US 2023/0264331 A1 · MAGAZINE FASTENER GUIDE FOR A FASTENER DRIVING TOOL

Abstract

A fastener magazine for a fastener driving tool has a movable guide that allows fasteners of various lengths to be loaded in the magazine. When engaged, the movable guide sequentially directs each fastener's movement during a drive stroke. When disengaged, the movable guide does not interfere with each fastener's movement during a drive stroke. In the engaged position, the movable guide prevents a fastener from complete “backtracking” back into the magazine during a drive stoke, which otherwise could potentially cause a jam condition.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A fastener magazine for a fastener driving tool, comprising:

(a) a magazine housing including a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between said first and second ends, said magazine housing configured to hold a plurality of fasteners that are placed between said first and second ends and are movable therebetween;
(b) a mounting bracket on said magazine housing proximal to said first end;
(c) a fastener pusher that biases said plurality of fasteners toward said first end;
(d) a movable fastener guide secured to said mounting bracket;
(e) said movable fastener guide having an engaged position and a disengaged position;
wherein:
(f) if in said engaged position, said movable fastener guide sequentially directs one of said plurality of fasteners toward said first end of the magazine in a manner such that said fastener is prevented from completely backtracking, by mechanically interfering with a movement of said one of said plurality of fasteners that becomes misaligned;
and
(g) if in said disengaged position, said movable fastener guide does not mechanically interfere with a movement of said one of said plurality of fasteners.

6 more elements

A fastener driving tool, comprising:

(a) a working cylinder that includes a movable piston, said cylinder including a variable displacement volume on a first side of said piston, and said cylinder including a variable venting volume on a second, opposite side of said piston;
(b) a storage chamber;
(c) an end cap that is attached to at least one of said cylinder and said storage chamber near an end portion of said fastener driving tool;
(d) a movable driver that is in mechanical communication with said piston;
(e) a guide body that guides movements of said driver;
(f) a magazine housing including a first end and a second end, said magazine housing configured to hold a plurality of fasteners;
(g) a mounting bracket on said magazine housing proximal to said first end;
(h) a movable fastener guide secured to said mounting bracket;
(i) said movable fastener guide including an engaged position and a disengaged position;
wherein:
(j) in said engaged position, said movable fastener guide sequentially directs one of said plurality of fasteners in a manner such that said fastener is prevented from completely backtracking;
and
(k) in said disengaged position, said movable fastener guide does not sequentially direct said plurality of fasteners.

10 more elements

A movable guide for use in a fastener magazine for use with a fastener driving tool, said movable guide comprising:

(a) a rotatable knob that is sized and shaped for actuation by a human hand, said knob being mounted on a surface of a fastener magazine, proximal to an exit end of said fastener magazine;
(b) a rotatable gate that is also located proximal to said exit end of the fastener magazine;
(c) a stem that resides between said knob and said gate, and has sufficient structural rigidity so that said gate is forced to move rotationally if said knob is moved rotationally;
(d) a spring that creates a biasing force against said knob and against said surface of the fastener magazine;
and
(e) a knob holding pin that secures the knob at said surface of the fastener magazine;
wherein:
(f) said knob and gate are movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, such that:
(i) if said knob and said gate are in said disengaged position, then the gate resides in a non-interfering location, and a fastener moving through said magazine will not make physical contact with the guide;
and
(ii) if said knob and said gate are in said engaged position, then the knob holding protrusion keeps the knob in that engaged position until released by an action of a human hand, and the gate resides in an interfering location, in which a misaligned fastener will make physical contact with a ramp portion of the guide, as the fastener is being driven by a moving driver of a fastener driving tool that is adjacent to said exit end of the fastener magazine.

8 more elements

A method for attaching a removable fastener magazine to a fastener driving tool, the method comprising:

(a) providing a fastener driving tool that includes at least a housing, a handle portion, a front end subassembly proximal to an exit end of the tool;
said front end subassembly comprising a rounded receptacle subassembly, and a guide body having a bottom portion and a backplate, said rounded receptacle subassembly including at least:
(i) an opening in the backplate of said guide body, said opening exhibiting a geometric center;
(ii) a ramp surface;
and
(iii) a first corner between said opening and said ramp surface;
(b) providing a removably attachable fastener magazine having a magazine housing including a first end and a second, opposite end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between said first and second ends, said magazine housing configured to hold a plurality of fasteners that are placed between said first and second ends and are movable therebetween, said fastener magazine exhibiting a fulcrum portion that includes:
(i) a cylindrical outer surface;
(ii) a side protrusion proximal to said cylindrical outer surface of the fulcrum;
and
(iii) an extension portion that extends between said cylindrical outer surface and said first end of the magazine, said extension portion having an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion;
and
(c) attaching said fastener magazine to said fastener driving tool by:
(i) inserting said side protrusion into said opening of the backplate;
(ii) rotating said fulcrum portion around said geometric center of the opening in the backplate;
(iii) pressing said upper surface portion of the magazine against said bottom portion of the guide body;
and
(iv) engaging a mounting bracket on said tool with a latch subassembly on said magazine.

15 more elements

A fastener driving tool having a removable fastener magazine, said tool comprising:

(a) a housing, a handle portion, and a nose portion that includes a guide body having a fastener track and a first mounting bracket receiving portion, said nose portion exhibiting a rounded receptacle subassembly that includes:
(i) a bottom portion;
(ii) a rounded opening in said bottom portion;
(iii) a ramp surface proximal to said rounded opening;
and
(iv) a geometric center proximal to said rounded opening;
and
(b) a removable fastener magazine having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between said first and second ends, said removable fastener magazine configured to hold a plurality of fasteners placed between said first and second ends and are movable therebetween, said removable fastener magazine including a first mounting bracket with a fulcrum portion that exhibits:
(i) a fulcrum having a cylindrical outer surface;
and
(ii) an extension portion having an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion, said extension portion extending to said fulcrum;
wherein, said removable fastener magazine pivotally attaches to said tool at said geometric center of the rounded opening of the nose portion rounded receptacle subassembly.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Abstract

Magazine fastener guide for a fastener driving tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25

Magazine fastener guide for a fastener driving tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25