Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6481613
-
Patent Number
6,481,613
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, February 16, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 19, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 227 147
- 227 148
- 227 150
- 227 139
- 227 110
- 227 156
- 227 119
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A device and method for driving a first prong of a multi-pronged fastener into a first board and bending a second prong angularly to give it a desired orientation with respect to the first prong. The invention involves an alignment structure, a first driver for driving the fastener into the first board, and a second driver for impacting and bending the second prong angularly with respect to the first prong.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to carpentry, building, and construction, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for driving multi-pronged fasteners into two or more boards.
BACKGROUND
My U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,684,324 and 5,927,923 describe two-and three-pronged fasteners that can be used to join adjacent deck boards to each other and/or to a joist below them while not being visible from the surface. My U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/271,962, filed Mar. 18, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,054 describes a three-prong fastener that is particularly useful in securing two deck boards to each other and to an underlying joist when the deck boards are oriented diagonally relative to the joists. This fastener is shown in
FIG. 1
hereto, and is shown securing adjacent deck boards to each other in
FIGS. 2 and 3
.
FIG. 1
shows three-pronged fastener
500
with forward-facing prongs
514
and
516
and rearward-facing prong
515
.
FIG. 2
shows several such fasteners joining deck boards
508
,
510
to each other and to joists
509
,
511
,
513
, where deck boards
510
are oriented diagonally to joists
509
,
511
,
513
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, forward facing prongs
514
,
516
are first driven into deck board
508
and joist
513
, respectively, and deck board
510
is then hammered against rearward-facing prong
515
to drive the latter into deck board
510
.
Staple driving devices are used in carpentry, as well as building and construction work. In such uses, both points of a staple are typically driven into the same board or boards. My U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/137,012, filed Aug. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,865 describes a staple driving device that can be used to quickly, easily, and securely drive a two-pointed staple fastener into a deck board and a joist below it, such that the staple is not visible from above the deck. This device is shown in
FIGS. 4-6
hereto. The staple driving device has alignment structure
10
, driver
12
, staples
14
, magazine
16
, alignment plate
18
, handle
20
, and hammer
22
.
Alignment structure
10
has first board abutment surface
24
and second board abutment surface
26
which abut respectively first board surface
28
of first board
30
and second board surface
32
of second board
34
. First board
30
is above second board
34
. First board
30
and second board
34
are oriented to each other so as to form included angle
36
, at junction
38
(indicated in
FIG. 4
) of less than 180°, e.g., approximately 90°, in
FIGS. 4-6
. Alignment structure
10
defines staple delivery channel
44
. When abutment surfaces
24
,
26
abut board surfaces
28
,
32
, staple delivery channel
44
is near junction
38
. As seen in
FIG. 5
, the device is positioned to drive first point
40
of staple
14
into first board surface
28
and second point
42
of staple
14
into second board surface
32
. Magazine
16
is fitted partially within alignment structure
10
. Magazine
16
defines staple supply channel
48
which joins staple delivery channel
44
, so that staples
14
which are retained within staple supply channel
48
may pass into staple delivery channel
44
. Driver
12
has striking portion
50
with broadened striking head
52
, stock
54
, and driving portion
56
. Driver
12
is slidably fitted within alignment structure
10
. Driving portion
56
is sized to be capable of sliding within staple delivery channel
44
. Alignment plate
18
is fastened to alignment structure
10
so that it can abut third board surface
64
of first board
30
. The device has handle
20
, having grips
66
fastened to alignment structure
10
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the device has two internal springs
68
disposed within driving channel
62
so that, when driver
12
is driven forward, by a hammer blow delivered to striking head
52
, for example, internal springs
68
are compressed between stock
54
of driver
12
and compression surface
70
that bounds driving channel
62
within alignment structure
10
.
SUMMARY
The invention, in general, features a device for driving a first prong of a multi-pronged fastener into an adjacent board and bending a second fastener prong, so that it has a desired orientation with respect to the board. The device includes an alignment structure, a first driver, and a second driver. The alignment structure has a first abutment surface for abutting one of the boards. The alignment structure defines a fastener delivery channel that ends near the junction of the boards. The first and second drivers are movably connected to the alignment structure. The first driver is positioned so as to be able to contact the fastener and to drive the first prong into one of the boards. The second driver is positioned so as to be able to contact the second prong and bend it angularly with respect to the first prong.
