Special receptacle or package – For a fastener – Flaccidly or integrally connected
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-04-03
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a fastener
Flaccidly or integrally connected
C206S346000, C053S443000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209722
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to fasteners known as Tee-nuts, which are formed into a strip by means of a flexible membrane secured to the Tee-nuts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tee-nut fastening devices are widely used in many industries, in particular in the furniture industry. They consist of a sheet metal member having a sleeve with internal threads, and flanges around one end of the sleeve and spikes formed at right angles to the flanges which are embedded in the workpiece around a pre-drilled hole.
They are widely used for constructing furniture items such as bookshelves, cupboards, chairs, beds and the like, and in many other situations. Various forms of high-speed insertion machines have been devised, by means of which the Tee-nuts may be driven into a workpiece. Usually there is a pre-drilled hole in which the sleeve is received, and the flange lies on the surface of the workpiece with the spikes embedded in it, thereby holding the entire Tee-nut in position. Modified forms of Tee-nuts are available which are flared out at the free ends of the sleeves so as to provide a more secure hold in the workpiece. Other forms of Tee-nuts are available which are formed with sleeves capable of punching their own hole through the workpiece.
The rapidity and repetition rate of the insertion of such Tee-nuts into a workpiece is a significant cost factor in the production of the end product. In the past, insertion machines have been provided with hoppers. The Tee-nuts were simply dumped loose in the hopper, and the hopper vibrated, to separate the Tee-nuts and cause them to enter a feedslide. The feedslide supplied the Tee-nuts, one after another, to the punch.
These systems were not always reliable and in some cases the hoppers became jammed with Tee-nuts and in other cases the feedslide became jammed because the Tee-nuts would not slide down the feedslide.
Various examples of such Tee-nut setting machines are shown, one example being shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,217. A modified form of Tee-nut machine in which the Tee-nuts were driven upwardly into the workpiece is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,940. The problem with these systems involving loose Tee-nuts is that the slide would feed the Tee-nuts to a feed mechanism which would then deliver them one at a time to a plunger or punch. This was relatively complex and costly, and was not always reliable, at the speeds of operation which are required.
With a view to overcoming many of these disadvantages and with a view to providing a much simpler machine, a Tee-nut inserting machine was devised, for receiving Tee-nuts from a coil or roll. The Tee-nuts themselves were formed into a coil by means of a backing tape or membrane, or in some cases by means of welded wire filaments. Examples of such systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,214,843; 5,327,645; 5,299,686 and 5,214,843.
The machines and Tee-nut strips disclosed in these patents overcame the problems arising from placing loose Tee-nuts in a hopper, and then attempting to sort out the Tee-nuts and feed them one by one down a Tee-nut slide.
However, the formation of the Tee-nuts into a strip by means of a flexible membrane such as a tape was not always totally satisfactory. In some cases, the membrane, which might be for example, paper or the like, would simply break between the Tee-nuts. In other cases, the formation of the Tee-nut strips by means of welded wires was not always satisfactory due to the difficulties and complexities of forming high-speed spot welds. In both systems, when the insertion machines were operated at high speed there was a tendency for the Tee-nut strips to become broken or Tee-nuts to become separated from the strip. In both cases this would lead to a false insertion of a Tee-nut, i.e. there would be a hole in the workpiece with no Tee-nut, and this was unacceptable.
The first objective of the invention therefore is to provide an improved fastener strip such as a Tee-nut strip which is capable of high-speed operation with fastener insertion machines, whether of the type described or otherwise.
A further requirement which has developed more recently, is the provision of a portable fastener applicator for example for use with Tee-nuts, similar to the air pressure-operated nailing applicators which are in common use.
A portable hand-held fastener applicator would have many advantages over the stand-alone applicator machines. However, in order to operate, a satisfactory form of fastener strip must be provided for the portable hand-held fastener applicator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to providing an improved fastener strip, for example a Tee-nut fastener strip, the invention provides a fastener strip for fasteners of the type having a grip portion and flanges, having a first side and a second side, formed at one end of the grip portion and the fastener strip comprises membrane means formed of flexible material and bonding means that bonds the membrane means to the first side of the flanges and to the second side of the flanges such that the membrane means grips the flanges on both the first and second sides of the flanges simultaneously. In particular, the fasteners are held in sequential relation along the membrane means.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the membrane means may be comprised of one or more membrane means as appropriate.
If four membrane means are provided, the first and second membrane means may be bonded on opposite sides of a first, or upper, side of the flanges, defining a linear spacing there between along the length of the centre of the fasteners, and the third and fourth membrane means may be bonded to a second, or under, side of the flanges, on opposite sides of said grip portion. In this case, it may be easier to apply the separate membrane means to the fasteners, such as Tee-nuts, easily and the central portion of the leading and trailing edge of each fastener is clear of obstruction. This improves the ease of preparing the fastener strips and the ability of the fastener strip to be reliably fed in a typical feed slide mechanism.
If two membrane means are provided, the first and second membrane means may be bonded to a first, or upper, side of the flanges, such that there is a spacing between the first and second membrane means, and then each of the first and second membrane means folded over and bonded to a second, or under, side of the flanges so that each of the first and second membrane means grip the flanges on both the first, or upper, side and the second, or under, side simultaneously. In this case, the central portion of the leading and trailing edge of each fastener is left clear of obstruction. This improves the ability of the fastener strip to be reliably fed in a typical feed slide mechanism.
If only one membrane means is provided, the membrane means may be bonded to a first, or upper, side of the flanges and then folded over and bonded to a second, or under, side of the flanges so that the membrane means grips the flanges on both the first, or upper, side and the second, or under, side simultaneously.
A further feature of the invention is that portions of the membrane means extending between the fasteners can be bonded directly to one another between said fasteners to form a double thickness laminate.
The membrane means can be of any suitable material such as paper, polypropylene tape, synthetic material such as thermoplastic strip materials and the like, and the bonding means can be any suitable adhesive. Alternatively, the membrane means may be extruded plastic material which is extruded hot directly onto the sides of the flanges of the fasteners and the bonding is provided by thermo-plastic adhesion.
It will be understood that the membrane means may comprise combinations of membrane web material, extruded plastic material, or other materials used together or individually on first, or upper, or second, or under, sides of the flanges.
It is preferrable that the membrane means be tearable between adjacent fasteners as they are inserted into the workpiece. It is also preferabl
Ackun Jacob K.
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle L.L.P.
Sigma Tool & Machine, A Partnership of Sigma Tool & Machine Ltd.
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