U.S. patent application number 14/306341 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-04 for reinforcement bar fastener and tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is STANLEY FASTENING SYSTEMS, L.P.. Invention is credited to Brian C. BURKE, Mustafa KARABAS, Donald R. PERRON.
Application Number | 20140352250 14/306341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48745445 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140352250 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KARABAS; Mustafa ; et
al. |
December 4, 2014 |
REINFORCEMENT BAR FASTENER AND TOOL
Abstract
A reinforcement bar fastener and a tool for securing
reinforcement bar members to together to form a metal mesh and a
reinforcement bar tool for deforming the reinforcement bar fastener
around the reinforcement bar members.
Inventors: |
KARABAS; Mustafa;
(Mansfield, MA) ; BURKE; Brian C.; (Barrington,
RI) ; PERRON; Donald R.; (North Smithfield,
RI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STANLEY FASTENING SYSTEMS, L.P. |
North Kingstown |
RI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48745445 |
Appl. No.: |
14/306341 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/US2013/020345 |
Jan 4, 2013 |
|
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14306341 |
|
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|
61583686 |
Jan 6, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/712 ;
140/93.2; 52/745.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 5/18 20130101; E04G
21/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/712 ;
52/745.21; 140/93.2 |
International
Class: |
E04C 5/18 20060101
E04C005/18; E04G 21/12 20060101 E04G021/12 |
Claims
1. A fastener comprising: a pair of legs arranged parallelly, the
pair of legs including a first leg having opposite first and second
ends and a second leg having opposite first and second ends; a
crossbar having a center section and a pair of projecting ears
extending from the center section, the pair of projecting ears
including a first ear having a first end connected to the center
section and a second end connected to the first end of the first
leg and a second ear having a first end connected to the center
section and a second end connected to the first end of the second
leg.
2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pair of legs and the
crossbar are formed in the same plane.
3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the first ear and second ear
are angled away from the pair of legs.
4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the first ear and second ear
are angled away from the pair of legs at an angle of about 105
degrees.
5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the center section is
configured to be perpendicular to the pair of legs.
6. The fastener of claim 5, wherein the first ear and second ear
are angled away from the center section at an angle of about 15
degrees.
7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is formed of a
metal wire.
8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is formed of a
material comprising at least one of steel, plastic, and a
composite.
9. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pair of legs and crossbar
are integrally formed of a single wire strand.
10. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is substantially
T-shaped.
11. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the length of the crossbar is
greater than the length of each of the legs.
12. A fastening tool comprising: a portable housing assembly; a
nosepiece carried by the portable housing assembly, the nosepiece
having a drive track, at least a portion of the drive track being
defined by a portion of the nosepiece; a fastener driver movably
mounted in the drive track; a magazine assembly constructed and
arranged to feed successive leading fasteners from a supply of
fasteners contained therein along a feed track and into the drive
track; a power operated system constructed and arranged to be
actuated so as to move the fastener driver through successive
operative cycles, each cycle including a drive stroke wherein a
fastener in the drive track is deformed around rebar members to be
secured together, and a return stroke; an actuating mechanism
including a trigger assembly having a trigger constructed and
arranged to actuate the power operated system in response to the
trigger being pulled; a carriage slidably mounted to the nosepiece;
a pair of claws mounted to the carriage for holding one of a
plurality of rebar members in position for fastening; and a pair of
anvil arms pivotably connected to the nosepiece, each anvil arm
carrying an anvil.
13. The fastening tool according to claim 12, wherein the nosepiece
is fixed in the tool.
14. The fastening tool according to claim 12, wherein the carriage
circumscribes the nosepiece slides along the longitudinal axis of
the nosepiece.
15. The fastening tool according to claim 12, wherein the fastener
driver slides along the nosepiece.
16. The fastening tool according to claim 12, further comprising a
U-shaped channel on a bottom surface of the magazine assembly for
holding at least one rebar member to be fastened.