In operation, the abutment surface of the alignment structure is brought into contact with one of the boards. The first driver is activated, so that it impacts a fastener situated in the fastener delivery channel and drives the first prong into one of the boards. The second driver is also activated so that it impacts the second prong and bends it angularly with respect to the first prong.
Preferred embodiments are adapted to drive a three-pronged fastener, so as to join a first deck board to a joist beneath it, where the first deck board and joist are oriented at right angles to each other, and to bend a rearward-facing prong, so that it projects from the first deck board at approximately a 90° angle, so that the rearward-facing prong is positioned to be driven into a second deck board. Alternately, the device may be adapted to drive fasteners and bend prongs at any desired angle.
Preferred embodiments include a third driver for bending the third prong, which extends from the board, in an alternate direction. Embodiments with a third driver may include a mechanism for detecting the orientation of the upper board and selectively engaging either the second or third driver for bending the third prong in either of two directions. Mechanical catches, levers, linkages, wedges, rollers, springs, pivots, as well as electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, hydraulic, or pneumatic devices may be used to selectively engage either the second or third driver. The second and third drivers may be activated, so as to impact and bend the third prong, by the motion of elements connected to the first driver. In other embodiments, the second or third driver may be connected to the first driver, so that all drivers are activated simultaneously.
Preferred embodiments further include an alignment plate, attached to the alignment structure. The alignment plate may be spaced relative to the fasteners to align the prongs for driving them into boards, when the alignment plate abuts one of the boards. Preferred embodiments further also include a magazine containing a plurality of multi-pronged fasteners to be driven successively into boards, a handle for grasping the device, or springs to return the drivers and other components to their initial positions after the fasteners are driven and/or bent.
The force required to activate the drivers may be supplied manually, or by a pneumatic, hydraulic, elastic, electrical, electromagnetic, electrostatic, magnetic, combustion, or explosive device. For example, the force may be provided by a hammer blow, gunpowder, a spring, an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, or a compressed air device. The force required to activate the drivers may be supplied from an offset orientation, for example, with cams, rollers, or linkages.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following advantages. The device may be used to drive different points of a multi-pronged fastener into one or more boards and to bend another prong in a desired direction. The device may facilitate connecting boards in a way that conceals the fasteners. The device may reduce workers' time in building, construction, or carpentry work. The device may be adapted to hold a plurality of fasteners. Fasteners may be driven and bent in one continuous operation. One source may provide the energy required to drive and bend respective prongs of the fasteners. The device may be used with fasteners that have any cross-sectional profile, for example, round, circular, square, or rectangular. The fasteners may be made of a metal, such as steel, copper, aluminum, a metal alloy, or any suitable material. The device can be used with boards of wood, foam, plastic, fiberglass, or any suitable material.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a three-pointed fastener for securing boards to each other.
FIG. 2
shows a top view of
FIG. 1
fasteners securing adjacent floorboards to ajoist.
FIG. 3
is a partial sectional view, taken at III—III of
FIG. 2
, showing a fastener of
FIG. 1
securing adjacent floorboards to ajoist.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a two-pointed staple driving device.
FIG. 5
is a side vertical sectional view of the staple driving device of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a top horizontal sectional view of the staple driving device of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 7
is a top horizontal sectional view of a fastener driving device.
FIG. 8
is a top horizontal sectional view of the fastener driving device of
FIG. 7
with a bent prong.
FIG. 9
is a front view of the fastener driving device of FIG.
7
.
FIG. 10
is a side vertical sectional view of an alternate fastener driving device.
FIG. 11
is a side vertical sectional view of another alternate fastener driving device.
FIG. 12
is a top horizontal sectional view of the fastener driving device of FIG.
11
.
FIG. 13
is a front vertical sectional view of the fastener driving device of FIG.
11
.
FIG. 14
is a top horizontal sectional view of a fastener driving device.
FIG. 15
is a top horizontal sectional view of a fastener driving device.
FIG. 16
is a perspective view of an alternate configuration for first and second drivers for a fastener driving device.
