U.S. patent application number 16/889229 was filed with the patent office on 2020-09-17 for gas spring fastener driver.
The applicant listed for this patent is TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP. Invention is credited to Essam Namouz, Edward Pomeroy, John Schnell, Zachary Scott.
Application Number | 20200290190 16/889229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004866934 |
Filed Date | 2020-09-17 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200290190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pomeroy; Edward ; et
al. |
September 17, 2020 |
GAS SPRING FASTENER DRIVER
Abstract
A fastener driver including a cylinder, a piston positioned and
moveable within the cylinder, a driver blade attached to the piston
and movable with the piston, a front nosepiece at least partially
defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are
driven by the driver blade, a rear nosepiece at least partially
defining the fastener driving track, and a magazine attached to the
rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener
driving track through the rear nosepiece. The rear nosepiece and
the magazine are removably coupled to the front nosepiece as a
unit.
Inventors: |
Pomeroy; Edward; (Piedmont,
SC) ; Scott; Zachary; (Easley, SC) ; Schnell;
John; (Anderson, SC) ; Namouz; Essam;
(Greenville, SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP |
Anderson |
SC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004866934 |
Appl. No.: |
16/889229 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15807724 |
Nov 9, 2017 |
10702980 |
|
|
16889229 |
|
|
|
|
62419719 |
Nov 9, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25C 1/008 20130101;
B25C 1/06 20130101; B25C 1/047 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B25C 1/04 20060101
B25C001/04; B25C 1/00 20060101 B25C001/00; B25C 1/06 20060101
B25C001/06 |
Claims
1. A fastener driver comprising: a cylinder; a piston positioned
and moveable within the cylinder; a driver blade attached to the
piston and movable with the piston; a front nosepiece at least
partially defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners
are driven by the driver blade; a rear nosepiece at least partially
defining the fastener driving track; and a magazine attached to the
rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener
driving track through the rear nosepiece, wherein the rear
nosepiece and the magazine are removably coupled to the front
nosepiece as a unit.
2. The fastener driver of claim 1, further comprising an electrical
switch operable to detect when the rear nosepiece is removed from
the front nosepiece.
3. The fastener driver of claim 2, further comprising a motor for
driving movement of the piston, wherein activation of the motor is
inhibited in response to the electrical switch detecting removal of
the rear nosepiece from the front nosepiece.
4. The fastener driver of claim 3, wherein the electrical switch is
coupled to the front nosepiece, and wherein the rear nosepiece
includes a projection engageable with the electrical switch when
the rear nosepiece is coupled to the front nosepiece.
5. The fastener driver of claim 4, wherein the projection
disengages the electrical switch in response to removal of the rear
nosepiece from the front nosepiece.
6. The fastener driver of claim 1, further comprising a housing;
and a battery removably coupled to the housing; wherein the
magazine and the rear nosepiece are removable from the front
nosepiece as a unit in response to prior removal of the battery
from the housing.
7. The fastener driver of claim 6, wherein the magazine includes a
blocking member engageable with the battery to prevent removal of
the magazine from the housing when the battery is coupled to the
housing.
8. The fastener driver of claim 1, further comprising a
quick-release latch operable to secure the front nosepiece and the
rear nosepiece together.
9. The fastener driver of claim 8, wherein the rear nosepiece
includes two hooks, respectively, positioned on opposite sides of
the fastener driving track, and wherein the quick-release latch is
engaged with the hooks to secure the front nosepiece and the rear
nosepiece together.
10. A method of operating a fastener driver, the method comprising:
initiating a fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade,
with a gas spring mechanism, from a retracted position toward a
driven position; stopping the driver blade at an intermediate
position between the retracted position and the driven position in
response to a fastener jammed in a fastener driving track defined
between a front nosepiece and a rear nosepiece of the fastener
driver; detaching a battery from the fastener driver; and removing
the magazine and the rear nosepiece as a unit from the front
nosepiece, after the battery has been removed.
11. The method of claim 10, prior to removing the battery, blocking
removal of the magazine and the rear nosepiece from the front
nosepiece in response to contact between a blocking member on the
magazine and the attached battery.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising actuating a switch
in response to removal of the magazine and the rear nosepiece from
the front nosepiece, thereby inhibiting further operation of the
fastener driver.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: removing the jammed
fastener in the fastener driving track; and reattaching the
magazine and the rear nosepiece as a unit to the front
nosepiece.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising actuating the switch
in response to reattachment of the magazine and the rear nosepiece
as a unit to the front nosepiece, thereby returning the fastener
driver to an operational state.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising reattaching the
battery to the fastener driver after reattachment of the magazine
and the rear nosepiece as a unit to the front nosepiece.