17. The fastening tool according to claim 12, wherein the anvils
include a plurality of grooves for guiding portions of a fastener
to deform around the rebar members to be secured together.
18. The fastening tool according to claim 12, wherein the carriage
comprises rollers for stopping pivotal movement of the anvil
arms.
19. The fastening tool according to claim 18, wherein the anvil
arms have cam surfaces disposed on an outer portion thereof
configured to engage the rollers on the carriage.
20. A method of fastening rebar members together using a deformable
rebar fastener, the deformable rebar fastener having a generally
T-shaped body formed of a pair of legs arranged in parallel to form
an open end and a crossbar having an upper portion and a lower
portion forming a closed end, the crossbar being arranged to span
and be connected to the pair legs, the pair of legs and the
crossbar being in the same lateral plane, the crossbar, the method
comprising: arranging the rebar members to form an upper rebar
member and a lower rebar member; positioning the rebar fastener
open end over the arranged rebar members so that the legs straddle
the rebar members and the crossbar spans the upper rebar member;
applying a first force to the upper portion of the crossbar in the
direction of the longitudinal axis of the legs, to bend the
crossbar toward the legs; applying a second force to each of the
legs, the second force being applied in opposing directions
perpendicular to the first force, wherein the legs are bent in a
direction extending 45 degrees from the plane of the crossbar with
each leg being bent in opposite directions around the arranged
rebar members.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.120 and 365(c) to PCT Application No. PCT/2013/020345, filed
Jan. 4, 2013, which PCT application claims priority under .sctn.119
to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/583,686 filed on Jan.
6, 2012. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a fastener for securing
metal bars, such as reinforcement bars (rebar members) together.
The present invention also relates to a pneumatic, electronic,
gas-combustion or hand-operated tool for bending the fastener
around the rebar members and in particular to such a device which
is portable and can be used on the ground at construction
sites.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Steel rebar members generally used in the concrete industry
are tied together using wire. The wire is either hand tied or
automatically tied using rebar tying tools. In most of the tying
operations, the wire is fed around two bars, and then the wire is
twisted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, a reinforcement
bar fastener (rebar fastener) has a substantially T-shaped body
with an upper horizontal portion that fauns a crossbar between and
is integral with a lower pair of legs.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a
fastening tool for applying a driving force to the reinforcement
bar fastener to bend the fastener around rebar members to secure
the rebar members to each other. The fastening tool can have a body
including a driver that provides a downward force on the crossbar
portion of the rebar fastener while retractable anvil arms bend the
lower vertical leg portions of the rebar fastener upward around the
arranged rebar members. The fastening tool includes clamping arms
that close the fastener around arranged rebar members to join the
rebar members together while applying a force to the crossbar
portion of the fastener.
[0008] In an embodiment described below, a fastener includes a pair
of legs arranged parallelly. The pair of legs including a first leg
having opposite first and second ends and a second leg having
opposite first and second ends. A crossbar is provided having a
center section and a pair of projecting ears extending from the
center section. The pair of projecting ears include a first ear
having a first end connected to the center section and a second end
connected to the first end of the first leg and a second ear having
a first end connected to the center section and a second end
connected to the first end of the second leg.
[0009] In an embodiment, a fastening tool for deforming a rebar
fastener around arranged rebar members is provided. The tool
includes a portable housing assembly and a nosepiece carried by the
portable housing assembly. The nosepiece has a drive track and at
least a portion of the drive track is defined by a portion of the
nosepiece. A fastener driver is movably mounted in the drive track
for deforming a first portion of the rebar fastener. A magazine
assembly is constructed and arranged to feed successive leading
fasteners from a supply of fasteners contained therein along a feed
track and into the drive track. A power operated system is
constructed and arranged to be actuated so as to move the fastener
driver through successive operative cycles. Each cycle includes a
drive stroke wherein a fastener in the drive track is deformed
around rebar members to be secured together, and a return stroke.