FIG. 17
is a perspective view of an alternate configuration for first, second, and third drivers for a fastener driving device.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to
FIGS. 7-9
, there is shown a fastener driving device employing alignment structure
710
, first driver
712
, fasteners
714
, magazine
716
, second driver
720
, and third driver
721
.
Alignment structure
710
has first abutment surface
716
and second abutment surface
717
. Abutment surfaces
716
,
717
are flat surfaces oriented at an angle to each other that give alignment structure
710
a wedge shape. As seen in
FIGS. 7-9
, alignment structure
710
is positioned at junction
738
of first board
730
and second board
734
, so that first abutment surface
716
rests against first board
730
and second abutment surface
717
rests against second board
734
. Board
730
is a deck board, and board
734
is a supporting joist thereunder.
The structure and operation of alignment structure
710
, first driver
712
, and alignment plate
718
are similar to the corresponding elements of the staple driving device described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/137,012, filed Aug. 20, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Driver
712
is slidably connected to alignment structure
710
and is capable of moving in fastener delivery channel
756
toward junction
738
so as to contact fastener
714
and drive its two parallel, forward-facing prongs into boards
730
,
734
. Second and third drivers
720
,
721
(shown diagrammatically in
FIG. 7
) are also slidably connected to alignment structure
10
. Second and third drivers
720
,
721
are capable of moving toward junction
738
. Second driver
720
moves substantially parallel to second abutment surface
717
and third driver
721
moves substantially parallel to first abutment surface
716
.
Each of fasteners
714
has rear prong
715
, which is not driven into either of boards
730
,
734
by first driver
12
. (Fasteners
714
are similar in design to fastener
500
of
FIG. 1.
) Thus, when fastener
714
has been driven into boards
730
,
734
, rear prong
715
is in position to be contacted by second or third drivers
720
,
721
and bent.
FIG. 8
shows rear prong
715
bent by third driver
721
, so that it is perpendicular to deck board
730
in position to be driven into the next deck board to be added. If the device were placed on the other side of joist
734
, second driver
720
would be used instead.
FIG. 9
is a front view of a fastener driving device showing alignment structure
710
, alignment plate
718
, fastener
714
, and relative positions of second and third drivers
720
,
721
(in phantom).
First driver
712
may be activated, so as to drive fastener
714
into boards
730
or
734
, and second or third drivers
720
,
721
may be activated, so as to move toward and bend rear prong
715
, by any appropriate mechanism or technique. For example, drivers
712
,
720
,
721
may be activated manually, such as with a hammer strike, as well as by pneumatic, electromagnetic, magnetic, electrostatic, or explosive devices. The force required to activate drivers may be delivered directly to drivers or through any appropriate mechanism or technique, for example linkages, cams, cables, springs, pivots, or rollers. The forces required to activate either of second or third drivers
720
,
721
may be provided by the motion of first driver
712
through an appropriate linkage.
First, second, and third drivers
712
,
720
,
721
are preferably slidingly connected to alignment structure
710
. Each driver may reside in a channel, for example fastener delivery channel
756
(FIGS.
7
and
8
), defined by alignment structure
710
. Alternately, drivers may be connected to alignment structure
710
by grooves, levers, linkages, rollers, gears, or any other suitable connection.
Fastener driving devices according to the invention may be configured so that only one of the second and third drivers
720
,
721
is engaged so as to move toward and bend rear prong
715
, or so that neither of second and third drivers
720
,
721
are so engaged. There are many mechanisms or techniques that may be employed for engaging or disengaging second and third drivers. For example, second and third drivers
720
,
721
may be automatically engaged or disengaged by a trigger or button projecting from abutment surfaces
716
,
717
that contacts one of boards
730
or
734
, or by an external linkage or button.
FIG. 10
shows one approach for selectively engaging only one of second and third drivers
720
,
721
. The alternate fastener driving device of
FIG. 10
has button
885
, which passes through alignment plate
818
, which rests on top of deck board
730
. Button
885
is pivotally connected to lever
886
, post
887
, and engagement rod
889
. Engagement rod
889
passes through alignment plate
818
and alignment structure
810
, and contacts third driver
821
. Bias spring
890
is between lever
886
and alignment plate
818
. Placing alignment plate against first board
830
raises button
885
and causes lever
886
to compress bias spring
890
. The movement of lever
886
also presses engagement rod
889
downward, so that engagement rod
889
pushes third driver
821
into position for engagement. A similar arrangement of a button, lever, and rod is also used to engage driver
820
.
