NAILER WITH A SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nailer having an improved safety device. With the improved safety device, a movable plate, which is adapted to slidably move along a lower surface of a guiding unit, is formed, at a certain location thereof, with an insertion hole for the insertion of a protrusion formed at a trigger. Thereby, if the trigger is pulled in a pressed state of the movable plate, a nailing operation is accomplished. Also, in the course of pulling the trigger, the movable plate can be further inserted rearward by a predetermined distance under interaction of the insertion hole and protrusion. This has the effect of eliminating the risk of causing scratches on a nailing surface of a target structure even if the movable plate is moved while coming into close contact, at a front end thereof, with the nailing surface, resulting in several advantages, such as for example, easy nailing operation, operator's convenient working posture, and rapid and safe nailing operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a nailing machine having a safety device according to an embodiment of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view illustrating a nailing machine having a safety device according to another embodiment of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a nailing machine having a safety device according to yet another embodiment of the prior art;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views illustrating a nailer having an improved safety device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the coupling relationship of important parts provided in the nailer having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of the important parts of the nailer having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a trigger of the nailer having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of important parts provided in a nailer having an improved safety device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of important parts provided in a nailer having an improved safety device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views illustrating a nailer having an improved safety device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the coupling relationship of important parts provided in the nailer having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the nailer 40 having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a feature in that a movable plate, which is adapted to slidably move along a lower surface of a guiding unit, is perforated, at a predetermined portion thereof, with an insertion hole for the insertion of a protrusion formed at a trigger, so as to be moved rearward by a predetermined distance under interaction of the insertion hole and protrusion while allowing implementation of a nailing operation when the trigger is pulled in a pressed state of the movable plate, thereby eliminating the risk of causing scratches on a nailing surface of a target structure even if the movable plate is moved while coming into close contact, at a front end thereof, with the nailing surface, resulting in several advantages, such as for example, easy nailing operation, operator's convenient working posture, and rapid and safe nailing operation.

For this, the nailer 40 having an improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises the body 4, magazine 8, guiding unit 16, latch 10, handle 12, plunger 29, and body cover 6 in the same manner as the above described conventional nailer. Also, as an outstanding feature of the present invention, the nailer 40 further comprises a safety device 50, which is coupled to slidably move along a lower surface of the guiding unit 16 forward and rearward, and has a rear end inserted into a trigger 60 so as to control operation of the trigger 60.

The safety device 50, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a multiply-bent movable plate 52 coupled to the nailer 40 to slidably move along the lower surface of the guiding unit 16. The movable plate 52 is provided, at a front end thereof, with a contact portion 54 adapted to come into contact with a target structure and at a rear end thereof, with a retardant portion 57 that extends parallel to the ground. The retardant portion 57 is centrally perforated, at a predetermined position thereof, with an insertion hole 58. The movable plate 52 is also formed, at a predetermined central portion thereof, with an elongated hole 56, such that a screw is fastened through the elongated slot 56 for the purpose of limiting a movement distance of the movable plate 52.

Meanwhile, the trigger 60, which is controlled in rotation by the safety device 50, includes a trigger body 62 having a configuration suitable to be caught by the operator's finger. The trigger body 62 is perforated through a front portion thereof, at a position close to an upper end of the front portion, with an insertion hole 66, to allow the retardant portion 57 formed at the movable plate 52 to be inserted therethrough. A control protrusion 68 is formed at an inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 at an upper end of the inner periphery so that it is inserted into the insertion hole 58 perforated in the movable plate 52. The trigger body 62 is also perforated through opposite side portions thereof, at upper end positions of the side portions, with shaft holes 64. An inner trigger piece 70 is coupled in the trigger 60 and adapted to press the plunger 29 if it is pressed by the trigger 60.

In the above described configuration, the control protrusion 68 protrudes forward from the trigger body 62 by a predetermined angle to be inserted into the insertion hole 58 perforated in the movable plate 52. Accordingly, if the trigger 60 is fully pulled after the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 58 of the movable plate 52, the control protrusion 68 acts to further pull the movable plate 52 toward the handle 12.

With the movement of the movable plate 52, even if the nailer 40 is moved in a state wherein a front end of the guiding unit 16 provided at the nailer 40 comes into close contact with the nailing surface of the target structure, there is no risk of causing scratches on the nailing surface by the contact portion 54 of the safety device 50.

The movable plate 52 of the safety device 50 is coupled to the nailer 40 below the lower surface of the guiding unit 16 as shown in FIG. 4B, such that it is slidable forward and rearward as the contact portion 54 thereof is pressed by or released from the target structure. The guiding unit 16 consists of an upper guide 16a and a lower guide 16b, and each of the upper and lower guides 16a and 16b is longitudinally formed, along a central axis thereof, with a slide groove 17b for the movement of a hitting rod (not shown). The movable plate 52 is coupled to an upper end of the magazine 8 below the lower surface of the guiding unit 16 as a screw is fastened through the elongated hole 56 thereof.

