Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~LZ~ 3
1 A MAGAZINE SYSTEM FOR A
FASTENER DRIVING TOO
Carl T. Becht
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a magazine system for fas-
tener driving tools, and more particularly to such a maga-
zine system wherein the magazines are attachable and
detachable manually with respect to the fastener driving
tool; magazines containing different types of fasteners
are interchangeable with respect to the fastener driving
tool; and the magazines may be single-use, disposable
magazines or multiple-use, refillable magazines.
BACKGROUND ART
-
Prior art workers have devised many types of fastener
driving tools. As used herein and in the claims, the
term "fastener" is to be considered in the broadest
sense, referring to substantially any fastener capable of
being driven into a workpiece. Examples of such fasten-
ers are headed nails, headless nails, staples and clamp
nails (of the general type taught, for example, in U.S.
Patent No. 4,058,047).
Perhaps the most common form of fastener driving tool
is a pneumatically actuated tool. Prior art workers have
developed a multiplicity of pneumatically actuated fas-
tener driving tools to a high degree of safety and sophis-
tication, of which the tool taught in U.S. Patent No.
3,964,659 is exemplary.
More recently, there has ~een considerable interest
in electro-mech~nlcal fastener drivin~ tools utili~ing a
solenoid mechanism or ~ Elywheel mech~nism to drive the
fasteners. Electro-mechanical astener driving tools are
of particular interest for home use and industrial use
where a source of compressed air i9 not readily avail-
able. An example of such a tool is set forth in U.S.
Patent No. 4,298,072.
6~3
2 280~-94~
The faster driving tools thus far described are of the sin-
gle-blow variety, wherein the fastener is driven home by a single
impact of the driver.
Prior art workers have also developed various types of mul-
tiple impact fastener driving tools, wherein the fastener is
driven home by a plurality of impacts applied thereto by the
driver.
The teachings of the present invention are applicable to
both basic types of fastener driving tools, and the natuxe of
1~ the fastener driving tool, itself, does not constitute a limit-
ation with respect to the present invention, except as set forth
in the claims.
Interchangeable magazines for fastener driving tools are
not, in and of themselves, new. Many prior art fastener driv-
ing tools were capable of having different magazines applied
thereto to affect a change in fastener size, or the like. How-
ever, to make such a conversion from one magazine to another,
required a number of tools and the changing of a number of parts
and assemblies. In point of fact, the magazines of current
prior art fastener driving tools are not easily interchanged.
One of the primary purposes of the present invention is to
provide a magazin~ system whereby a ~inc~:le p~wer urlit can read~
ily acc~pt man~ di~Eererlt ma~azines, conta~ni.nq cliE;eererlt types
of Easteners, which can be rnounted without the ald of too~s or
any significant mechanical skill.
The magazine systern of the present invention has a number
of advantages. As indicated above, the system can be used in
conjunction with multiple impact-type fastener driving tools and
,~
~LZ~6~ 3
3 2804-949
with single impact-type fastener driving tools. A number of
different types o~ fasteners can be driven by a single fastener
dri.ving tool, by simply manually detaching one magazine (con-
taining one type of fastener) from the tool and manually mount-
ing another magazine (containing another type of fastener) in
its place. Each magazine carries its own driver, which can be
easily interfaced with the driver operating mechanism of the
fastener driving tool and which is appropriate for the partic-
ular type of fastener contained within the magaæine. Because
of the simplicity of the magazine structure and the manner in
which it is mounted to the fastener driving tool, the system
can utilize single-use, disposable magazines or magazines desi-
gned to be reloaded and reused.
In a single-blow fastener drivi.ng too]., the magazine should
be rigidly affixable to the tool. In a mult:iple-blow tool, the
magazine must be shiftable with respect to the tool housing to
accommodate for the constant length of the driver and the dim-
inishing length of that portion of the fastener remaining to be
driven into the work-piece, during the driving operation. To
meet these requirements, the present invention contemplates an
improved magazine system.