FIGS. 11-13
show another alternate fastener driving device in which force delivered to alternate first driver
912
compresses first or second drive springs
932
,
933
. Energy stored in compressed first or second drive springs
932
,
933
is used to activate respective second or third drivers
920
,
921
in order to contact and bend rear prong
715
of fastener
714
.
The embodiment of
FIGS. 11-13
employs alignment structure
910
that defines first and second abutment surfaces
916
,
917
, alignment plate
918
, fastener
714
with rear prong
715
, alternate first driver
912
, compression springs
968
, second driver
920
, third driver
921
, first slide member
930
, second slide member
931
, first drive spring
932
, second drive spring
933
, first guide plate
934
, second guide plate
935
, first drive catch
936
, second drive catch
937
, first catch bias spring
938
, second catch bias spring
939
, first engagement button
940
, second engagement button
941
, first lever
942
, second lever
943
, first post
944
, second post
945
, first engagement bias spring
946
, second engagement bias spring
947
, first engagement rod (not shown, as it is obscured by other elements) and second engagement rod
949
.
Alternate first driver
912
has spring compression member
951
, which projects upwardly and first and second spring release wedges
952
,
953
, which project laterally.
In the use of the embodiment of
FIGS. 11-13
shown, alignment structure
910
is situated at the junction of boards
730
,
734
, so that alignment plate
918
rests against first board
730
. As shown in
FIG. 11
, the presence of first board
730
elevates second engagement button
941
so that it slides upward relative to alignment plate
918
. The motion of second engagement button
941
is translated through the pivotal movements of second lever
943
about second post
945
to compress second engagement bias spring
947
and to lower second engagement rod
949
, which is slidably connected to alignment plate
918
and alignment structure
910
. The lowering of second engagement rod
949
causes it to press against second guide plate
935
, which, in turn, lowers second slide member
931
. Second drive spring
933
is disposed between second slide member
931
and third driver
921
. Thus, the elements connected to second engagement button
941
engage third driver
921
for contacting and bending rear prong
715
of fastener
714
. Similar elements, which connect first engagement button
940
to second driver
920
, engage second driver
920
for contacting and bending rear prong
715
when first engagement button
940
, rather than second engagement button
941
, is elevated.
With the alignment structure
910
situated at junction
738
between boards
730
,
734
, the embodiment of
FIGS. 11-13
is positioned to drive fastener
714
into boards
730
,
734
and bend rear prong
715
. Alternate first driver
912
is activated—by a hammer blow, for example, or by any other suitable technique—so that alternate first driver
912
is propelled toward junction
738
, and compression springs
968
are compressed. During its motion toward junction
738
, alternate first driver
912
contacts fastener
714
—thereby driving fastener
714
into boards
730
,
734
—and spring compression member
951
contacts second slide member
931
—thereby pushing second slide member
931
in the direction of junction
738
and compressing second drive spring
933
between second slide member
931
and third driver
921
. Third driver
921
is slidably connected to alignment structure
910
; however, third driver
921
is held in place, relative to alignment structure
910
, by second drive catch
937
. Second drive catch
937
is slidably connected to alignment structure
910
. Second catch bias spring
939
, which is compressed between alignment structure
910
and second drive catch
937
, detains second drive catch
937
in an upward position where it blocks the motion of third driver
921
. As alternate first driver
912
approaches junction
738
, however, second spring release wedge
953
comes in camming contact with second drive catch
937
, thus pushing second drive catch
937
downward and further compressing second catch bias spring
939
. At approximately this point, alternate first driver
912
has driven fastener
714
into boards
730
,
734
but rear prong
715
protrudes at a 40° angle to the vertical board surface. When second spring release wedge
953
has lowered second drive catch
937
sufficiently, so that it no longer impedes the movement of third driver
921
, the energy stored in compressed second drive spring
933
is released, forcing second driver
921
toward the opposing second abutment surface
917
, so that second driver
921
contacts and bends rear prong
715
to form approximately a 90° angle with respect to first board
734
.
