |
B23P 11/00 20060101
B23P011/00 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A combination self-supporting fixing assembly and
fastener-driving tool, the combination comprising: a
fastener-driving tool including a barrel having an end portion and
an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a fastener; and a
fixing assembly including a fixing for securing to a workpiece and
a retaining member having a deformable portion; wherein the
deformable portion frictionally engages the inner surface of the
barrel to define a first support location and the fixing assembly
engages the end portion of the fastener-driving tool to define a
second support location, the first and second support locations
spaced apart and aligning the fixing assembly with the
fastener-driving tool barrel for receiving a fastener
therethrough.
14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the fixing includes an
aperture and at least part of the retaining member extends through
the aperture and engages the fixing.
15. The combination of claim 13, wherein the retaining member is
resilient.
16. The combination of claim 13, wherein the retaining member has a
diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the bore of the
barrel.
17. The combination of claim 13, wherein the retaining member
includes a portion that approximates a disc in shape.
18. The combination of claim 13, wherein the retaining member has a
height and a width, the ratio of the height to width being less
than unity.
19. The combination of claim 13, wherein the retaining member is
plastically deformable.
20. A combination self-supporting fixing assembly and
fastener-driving tool, the combination comprising: a
fastener-driving tool including a nosepiece having an outer surface
and an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a fastener; and
a fixing assembly including a fixing adapted for attaching to a
workpiece and a retaining member having a deformable portion for
holding the fixing assembly to the nosepiece; wherein the
deformable portion frictionally engages the inner surface of the
nosepiece to define an internal support location and the fixing
assembly engages the outer surface of the nosepiece to define an
external support location, the internal and external support
locations centering and aligning the fixing with the
fastener-driving tool nosepiece for receiving a fastener
therethrough to attach the fixing assembly to the workpiece.
21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer surface of the
nosepiece that is engaged by the fixing assembly is an end portion
of the nosepiece.
22. The combination of claim 20, wherein the nosepiece includes a
barrel and the bore is disposed in the barrel.
23. The combination of claim 20, wherein the retaining member has a
height and a width, the ratio of the height to width being less
than unity.
24. The combination of claim 20, wherein the retaining member of
the fixing assembly is adapted for being snap or press fitted to
the outer surface of the nosepiece.
25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the outer surface of the
nosepiece is an end portion of the nosepiece.
26. The combination of claim 24, wherein the retaining member is
plastically deformable.
27. The combination of claim 20, wherein the retaining member is
plastically deformable.
28. A combination self-supporting fixing assembly and
fastener-driving tool, the combination comprising: a
fastener-driving tool including an elongated nosepiece having a
free end with an outer surface and an internal bore for receiving a
fastener therethrough, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and
including an inner surface; and a fixing assembly including a
fixing adapted for attaching to a workpiece and a resilient member
having a deformable portion for holding the fixing assembly to the
nosepiece, the resilient member being frictionally engaged with the
inner surface of the nosepiece to define an internal support
location and the fixing assembly being engaged with the outer
surface of the end of the nosepiece to define an external support
location, the internal and external support locations supporting
and aligning the fixing with the longitudinal axis of the nosepiece
without support from the fastener.
29. The combination of claim 28, wherein the resilient member has a
height and a width, the ratio of the height to width being less
than unity.
30. The combination of claim 28, wherein the resilient member is
plastically deformable.
31. The combination of claim 28, wherein the resilient member of
the fixing assembly is adapted for being snap or press fitted to
the outer surface of the nosepiece, the resilient member being snap
or press fitted to the outer surface to define the external support
location.
32. The combination of claim 28, wherein the fixing of the fixing
assembly engages the outer surface of the end of the nosepiece to
define the external support location.
32. A method of attaching a fixing assembly into a workpiece
comprising: providing a fastener-driving tool including a nosepiece
having an external surface and an internal bore defining an
internal surface and an opening at one end of the nosepiece for
ejecting a fastener from the nosepiece, the internal bore defining
a longitudinal axis; providing a fixing assembly including a fixing
for attachment to a workpiece and a retaining member having a
deformable portion; engaging the deformable portion of the
retaining member with the inner surface of the nosepiece to create
a first support location; engaging the fixing assembly with the
external surface of the fixing to create a second support location
spaced apart from the first support location; aligning and
supporting the fixing assembly with the longitudinal axis of the
nosepiece using the first and second support locations; advancing a
fastener through the internal bore; and penetrating the fixing
assembly to attach the fixing assembly to the workpiece.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of engaging the fixing
assembly with the external surface of the fixing includes engaging
the open end nosepiece.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of engaging the fixing
assembly with the external surface of the fixing includes
abuttingly engaging the fixing with the external surface.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the retaining member of the
fixing assembly is adapted for being snap or press fitted to the
outer surface of the nosepiece, the step of engaging the fixing
assembly with the external surface of the nosepiece including snap
or press fitting the retaining member to the external surface.
