Elongated-member-driving apparatus – With interlock means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-07
2003-08-26
Smith, Scott A. (Department: 3721)
Elongated-member-driving apparatus
With interlock means
C227S109000, C227S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609646
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a fastening tool for dispensing fasteners from a magazine assembly into a workpiece and more specifically to an improved magazine assembly for a fastening tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of pneumatically operated devices have been developed for use in driving fasteners, such as staples and nails, into workpieces. These tools typically employ a magazine assembly for holding a plurality of the fasteners and feeding the fasteners into the nose of the tool prior to the installation of the fasteners into a workpiece.
Despite the wide spread use of such tools, several drawbacks have been noted. One such drawback concerns the dry-firing of the tool when an insufficient number of fasteners are contained in the magazine assembly. As is known in the art, the dry-firing of such tools tends to be harmful to the tool.
Another drawback relates to situations wherein one or more fasteners are jammed in the nose of the tool. In such situations, the magazine assembly is typically removed from the fastening tool so as to provide sufficient space to permit the operator to remove the jammed fasteners from the nose of the fastening tool. Often times, tools, such as pliers, are employed in this task, so that the amount of space that is required for servicing the nose of the tool can be significant. Unfortunately, the complete removal of the magazine assembly from the remainder of the tool is often times very time consuming and may also require the use of additional tools to physically disconnect the magazine assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one preferred form, the present invention provides a fastening tool for holding a plurality of fasteners and selectively setting a first one of the fasteners into a workpiece. The fastening tool includes a fastening tool portion and a magazine assembly. The fastening tool portion includes a handle, a clamp mechanism, an actuating trigger and a nose structure. The handle is configured to be gripped by an operator when using the fastening tool. The clamp mechanism is coupled to the handle and includes a clamp pin with a head portion and a body portion. The clamp pin is movable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The actuating trigger is positionable in an unactuated condition, wherein the fastening tool portion is not be cycled to set a fastener. The actuating trigger is also positionable in an actuated condition, wherein the fastening tool portion is cycled to set the fastener. The nose structure includes a magazine flange, a nose body, and at least one elongated magazine guide post. The nose body is coupled to the magazine flange and extends generally forwardly therefrom. The nose body is configured to hold at least the first one of the fasteners and to guide the first one of the fasteners into the workpiece when the trigger is positioned in the actuated condition and the fastening tool is actuated to set the first one of the fasteners. The at least one elongated magazine guide post extends downwardly from the magazine flange. The magazine assembly has an upper surface and at least one guide port. The upper surface is configured to abut a bottom surface of the magazine flange. Each of the guide ports is sized to receive an associated one of the guide posts. The magazine assembly further includes a magazine housing, a coupling bracket, a follower structure and a follower spring. The magazine housing has a sidewall that at least partially defines a follower cavity. The coupling bracket is coupled to the magazine housing and includes a slotted coupling aperture having a first portion, which is sized larger than the head portion of the clamp pin, a second portion, which is sized to engage the head portion, and a slotted portion interconnecting the first and second portions of the slotted coupling aperture. The slotted portion of the slotted coupling aperture is sized larger than the body portion of the clamp pin and smaller than the head portion of the clamp pin. The follower structure has a follower body and a guide tab. The follower body is slidably disposed in the follower cavity, the guide tab is coupled to the follower body and configured to support the fasteners in the magazine assembly, and the follower spring is coupled to both the magazine body and the follower structure and biases the follower body upwardly in the follower cavity. The magazine assembly is positionable relative to the fastening tool portion in an uncoupled condition, wherein the magazine assembly is separated from the fastening tool portion. The magazine assembly is also positionable relative to the fastening tool portion in a coupled condition, wherein the magazine assembly is fixed to the fastening tool portion such that the at least one elongated magazine guide post is engaged to an associated guide port, the upper surface of the magazine assembly is abutted to the bottom surface of the magazine flange, the clamp pin is disposed in the second portion of the slotted coupling aperture and the clamp mechanism is positioned in the engaged position and generating a clamping force that is applied through the head portion of the clamp pin and against the coupling bracket to thereby secure the magazine assembly to the handle. The magazine assembly if further positionable relative to the fastening tool portion in a semi-coupled condition, wherein the at least one elongated magazine guide post is engaged to the associated guide port, the clamp mechanism is positioned in the disengaged position, and the clamp pin is disposed in the slotted portion of the slotted coupling aperture to thereby permit the magazine assembly to be slid relative to the fastening tool portion. The slotted portion is sized to limit sliding movement of the magazine assembly so that the at least one elongated magazine guide post does not disengage the associated guide port.
In another preferred form, the present invention provides a fastening tool for holding a plurality of fasteners and selectively setting a first one of the fasteners into a workpiece. The fastening tool includes a fastening tool portion and a magazine assembly. The fastening tool portion has an actuating trigger, a nose structure, a contact trip and a trigger lever. The actuating trigger is positionable in an unactuated condition, wherein the fastening tool portion cannot be cycled to set the first one of the fasteners, and an actuated condition, wherein the fastening tool portion can be cycled to set the first one of the fasteners. The nose structure includes a magazine flange and a nose body. The magazine flange includes a lock-out aperture. The nose body is coupled to the magazine flange and extends generally forwardly therefrom. The nose body is configured to hold at least the first one of the fasteners and to guide the first one of the fasteners into the workpiece when the trigger is positioned in the actuated condition to thereby actuate the fastening tool portion to set the first one of the fasteners. The contact trip is coupled to the nose structure and is slidable between an extended position and a retracted position. The contact trip is biased into the extended position and slides into the retracted position or rearwardly therefrom in response to contact with the workpiece. The trigger lever is coupled to the contact trip for movement therewith. The trigger lever interacts with the actuating trigger such that the actuating trigger is positionable in the actuated condition only when the contact trip is positioned in or rearward of the retracted position to thereby push the trigger lever into engagement with the actuating trigger. The magazine assembly holds at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners. The magazine assembly has an upper surface that is configured to abut a bottom surface of the magazine flange. The magazine assembly further includes a magazine housing, a follower structure and a follower spring. The magazine housing has a sidewall that at least partially defines a follower cavity. The follower structure has a follower body, a
Funicello John C.
Hagan Todd A.
Miller Keven E.
Miller Thomas E.
Black & Decker Inc.
Chukwurah Nathaniel
Smith Scott A.
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