Hereinafter, the function and operation of the nailer having the improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of important parts provided in the nailer having the improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the trigger of the nailer having the improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the nailer 40 having the improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, is designed in such a manner that the movable plate 52, which is coupled to slide along the lower surface of the guiding unit 16, is not moved toward the handle 12 so long as the contact portion 54 of the safety device, which protrudes forward from a front end of the nailer 40, is not pressed by the specific nailing surface of the target structure.

Thereby, even if the operator pulls the trigger 60, the control protrusion 68, which is formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 formed in the trigger 60, is caught by the retardant portion 57 formed at the rear end of the movable plate 52, thus acting to prevent downward movement of the trigger 60. As a result, the trigger 60 cannot be rotated about a hinge shaft penetrated through the shaft holes 64 to apply a pressure force to the plunger 29, and no projectile objects can be launched from the nailer 40.

On the other hand, in the nailer 40 having the improved safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6B, if the contact portion 54 of the safety device, which protrudes forward from the front end of the nailer 40, is pressed by the specific nailing surface of the target structure, the movable plate 52, which is coupled to the nailer 40 to slidably move along the rear surface of the guiding unit 16, is moved toward the handle 12.

Then, if the trigger 60 is pulled toward the handle 12, the control protrusion 68, which is formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion recess 66 formed in the trigger 60, is inserted into the insertion hole 53 perforated in the retardant portion 57 of the movable plate 52, thus allowing the trigger 60 to be rotated about the hinge shaft penetrated through the shaft holes 64. As a result, the trigger 60 acts to press the plunger 29, causing the launch of projectile objects, such as nails.

In this case, since the control protrusion 68, which is formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 of the trigger 60, is configured to protrude forward by a predetermined angle, if the trigger 60 is fully pulled after the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 58 formed in the movable plate 52, the movable plate 52 is further pulled toward the handle 12 by a predetermined distance H.

As a result, even if the nailer 40 is moved in a state wherein the front end of the guiding unit 16 comes into close contact with the nailing surface of the target structure, there is no risk of causing scratches on the nailing surface by the contact portion 54 of the safety device 50.

Now, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of important parts of a nailer having an improved safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the nailer having the improved safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has approximately the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and repeated description related to the same reference numerals will be omitted.

The nailer having the improved safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a feature in that an insertion hole 58′ of the movable plate 52, into which the control protrusion 68 formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 formed in the trigger 60 is inserted, has a rounded inner periphery 58′.

If the trigger 60 is pulled toward the handle 12 in a state wherein the movable plate 52 of a safety device 50′ is moved toward the handle 12 as shown in FIG. 8A, the control protrusion 68 formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 of the trigger 60 is adapted to be inserted into the insertion hole 58′ perforated in the retardant portion 57 of the movable plate 52 as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C. In the present embodiment, since the insertion hole 58′ has the rounded inner periphery 58a′, the control protrusion 68 is able to be more easily inserted along the rounded inner periphery 58a′ of the insertion hole 58′. Thereby, the trigger 60 is rotated on the basis of the hinge shaft penetrated through the shaft holes 64 of the trigger 60 to thereby press the plunger 29, causing the launch of nails.

Now, a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are partial side sectional views illustrating the operation of important parts provided in a nailer having an improved safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the case of the previously described nailers having the improved safety devices according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, they perform no nailing operation in a state wherein the movable plate 52 is not moved toward the handle 12 because the movable plate 52 acts to prevent the trigger 60 from being pulled. Also, even when the movable plate 52 of the safety device is pressed toward the handle 12 in the course of pulling the trigger 60, the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 comes into contact with the retardant portion 57 formed at the rear end of the movable plate 52, thereby acting to prevent the trigger 60 from being rotated.

However, if the movable plate 52 of the safety device is pressed toward the handle 12 upon receiving an excessively large force applied by the operator in the course of pulling the trigger 60, there is the risk in that the movable plate 52 may be forcibly moved toward the handle 12 by overcoming a frictional force generated when the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 comes into contact with the retardant portion 57 formed at the rear end of the movable plate 52. As a result, the protrusion 68 is inserted into the insertion hole 58, thus causing unintentional launch of nails.

To solve the above described problem, the nailer having improved safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a feature in that a retardant portion 57′, which is formed at the rear end of the movable plate 52 of a safety device 50, is formed with an insertion recess 59 at a rear side of the insertion hole 58, such that the control protrusion 68 is fitted into the insertion recess 59. Thereby, the insertion recess 59 is able to prevent unintentional movement of the movable plate 52 by the excessive force applied by the operator.