S~MMARY O~ _~IE ~NVENTION
~ccordirl~ to one a~pect o:~ tho invention, there :i.8 prov:ided
a magazine s~stem in combination with a ~astene:r driving tool,
said tool being of the type having a housing with a ~orward end,
a rearward end, sides and a driver operatiny mechanism within
said housing, said magazine system compri.sing a plurality of
magazines each having forward and rearward ends and each con-
~24G~303
4 2804-94g
taining a plurality of fasteners, the fasteners of each indiv-
idual magazine being alike, characterized by said housing having
an open bottom, said housing having first and second pairs of
mirror image and opposed channels formed on said sides adjacent
said open bottom, said first pair of channels being located
near said forward end of said housing, said second pair of chan-
nels being located near said rearward end of said housing, first
and second pairs of oppositely directed laterally extending co-
axial lugs in association with each of said magazine of said
system, said first pair of lugs being located near the forward
end of said magazine and said second pair of lugs being located
near said rearward end of said magazine, said first pair of
lugs being engageable in said first pa.ir of channels and said
second pair of lugs being engageable in said second pair of
channels facilitating manual attachement and detachment of said
magazines to and from said tool, and a driver captively and re-
ciprocally mounted in each of said magazines.
The magazi.nes can be refillable and reusable magazines,
or they can be single-use, disposable magazines. Magazines
containing different types of fasteners are fully interchange-
able within the system.
~ F Dr~C~I~TI~ ~F Tll~ Wt~
Figure 1 :is a ~ragmentary, side ~ atiollal. view, partly
in cross-section, and illustrating an exemplary multiple-blow
tool with a magazine of the present inventlon removably attached
directly to the tool hous.ing and shiftable within the tool
housing.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the magazine of Figure 1.
~ ~`
2804~949
Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary, elevational views of the
magazine rear lugs.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary, exploded view of the spring and
spring guide which biases the magazine to its normal extended
position illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary, exploded view of the magazine
latch of Figure 1.
Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary, elevational views, partly
in cross-section, illustrating the manner in which the magazine
is mounted in the housing.
Figure 9 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partly in
cross-section and similar to Figures 7 and 8, illustrating a
second embodiment of the present invention wherein the magazine
is detachably affixed to a carrier mounted in guided, sliding
relationship within the tool housing.
Figure 10 is a bottom view of the carrier of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the carrier of Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the magazine of E`igure 9.
Figure 13 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partly in
cross-section, illustrating a magazine of the type shown in
Figure 2 fixedly mounted in the housing of a single-blow fastener
driving tool.
DF.'r~II,ED nESC~I~TTON OF q'llF INVr:N'r~ON
While not intended to be so l:imited, as will be apparent
hereinafter, the magazine system of the present invention will
Eirst be described in its application to a multiple-blow Eastener
driving tool. Briefly, a fastener drivi.ng tool of this type
drives the fasteners into a workpiece by means of multiple impact
~ `
lZ4~ 3
6 28~4-949
blows applied to each fastener successively. The tool comprises
a housing with a handle portion and a magazine. The magaæine is
shiftable in directions parallel to the long axis of the driver
between a normal extended position substantially outside the
housing of the tool and a retracted position substantially
within the tool housing. Means are provided to bias the magazine
to its normal extended position.
~L~4~
.
l A prime mover provides a rotating shaft, which is
operatively connected to a mechanism for translating
rotary motion into reciprocating motion. The translating
mechanism comprises a flywheel, an impact member, an
energy transfer member separate from but eng~geable with
the impact member, and a resilient bumper to arrest the
energy transfer member at the termination of its drive
cycle. The impact member has at least one impacting sur-
` face thereon and is attached to the flywheel, or consti-
tutes an integral one-piece part thereof. The fastener
driver is engageable by the energy transfer member.
A resilient member in the form of a rubber-like struc-
ture or a ~pring normally biases the energy transfer
member out of contact with the impact member. When the
tool is abutted against a workpiece and pressure is
applied by the operator, this resilient member is over-
come and the at least one impacting surface of the impact
member transmits blows to the energy transfer member,
causing the energy transfer member and the driver associ-
ated therewith to be forcibly accelerated away from theimpact member at a substantial velocity. This results in
the driver applying short, hi~h-velocity drive strokes in
rapid succession to the fastener being driven.