36. A combination self-supporting fixing assembly and
fastener-driving tool, the combination comprising: a
fastener-driving tool including a nosepiece having an end, an outer
surface, and an internal bore for receiving a fastener, the bore
defining an internal surface and a longitudinal axis; and a fixing
assembly including a fixing adapted for attaching to a workpiece
and a resilient member attached to the fixing for holding the
fixing assembly to the nosepiece, the resilient member being
adapted to be snap or press fitted to the outer surface of the
nosepiece, wherein the resilient member frictionally engages
internal surface of the bore to define a first support location and
the resilient member also being snap or press fitted to the outer
surface of the nosepiece to define a second support location, the
first and second support locations centering and aligning the
resilient member with the internal bore for receiving a fastener
therethrough to secure the fixing assembly to the workpiece.
37. The combination of claim 36, wherein the outer surface is on
the end of the nosepiece and the resilient member is snap or press
fitted thereto.
38. The combination of claim 36, wherein the resilient member is
plastically deformable.
Description
[0001] The invention relates generally to a fixing for attaching a
fixture to a workpiece and a method for securing a fixing to a
workpiece using a fastener-driving tool, such as a nail gun. More
particularly, the invention relates to an assembly for coupling a
fixing to a nose-piece of a fastener-driving tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fixings for attaching a fixture to a workpiece, and methods
of securing fixings to a workpiece using a fastener-driving tool,
such as a nail gun, are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,094 discloses a
fastener-driving tool for securing a washer plate made of
magnetizable steel to a workpiece. A strip of fasteners are
connected by a polymeric sleeve and fed into the tool. The tool has
a nosepiece that is adapted to drive the fasteners, one at a time,
from the nosepiece, into a workpiece. A workpiece-contacting probe
includes two permanent magnets, and is mounted to the nosepiece for
magnetically holding the washer plate between the nosepiece and the
workpiece. A fastener is driven from the nosepiece, through the
washer plate held by the workpiece-contacting probe, and into the
workpiece. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,775, a hammer head assembly for
driving a nail into objects to be fastened includes a nail holder
mounted in a hollow mounting base and a magnet provided inside the
nail holder and to attract a nail for driving into the
workpiece.
[0003] It would be desirable to have a fixing for securing a
fixture to a workpiece that can be easily attached to a nosepiece
of fastener-driving tools, adapted for use with any of the variety
of fixings that are typically secured to a workpiece using a
fastener, such as a nail or pin, and without requiring the use of
an adaptor or other special attachments to the nosepiece of the
fastener driving tool for retaining the fixing to the
nosepiece.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The above needs are met, and the shortcomings of prior art
are overcome by the fixing assembly of the invention. In
particular, the invention provides a fixing assembly that may be
easily attached to a nosepiece of a fastener-driving tool. Once
attached, the fixing may then be conveniently located on the
workpiece using the fastener-driving tool. The invention utilizes a
resilient member attached to the fixing as in, for example, a
deformable disc that can be press-fit into the nosepiece. The
fixing may be held to the nosepiece, and the fastener driven
through the fixing and into the workpiece, without requiring the
use of an attachment or adapter for retaining the fixing to the
nosepiece.
[0005] According to one embodiment, a fixing assembly includes a
fixing adapted for being mounted to a workpiece, and a disc-shaped
deformable piece secured to the fixing, and adapted for engaging a
fastener exit of a fastener-driving tool. The disc-shaped piece may
have a height and a width, the height being less than the width.
The disc-shaped piece may have a substantially flat upper
surface.
[0006] In another embodiment, a fixing assembly includes a fixing
adapted for being mounted to a workpiece, and a resilient member
having a first portion secured to the fixing, and a second portion
adapted for frictional engagement with a fastener-ejection portion
of a fastener-driving tool. The second portion may be shaped as a
disc having a diameter greater than an entrance diameter of the
fastener-ejection portion. The fixing may include an aperture for
receiving the first portion of the resilient member. The fixing may
be shaped as a washer.