An actuating mechanism includes a trigger assembly having a trigger
constructed and arranged to actuate the power operated system in
response to the trigger being pulled. A carriage is slidably
mounted to the nosepiece. A pair of claws is mounted to the
carriage for holding one of a plurality of rebar members in
position for fastening. A pair of anvil anus are pivotably
connected to the nosepiece. Each anvil arm carries an anvil for
deforming a second portion of the rebar fastener.
[0010] In an embodiment, there is a method of fastening rebar
members together using a deformable rebar fastener. The deformable
rebar fastener has a generally T-shaped body formed of a pair of
legs arranged in parallel to form an open end and a crossbar having
an upper portion and a lower portion forming a closed end. The
crossbar is arranged to span and be connected to the pair legs. The
pair of legs and the crossbar are in the same lateral plane. The
method includes arranging the rebar members to form an upper rebar
member and a lower rebar member and positioning the rebar fastener
open end over the arranged rebar members so that the legs straddle
the rebar members and the crossbar spans the upper rebar member. A
first force is applied to the upper portion of the crossbar in the
direction of the longitudinal axis of the legs, to bend the
crossbar toward the legs. A second force is applied to each of the
legs in opposing directions perpendicular to the first force. The
legs are bent by the forces in a direction extending 45 degrees
from the plane of the crossbar with each leg being bent in opposite
directions around the arranged rebar members.
[0011] In the embodiments of the present invention, the fastening
tool can accommodate rebar members arranged perpendicularly, or
parallel or a range of angles. Further, joining rebar members with
a pneumatic, electronic, gas-combustion or hand-operated tool of
the present invention is less demanding on the body of the user
than hand-tying. In addition, providing in a single tool the
components to secure together both perpendicularly and parallelly
arranged rebar members while accommodating tightly collated
fasteners and to produce an increased tightness in the connection
between the rebar members, results in cost savings and flexibility
in constructing rebar that is not present in existing rebar
construction tools.
[0012] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. It should be understood that the
description and specific examples in this summary are intended for
purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the
scope of the present disclosure, its application and/or uses in any
way.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The numerous advantages of the present invention may be
better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the
accompanying figures. In the drawings, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0014] FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate front, top and side views,
respectively, of an exemplary rebar fastener constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the rebar
fastener of FIG. 1a before bending;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the rebar fastener of FIG. 1a after
bending;
[0017] FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate the bending stages of the crossbar
portion of the rebar fastener of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIGS. 5a-5d illustrate exemplary views of the rebar fastener
joining a pair of rebar members arranged parallelly;
[0019] FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate exemplary views of the rebar fastener
joining a pair of rebar members arranged perpendicularly;
[0020] FIGS. 7a-7d illustrate an embodiment showing forces applied
to the rebar fastener to bend the fastener around the rebar members
arranged in parallel;
[0021] FIGS. 8a-8d illustrate an embodiment showing forces applied
to the rebar fastener to bend the fastener around the rebar members
arranged perpendicularly;
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates the perpendicularly arranged rebar member
secured with the rebar fastener of the present invention
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates the parallelly arranged rebar members
secured with the rebar fastener of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a rear perspective view of the rebar
fastening tool with the rebar fastener magazine;
[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates a rear perspective view of the rebar
fastening tool without the rebar fastener magazine;
[0026] FIGS. 13a-13d illustrate exemplary views of the rebar
fastening tool holding rebar members in position for fastening;
[0027] FIG. 14 illustrates initial and final shapes of the rebar
fastener
[0028] FIGS. 15a-15b illustrate front views of the anvil arms of
the rebar fastening tool in open and closed positions,
respectively;
[0029] FIGS. 16a-16b illustrate top perspective views of the anvil
arm rotation;
[0030] FIGS. 17a-17b illustrate bottom views of the anvil arm
rotation;
[0031] FIGS. 18a-18b illustrate a rebar fastener engaged with rebar
members and anvils of the rebar fastening tool;
[0032] FIG. 19 illustrates a rebar fastener engaged with the
fastener driver and anvils of the rebar fastening tool; and
[0033] FIGS. 20a-20b1 illustrate the rebar fastening tool of the
present invention arranged within a power source.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0035] FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings illustrate the rebar fastener for
joining individual rebar members together to form a grid, such as a
steel mesh.