While not: so limited, a fastener driving tool of the
type just described lends itself well to the consumer
market for home use and the like. This is true because,
as compared to the usual single-blow fastener driving
tool, the multiple-blow tool can employ a lower power
prime mover, i9 incapable of inaclvertcntly firlng a fas-
tener over a conslderable dlstance with substantialforce, and is characterized by being quieter, less com-
plex, more compact and of lighter weight construction.
Such a multiple-blow tool, in conjunction with the
magazine system of the present invention, is even more
desirable as a consumer product since it is vastly more
1 versatile. The consumer, with a single fastener driving
tool, can drive a plurality of different types of fas-
teners by simply interchanging magazines which can be
refillable (and reusable) or disposable.
An exemplary multiple-blow tool is illustrated in
Figure 1. The driver operating mechanism is not shown in
Figure 1 since the nature of the driver operating mecha-
nism does not constitute a limitation on the present
invention. The tool 1 may be provided with any appropri-
ate type of prime mover (not shown), such as an electric
motor, an internal combustion motor, a hydraulic or pneu-
matic motor, or the like. For purposes o an illustra-
tion, the tool of Figure 1 may be considered to have a
prime mover in the form of an electric motor, connectable
to a source of electrical energy by means of a conven-
tional cord set 2. The tool 1 has a housing 3 made up of
two abutting halves 3a and 3b. The housing 3 has a
handle portion 4.
A magazine 5 is shiftably mounted directly to housing
3 in a manner to be described. Reference is made to
Figures 1 and 2. The magazine 5 comprises an elongated
hollow member containing a plurality of fasteners (not
shown). The magazine 5 is made up of a pair of side
walls, one of which is shown at 6, a front wall 7, and a
rear wall 8. The magazine 5 has a bottom 9 which slopes
downwardly and forwardly, together with a top 10 which is
substantially parallel to the bottom 5, ex~ept ~or a
forward portion 11 whicLl is substantially hoci~ontal when
the tool is h~ld in an upri~ht posi.tion as shown in
Figure 1. The forwardmost end of bottom 9 terminates in
a nose portion 12 which is adapted to contact and abut
the workpiece into which one or more fasteners are to be
driven. The nose portion 12 is substantially parallel to
the forwardmost top portion 11. l~e nose portion 12 will
have a perforation (not shown) therein through which the
... .
~2~6~3~3
l fasteners are driven. The forward top portion 11 has a
perforation or slot 13 therein through which a driver
extends. The driver is fragmentarily shown at 14 in
Figures l and 2. The driver constitutes a part of maga-
zine 5, is captively mounted therein by lateral legs 14aand 14b, and is capable of shifting in both directions
parallel to its long axis. The nature of driver 14 will
depend, of course, on the type of fasteners contained
within magazine 5, which it is intended to drive.
The magazine 5 will be provided with suitable means
(not shown~, as is well known in the art, to urge and
advance the supply of fasteners toward the forward end 7
of the magazine so that when driver 14 is in its
retracted position, the forwardmost fastener will be
located thereunder in position to be driven thereby. The
forw~rdmo~t portion of magazine 5, including the nose por-
tion 12 and that portion in which the driver is recipro-
cally mounted, is equivalent to and serves the same pur-
pose as the conventional guide body of a typical prior
art fastener driving tool, guiding both the fastener
being driven and the driver. It will be understood that
the type of fastener contained within magazine 5, the
nature of the means constantly urging the supply of -
fasteners forwardly within the magazine, and the configu-
ration of driver 14 do not constitute parts of the pre-
sent invention.
A pair of lugs or pins 15 and 16 extend transversely
from the sides of magazine 5 near the top portion 11.
Pins 15 and 16 are preEerably o~ circular cros9-section
and are coaxial. The purpose of pins 15 and 16 will be
described hereinafter.
