US 8,920,094 B2Granted

Apparatus and method of making an offset nail

AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.

InventorsZafar I. Ali, Donald E. Bergstrom, William L. Gabriel

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A nail having an offset head is configured with a multi-step support gusset formed integrally between an undersurface of the offset head and a superior portion of a shank. The head of the nail is relatively thin, and the shank is positioned radially off center of the head. A first portion of the gusset defines an angle relative to the shank axis and the second portion of the gusset defines an angle relative to the shank axis different from that of the first portion. The support gusset reinforces the junction of the shank with the head, supports the toe of the head, and distributes the force of a load on the head through a longitudinal axis of the shank, preventing the toe from bending or yielding and prevents the shank from yielding to the stresses of the load applied.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An offset nail comprising:

a head having a generally flat top surface and a thickness of about 25 mil to about 45 mil;
a cylindrically shaped shank extending downwardly from the head positioned off-center with respect to the head to define a toe, the shank defining a longitudinal axis, being substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the head and having a constant diameter;
and
a support gusset extending between and integral with the head and the shank and positioned at a junction of the head and the shank, the support gusset configured to support a portion of the head unsupported by the shank, the support gusset having a bottom edge formed at a boundary of the support gusset and the shank, the bottom edge extending circumferentially about the shank, wherein the support gusset extends axially and radially outward from the bottom edge,
wherein the support gusset is a two-step gusset having a first gusset portion contiguous with the shank and a second gusset portion contiguous with an underside of the head, the first and second gusset portions contiguous with one another, and
wherein the first gusset portion defines a first angle relative to the shank axis, and the second gusset portion defines a second angle relative to the shank axis, wherein the first angle and the second angle are different from one another.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/644,890Filed 22 Dec 2009 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Jul 2008
Published: US 2010/0014941 A122 Jul 2010
Granted: 30 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B21G 3/12
Making pins, nails, or the like: upsetting; Forming heads
F16B 15/02
Nails; Staples: with specially-shaped heads, e.g. with enlarged surfaces
Y10S 411/923
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-threaded fastener: nail, spike or tack having specific head structure
B21G
Making needles, pins or nails of metal

Family

Application12/175,704Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Jul 2008
US 2010/0183403 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Jul 2010
US 8,100,618 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2010/0014941 A1Published application
US 8,920,094 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.