[0036] The rebar fastener 10 of the present invention is an
elongated member, such as, for example, a wire having a
substantially T-shaped body. The T-shaped body is formed from a leg
portions 12 arranged in parallel and a crossbar portion 14 that
extends between the pair of legs. The pair of legs includes a first
leg 12a having opposite first 12a-1 and second ends 12a-2 and a
second leg 12b having opposite first 12b-1 and second ends 12b-2.
The pair of legs 12a, 12b can have the same length, such as length
L2, substantially the same length, or have different lengths.
[0037] The crossbar portion 14 has a looped or folded form such
that a lower portion 14b of the crossbar is folded beneath or
adjacent to an upper portion 14a of the crossbar. The lower
portions 14b of the crossbar are connected to the upper portions of
the legs 12a-1, 12b-1 of the rebar fastener 10. The upper portion
14a of the crossbar includes a center section 14c that extends in a
direction perpendicular to the legs 12. The crossbar portion 14
also includes a pair of projecting ears 14d, 14e that extend
laterally from the center section 14c. The pair of projecting ears
14d, 14e includes a first ear 14d and a second ear 14e. The first
ear 14d can be U-shaped and have one end connected to the center
section 14c and the other end connected to one of the legs, such as
the first leg 12a, for example, at 12a-1. The second ear 14e can
also be U-shaped and have one end connected to the center section
14c and the other end connected to the second leg 12b, such, for
example, at 12b-1.
[0038] The crossbar 14 of the rebar fastener 10 can be integral
with the pair of legs 12. For example, the rebar fastener 10 can be
formed from a single strand of material, and bent into the shape of
the T-shaped body described above. Alternatively, the rebar
fastener can be formed from a plurality of strands of the same
material. Additionally, a plurality of materials can be used to
form the rebar fastener. The intersection of the crossbar and the
legs, such as at 12a-1 and 12b-1, can be curved surfaces. Also, the
projecting ears can have a curved or arcuate surface such that
there are no sharp edges that could break upon deformation of the
rebar fastener.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1b and 1c, the crossbar 14 and the legs 12
are located in the same plane. Also, as shown in FIG. 1a, the
in-plane bounds of the crossbar 14 extend beyond the legs 12,
forming the projecting ears 14d, 14e on each side of the legs. The
length of the crossbar extension beyond the legs can be the same
for both the first ear section and the second ear section.
Alternatively, one of the projecting ears can extend farther beyond
the legs than the other ear section.
[0040] In the undeformed state of the rebar fastener 10, as shown
in FIGS. 1a and 2, the projecting ears 14d, 14e of the crossbar 14
are angled away from the pair of legs 12. For example, the first
ear 14d and second ear 14e can be angled away from the pair of legs
12 at an angle .PHI. of more than 90 degrees. In one example, the
first ear and second ear can be angled away from the pair of legs
at about 105 degrees. The first ear and second ear can also be
configured to have different angles.
[0041] The center section 14c of the crossbar 14, located between
the projecting ears 14d, 14e, can be configured to be perpendicular
to the pair of legs 12. In this configuration, the center section
14c is horizontal with respect to the projecting ears 14d, 14e
which are angled away from the legs 12. The first ear 14d and
second ear 14e can be angled away from the center section 14c at an
angle .theta. greater than zero degrees, for example, at an angle
of about 15 degrees.
[0042] The rebar fastener 10 is designed to hold rebar members
together. In this regard, the legs 12 of the rebar fastener 10 can
be deformed around the body of the rebar members and conform to the
shape of the rebar members. The crossbar 14 can be flattened across
an uppermost surface of the rebar members. FIG. 2 is a perspective
view of the rebar fastener prior to deformation. FIG. 3 illustrates
an exemplary rebar fastener that has been deformed around rebar
members.