[0007] In another embodiment, a method of attaching a fixing to a
workpiece using a fastener-driving tool is provided. The fastener
driving tool may be of the type having a magazine containing
fasteners, and a firing chamber for discharging fasteners from a
nosepiece. The method may include providing a resilient member on
the fixing, securing the resilient member at the nosepiece of the
tool, locating the fixing on the workpiece, advancing a fastener
into the firing chamber, and driving the fastener into the fixing,
to secure the fixing to the workpiece. The resilient member may be
secured by frictionally engaging the resilient member to the
nosepiece to retain the fixing to the nosepiece by frictional
forces. The resilient member may be secured by engaging the
resilient member with an inner wall of the nosepiece. An aperture
may be provided in the fixing for securing a portion of the
resilient member to the fixing.
[0008] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth or be apparent from the description that follows. The
features and advantages of the invention will be realized and
attained by the structures and methods particularly pointed out in
the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended
drawings.
[0009] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation
without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred
embodiments of the invention and together with the description
serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the
drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
fixing assembly incorporating the principles of invention together
with a nosepiece of a fastener-driving tool.
[0012] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the fixing assembly of FIG.
1 attached to the nosepiece.
[0013] FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the nosepiece with
attached fixing assembly of FIG. 2a.
[0014] FIG. 3a is a side view of a resilient member of the fixing
assembly.
[0015] FIG. 3b is a side view of a fixing of the fixing
assembly.
[0016] FIG. 3c is a plan view of the fixing of FIG. 3b.
[0017] FIG. 3d is a side view of the fixing assembly.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of the fixing assembly of FIG. 1
attached to the nosepiece with the fixing member placed against a
workpiece.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of the fixing assembly secured to the
workpiece by a fastener.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a fixing
assembly secured to a workpiece by a fastener.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The fixing assembly of the invention provides a fixing and a
resilient member secured to the fixing, examples of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. The fixing may be a washer,
clip, channel, bracket or any other type of fixing that is used to
mount fixtures to a workpiece. The resilient member may be secured
at the fastener exit opening of the fastener-driving tool, which
typically corresponds to a nosepiece. The resilient member may be
made of a resilient material so as to make it readily securable to
a nosepiece by, e.g., a press-fit within an opening of the
nosepiece. Preferably, the resilient member is elastically deformed
when fitted to the nosepiece and as such, a preferred material is a
relatively highly elastic material, such as rubber or soft plastic.
The resilient member may also be constructed in such a manner that
the resilient member undergoes an inelastic deformation when
inserted into the nosepiece opening. For example, the resilient
member may be made of a material that is plastically deformed when
attached to a nosepiece. Such an embodiment may provide a firmer
hold at the nosepiece and thus may be preferred in situations where
relatively heavy fixings are to be secured to the nosepiece during
use. Either of these embodiments are contemplated and in either
embodiment, the resilient member may be formed so as to be
securable to any type or nosepiece. Therefore, the tool should not
need an adapter or attachment. In other embodiments, the resilient
member may be adapted for being snap or press fitted to an outer
structure of the nosepiece, such as a rim or flange located near
the fastener exit.
[0022] Attaching the resilient member to the nosepiece will
temporarily hold the fixing to the fastener-driving tool so that a
user may locate the fastener-driving tool and fixing on the
workpiece without having to separately hold the fixing to the
fastener-driving tool, or separately place the fixing on the
workpiece before the fastener can be inserted through the fixing
and into the workpiece. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixing is
secured to the end of the barrel and held thereto as the user
locates the area of the workpiece for the fixing.
[0023] Any type of fastener-driving tool adapted for securing
fixings to a workpiece may be used with the fixing assembly of the
invention. An example of such a tool is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,260,519, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference for
all purposes. In these types of tools, fasteners are typically
provided as a collated strip of fasteners which are fed into a
magazine. When the device is ready for use, the fasteners are
advanced from the magazine and into the firing chamber and then
struck by a hammer or firing pin.