With the above described configuration, if the trigger 60 is pulled in a state wherein the contact portion 54 of the safety device, which protrudes forward from the front end of the nailer 40, is not pressed by the specific nailing surface of the target structure as shown in FIG. 9A, the control protrusion 68 formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion hole 66 of the trigger 60 is fitted into the insertion groove 59 formed in the retardant portion 57′.

Once the coupling protrusion 68 is fitted in the insertion groove 59, even if the movable plate 52 of the safety device is forcibly pressed toward the handle 12 upon receiving the excessively large force applied by the operator in the course of pulling the trigger 60, the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 is not able to be separated from the insertion groove 59. Accordingly, there is no risk of unintentional launch of nails.

On the other hand, in the nailer having the improved safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, if the contact portion 54 of the safety device, which protrudes forward from the front end of the nailer 40, is pressed by the specific nailing surface of the target structure, as shown in FIG. 9B, the movable plate 52, which is coupled to the nailer 40 to slidably move along the lower surface of the guiding unit 16, is moved toward the handle 12.

Then, if the trigger 60 is pulled toward the handle 12, the control protrusion 68, which is formed at the upper end of the inner periphery of the insertion recess 66 of the trigger 60, is inserted into the insertion hole 58 perforated in the retardant portion 57 of the movable plate 52. Thereby, the trigger 60 is rotated about the hinge shaft penetrated through the shaft holes 64 to thereby press the plunger 29, causing the launch of nails.

Similarly, since the control protrusion 68, which is adapted to be inserted into the insertion hole 58, is configured to protrude forward by a predetermined angle, if the trigger 60 is fully pulled after the control protrusion 68 of the trigger 60 is inserted in the insertion hole 58 formed in the movable plate 52, the movable plate 52 is further pulled toward the handle 12.

As a result, even if the nailer 40 is moved in a state wherein the front end of the guiding unit 16 comes into close contact with the nailing surface of the target structure, there is no risk of causing scratches on the nailing surface by the contact portion 54 of the safety device 50″.

As apparent from the above description, in the nailer having the improved safety device according to the present invention, the movable plate, which is adapted to slidably move along the lower surface of the guiding unit, is formed, at a certain location thereof, with the insertion hole for the insertion of the protrusion formed at the trigger. With this configuration, if the trigger is pulled in a pressed state of the movable plate, a nailing operation can be accomplished. Also, in the course of pulling the trigger, the movable plate can be further moved rearward by a predetermined distance under interaction of the insertion hole and protrusion. This has the effect of eliminating the risk of causing scratches on the nailing surface of the target structure even if the movable plate is moved while coming into close contact, at the front end thereof, with the nailing surface. As a result, the nailer having the improved safety device according to the present invention can achieve several advantages, such as for example, easy nailing operation, operator's convenient working posture, and rapid and safe nailing operation.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A nailer including a body, a magazine, a guiding unit, a latch, a handle, a plunger, a body cover, and a trigger, the nailer comprising: a safety device being inserted through the trigger for sliding along a lower surface of the guiding unit, a rear end of said safety device attached perpendicular to the trigger for controlling operation of the trigger, said trigger having a trigger body configured to be caught by the operator's finger,an insertion hole perforated in a front portion of said trigger at a position close to upper end of the front portion to allow a retardant portion of movable plate to be inserted therethrough,a control protrusion formed at an inner periphery of said insertion hole at upper end position of inner periphery, said control protrusion being inserted to the insertion hole perforated in the movable plateshaft holes perforated through opposite side portions of the trigger body at upper end positions of side portions, andan inner trigger member attached to a rear end portion of the trigger for pressing the plunger when the trigger is pressed.

2. The nailer according to claim 1, wherein the safety device further comprises a multiply-bent movable plate for sliding along the lower surface of the guiding unit,a contact portion formed at a front end of the movable plate for contacting with a target structure,an elongated hole perforated in a central location of the movable plate so that a screw is fastened therethrough to limit a moving distance of the movable plate,said retardant portion formed at a rear end of the movable plate to extend perpendicular to the ground, andsaid insertion hole perforated in a central location of the retardant portion.

3. (canceled)

4. The nailer according to claim 1, wherein the control protrusion is configured to protrude forward from the trigger body by a predetermined angle,when the trigger is fully pulled after the control protrusion of the trigger is inserted into the insertion hole perforated in the movable plate,the control protrusion causes the movable plate to be further pulled toward the handle by a predetermined distance,thereby preventing the contact portion of the safety device from causing scratches on a nailing surface even if the nailer is moved in a state wherein a front end of the guiding unit included in the nailer comes into close contact with the nailing surface.

5. The nailer according to claim 4, wherein the insertion hole has formed a rounded inner surface to allow the control protrusion to be inserted along the rounded surface.

6. The nailer according to claim 4, wherein an insertion recess is formed in the retardant portion of the movable plate, to allow the control protrusion to be inserted thereinto.