[0043] FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate the bending stages of the crossbar 14
in the deformation of the rebar fastener 10 shown in FIG. 1a. A
force F1 is applied to the projecting ears 14d, 14e, which are
located at the distal end portions of the crossbar 14, along the
longitudinal direction of the legs 12, to bend the crossbar toward
the legs. The force F1 applied to the projecting ears of the
crossbar can bend the crossbar towards the legs and permanently
deform the crossbar. As a result, the crossbar acts as a spring as
it relaxes in a direction opposite to the rebar held by the rebar
fastener, in order to compensate for relaxation or "springback"
that occurs in the legs after the fastener has been deformed into
position, such as, for example, around the rebar members. For
example, the projecting ears 14d, 14e of the crossbar can initially
form an angle of 105 degrees with the legs and 15 degrees with the
center section 14c. Although the projecting ears 14d, 14e are
initially angled away from the legs 12, when deformed around the
rebar members, the upper section 14a of the crossbar 14 is bent to
be substantially flat as shown in FIG. 4c or further bent to form
an acute angle with respect to the legs. In this shape, the
projecting ears 14d, 14e are permanently deformed in the same
longitudinal plane as the center section 14c. Hence the springback
resulting from this permanent deformation, of the crossbar acting
in a direction opposite to that resulting from the deformation of
the legs, results in a loading of the uppermost portion of the
crossbar of the fastener as a leaf spring. Although the example
above provides that the projecting ears can form an angle of, for
example, 15 degrees with the center section and 105 degrees with
the legs, any combination of angles between the center section of
the crossbar and the projecting ears and the projecting ears with
the legs can be formed.
[0044] The legs of the rebar fastener provide the principal
connection for fastening rebar members together. In an undeformed
state, the legs 12 of the rebar fastener are initially in the same
lateral plane as the crossbar. As seen in FIG. 3, for example, upon
deformation, the legs are bent in a direction extending 45 degrees
from the plane of the crossbar with each leg being bent in opposite
directions.
[0045] The rebar fastener is designed to be deformed around
sections of rebar to secure the rebar members to each other. The
rebar fastener 10 can be deformed by applying forces to different
portions of the fastener to bend the fastener around the rebar
members. The forces can be applied to the crossbar 14 and the legs
12 with a tool. In an embodiment, the tool can be manual,
electrically powered, driven by gas combustion, or pneumatically
and apply forces as show in FIGS. 7a-7d and 8a-8d.
[0046] To secure the rebar members together with the rebar fastener
10, the rebar fastener is positioned over the upper rebar member so
that the crossbar 14 spans an upper rebar member 20 and the legs 12
straddle both upper 20 and lower 22 rebar members as shown for
example in FIGS. 5a-5d and 6a-6d. The rebar members can be arranged
with an upper rebar 20 member in parallel with a lower rebar member
22 as shown in FIGS. 5a-5d and 7a-7d or an upper rebar member 20
crossing a lower rebar member 22 perpendicularly, as shown in FIGS.
6a-6d and 8a-8d.
[0047] The rebar fastener 10 can be deformed by applying a force F1
on the projecting ears 14d, 14e of the crossbar 14 in the
longitudinal direction of the legs 12 as shown in FIGS. 7a and 8a.
The force can be applied by a tool or device designed for bending
rebar fasteners and can include a fastener driver (not shown) that
applies the force F1. The fastener driver presses the projecting
ears downward (along a negative Y-axis) until the projecting ears
are substantially flattened along the X-axis as shown in FIGS. 7b
and 8b. The projecting ears bend as a result of the applied force
F1. FIG. 4b, for example, illustrates vertical forces applied
against the projecting ears 14d, 14e causing one ear to move in a
clockwise direction and the other ear to move in a counterclockwise
direction. The fastener driver can apply a variable or constant
force to the rebar fastener.