At its rearward end, the magazine 5 is provided with
an upward extension 17. A pair of laterAl lug9 18 and 19
are mounted on extension 17, directly opposite each
other. The lug 18 is best shown in Figure 3 and
~2~ 303
1 comprises a flat forward face 20, which is substantially
vertical, as viewed in Figures 1-3. The lug 18 has an
arcuate rearward surface 21 terminating in an upwardly
and forwardly directed surface 22 and a downwardly and
forwardly directed surace 23. The lug 19 is identical
to lug 18 having a flat, substantially vertical forward
face 24, an arcuate rearward surface 25, an upwardly and
forwardly extending surface 26, and a downwardly and for-
wardly extending surface 27. The purpose of lugs 18 and
19 will be apparent hereina~ter.
Reference is again made to Figure 1. Near its for-
ward end, the inside surface of housing half 3a has a
flange 28 formed thereon, together with another short
flange 29. The flanges 28 and 29 define a rectilinear
guide channel 30 substantially parallel to driver 14.
The flanges 28 and 29 also define a short lateral channel
31 beginning at the bottom edge of housing half 3a and
connecting with channel 30 near its lowermost end, as
viewed in Figure 1. The guide channels 30 and 31 are
adapted to just nicely receive pin 15 of magazine 5. It
will be understood that the housing half 3b will be pro-
vided with flanges (not shown) on its interior surface
constituting a mirror image of flanges 28 and 29 and
defining guide channels equivalent to channels 30 and 31
for the receipt of pin 16 of magazine 5.
Near its rearward end, the housing half 3a is pro-
vided with another flange 32 defining a rectilinear guide
channel 33 substantially parallel to guide channel 30 and
extending from the lowermo~ t edge o~ housing half 3a.
30 The guide channel 33 is adapted to just nicely receive
the magazine lug 18. Again, housin~ half 3b will be pro-
vided with a flange constituting a mirror image of fl.qnge
32 and defining a guide channel equi.valent to guide
channel 33 for the receipt of magazine lug 19.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
12~Ç~8~3
1 when magazine pin 15 and magazine lug 18 are located in
guide channels 30 and 33, respectively, in housing half
3a, and when magazine pin 16 and maga~ine lug 19 are
mounted in guide channels equivalent to guide channels 30
and 33 in housing half 3b, the magazine 5 will ~e shift-
ably mounted on housing 3. The guide channels 30 and 33,
and their counterparts in housing half 3b, guide the move-
ment of magazine 5. Maga~ine 5 is shiftable between a
normal extended position illustrated in Figure 1 and a
fully retracted position within housing 3, determined by
the abutment of pins 15 and 16 and lugs 18 and 19 with
the upper ends (as viewed in Figure 1) of their respec-
tive guide channels in housing halves 3a and 3b. Alter-
natively, the fully retracted position of the magazine 5
could be determined by abutment of the magazine, itself,
with stop surfaces appropriately located wi~hin the
housing 3. This shifting of magazine 5 accommodates for
the fact that, during the driving process, the length of
driver 14 remains constant, but the length of that por-
tion of the fastener above the workpiece (into which itis being dri.ven) diminishes as the fastener is driven.
The magazine 5 is biased to its normal, extended
position (as shown in Figure 1) by a compression spring
34. The upper end of compression spring 34 is appro-
priately anchored within housing 3. The lower end ofcompression spring 34 is anchored on a spring guide 35
which abuts the top portion 11 of magazine 5, enabling
the spring 34 to constantly urge the ma~a~ine S to Its
extended position. Re~erence is made to Figure 5,
wherein compression spring 34 and spring guide 35 are
more clearly shown. The spring guide 35 comprises a
block-like body having an upstanding peg 36 formed on its
upper surface. The peg-like member 36 is surrounded by
an annular groove 37. The adjacent end of spring 34 is
adapted to surround peg 36 and enter annular groove 37.
6~ 3
12
1 Spring guide 35 is provided with a pair of opposed ears
38 and 39. As is shown in Figure 5, the inside surface
of housing half 3a is provided with a flange 40 which
defines a guide channel 41 for the spring guide ear 38.