Similar elements, which connect first slide member
930
to second driver
930
and which lower first drive catch
936
, are involved in a similar process for bending rear prong
715
in the opposite angular direction, when activated by a respective button (not shown).
After fastener
714
has been driven into boards
730
,
734
and rear prong
715
has been bent, compressions springs
968
expand, thus propelling alternate first driver
912
away from junction
738
. Likewise, second drive spring
933
expands, so that third driver
921
moves away from junction
738
and second slide member
931
moves away from third driver
921
.
FIG. 14
shows a fastener driving device in which second driver
1120
and third driver
1121
project through respective first and second apertures
1174
,
1175
in alignment structure
1110
. In this embodiment, second and third drivers
1120
,
1121
are activated by imparting force to second striking head
1170
or third striking head
1171
, so that either second or third driver
1120
,
1121
will impact and bend rear prong
715
. After rear prong
715
has been bent, return spring
1172
pushes either second or third driver
1120
,
1121
back to its respective initial position.
FIGS. 15-17
relate to fastener driving devices in which the second or third drivers, which impact and bend rearward-facing prongs, are connected to the first driver. Referring to
FIG. 15
, there is shown a fastener driving device having triangular driving element
1276
connected on top of first driver
1212
by connection post
1278
. In the position shown in
FIG. 15
, triangular driving element
1276
is positioned to impact and bend rear prong
715
away from first board
730
, so that rear prong
715
will be oriented at approximately a 90° angle to first board
730
. In this embodiment, triangular driving element
1276
, rather than the alternate forms of second and third drivers described above, is used to bend rear prong
715
. When driver
1212
is activated and advances toward junction
738
, second camming surface
1281
comes in camming contact with and bends rear prong
715
. While second driving surface is bending rearward facing prong
715
, first driver
1212
contacts fastener
714
and drives its forward-facing prongs into boards
730
,
734
. Triangular driving element
1276
may be fixed, relative to first driver
1212
. Alternately, triangular driving element may be pivotable about post
1278
, so that first camming surface
1280
can be oriented so that it comes in camming contact with and bends rear prong
715
, as first driver
1212
advances toward junction
738
. Like the second and third drivers in the embodiments described above, first camming surface
1280
and second camming surface
1281
are used to bend rear prong
715
in opposing directions.
Referring to
FIG. 16
, there is shown an alternative driver assembly, in which second driver
1220
′ is integrally connected on top of first driver
1212
′. In this configuration, driving surface
1282
′ of first driver
1212
′ drives forward-facing prongs of a fastener into boards. In the same movement of first driver
1212
′, first camming surface
1280
′ of second driver
1220
′ impacts and, through camming contact with a rear prong, bends the rear prong. Alternately, as seen in
FIG. 17
, third driver
1221
″ may be connected below first driver
1212
″. In this embodiment, third driver
1221
″, having second camming surface
1281
″, is engaged by rotating the driver assembly about axis
1284
″, so that third driver
1221
″ is above first driver
1212
″. It will be understood that fastener driving devices that employ driver assemblies like the ones in
FIGS. 16-17
may be designed to have the engaged second or third driver below, instead of above, the first driver.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the device may be constructed so as to bend rear prong
715
to any desired angle. Further, in addition to the foregoing description, there are other techniques for activating second and third drivers
920
,
921
by the movement of alternate first driver
912
. For example, the movement of alternate first driver
912
may trigger a pneumatic device that activates second and third drivers
920
,
921
. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. Driving system for driving a multi-pronged fastener into a board having a first board surface comprising:alignment structure having a first abutment surface for aligning with the first board surface, a fastener delivery channel, a multi-pronged fastener in said delivery channel, said fastener having a first prong, an impact surface that is transverse to said first prong, and a second prong that makes an angle of greater than 90° with said first prong, said delivery channel being positioned with respect to said first abutment surface so that said fastener in said delivery channel has its first prong directed to be driven into the first board surface when said first abutment surface abuts said first board surface, a first driver for impacting said impact surface of said fastener and driving said first prong of said fastener into said first board surface, said first driver being slidably connected with respect to said alignment structure, and a second driver slidably connected with respect to said alignment structure, said second driver being positioned so as to travel toward and impact said second prong and to bend said second prong to change its orientation with respect to said first prong.