[0048] The legs 12 of the rebar fastener 10 can be positioned
against a portion of the tool body and deformed by forces applied
in laterally opposing directions to the legs.
[0049] The tool or device can include articulated arms 24 including
a roller portion 26 that rolls the legs 12 upward around the lower
rebar member about the Z-axis as shown in FIGS. 7b and 8b. The
roller portion 26 applies a force F2 to the legs 12 of the rebar
fastener. The force F1 applied by the fastener driver to the
projecting ears 14d, 14e can also be applied at the same time as
the articulated arms 24 and roller portion 26 apply the force F2 to
roll the legs or in a sequential order.
[0050] The tool or device that applies forces to the rebar
fastener, as shown in FIGS. 7c1 and 8c1, can then be removed from
the rebar fastener 10 allowing the projecting ears 14d, 14e and
legs 12 to relax. FIGS. 7c2 and 8c2 show the crossbar 14 as flat
across the upper rebar 20, in a position that compensates for the
springback in the legs 12. In order to offset the relaxation of the
legs 12 upon release of the tool after deformation of the rebar
fastener 10, the crossbar 14 is bent by application of a force
displacing the projecting ears 14d, 14e. As such, when the tool is
released and the crossbar 14 and the legs 12 relax, generally
simultaneously, the crossbar will absorb the relaxation of the legs
and continue to provide tension in the fastener by being displaced
further in the longitudinal direction than the bent legs. The final
connection of the rebar fastener to the rebar members 20, 22 is
shown in FIGS. 7d and 8d.
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates perpendicularly arranged rebar members
20, 22 secured with the rebar fastener 10 of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates parallelly arranged rebar members 20, 22
secured with the rebar fastener of the present invention.
[0052] The body of the rebar fastener 10 can be metallic and formed
from a strand of steel wire, for example. Alternatively, the body
of the rebar fastener can be die-cut or formed from a strip of
steel or formed from steel sheets through a progressive stamping
operation. Other materials that can be used to form the fastener
include plastic or a composite material. Further, a combination of
materials or material properties can be used for the fastener.
[0053] In order to create a secure rebar joint, springback in the
legs must be reduced. If springback in the legs is not reduced,
then after being deformed around the rebar members, when the legs
relax and loosen, the joint can become weakened. The geometry of
the rebar fastener of the present embodiments is such that the
length L1 of the crossbar 14 can be greater than the length L3
between the first 12a and second 12b legs, as shown in FIG. 1a, for
example. Also, for example, the ratio of the length L3 between the
legs 12a and 12b to the length L1 between the projecting ears 14d,
14e can be within a range of 30-40%.
[0054] The geometry ensures that, upon deformation of the rebar
fastener 10, the springback in the crossbar 14 is greater than the
springback in the legs 12, which creates a secure joint for holding
the rebar members together. In order to create a more secure or
tighter joint for holding the rebar members, the crossbar 14 can be
heat-treated while the legs remain un-treated. Heat treating the
crossbar 14 results in increased compensation for springback in the
legs 12. Heat-treating substantially increases the crossbar yield
strength over the crossbar yield strength without heat-treating.
The higher yield strength produces a greater displacement of the
projecting ears 14d, 14e away from the center section 14c and
results in the increased compensation for springback in the
legs.
[0055] The rebar fastener can also be deformed with a reinforcement
bar fastening tool (rebar fastening tool). FIGS. 11-20 illustrate
an embodiment of the rebar fastening tool of the present invention.