It will be understood that the inside surface of housing
half 3b will be provided with a si~ilar flange (not
shown) defining a similar guide channel (not shown) for
spring guide ear 39. As indicated above, the spring
guide 35 is adapted to abut the top portion 11 of maga-
zine 5, enabling spring 34 to constantly urge magazine 5to its normal, extended position. During a driving opera-
tion, as the magazine 5 shifts upwardly into housing 3
(as viewed in Figure 1) spring 34 will be compressed and
directed by spring guide 35 riding in i~s pair of guide
channels, one of which is shown at 41 in Figure 5.
To complete the structure of the first embodiment of
the present invention, a latch is mounted at the rearward
end of tool 1 to lock the magazine 5 thereon. Reference
is made to Figures 1 and 6.
The latch 42 comprises a U-shaped member having a
pair of parallel legs 43 and 44 joined by a base portion
45. The legs 43 and 44 are additionally joined at their
bottom ends by a web 46. The web 46 mounts an upstanding
U-shaped member 47, the purpose of which will be
described hereinafter.
The latch 42 is enlarged as at 48 and 49 adjacent the
junctures of legs 43 and 44 with base portion 45. The
enlargements 48 and 49 are conigure~ to se~v~ as finger
grlps.
At the lower Eorward ends of legs 43 and 44, there
are latch extensions 50 and 51, respectively. The latch
extension 50 has an upper latch surface 50a and a lower
cam surface 50b. Similarly, latch extension Sl has an
upper latch surface 51a and a lower camming surface 51b.
The latch 42 is completed by the provision of an upper
.
~L2~8~33
13
1 pair of coaxial, laterally extending pins 52 and 53 on
legs 43 and 44, respectively, and a lower pair of co-
axial, laterally extending pins 54 and 55 on legs 43 and
44, respectively. The purpose of pins 52 through 55 will
be apparent hereinafter.
Figure 6 also shows the inside surface of the lower
rearward portion of housing half 3a. The housing half 3a
is provided with a notch 56 adapted to accommodate the
enlarged finger grip portion 48 of latch 42. It will be
understood that housing half 3b will be similarly notched
to accommodate the finger grip portion 49 of latch 42.
Adajacent guide channel 33, the inside surface of housing
half 3a is provided with a pair of slots 57 and 58,
; adapted to receive latch pins 52 and 54, respectively, of
leg 43. Again, it will be understood that housing half
3b will be provided with similar slots (not shown) to
accommodate latch pins 53 and 55 of latch leg 44.
Finally, housing half 3a supports a downwardly depend-
ing plate 59 which constitutes an integral, one-piece
portion of housing half 3a. As is most apparent from
Figure 1, it will be noted that plate 59 is slightly
inset forwardly, to accommodate for the base portion 45
of latch 42. At its lower end, plate 59 has a in-turned
flange 60 supporting a pair of upstanding walls 61 and
z5 61a, spaced to receive U-shaped member 47 therebetween.
When housing halves 3a and 3b are assembled, the
latch legs 43 and 44 straddle plate 59 and their forward
portions are located within housing halve~ 3a and 3b.
Pins 52 and 54 on l~tch le~ 43 are located in sLots 57
and 58 of housing half 3~. Similarly, pins 53 and 55 are
located in equivalent slots ~not shown) in housing half
3b. In this manner, the latch is shiftable forwardly and
rearwardly, with respect to housing 3.
A compression spring 62 is provided (see Figures 1
and 6). The compression spring is held captive between
~IL2~6803
14
l the latch U-shaped member 47 and the plate 59. As a
result, compression spring 62 constantly urges the latch
42 to its forwardmost position with respect to housing 3,
as illustrated in Figure 1.
- 5 Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the manner in which the
magazine 5 is quickly and easily affixed to tool housing
3. Turning first to Figure 7, the magazine 5 is tilted
slightly with respect to housing 3 so that the forward
end o the magazine first approaches the housing. Maga-
zine pin 15 is caused to enter lateral channel 31 in
housing half 3a, and magazine pin 16 is caused to enter
the corresponding lateral channel (not shown) in housing
half 3b. The magazine is shifted slightly upwardly and
rearwardly (as viewed in the Figures), causing magazine
pin 15 to pass through lateral channel 31 into guide chan-
nel 30, the magazine pin 16 passing through its respec-
tive lateral channel equivalent to channel 31 (not shown)
and into its respective guide channel (not shown) in
housing half 3b equivalent to channel 30. At this point,
the position of the magazine is as shown in Figure 7.