16. A fastener driver comprising: a housing; a cylinder; a piston
positioned and moveable within the cylinder; a driver blade
attached to the piston and movable with the piston between a first
position and a second position; a gas spring mechanism onboard the
housing for driving the driver blade from the first position toward
the second position; a motor for returning the piston from the
second position toward the first position, thereby compressing gas
in the gas spring mechanism; a battery removably coupled to the
housing for supplying power to the motor; a front nosepiece at
least partially defining a fastener driving track through which
fasteners are driven by the driver blade; an electrical switch
coupled to the front nosepiece; a rear nosepiece at least partially
defining the fastener driving track; and a magazine attached to the
rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener
driving track through the rear nosepiece; wherein the rear
nosepiece and the magazine are removably coupled to the front
nosepiece as a unit, and wherein the electrical switch is operable
to detect when the rear nosepiece is removed from the front
nosepiece.
17. The fastener driver of claim 16, wherein the magazine and the
rear nosepiece are removable from the front nosepiece as a unit in
response to prior removal of the battery from the housing.
18. The fastener driver of claim 17, wherein the magazine includes
a blocking member engageable with the battery to prevent removal of
the magazine from the housing when the battery is coupled to the
housing.
19. The fastener driver of claim 16, wherein activation of the
motor is inhibited in response to the electrical switch detecting
removal of the rear nosepiece from the front nosepiece.
20. The fastener driver of claim 19, wherein the rear nosepiece
includes a projection engageable with the electrical switch when
the rear nosepiece is coupled to the front nosepiece, and wherein
the projection disengages the electrical switch in response to
removal of the rear nosepiece from the front nosepiece.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/807,724 filed on Nov. 9, 2017, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/419,719
filed on Nov. 9, 2016, the entire contents of both of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to power tools, and more
particularly to gas spring fastener drivers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are various fastener drivers used to drive fasteners
(e.g., nails, tacks, staples, etc.) into a workpiece known in the
art. These fastener drivers operate utilizing various means (e.g.,
compressed air generated by an air compressor, electrical energy,
flywheel mechanisms) known in the art, but often these designs are
met with power, size, and cost constraints.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides, in one aspect, a fastener
driver including a cylinder, a piston positioned and moveable
within the cylinder, a driver blade attached to the piston and
movable with the piston, a front nosepiece at least partially
defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are
driven by the driver blade, a rear nosepiece at least partially
defining the fastener driving track, and a magazine attached to the
rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener
driving track through the rear nosepiece. The rear nosepiece and
the magazine are removably coupled to the front nosepiece as a
unit.
[0005] The present invention provides, in another aspect, a method
of operating a fastener driver. The method includes initiating a
fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade, with a gas
spring mechanism, from a retracted position toward a driven
position, stopping the driver blade at an intermediate position
between the retracted position and the driven position in response
to a fastener jammed in a fastener driving track defined between a
front nosepiece and a rear nosepiece of the fastener driver,
detaching a battery from the fastener driver, and removing the
magazine and the rear nosepiece as a unit from the front nosepiece,
after the battery has been removed.
[0006] The present invention provides, in yet another aspect, a
fastener driver including a housing, a cylinder, a piston
positioned and moveable within the cylinder, a driver blade
attached to the piston and movable with the piston between a first
position and a second position, a gas spring mechanism onboard the
housing for driving the driver blade from the first position toward
the second position, a motor for returning the piston from the
second position toward the first position, thereby compressing gas
in the gas spring mechanism, a battery removably coupled to the
housing for supplying power to the motor, a front nosepiece at
least partially defining a fastener driving track through which
fasteners are driven by the driver blade, an electrical switch
coupled to the front nosepiece, a rear nosepiece at least partially
defining the fastener driving track, and a magazine attached to the
rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener
driving track through the rear nosepiece. The rear nosepiece and
the magazine are removably coupled to the front nosepiece as a
unit, and the electrical switch is operable to detect when the rear
nosepiece is removed from the front nosepiece.
[0007] Other features and aspects of the invention will become
apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a gas spring fastener
driver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the gas spring fastener
driver along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the
gas spring fastener driver of FIG. 1, illustrating a magazine in an
engaged position with a nosepiece of the fastener driver.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the portion of the gas spring
fastener driver of FIG. 3, illustrating the magazine in a
disengaged position from the nosepiece of the fastener driver.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the gas spring fastener driver of
FIG. 1, illustrating the magazine in the engaged position.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the gas spring fastener driver of
FIG. 1, illustrating the magazine in the disengaged position with a
blocking member abutting a battery of the fastener driver.