- 2. The driving system of claim 1 wherein said second driver is positioned within a second channel so as to travel generally parallel to said first abutment surface in order to bend said second prong to change its orientation with respect to said first prong.
- 3. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of multi-pronged fasteners, each of said plurality of fasteners capable of being positioned sequentially in said fastener delivery channel.
- 4. The driving device system of claim 1, wherein said fastener further comprises a third prong, said third prong directed to be driven into a second board surface when said first abutment surface abuts said first board surface.
- 5. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising a third driver, said third driver being slidably connected with respect to said alignment structure and said third driver being positioned so as to travel toward and impact said second prong and to bend said second prong to change its orientation with respect to said first prong.
- 6. The driving system of claim 5 wherein said third driver is positioned at an angle with respect to each of said first driver and said second driver.
- 7. The driving system of claim 5 wherein said first and second drivers are connected to and moveable with said first driver and said first driver defines a longitudinal axis.
- 8. The driving system of claim 7 wherein said second and third drivers are integral with said first driver.
- 9. The driving system of claim 7 wherein said second and third drivers are engaged or disengaged by rotating said first driver about said longitudinal axis.
- 10. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising a spring for delivering force to said second driver.
- 11. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising a compressed fluid device for delivering force to said second driver.
- 12. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising an explosive device for delivering force to said second driver.
- 13. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising an activation button for activating said second driver.
- 14. The driving system of claim 13, further comprising an activation element connected to said first driver, said first driver being moveable from a first position where said activation element is not in contact with said activation button to a second position where said activation element is in contact with said activation button, so that the movement of said first driver from said first position to said second position and said contact between said activation element and said activation button activates said second driver.
- 15. The driving system of claim 13 wherein said activation button is located remotely from said alignment structure.
- 16. The driving system of claim 15, further comprising a handle.
- 17. The driving system of claim 16 wherein said activation button is located on said handle.
- 18. The driving system of claim 1 wherein said driver is positioned at an angle with respect to said first driver.
- 19. The driving system of claim 1 wherein said second driver is connected to and is moveable with said first driver.
- 20. The driving system of claim 19 wherein said second driver is integral with said first driver.
- 21. Driving system for driving a triple-pronged fastener having first and second parallel sharp, pointed prongs joined together by a connecting portion into a first board surface of a first board and a second board surface of a second board, respectively, at a junction of said first and second boards, one said board overlying the other said board, the first and second surfaces making a first included angle of less than 180° between them, said fastener having a third sharp, pointed prong extending from said connecting portion in a different direction, said device comprising:alignment structure having first and second board abutment surfaces in respective planes at said first included angle, said planes intersecting at a line to be aligned with said junction in use; a fastener delivery channel, a plurality of triple-pronged fasteners positionable within said delivery channel, each said fastener having a first prong, a second prong parallel to the first prong, and a connecting portion that is perpendicular to said first and second prongs, said first and second prongs being generally aligned with said line, and said connecting portion being parallel to said line, said delivery channel ending at or near said line aligned with the junction of said first and second abutment surfaces so as to direct a first point of said first staple into said first board and a second point of said first staple into said second board, said delivery channel being fixed in position with respect to said alignment structure; a first driver for driving said first and second prongs from said channel through said line into said boards, said driver being slidably connected to said alignment structure; and a second driver positioned at a first angle with respect to said first driver so as to travel generally parallel to said first abutment surface and to bend said third prong to change its orientation with respect to said first prong.
- 22. The driving system of claim 21, further comprising a third driver positioned at a second angle with respect to said first driver so as to travel generally parallel to said second abutment surface and to bend said third prong to change its orientation with respect to said first prong.
- 23. The driving system of claim 21, further comprising a first engagement button connected to said second driver, said engagement button connected to said alignment structure and capable of moving from a first position in which said second driver is not engaged to bend said third prong to a second position in which said second driver is engaged to bend said third prong.
- 24. The driving system of claim 21, further comprising a compressed fluid device for delivering driving forces to said first driver.
- 25. The driving system of claim 21, further comprising an explosive device for delivering driving forces to said first driver.
- 26. The driving system of claim 25 wherein said explosive device employs gunpowder.
US Referenced Citations (50)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
776390 |
Jun 1957 |
GB |
443789 |
Jan 1949 |
IT |