Thereafter, the operator of the tool need only pivot
the rearward end of magazine 5 upwardly about magazine
pins 15 and 16. This will cause the upper surfaces 22
and 26 of magazine rear lugs 18 and 19 to engage the cam
surfaces 50b and 51b, respectively, of latch 42. This
engagement will cause the latch to shift rearwardly
against the action of compression spring 62, enabling
magazine lug 18 to enter lt~ guide channel 33 in housing
halE 3a and l-lg l9 to enter its equivalent guide channel
(not shown) in body hal~ 3b. Fig~re 8 illustrates latch
32 being cammed rearwardly by magazine lug 18 and maga-
zine lug 19 (not shown).
Once ~agazine lug 18 has entered its guide channel 33
and magazine lug l9 has entered its equivalent guide
channel (not shown), the magazine lugs 18 and l9 will be
6~3~3
1 above latch extensions 50 and 51 of latch 42, enabling
compression spring 62 to return the latch to its normal,
forward position. In this normal, forward position, the
latch surfaces 50a and 51a of latch extensions SO and 51
will engage the lswer surfaces 23 and 27 of magazine lugs
18 and 19, locking the magazine to the tool housing 3.
This having been accomplished, the tool is ready for use.
To remove magazine 5 ~rom tool housing 3, it is only
necessary for the operator to grasp the finger grip por-
tions 48 and 49 of latch 42 and pull the latch rearwardly
with respect to housing 3, against the action of compres-
sion spring 62. As a result of this, the magazine lugs
18 and 19 will no longer be blocked by the latching sur-
faces 50a and 51a of latch extensions 50 and 51 and can
be removed from their respective guide channels. Once
magazine lugs 18 and 19 have been released from housing
3, the forward end of magazine 5 can be shifted slightly
upwardly, forwardly and then downwardly to cause magazine
pin 15 to exit from guide channel 30 into lateral channel
31 and thence out of engagement with housing half 3a.
The magazine pin 16 will similarly shift along and out of
its equivalerlt channels (not shown) in housing half 3b
and the magazine is then completely detached from tool
housing 3. Xf the magazine 5 is empty and disposable, a
new magazine may be attached to the tool. Alternatively,
the magazine 5 may be replaced by another similarly con-
figured magazine containing a different type of a~tener.
If the magazine is refillable, it can be refllled while
remaining mounted on the tool 1.
A second embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Figures 9-12. Attention is first directed to
Figure 9. The embodiment of Figure 9 difers from that
o~ Figure 1 primarily in that a guided, shiftable carrier
is mounted in the tool housing and the magazine is manu-
ally attachable and detachable with respect to the
46~3~3
16
carrier .
The overall tool is again indicated generally at 1
and differs from the tool of Figure 1 only in a few
respects, as will be set forth hereinafter. The tool
again comprises a housing 3 made up of two cooperating
halves, one of which is fragmentarily shown at 3a. A
first difference between the tools of Figures 1 and 9
lies in the fact that the embodiment of Figure 9 does not
require a latch equivalent to latch 42 of Figure l. A
second difference lies in the fact that the inside sur-
face of housing half 3a is provided with a flange 63
defining a guide channel 64. The guide channel 64 is
similar to guide channel 30 of Figure 1 with the excep-
tion that there is no lateral channel equivalent to
channel 31 of Figure 1. The inside surface of housing
half 3a, near its rearward end, is provided with a flange
65 defining a guide channel 66. The guide channel 66 is
substantially equivalent to guide channel 33 oE Figure l,
differing only in that its bottom end (as viewed in
Figure 9) is closed (i.e., is not open at the bottom edge
of tool housing half 3a). It will be understood by one
skilled in the art that the other tool housing half (not
shown) will be provided with flanges corresponding to
flanges 63 and 65, defining guide channels corresponding
to guide channels 64 and 66.
The carrier is generally indicated at 67. The car-
rier is best shown in Figures 10 and ll. The carrier is
made up of a pair o substan~ially mirror lma~e side
frames 68 ~nd 69 ~oined thro~ghout the m~jority of their
length by a connecting web 70.