[0014] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a gas spring fastener
driver 10 for driving fasteners 12 (e.g., nails, tacks, staples,
etc.) into a workpiece is shown. The fastener driver 10 includes a
housing 14, a nosepiece 16 extending from the main housing 14, and
a magazine 18 for sequentially feeding fasteners 12 (e.g., collated
fasteners) into the nosepiece 16 prior to each fastener-driving
operation. Although the magazine 18 of the illustrated embodiment
is composed of a magnesium material, in other embodiments, the
magazine 18 can alternatively be composed of a different metal or
metal allow, or other suitable materials.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener driver 10 also includes a
drive blade 20 and an onboard gas spring mechanism 24 for driving
the drive blade 20 coinciding with ejection of a fastener 12 from
the nosepiece 16. Accordingly, the fastener driver 10 does not
require an external source of air pressure for driving the drive
blade 20. Rather, the gas spring mechanism 24 includes a storage
chamber 28 of pressurized gas in fluid communication with a
cylinder 32. The cylinder 32 and a moveable piston 36 are
positioned within the storage chamber 28.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 2, the cylinder 32 and the drive
blade 20 define a driving axis 44, and during a driving cycle the
drive blade 20 and the piston 36 are moveable along the driving
axis 44 between a ready position (i.e., top dead center; see FIG.
2) and a driven position (i.e., bottom dead center). In the driven
position, the piston 36 is abutted by a bumper 46 to stop further
movement of the piston 36. The fastener driver 10 further includes
a lifting assembly 48, which is powered by a motor 52, and which is
operable to move the drive blade 20 from the driven position to the
ready position. The drive blade 20 is biased to the driven position
by compressed gas in the storage chamber 28. With reference to FIG.
1, the fastener driver 10 further includes a handle 56 that is
grasped by an operator for maneuvering the fastener driver 10. The
handle 56 and the motor 52 are both oriented substantially
perpendicular to the driving axis 44. Also, the fastener driver 10
includes a battery 60 that is removably coupled to the handle 56
along a battery insertion/removal axis 62 that is also
perpendicular to the driving axis 44. The battery 60 is
electrically connectable to the motor 52 for supplying electrical
power to the motor 52 to drive the lifting assembly 48.
[0018] In operation, the lifting assembly 48 (FIG. 2) raises the
piston 36 and the drive blade 20 from the driven position and
toward the ready position by energizing the motor 52. As the piston
36 and the drive blade 20 are moved to the ready position, the gas
above the piston 36 and the gas within the storage chamber 28 is
compressed. Once in the ready position, the piston 36 and the drive
blade 20 are held in position until released by user activation of
a trigger (not shown). When released, the compressed gas above the
piston 36 and within the storage chamber 28 drives the piston 36
and the drive blade 20 to the driven position, thereby driving a
fastener into a workpiece. The illustrated fastener driver 10
therefore operates on a gas spring principle utilizing the lifting
assembly 48 and the piston 36 to further compress the gas within
the cylinder 32 and the storage chamber 28. Further detail
regarding the structure and operation of the fastener driver 10 is
provided below.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the nosepiece 16 further
includes a front nosepiece 64, a rear nosepiece 68, and an
over-center spring latch 72 (i.e., a quick-release latch) operable
to secure the rear nosepiece 68 to the front nosepiece 64. Because
the magazine 18 is attached or otherwise unitized with the rear
nosepiece 68, attaching the rear nosepiece 68 to the front
nosepiece 64 also attaches the magazine 18 to the front nosepiece
64. Also, when the front and rear nosepieces 64, 68 are
interconnected, a fastener driving track or channel 76 is formed
therebetween (FIG. 3). The fastener driving track 76 is coaxial
with the driving axis 44 and is in communication with the magazine
18 in order to sequentially receive the fasteners 12 from the
magazine 18 for consecutive fastener driving operations. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, the rear nosepiece 68 includes a first pair
of projections 80 and a second pair of hooks or projections 84,
both of which extend away from the rear nosepiece 68 toward the
front nosepiece 64, positioned on opposite sides of the fastener
driving track 76. The first pair of projections 80 extend into
corresponding slots 88 defined in the front nosepiece 64. Within at
least one of the slots 88 is positioned an electrical switch 92
(e.g., a microswitch, FIG. 4) that is operable to detect when the
projections 80 are received within the respective slots 88.
