V-nail fastener
AssigneeThe Fletcher-Terry Company
InventorsVincent T. Kozyrski, Alan R. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A V-nail fastener has a leading edge that is partially formed with asymmetric sharpening, limited substantially to the central sections. Flange elements extend generally perpendicularly to the panel elements of which the central (V-shaped) portion is constructed and cooperate therewith to give the fastener a W-shaped overall profile. The lateral sections of the leading edge, which extend along the flange elements, are substantially devoid of sharpening, or are otherwise so formed as to permit the directional influence of the asymmetric sharpening to occur substantially undiminished.
Claims8
A fastener for joining frame pieces at a miter joint by driving the fastener thereinto, said fastener being fabricated from a piece of sheet metal and comprising a pair of generally planar, rectangular panel elements that intersect to form a corner and that provide a central portion having a V-shaped profile, and a pair of flange elements along opposite margins of said panels, spaced laterally from said corner and extending generally parallel thereto, the generally confronting surfaces of said panel elements facing in an inward direction and the opposite surfaces thereof facing in an outward direction, said flange elements extending from said opposite margins of said panel elements in a generally outward direction to cooperatively impart to said fastener a generally W-shaped profile, said fastener having a leading end with a leading edge, extending along said panel elements and said flange elements, that is formed for penetration into the frame pieces being joined, and having a trailing end that is formed for contact to receive driving force;
- the improvement wherein said leading edge of said fastener is partially formed with a sharpening taper, the portion of said leading edge that is formed with a sharpening taper comprising central sections that extend along said panel elements of said fastener, with lateral sections of said leading edge, which extend along said flange elements, being substantially devoid of any sharpening taper;
- and wherein said sharpening taper of said leading edge portion is asymmetric, the asymmetry of said leading edge portion causing said fastener to deflect in said outward direction when it is driven into frame pieces that are disposed at a miter joint, and thereby to generate forces that urge the frame pieces toward one another.
A fastener for joining frame pieces at a miter joint by driving the fastener thereinto, said fastener being fabricated from a piece of sheet metal and comprising a pair of generally planar, rectangular panel elements that intersect to form a corner and that provide a central portion having a V-shaped profile, and a pair of flange elements along opposite margins of said panels, spaced laterally from said corner and extending generally parallel thereto, the generally confronting surfaces of said panel elements facing in an inward direction and the opposite surfaces thereof facing in an outward direction, said flange elements extending from said opposite margins of said panel elements in a generally outward direction to cooperatively impart to said fastener a generally W-shaped profile, said fastener having a leading end with a leading edge, extending along said panel elements and said flange elements, that is formed for penetration into the frame pieces being joined, and having a trailing end that is formed for contact to receive driving force;
- the improvement wherein said leading edge of said fastener is partially formed with an asymmetric sharpening taper, the portion of said leading edge that is formed with said sharpening taper comprising central sections that extend along said panel elements of said fastener, the asymmetry of said leading edge portion causing said fastener to deflect in said outward direction when said fastener is driven into frame pieces that are disposed at a miter joint, and thereby to generate forces that urge the frame pieces toward one another, lateral sections of said leading edge, which extend along said flange elements, being substantially devoid of said sharpening taper and exerting substantially no influence, counter to that which is exerted by said leading edge portion, upon the direction followed by said driven fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.