The majority of side frame 68 slopes downwardly and
forwardly, conforming generally to the downward and
forward slope of the bottom edge of housing half 3a. At
its forward end, carrier side frame 68 terminates in a
hook-shaped portion 71 which is angularly related to the
~,
17
1 remainder of the side frame 68 so as to be substantially
horizontal when the tool 1 is held in an upright position
as shown in Figure 9. At its rearward end, the carrier
side frame 6g has an upstanding portion 72. The purpose
of this portion will be apparent hereinafter.
The side frame 69 of carrier 67, as indicated above,
is a mirror image of side frame 68, terminating at its
forward end in a hook-shaped portion 73 and at its rear-
ward end at an upstanding portion 74. The hook-shaped
portions 71 and 73 are substantially identical, as are
the upstanding portions 72 and 74.
The web portion 70 of carrier 67, which joins side
frames 68 and 69, extends substantially centrally of the
side frames to positions just short of the upstanding
members 72 and 74 at the rear of the carrier and just
short of the hook-shaped portions 71 and 73 of the car-
rier at its forward end. Near its forward end, the web
portion 70 has a portion 75 which is substantially hori-
zontal when the tool is held in an upright position as
shown in Figure 9. The portion 75 supports an upstanding
peg 76. As is clear from Figure 9, the portion 75 and
peg 76 serve as a seat for the lower end of compression
spring 34. The springs 34 in Figures 1 and 9 are identi-
cal. However, with the provision of carrier 67, the
spring guide 35 of Figure 1 and its guiding chann~ls in
the housing halves (one of which is shown at 41 in Figure
5) can be eliminated.
Carrier side frame 6~, near hook-shaped portion 71,
carries a laterally extendin~ pin 77. Carrler side frame
69 mounts an identical pin 78, coaxlal wlth pin 77.
Similarly, the rearward upstanding portion 72 of side
frame 68 supports a lateral pin shown in Figure 11 in
broken lines at 79. The upstanding rearward end 74 of
side frame 69 mounts an identical, coaxial pin 80.
When the tool housing halves are assembled, the
~Z46~3~3
18
1 carrier 67 is located therebetween with its forward pin
77 located in guide channel 64 in housing half 3a and its
rearward pin 79 located in guide channel 66 of housing
half 3a. It will be understood that carrier pins 78 and
80 will similarly be located in corresponding guide
channels (not shown) in the other body half o~ the tool
(not shown). The engagement of the carrier pins 77-80 in
their respective guide channels within the tool body
halves serves a number of purposes. First of all, the
carrier is captively held within tool housing 3.
Secondly, the carrier is shi~table with respect to tool
housing 3 between a nor~al extended position illustrated
in Figure 9 and a retracted position within housing 3
determined by the abutment of pins 77-80 with the upper
ends of their respective guide channels or by abutment of
the carrier, itself, with appropriate stop surfaces in
the housing 3. Furthermore, each of pins 77-80 cooper-
ates with its respective guide channel to control and
guide the shifting of the carrier between its normal
extended and its retracted positions. The carrier 67 is
biased to its normal extended position shown in Figure 9
by compression spring 34, in the same way that ~agazine 5
is so biased by compression spring 34 in Figure 1.
To complete carrier 67, the upper ends of the rear-
ward upstanding side frame portions 72 and 74 are joined
by a transverse web 81. Depending from web 81, centrally
thereof, is a resilient latch member 82 terminatlng at
its lower edge in M ~ulbous l~tching surface 83. rrhe
purpose of l~ch member 82 will be descrlbed hereinafter.
The carrier 67 may be made of any appropriate mate-
rial, such as metal or the like. It lends itself well,
however, to be molded of plastic as an integral one-piece
structure.
An exemplary magazine to be used with the carrier of
Figures 9-11 is illustrated in Figure 12 (and Figure 9 in
~G~3~3
1 broken lines) and is generally indicated at 84. The maga-
zine 84 comprises a pair of sides, one of which is shown
at 85, a front wall 86, a rear wall 87, a bottom 88 and a
top 89. As is evident from Figure 9, when the tool is
held in an upright position, the front wall 86 and rear
wall ~7 are substantial~y vertical7 while the bottom 88
and top 89 of the magazine are substantially parallel and
slope downwardly and forwardly with respect to the tool
1.
