Method of Driving a T-Nut Into a Pre-Drilled Hole in a Work Piece, an Apparatus For Carrying Out the Method, a T-Nut Strip and a T-Nut
AssigneeUnimerco A/S
InventorJohn Erik Foxby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a T-nut insertion method and an apparatus of the type for driving T-nuts into e.g. a wooden work piece with predrilled holes. A T-nut strip with improved and controllable rupture characteristics is also disclosed. Finally, embodiments of T-nuts with T-nut strip cutting protrusions or shapes are also disclosed. By applying the method according to the invention, a safe and precise insertion of T-nuts is obtained without the risk of T-nuts accidentally being driven from the apparatus and without the risk of the T-nuts being driven into the work piece at locations beside the predrilled holes.
Claims18
A method of driving a T-nut into a predrilled hole in a work piece by means of an apparatus comprising:
- driving means for driving the T-nut into the work piece,
- means for disabling activation of the driving means, and
- means for enabling activation of the driving means,
- the method comprising the following steps of:
- a) supplying a T-nut to a position in the apparatus, prior to inserting the T-nut in the predrilled hole in the surface of the work piece,
- b) searching and selecting a predrilled hole in the surface of the work piece, during which searching activation of the driving means is disabled,
- c) partly inserting the T-nut into the predrilled hole having been searched and selected, subsequent to which partial insertion activation of the driving means is enabled, and
- d) fully inserting the T-nut into the predrilled hole in the surface of the work piece by activation of the driving means.
2-20. (canceled)
The method according to 1, the method step d) further comprising the following steps of:
- fully inserting the T-nut from the second position into the predrilled hole of the work piece to a final position,
- activating a trigger of the striking, preferably by manually activating the trigger, thereby activating the driving means and driving the T-nut into the predrilled hole.
An apparatus for driving one or more T-nuts at a time into a work piece surface with one or more predrilled hole(s), the apparatus comprising:
- a striking tool for activating a driving means for driving a T-nut into the work piece,
- a magazine for a plurality of T-nuts before being driven into the work piece,
- supply means for supplying the T-nuts from the magazine to the striking tool,
- driving means for driving the T-nuts into the predrilled hole of the work piece,
- means for disabling the driving means to be activated, and
- means for enabling the driving means to be activated,
- wherein the supply means is capable of displacing the T-nut to a position of the striking tool, where a barrel of the T-nut extends outside the striking tool, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- sliding means for sliding the barrel of the T-nut in the first position and the apparatus along and in abutment with a surface of the work piece, and
- guiding means being adapted for guiding the T-nut into a first position in relation to the sliding means so as to bring a distant end of the barrel part of the T-nut substantially in level with a level of the sliding means,
- the disabling means being intended for disabling the driving means from being activated when the T-nut is in the first position,
- the guiding means furthermore being adapted for guiding the T-nut from the first position into a second position in relation to the sliding means so as to bring the distant end of the T-nut barrel beyond the level of the sliding means, and
- the enabling means being intended for enabling the driving means to be activated when the T-nut is in the second position.
A strip for connecting a plurality of T-nuts, the T-nuts being of the type having a barrel part and flanges extending outwards from the barrel, and the strip being provided for connecting the plurality of T-nuts in a sequential relationship with the flange of one T-nut intended for opposing the flange of a neighbouring T-nut, the strip having a longitudinal direction intended for extending substantially parallel with the flanges of the T-nuts and intended for extending along the sequential relationship of the T-nuts and the strip having a transverse direction intended for extending substantially perpendicular to the flanges of the T-nuts, and the strip along one extension where the strip is intended for passing from a flange of one T-nut to a flange of a neighbouring T-nut, exhibiting a decreased strength in the transverse direction in comparison with a strength in the transverse direction along another extension where the strip is intended for passing along a flange of only one T-nut so that when the one extension of said strip, where the strip is intended for passing from a flange of one T-nut to a flange of a neighbouring T-nut is ruptured, the other extension of said strip, where the strip is intended for passing along a flange of only one T-nut, constitutes a singular strip part being detached from the remainder of the strip.
A T-nut of the type having a flange extending outwards from a barrel, and wherein the flange is provided with a dedicated means intended for rupturing a strip used for connecting a plurality of T-nuts in a sequential relationship along the strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.