Fastener driving tool using a gas spring

A fastener driving tool, comprising:

• (a) a hollow cylinder having a movable piston therewithin, said hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of said piston;
• (b) a guide body that is sized and shaped to receive a fastener that is to be driven;
• (c) a movable driver that moves with said piston, said movable driver being sized and shaped to push said fastener from said guide body;
• (d) a storage chamber that is in fluidic communication at all times with said displacement volume of the cylinder, such that said storage chamber and said displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas and remain above atmospheric pressure during all portions of an operating cycle, in which said pressurized gas is re-used for more than one driving cycle;
• (e) an on-board electrical energy source, with no external energy source attached to said fastener driving tool;
• (f) a lifter that, under first predetermined conditions, moves said movable driver toward a ready position;
• (g) a prime mover that is powered by said on-board electrical energy source, said prime mover causing said lifter to move, under first predetermined conditions;
• and
• (h) a housing that holds said hollow cylinder, guide body, movable driver, storage chamber, on-board electrical energy source, lifter, and prime mover as a single, portable hand-operable tool;
• wherein:
• said cylinder and piston act as a gas spring, under second predetermined conditions, to move said movable driver toward a driven position, using said pressurized gas of both said storage chamber and said displacement volume acting on said piston.

A fastener driver adapted for use in a fastener driving tool, said fastener driver comprising:

• (a) a hollow cylinder having a movable piston therewithin, said hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of said piston;
• (b) a guide body that is sized and shaped to receive a fastener that is to be driven;
• (c) a movable driver that is in communication with said piston, said movable driver being sized and shaped to push said fastener from said guide body;
• (d) a storage chamber that is in fluidic communication at all times with said displacement volume of the cylinder, such that said storage chamber and said displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas and remain above atmospheric pressure during all portions of an operating cycle, in which said pressurized gas is re-used for more than one driving cycle;
• and
• (e) a rotating lifter that, under first predetermined conditions, moves said movable driver toward a ready position, using a rotary-to-linear motion;
• wherein:
• said cylinder and piston act as a gas spring, under second predetermined conditions, to move said movable driver toward a driven position, using said pressurized gas of both said storage chamber and said displacement volume acting on said piston.