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.
Claims15
A clinch fastener system comprising:
- a pneumatic fastener tool comprising a tool nose, a handle, a trigger, a trigger valve and a safety valve, the pneumatic fastener tool operating through three pressure zones comprising a first pressure zone, a second pressure zone and a third pressure zone, wherein the first pressure zone comprises an interior of the handle and a first portion of the trigger valve, wherein the second pressure zone comprises a second portion of the trigger valve, and a first portion of the safety valve comprising a first portion of a safety valve chamber, and wherein the third pressure zone comprises a second portion of the safety valve;
- 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 trigger safety mechanism operatively attached to the nose of the pneumatic fastener tool and configured to be actuated by a user;
- wherein the safety valve further comprises:
- a trigger safety configured to be actuated by the trigger safety mechanism;
- and
- a safety valve plunger disposed within the safety valve chamber and configured to be moved within the safety valve chamber by actuation of the trigger safety by the trigger safety mechanism causing movement of the safety valve plunger to allow the pressurized air from the second pressure zone to enter the third pressure zone;
- and
- wherein the second pressure zone further comprises an integrated air piston separately moveable from the safety valve plunger, wherein the integrated air piston is configured to be moveable within an integrated air piston assembly and provide mechanical lockout of the trigger safety mechanism, wherein the first portion of the safety valve comprises a port configured to divert air from the first portion of the safety valve to the integrated air piston assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.