Hammer-strikable, powder-actuated, fastener-driving tool

A hammer-strikable, powder-actuated, fastener-driving tool adapted to be fired so as to drive a fastener from said tool into a substrate, comprising:

• a substantially tubular body defining a longitudinal axis;
• a breech block mounted within a rear end portion of said substantially tubular body;
• a barrel mounted within a front end portion of said substantially tubular body so as to be axially movable toward and away from said breech block, said barrel housing a fastener, to be driven into a substrate, within a forward portion of said barrel, and having an axially extending slot defined therein;
• driving means disposed within said barrel at a position rearwardly of said fastener for driving said fastener into said substrate;
• charge means, disposed within a rear end portion of said barrel, for propelling said driving means, which will in turn, drive said fastener-to-be-driven into said substrate when said charge means is fired;
• a firing pin mounted within said breech block so as to be axially movable in response to a hammer blow between a dormant position, and a firing position at which said firing pin fires said charge means so as to cause said driving means to move within said barrel and thereby, in turn, cause said fastener to be driven into said substrate;
• rearwardly open recess means defined within said rear end portion of said substantially tubular body so as to be disposed rearwardly of said breech block;
• means, movably disposed within said rearwardly open recess means between an inoperative dormant position and an operative firing position, engaged with said firing pin, and externally accessible through said rearwardly open recess means, for receiving a hammer blow and thereby transmitting the force of said hammer blow to said firing pin for firing said charge means and causing said fastener to be driven from said barrel by said driving means when said hammer blow causes movement of said means from said inoperative dormant position to said operative firing position;
• and
• means mounted within said substantially tubular body and engaging said barrel for imparting frictional drag upon said barrel as said barrel moves relative to said substantially tubular body when moving toward and away from said breech block, said frictional drag imparting means comprising a stud mounted upon said tubular body and extending radially inwardly such that a radially inner shank portion of said stud is disposed within said axially extending slot of said barrel, and an annular washer, disposed about said radially inner shank portion of said stud so as to bridge said axially extending slot of said barrel, is biased against said barrel so as to impart said frictional drag thereto.

A hammer-strikable, powder-actuated, fastener-driving tool adapted to be fired so as to drive a fastener from said tool into a substrate, comprising:

• a substantially tubular body defining a longitudinal axis;
• a handle defined upon a first rear end section of said substantially tubular body;
• a breech block mounted within a rear end portion of said substantially tubular body;
• a barrel mounted within a second front end section of said substantially tubular body so as to be axially movable toward and away from said breech block, said barrel housing a fastener, to be driven into a substrate, within a forward end portion of said barrel, and having an axially extending slot defined therein;
• driving means disposed within said barrel at a position rearwardly of said fastener for driving said fastener into said substrate;
• charge means, disposed within said rear end portion of said barrel at a position forwardly of said breech block, for propelling said driving means, which will in turn, drive said fastener-to-be-driven into said substrate when said charge means is fired;
• a firing pin mounted within said breech block so as to be axially movable in response to a hammer blow between a dormant position, and a firing position at which said firing pin fires said charge means so as to cause said driving means to move within said barrel and thereby, in turn, cause said fastener to be driven into said substrate;
• rearwardly open recess means defined within said rear end portion of said substantially tubular body so as to be disposed rearwardly of said breech block;
• means, movably disposed within said rearwardly open recess means between an inoperative dormant position and an operative firing position, engaged with said firing pin, and externally accessible through said rearwardly open recess means, for receiving a hammer blow and thereby transmitting the force of said hammer blow to said firing pin for firing said charge means and causing said fastener to be driven from said barrel by said driving means when said hammer blow causes movement of said means from said inoperative dormant position to said operative firing position;
• and
• means mounted within said substantially tubular body and engaging said barrel for imparting frictional drag upon said barrel as said barrel moves relative to said substantially tubular body when moving toward and away from said breech block, said frictional drag imparting means comprising a stud mounted upon said tubular body and extending radially inwardly such that a radially inner shank portion of said stud is disposed within said axially extending slot of said barrel, and an annular washer, disposed about said radially inner shank portion of said stud so as to bridge said axially extending slot of said barrel, is biased against said barrel so as to impart said frictional drag thereto.