[0024] A preferred embodiment of a fixing assembly 20 of the
invention is illustrated with a nosepiece of a fastener driving
tool in FIGS. 1-2. Fixing assembly 20 includes fixing 22 and
resilient member 24, as described in more detail below. Referring
to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a resilient member 24 is preferably press-fit
to the barrel 12 of the fastener-driving tool 10, so that resilient
member 24 frictionally engages an inner wall 12a of barrel 12. As
noted above, resilient member may be sized so that it is capable of
retaining fixings of various sizes and weights to the
nosepiece.
[0025] FIG. 3a illustrates a side view of resilient member 24.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3a, resilient member 24 includes a first
portion 26 and a second portion 28 that takes the approximate shape
of a disc. In other embodiments, second portion 28 may be shaped
as, e.g. a deformable bulbous piece, such as a sphere or ellipsoid.
In another embodiment, second portion 28 may take the shape of a
plurality of deformable arms extending outwardly from first portion
26. In each of these embodiments, resilient member 24 may be made
of soft plastic or rubber or a relatively inelastic plastic, for
example, which deforms as it is inserted into the nosepiece,
thereby creating a frictional hold against the walls of the
nosepiece. First portion 26 is preferably formed as an elongate
piece extending from second portion 28. Referring to FIGS. 3a, 3b,
3c, and 3d, an aperture 34 may be formed in fixing 22 for receiving
first portion 26. Resilient member 24 may be held within aperture
34 by forming an enlarged tip 32 so as to prevent resilient member
24 from separating from fixing 22. Resilient member 24 may be fixed
to fixing 22 by press-fitting first portion 26 through aperture 34,
or resilient member 24 may be molded directly to fixing 22.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, first portion 26 has a tip 32
with diameter (d.sub.1). Diameter (d.sub.1) is larger than a
diameter (d.sub.2) of aperture 34. Tip 32 may be forcibly inserted
through aperture 34 because tip 32 is resilient. When first portion
26 is disposed within aperture 34, tip 32 extends beyond aperture
34 to engage a lower surface 36 of fixing 22. In this manner, tip
32 secures resilient member 24 to fixing 22. In another embodiment,
first portion 26 may be fixed to a top surface 38 of fixing 22
using an adhesive.
[0027] FIGS. 3b-3c illustrate one example of a fixing 22, e.g., a
washer. In general, fixing 22 may correspond to any type of fixing
used to secure fixtures to a workpiece. For example, fixing 22 may
be formed having a cable clip 50, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Fixing
22 has a top surface 38, bottom surface 36, and side surface 42
extending between top surface 38 and bottom surface 36. Fixing 22
may include aperture 34 disposed around a central axis A-A (for
securing resilient member 24 as discussed above), which extends
between top surface 38 and bottom surface 36. Fixing 22 may have
thru-holes 40, as shown in FIG. 1, or other structure as dictated
by the particular use for the fixing. Again, any type of fixing
that is securable using a fastener-driving tool may be provided
with a resilient member. Therefore a particular type of fixing is
not considered a limitation on the scope of the invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3a, second portion 28 of resilient member
24 has a width (w) that is preferably larger than an inner diameter
of a barrel 12 so as to facilitate a frictional hold against barrel
12, and a height (h). In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the
height to the width, or the aspect ratio, is less than one (i.e.
"unity").
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, a method for securing a fixing to a
workpiece according to the invention will now be discussed using a
preferred embodiment of the invention described in FIGS. 1-3.
Fixing assembly 20 is secured at the nosepiece of the
fastener-driving tool by engaging a resilient member 24 with the
nosepiece, e.g., by press-fitting resilient member 24 against inner
wall 12a of the nosepiece as illustrated in FIG. 2b. Once secured
at the nosepiece, the user may then locate fixing 22 on a workpiece
44 using the fastener-driving tool. The user may then press the
nosepiece and fixing assembly 20 against the workpiece, advance a
fastener from the magazine into the firing chamber, and discharge
the fastener into fixing assembly 20 and then into workpiece 44.
FIG. 5 shows the fixing 20 secured to workpiece 44 by a fastener
48. The remains of resilient member 22 may be left in place or
removed, depending on needs.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a fixing 22a of a fixing assembly 20
secured to a workpiece 44 with a fixture attached to fixing 22a. In
this example, fixing 22a is a cable clip 50 which is attached to a
cable fixture 52.
[0031] Although the foregoing description is directed to the
preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other
variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in
the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope
of the invention.
* * * * *