Accordingly, the electrical switch 92 is operable to detect when
the rear nosepiece 68 is removed from the front nosepiece 64, and
when the rear nosepiece 68 is connected with the front nosepiece
64. In other embodiments, each of the slots 88 may contain a switch
92 to detect when the rear nosepiece 68 is connected to and removed
from the front nosepiece 64.
[0020] With reference to FIG. 3, the spring latch 72 includes a
lever 96 pivotably coupled to the front nosepiece 64 and a spring
member 100, including spaced pins 103, that is pivotably coupled to
the lever 96 in an over-center-type configuration. In turn, the
spring member 100 is engageable (via pins 103) with the second pair
of projections 84, which are configured as hooks, that extend
through respective apertures 102 in the front nosepiece 64. When
the lever 96 is pivoted to an over-center position (shown in FIG.
3), the spring member 100 exerts a clamping force against the
projections 84, preventing them from being removed from the
apertures 102. Accordingly, the rear nosepiece 68 and the magazine
18 are retained to the front nosepiece 64 in an engaged position,
as shown in FIG. 3. And, when the lever 96 is pivoted downward from
the frame of reference of FIG. 3, the spring member 100 releases
the clamping force on the projections 84, permitting the spring
member 100 to be pivoted away from the front nosepiece 64, and
permitting the rear nosepiece 68 (with the attached magazine 18) to
be moved in a rearward direction (i.e., toward a disengaged
position shown in FIG. 4).
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the rear nosepiece 68 and
magazine 18 move along a first (i.e., rearward) direction 104 when
moving toward the disengaged position and along a second (i.e.,
forward) direction 108 when moving toward the engaged position. The
magazine 18 includes a blocking member 112 laterally protruding
from a side thereof closest to the housing 14 and battery 60. The
blocking member 112 is located between the driving axis 44, which
is coaxial with the drive blade 20, and the battery 60 (FIG. 1). As
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the blocking member 112 protrudes from the
magazine 18 by a sufficient amount to overlap a portion of the
battery 60. As such, the blocking member 112 acts as a safety
mechanism because an operator is required to remove the battery 60
(thereby disconnecting any power to the motor 52) prior to removing
the magazine 18 for clearing a jammed fastener 12 from the
nosepiece 16. By removing the battery 60, any inadvertent fastening
operations are avoided. When the battery 60 remains attached to the
handle 56, the blocking member 112 interferes with a shoulder 116
(FIG. 6) of the battery 60 if removal of the magazine 18 from the
nosepiece 16 is attempted prior to removing the battery 60. In the
engaged position of the rear nosepiece 68 and magazine 18, a gap
120 exists between the shoulder 116 of the battery 60 and the
blocking member 112 (FIG. 5). After releasing the latch 72, the
rear nosepiece 68 and magazine 18 may be moved in direction 104
until the blocking member 112 abuts the shoulder 116, thereby
limiting any further movement of the magazine 18 in direction 104
so long as the battery 60 remains attached to the housing 14. At
this point, the gap 120 now exists between the front nosepiece 64
and the rear nosepiece 68. However, at this time, the projections
84 remain within the apertures 102 (FIG. 4), preventing the
magazine 18 from being removed as long as the battery 60 remains
attached to the housing 14.
[0022] Occasionally, a misfire or incomplete fastening operation,
resulting in a jam, occurs during operation of the fastener driver
10. That is, the fastener 12 failed to completely eject from the
nosepiece 16 into the workpiece. Subsequently, the drive blade 20
is inhibited from moving through its full stroke length due to the
fastener 12 blocking the fastener driving track 76. To prevent the
operator from attempting to clear the jammed fastener 12 while
power is still supplied to the fastener driver 10 by the connected
battery 60, removal of the rear nosepiece 68 and the magazine 18 to
access the fastener driving track 76 (to clear the jam) first
requires removal of the battery 60. After the battery 60 is
removed, a fastener driving operation cannot be inadvertently
initiated, and the rear nosepiece 68 and magazine 18 can be fully
disengaged from the front nosepiece 64 to access the fastener
driving track 76 to clear the jam.
[0023] Also, due to the presence of the electrical switch 92 in the
slot 88 of the front nosepiece 64, the fastener driver 10 will
remain deactivated, despite reattachment of the battery 60, until
the rear nosepiece 68 and magazine 18 are reattached to the front
nosepiece 64. Upon reattachment of the rear nosepiece 68 and
magazine 18, the projection 80 contacts and closes the switch 92
(if it is normally open), thereby returning the fastener driver 10
to an active or operational state in which a fastener firing
operation may be initiated.
[0024] Various features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
* * * * *