The rebar fastening tool drives the rebar fastener toward the rebar
members and bends the rebar fastener to fasten two rebar members
together. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tool 30 includes a
housing 31, nosepiece 32, fastener driver 34, a trigger assembly
having a trigger 33, anvils 36 mounted on anvil arms 38, a carriage
40 and claws 42 attached to the carriage. The nosepiece 32 has a
longitudinal axis and is connected to the housing 31. The nosepiece
acts as a guide for the fastener driver 34 and includes a drive
track 56. At least a portion of the drive track 56 is defined by a
portion of the nosepiece 32. The fastener driver 34 is arranged
between the nosepiece 32 and magazine assembly 44 and is connected
to the piston (not shown). The carriage supports the claws and
positions to rebar relative to the fastening tool. The carriage 40
circumscribes the nosepiece 32 and slides in a direction parallel
to a longitudinal axis of the nosepiece.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 11, the magazine assembly 44 stores a
plurality of rebar fasteners 10 in an array. A pusher 50 in the
magazine assembly feeds the fasteners along a feed track 58 to the
driving track of the fastener driver 34 of the tool 30. When a
predetermined number of fasteners remain in the magazine assembly,
a dry-fire lockout can be engaged to prevent the tool from
actuating. The plurality of fasteners can be collated with a glue
or tape, for example.
[0057] A power operated system 60 is constructed and arranged to be
actuated so as to move the fastener driver 34 through successive
operative cycles. Each cycle includes a drive stroke wherein the
rebar fastener 10 in the drive track 56 is deformed around rebar
members 20, 22 to be secured together, and a return stroke. The
trigger assembly is part of an actuating mechanism and includes the
trigger 33. The trigger assembly is constructed and arranged to
actuate the power operated system in response to the trigger 33
being pulled.
[0058] The claws 42 of the tool have a shape that corresponds to
the shape of the rebar member. For example, as shown in FIG. 11,
the claws 42 can have an arcuate body having a concave surface that
corresponds to the convex outer surface of the lower rebar member
22. The claw 42 can be configured to engage the upper surface of
the lower rebar member 22 to hold the rebar member in place while
the rebar fastener is being deformed therearound. A U-shaped
channel 46 on the bottom of the magazine assembly holds the upper
rebar member 20. FIGS. 13a-13d illustrate different views of the
tool 30 and the anvil arms 38 holding the lower rebar member 20 in
position for fastening to the upper rebar member 22. FIG. 14
illustrates the initial and final shapes of the rebar fastener
10.
[0059] The anvil anus 38 are spring-biased outward, away from the
nosepiece 32, so as to fit over the space around the rebar members.
A spring (not shown) can be located between the anvil arms and the
nosepiece 32, for example. Alternatively, the spring can be
arranged in a position that biases the anvil arms 38 away from the
nosepiece 32. The anvil arms 38 have an inner portion that faces
the nosepiece and an outer portion that faces away from the
nosepiece. The anvil arms 38 are pivotable on pivot point 54. The
pivot point 54 for the anvil arms 38 is mounted to the nosepiece
32. The claws 42 of the rebar tool 30 grasp the lower rebar member
22 to hold the rebar member in position for fastening. During the
fastening process, the anvil arms 38 of the tool, which carry the
anvils 36, rotate toward each other to a position underneath the
rebar members as shown in FIGS. 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. Rollers 48
in the carriage 40 travel with the carriage vertically along the
nosepiece. The rollers 48 engage cam surfaces 52 that can be
integral with the outer portion of anvil arms 38 to move the anvil
arms inward. Alternatively, the cam portions 52 can be separate
members, having cam surfaces, which are mounted to the anvil arms
38. The rollers 48 limit the outward movement of the anvil arms 38
to a predetermined position. The anvil arms 38 continue to rotate
until the cam portions 52 located on the outer portion of the anvil
arms engage the rollers 48 as shown in FIG. 15a. At this point, the
anvils 36 mounted on the anvil anus 38 are positioned under the
rebar members 20, 22. During the deformation of the rebar fastener
10, an additional clamping force to that provided by the rollers on
the cam portion 52 can be applied to the anvil arms 38. The
additional clamping force can be provided by a variety of means,
including, but not limited to, pneumatic cylinders that press
against the sides of the anvil arms 38.
