Fastener, installation tool and related method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10315295-B2
Application number	US-201715662447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Jan 13, 2010
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards. The tool can include a feed mechanism that automatically and sequentially feeds collated fasteners to a nose assembly. The nose assembly can include a guide having an alignment projection extending downwardly from the guide, and configured to engage a board corner and/or side surface, so as to align an angled bore through which fasteners are guided with the board corner and or side surface. The nose assembly can include a magnetic element located adjacent a path on which the collated fasteners are advanced. The magnetic element can exert a magnetic force on an individual fastener, aligning it for precise entry into the angled bore. The nose assembly can include a guide pocket to positively constrain a fastener as it rotates to ensure a desired advancement trajectory. A related method of installation is provided.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fastener installation tool comprising:
a feed mechanism adapted to feed collated fasteners along a collated fastener path;
a nose assembly joined with the feed mechanism, the nose assembly including a guide joined with the nose assembly, the guide defining a bore having a longitudinal axis corresponding to a trajectory of a fastener from the collated fasteners rotated within the bore, the guide having a first opening into which the fastener enters the bore and a second opening from which the fastener exits the bore, the first opening being located adjacent the collated fastener path;
a drive element adapted to rotate and advance the fastener through the bore; and
a handle joined with the feed mechanism and adapted to transfer a first force that pushes the guide against a board;
wherein the drive element is moveable relative to the feed mechanism and configured to move through the bore in the guide,
wherein the feed mechanism remains stationary relative to the nose assembly when the drive element moves through the guide.

2. The fastener installation tool of claim 1 ,
wherein the nose assembly includes a pocket element,
wherein the pocket element cooperates with an exterior surface of the nose assembly to form a guide pocket for the fastener.

3. The fastener installation tool of claim 2 wherein the pocket element is pivotally joined with the nose assembly and adapted to pivot about a pivot axis downwardly away from the collated fastener path.

4. The fastener installation tool of claim 1 wherein the handle remains stationary relative to the feed mechanism when the drive element moves through the guide.

5. A fastener installation tool comprising:
a feed mechanism adapted to feed collated fasteners along a collated fastener path;
a nose assembly joined with the feed mechanism, the nose assembly including a guide joined with the nose assembly, the guide defining a bore having a longitudinal axis corresponding to a trajectory of a fastener from the collated fasteners rotated within the bore, the guide having a first opening into which the fastener enters the bore and a second opening from which the fastener exits the bore, the first opening being located adjacent the collated fastener path;
a drive element adapted to rotate and advance the fastener through the bore; and
a handle joined with the feed mechanism and adapted to transfer a first force that pushes the guide against the board,
wherein in the drive element is separately and independently moveable relative to the feed mechanism so that the drive element moves through the guide while the feed mechanism remains stationary relative to the guide.

6. The fastener installation tool of claim 5 comprising a pocket element pivotally joined with the nose assembly and configured to move to provide access to the fastener.

7. The fastener installation tool of claim 6 comprising a locking element adjacent the pocket element and configured to release the pocket element, allowing the pocket element to pivot about a pivot axis, whereby a user can access the fastener in the nose assembly.

8. The fastener installation tool of claim 5 comprising a pocket element including a back wall and a side wall, the pocket element joined with the nose assembly adjacent an exterior surface thereof,
wherein the back wall, side wall and exterior surface define a guide pocket,
wherein the side wall and back wall are movable relative to the exterior surface so as to access a collated fastener path.

9. A fastener installation tool comprising:
a nose assembly configured to be joined with a driving tool having a rotating drive feature, the nose assembly defining a nose assembly opening, the nose assembly opening aligned with a collated fastener path along which collated fasteners travel, the nose assembly including an exterior surface facing the nose assembly opening;
a guide joined with the nose assembly, the guide defining a bore adjacent and generally below the collated fastener path, the guide having a first opening into which an individual fastener from the collated fasteners enters the bore and a second opening from which the fastener exits the bore, the first opening being located adjacent the collated fastener path;
a pocket element joined with the nose assembly, the nose assembly and the pocket element collectively forming a guide pocket that receives the individual fastener and aligns the individual fastener with the first opening; and
a drive element adapted to engage and rotate the individual fastener,
wherein the nose assembly includes a magnetic element configured to exert a magnetic force on the individual fastener so as to align a tip of the fastener with the first opening of the guide, and so that as the fastener is rotated and the fastener is rotationally constrained within the guide pocket and advanced toward a board, the fastener enters the first opening and subsequently the bore.

10. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the magnetic element is selectively located in the collated fastener path,
wherein the drive element is adapted to pass by the magnetic element.

11. The fastener installation tool of claim 10 wherein the pocket element is moveably joined with the nose assembly so that the magnetic element can be moved out of the collated fastener path so that the pocket element no longer obstructs the collated fastener path.

12. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the magnetic element is centered on the collated fastener path.

13. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the magnetic element includes first and second magnets located in the pocket element adjacent the collated fastener path, the first magnet exerting a first magnetic force on an upper portion of the individual fastener, the second magnet exerting a second magnetic force on a lower portion of the individual fastener to align the individual fastener with the opening.

14. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the guide pocket is aligned with and above the bore.

15. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the pocket element is movably joined with the nose assembly,
wherein the pocket element is operable in a pocket mode and a service mode,
wherein in the pocket mode, the pocket element is positioned so that the pocket element obstructs the collated fastener path,
wherein in the service mode, the pocket element is positioned so that the pocket element does not obstruct the collated fastener path.

16. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the pocket element is pivotally joined with the nose assembly and is rotatable about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the bore.

17. The fastener installation tool of claim 16 wherein the pivot axis is transverse to the collated fastener path, wherein the pocket element pivots downward and away from the collated fastener path when transitioning from a pocket mode to a service mode.

18. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the pocket element surrounds at least 50% of a circumference of the individual fastener to rotatably constrain the individual fastener.

19. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 wherein the magnetic element includes a first magnet and a second magnet both centered on the collated fastener path above the bore.

20. The fastener installation tool of claim 9 ,
wherein the magnetic element is located adjacent the collated fastener pa

Assignees

• Nat Nail Corp

Inventors

• Vandenberg Roger A

Classifications

• B25B23/08

  for holding or positioning screw or nut prior to or during its rotation · CPC title

• B25B21/002

  for special purposes · CPC title

• B25B23/005 Primary

  Screw guiding means · CPC title

• E04F21/22

  of single elements, e.g. flooring cramps {; flexible webs (cutting tiles B28D1/225)} · CPC title

• B25B23/045

  using disposable strips or discs carrying the screws or nuts · CPC title