Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Impact driven fastener – e.g. – nail – spike – tack – etc. – Multiple prong – e.g. – nailing plate – staple – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2001-10-23
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Impact driven fastener, e.g., nail, spike, tack, etc.
Multiple prong, e.g., nailing plate, staple, etc.
C411S443000, C411S475000, C411S480000, C411S920000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305891
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a fastening device for securing wrapping material to an item, and more particularly, to a removable spacer and fastener wherein the spacer increases the surface area of the fastener and thereby reduces the probability that the fastener will tear through the wrapping material such that the spacer and the fastener can be easily removed along with the wrapping material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Goods such as lumber units are often shipped great distances and stored in harsh environmental conditions for extended periods of time. In particular, the lumber may be left on sea docks or in open lumberyards for months at a time. During these periods the lumber is subject to harsh environmental conditions such as rain, snow and high winds, and other conditions such as pollution and bird droppings. During transit on trains or on open semi-tractor trailers, the lumber units may be subjected to flying debris such as small sticks and stones, which may hit the lumber at speeds of seventy miles an hour. Due to the high cost of lumber, and in order to minimize the damage done to the lumber during transport and storage, it is desirable to protect the lumber from exposure to these harsh environmental conditions.
Lumber units, which are shipped in a variety of sizes, typically are wrapped in a protective plastic sheeting or material, such as Nova-Thene Plus TP (Trademark owned by Intertape Polymer Group of Nova Scotia, Canada), a high strength, lightweight coated fabric consisting of a reinforcing high density polyethylene scrim coated on both sides with a film of low density polyethylene blended with other specialty resins. The protective sheeting typically is secured to the lumber unit by fasteners such as staples which are shot from a staple gun through the plastic sheeting and into the lumber. The staple typically retains the sheeting on the lumber unit during transport and storage but must be removed prior to sale or use of the lumber.
When a wrapped lumber unit is subjected to high winds, the high winds may tend to tear the plastic sheeting from the lumber unit due to the small surface area of the fastener in contact with the sheeting. In other words, as the plastic sheeting is pulled from the lumber, the fasteners tend to tear through the plastic. Moreover, during purposeful removal of the plastic sheeting from the lumber prior to use, pulling of the plastic sheeting from the lumber tends to result in the fastener tearing through the sheeting such that the fasteners remain in the lumber unit. The fasteners typically are manufactured of metal or hard plastic such that when the fasteners remain in the lumber, the fasteners may damage or destroy saw blades used to cut the lumber. In addition, fasteners left remaining in the lumber mar the appearance of the lumber and decrease the value of expensive specialty lumbers.
A variety of devices have been sold which attempt to alleviate the problem of fasteners tearing through sheeting material. For example, round, flat tabs of sheeting material or plastic having a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches have been used wherein the fastener is shot through the plastic tabs, through the sheeting material and into the lumber. These plastic tabs increase the surface area of the fasteners on the sheeting material. However, these tabs typically require two-handed operation in that the operator must hold the round tab in one hand and the staple gun in the other hand. This two-handed operation is time consuming and increases the possibility that the operator may injure his or her hands with the staple gun. If the plastic tabs are fed through a staple gun, the large size of the plastic tabs requires a large roll of the tabs to extend outwardly from the staple gun rendering the staple gun bulky and awkward to handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device that increases the surface area of the fasteners so that high winds will not tear protective sheeting from a lumber unit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device that increases the surface area of the fasteners so that when the protective sheeting is purposefully removed, the sheeting will remove the fasteners therewith.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device wherein the fastening device may be installed with one-handed operation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a removable fastening device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device that increases the surface area of the fastener but is relatively small in size.
Accordingly, the fastening device preferably comprises a “U” shaped spacer wherein the recess of the “U” shape is captured by the upper cross bar of a standard fastener/staple as the fastener is fastened to the lumber. The spacer has a flat bottom surface and a flat side surface. The flat bottom surface is used to increase the surface area of the standard staple so as to retain the sheeting on the lumber during shipping. The flat side surface is used to increase the surface area of the standard staple during removal of the plastic sheeting so that when the plastic sheeting is pulled from the lumber, the plastic sheeting will pull the spacer and the staple from the lumber. In other words, the spacer prevents the staple from ripping through the plastic and remaining in the lumber when the plastic is removed. Removal of the staple with the plastic sheeting allows milling of the lumber without the fear of breaking a saw blade due to staples remaining in the lumber. In a preferred embodiment, the staples and the spacers are manufactured in tracks which are fed along flat, parallel elongate axes underneath the handle of a staple gun to allow one-handed fastening of the staples and the spacers to a lumber unit.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2003062 (1935-05-01), Wickwire
patent: 3894174 (1975-07-01), Cartun
patent: 4278091 (1981-07-01), Borzone
patent: 4573469 (1986-03-01), Golden et al.
patent: 4801064 (1989-01-01), Mangone, Jr.
McTaggart Ingrid
Wilson Neill
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