[0060] When the carriage 40 is located at the bottom stroke of a
rotation, the tool operator can actuate the tool 30 to move the
fastener driver 34 to separate one rebar fastener 10 from a
plurality of rebar fasteners stored in the magazine assembly 44 on
the tool. The fastener driver 34 forces the rebar fastener 10 into
a radiused path inside the anvil arms 38 and underneath the lower
rebar member 22, as shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b. FIG. 18a
illustrates the rebar fastener 10 positioned over the upper rebar
member 20 so that the crossbar 14 spans the upper rebar member and
the legs 12 straddle both the upper 20 and lower 22 rebar members.
FIGS. 18b and 19 illustrate the fastener driver 34 pressing the
projecting ears 14d, 14e downward along the negative Y-axis until
the projecting ears are flattened along the X-axis as shown in FIG.
16. The anvil arms 38 roll the legs 12 around the lower rebar
member 22 about the Z-axis. The rebar fastening tool 30 is then
removed from the rebar fastener allowing the crossbar 14 and legs
12 to relax on the joined rebar members, thereby completing the
process of the rebar fastener securing the rebar members to each
other.
[0061] In operation, the tool operator can arrange the rebar
members in an upper rebar member and a lower rebar member
configuration. The rebar members can be arranged parallelly,
perpendicularly, or in a range of angles therebetween. The tool
operator can position the tool 30 above the rebar members to be
fastened. The pusher 50 in the magazine 44 moves successive
fasteners to the drive track 56 that is slidably mounted to the
nosepiece 32. The open end of the leading rebar fastener 10 can be
placed over the arranged pair of rebar members 20, 22 so that the
legs 12 straddle the rebar members and the crossbar 14 spans the
upper rebar member 20. The nosepiece, which is fixed, can be placed
onto the crossbar portion 14 of the rebar fastener 10.
[0062] A first force from the fastener driver can be applied to the
upper portion of the crossbar in the direction of the longitudinal
axis of the legs, to bend the projecting ears 14d, 14e toward the
legs 12. A second force can be applied to each of the first 12a and
second 12b legs in opposing directions perpendicular to the first
force. The first force and second force can be applied serially or
simultaneously. The application of the first force and second force
can bend the legs in a direction extending 45 degrees from the
plane of the crossbar 14 with each leg 12a, 12b being bent in
opposite directions around the rebar members 20, 22.
[0063] FIGS. 20a-20b illustrate a rebar fastening tool arranged
within a pneumatic power source such as an engine. The pneumatic
power source includes an enclosure 62 for housing a high pressure
tank 64, a handle 66, a trigger extension 68, a shut-off valve 70,
a tank support 72, and a regulator 74 to control the high pressure
fluid. The trigger 33 can be controlled by the trigger extension
68.
[0064] While the rebar fastening tool is illustrated as being
pneumatically powered by a suitable power source, such as
compressed air, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
invention, in its broader aspects, may be constructed somewhat
differently and that aspects of the present invention may have
applicability to electrically powered driving tools, powered by a
battery pack. In addition, to a pneumatic and electronic powered
tool, the tool can also be powered by gas-combustion, or
hand-operated with a mechanical advantage.
[0065] Furthermore, while aspects of the present invention are
described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
the context of a rebar fastening tool, those of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broadest
aspects, has further applicability. For example, the fastening tool
of the present invention includes features such as a clawing motion
that may also be applicable for tying land erosion netting, in
agricultural applications and in pipe-fitting. Further, the rebar
fasteners of the present invention may have applicability for
fastening pipes or conduits as typically found in the pipe-fitting
and electrical trades.
[0066] It will be appreciated that the above description is merely
exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present
disclosure, its application or uses. While specific examples have
been described in the specification and illustrated in the
drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore,
the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions
between various examples is expressly contemplated herein, even if
not specifically shown or described, so that one of ordinary skill
in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features,
elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into
another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above.
Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure
without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it
is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the
particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in
the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for
carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure, but that the
scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments
falling within the foregoing description and the appended
claims.
* * * * *