Method and apparatus for fastening steel framing with nails

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a first end having a shoulder and a tip configured to pierce framing members and pass therethrough;
• a second end configured to receive a driving force;
• a stem having an outer surface and extending axially between said first and second ends, said stem having a cross section smaller than said shoulder;
• and
• at least one spring member extending axially alone a portion of said outer surface of said stem, said spring member being configured to compress as said stem passes through framing members, and said spring member having at least one engaging surface configured to fasten framing members together after said at least one engaging surface has passed therethrough,
• wherein said stem is circular in cross section and said spring member is concentric with and extends around said stem.

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a first end having a shoulder and a tip configured to pierce framing members and pass therethrough;
• a second end configured to receive a driving force;
• a stem having an outer surface and extending axially between said first and second ends, said stem having a cross section smaller than said shoulder;
• and
• at least one spring member extending axially along a portion of said outer surface of said stem, said spring member being configured to compress as said stem passes through framing members, and said spring member having at least one engaging surface configured to fasten framing members together after said at least one engaging surface has passed therethrough,
• wherein said at least one engaging surface is a plurality of fingers of varying lengths that extend axially along said spring member.

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a first end having a shoulder and a tip configured to pierce framing members and pass therethrough:
• a second end configured to receive a driving force;
• a stem having an outer surface and extending axially between said first and second ends, said stem having a cross section smaller than said shoulder:
• and
• at least one spring member extending axially along portion of said outer surface of said stem, said spring member being configured to compress as said stem passes through framing members, and said spring member having at least one engaging surface configured to fasten framing members together after said at least one engaging surface has passed therethrough,
• wherein a first spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a first surface of said stem and a second spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a second surface of said stem,
• wherein said first spring member has a plurality of engaging surfaces, said second spring member has a plurality of engaging surfaces, and said engaging surfaces on said first spring member are staggered from said engaging surfaces on said second spring member.

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a first end having a shoulder and a tip configured to pierce framing members and pass therethrough;
• a second end configured to receive a driving force;
• a stem having an outer surface and extending axially between said first and second ends, said stem having a cross section smaller than said shoulder;
• and
• at least one spring member extending axially along a portion of said outer surface of said stem, said spring member being configured to compress as said stem passes through framing members, and said spring member having at least one engaging surface configured to fasten framing members together after said at least one engaging surface has passed therethrough,
• wherein a first spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a first surface of said stem and a second spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a second surface of said stem,
• wherein a third spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a third surface of said stem and a fourth spring member of said at least one spring member extends along a portion of a fourth surface of said stem opposite said third portion.

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a first end having a shoulder and a tip configured to pierce framing members and pass therethrough;
• a second end configured to receive a driving force;
• a stem having an outer surface and extending axially between said first and second ends, said stem having a cross section smaller than said shoulder;
• and
• at least one spring member extending axially alone a portion of said outer surface of said stem, said spring member being configured to compress as said stem passes through framing members, and said spring member having at least one engaging surface configured to fasten framing members together after said at least one engaging surface has passed therethrough,
• wherein a first end of said spring member is attached to said stem adjacent said shoulder and a second end of said spring member is attached to said stem proximate said second end.

A nail for fastening framing members together comprising:

• a stem having opposite first and second ends and an axial length therebetween, said first end being configured to pierce framing members to allow said stem to pass therethrough, said second end having a ribbed portion and being configured to receive a driving force;
• at least two spring fingers extending outwardly from said stem, said fingers being configured to expand and engage with framing members after passing therethrough;
• and
• a press washer having an opening complementary to said ribbed portion of said second end, said press washer axially moveable relative to said stem, and axial movement of said press washer causing said stem to move axially relative to framing members and said finger members to expand against framing members thereby fastening framing members together between said washer and said fingers.

A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a piercing nail having at least one spring member comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a tip of a piercing nail adjacent two or more adjacent framing members;
• (b) applying a driving force to a head of said nail;
• (c) driving said nail through said framing members with said driving force until said head is in contact with an outer surface of one of said framing members;
• (d) compressing at least one spring member on said nail with said framing members as said at least one spring member passes through said framing members, wherein said spring member is discrete from said tip;
• and
• (e) engaging said framing members with an engaging surface on said at least one spring member so that removal of said nail from said framing members is inhibited and said framing members are fastened together by said nail.

A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a piercing nail having at least one spring member comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a tip of a piercing nail adjacent two or more adjacent framing members;
• (b) applying a driving force to a head of said nail;
• (c) driving said nail through said framing members with said driving force until said head is in contact with an outer surface of one of said framing members;
• (d) compressing at least one spring member on said nail with said framing members as said at least one spring member passes through said framing members;
• and
• (e) engaging said framing members with an engaging surface on said at least one spring member so that removal of said nail from said framing members is inhibited and said framing members are fastened together by said nail,
• wherein step (e) includes engaging said framing members with an engaging surface that extends concentrically around said nail.

A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a piercing nail having at least one spring member comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a tip of a piercing nail adjacent two or more adacent framing members;
• (b) applying a driving force to a head of said nail;
• (c) driving said nail through said framing members with said driving force until said head is in contact with an outer surface of one of said framing members;
• (d) compressing at least one spring member on said nail with said framing members as said at least one spring member passes through said framing members;
• and
• (e) engaging said framing members with an engaging surface on said at least one spring member so that removal of said nail from said framing members is inhibited and said framing members are fastened together by said nail, wherein step (e) includes engaging said framing members with an engaging surface comprised of a plurality of fingers of varying lengths that extend axially along said at least one spring member.

A method of fastening two or more framing members together with a piercing nail having at least one spring member comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a tip of a piercing nail adjacent two or more adjacent framing members;
• (b) applying a driving force to a head of said nail;
• (c) driving said nail through said framing members with said driving force until said head is in contact with an outer surface of one of said framing members;
• (d) compressing at least one spring member on said nail with said framing members as said at least one spring member passes through said framing members;
• and
• (e) engaging said framing members with an engaging surface on said at least one spring member so that removal of said nail from said framing members is inhibited and said framing members are fastened together by said nail,
• wherein step (e) includes engaging said framing members with at least one of a first engaging surface that extends along a first spring member and a second engaging surface that extends along a second spring member on said nail,
• wherein step (e) includes engaging said framing members with at least one of said first and second engaging surfaces that are staggered relative to one another.