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US 11,766,771 B2Granted
Clinch fastener system
AssigneePneuTools, Incorporated
InventorFrederick William Lamb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clinch fastener mechanism including a pivoting base configured to be pivotally connected to a pneumatic fastener tool. The clinch fastener mechanism further includes a clinch arm pivotally connected to the pivoting base at a proximal end of the clinch arm; and a clinch plate disposed on a distal end of the clinch arm, wherein tool operates within three pressure zones. The system may also include a two-valve system which works by moving pressure throughout three specific zones. The first pressure zone has pressure introduced to it by the user attaching the tool to a pressure delivery source, such as a compressor, or other source. The second pressure zone may be used to operate the clinch arm or a safety mechanism. Mechanical safeties may be configured to prevent accidental or double firing of the tool.
Claims12
A clinch fastener system comprising:
- a pneumatic fastener tool having a tool nose, a handle, a trigger, a trigger valve and a safety valve operating through three pressure zones comprising a first pressure zone, a second pressure zone and a third pressure zone;
- a pivoting base configured to be pivotally connected to the pneumatic fastener tool configured to dispense fasteners;
- a clinch arm pivotally connected to the pivoting base at a proximal end of the clinch arm;
- wherein the first pressure zone includes an interior of the handle and a first portion of the trigger valve, wherein the second pressure zone includes a second portion of the trigger valve, and a first portion of the safety valve, and wherein the third pressure zone includes a second portion of the safety valve;
- wherein the second pressure zone is configured to be open to atmospheric pressure prior to actuation of the trigger;
- wherein the interior of the handle is configured to be filled with pressurized air to pressurize the first pressure zone;
- wherein the first portion of the trigger valve comprises a first chamber, and the second portion of the trigger valve comprises a second chamber which is configured to be open to atmospheric pressure prior to actuation of the trigger;
- wherein the trigger valve further comprises:
- a trigger valve sealing member configured to selectively seal an opening between the first chamber and the second chamber, and
- a trigger valve plunger disposed within the second chamber and configured to be moved within the second chamber by actuation of the trigger causing the trigger valve sealing member to unseal the opening between the first chamber and the second chamber allowing the pressurized air from the first pressure zone in the first chamber to fill the second pressure zone including the second chamber of the trigger valve while the trigger is actuated.
7 more elements
A clinch fastener system comprising:
- a pneumatic fastener tool having a trigger and a tool nose;
- a trigger valve,
- a safety valve;
- a pivoting base configured to be pivotally connected to the pneumatic fastener tool, the pneumatic fastening tool configured to dispense fasteners;
- a clinch arm pivotally connected to the pivoting base at a proximal end of the clinch arm;
- a clinch plate disposed on a distal end of the clinch arm;
- a depressible safety mechanism disposed at the tool nose and operationally connected to the safety valve;
- a rocking safety latch configured to mechanically lockout the safety mechanism and prevent accidental or double firing of the pneumatic fastener tool, wherein the rocking safety latch is rotatable to a position mechanically locking out the safety mechanism, wherein the rocking safety latch is biased by a spring to the position locking out the safety mechanism;
- wherein the trigger is an extended curved trigger forming a curved loop graspable by a user and extending from the safety valve at a first end of the curved loop to the rocking safety latch at a second end of the curved loop, the second end of the curved loop configured to block the rocking safety latch from rotation by the spring to the position mechanically locking out the safety mechanism, wherein when the user depresses the extended curved trigger without first depressing the safety mechanism, the rocking safety latch is configured to be released from being blocked by the extended curve trigger and the rocking safety latch is rotated by the spring to the position mechanically locking out the safety mechanism.
6 more elements
A clinch fastener system comprising:
- a pneumatic fastener tool having a trigger and a tool nose;
- a pivoting base configured to be pivotally connected to the pneumatic fastener tool configured to dispense fasteners;
- a clinch arm pivotally connected to the pivoting base at a proximal end of the clinch arm;
- a clinch plate disposed on a distal end of the clinch arm
- a mechanically actuated trigger linkage attached to the trigger comprising an integrated actuator arm fixedly attached to the trigger and configured for movement therewith upon pivoting of the trigger about a pivot,
- a safety trigger lockout mechanism configured to be operatively attached to the nose of the pneumatic fastener tool,
- a pneumatic valve actuating arm operatively attached to the integrated actuator arm;
- and a clinch actuating valve configured to actuate the clinch army;
- wherein the tool nose is configured to be depressed causing the safety trigger mechanism to move upwardly releasing the integrated actuator arm from the pneumatic valve actuating arm.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.