The forwardmost portion of the magazine, generally
indicated at 90, is enlarged both upwardly and down-
wardly. This forwardmost portion 90 terminates in a
bottom surface 91 which is substantially horizontal when
the tool is held in an upright position as shown in
Figure 9 and which constitutes the workpiece contacting
nose of the tool. At its upper end, the forward portion
90 terminates in a top surf&ce 92, substantially parallel
to the bottom surface 91. The top surface 92 is provided
with an opening or slot 93 through which the driver 94
extends. Adjacent the rearward end of the top surface
92, the magaz:ine 84 is provided with a pair of coaxial,
laterally extending pins 95 and 96. To complete the
struc.ture, the top surface 89, near the rearward end of
the rnagazine, is provided with an upstanding hook-shaped
lug 97. The lug 97, in turn, is provided with a camming
surface 98.
As in the case of the magazine 5 of Figure 2, the Eor-
ward portion 90 of rnagazlne 84 captively mounts driver 94
for reciprocating movement. In addLtion, the Eorward
portion 90 constitutes the guide body of the tool 1,
guiding both the driver 94 and a fastener being driven
thereby. The surface 91 will have an opening (not shown)
therein through which the fastener being driven passes.
Furthermore, as in the case of the magazine 5 of Figure
2, the magazine 84 will contain a plurality of fasteners,
~2~61!303
1 together with means to advance the fasteners forwardly
within the magazine 84 so that a forwardmost one of the
fasteners will always be urged to a position to be driven
by driver 94. The nature of the fasteners contained
within magazine 84, as well as the nature of the driver
and the nature of the fastener urging means, does not
constitute a part of the present invention. The magazine
84, as is the case with the magazine 5 of Figure 2, can
be refillable and reusable, or it can be a single-use,
disposable structure.
The carrier 67 and magazine 84 having been described
in detail, their mode of operation will now be described.
The forward portion 90 of the magazine is caused to
approach the hook-shaped portions 71 snd 73 of the car-
lS rier 67, and the magazine pins 95 and 96 are engaged inthe hook-shaped carrier portions 71 and 73, respectively.
The rearward end of magazine 84 is thereafter pivoted
about magazine pins 95 and 96 toward the carrier until
the cam surface 98 on the hook-shaped magazine lug 97
engages the bulbous latch surface 83 of the carrier latch
member 82. The cam surface 98 will cause the latch
member 82 to shift rearwardly until the bulbous latch
surface 83 can engage the hook-shaped portion of magazine
lug 97 with a snap fit. This having been accomplished,
the tool is ready for use. As a fastener is being driven
into a wor~piece, the magazine will shift from an
extended position shown in Figure 9 to a retracted posi-
tion within the tool housin~ 3, ~8 deterwined a~ld gulded
by carrler 67. At the end of a drivin~ cycle, the tool l
is raised from the workpiece ~nd the carrier 67, together
with magazine 84, will be returned to their normal
extended positions under the influence of compression
9pring 34.
To remove the magazine 84 from carrier 67, it is only
necessary to pull downwardly on the rearward end of the
~L'29~ 3
21
1 magazine until the hook-shaped lug 97 of the magazine 84
is disengaged fro~ the bulbous latch surace 83 of the
carrier latch member 82. At this stage, the carrier pins
95 and 96 can be released from the hook-shaped members 71
and 73 of carrier 67 and the magazine 84 is then free of
tool 1. ~te magazine 84 can be replaced with another
similar magazine containing a different type of fastener.
If disposable and empty, the magazine 84 can be disposed
of and replaced by another identical ~Itagazine. If refill-
able, the magazine 84 can be refilled without being
removed from tool 1.
In the description thus far set forth, the fastener
driving tool 1 has been described as being of the
multiple-~low type. The magazine system of the present
invention is equally applicable to a tool of the single-
blow type, as will now be described.
Reference is made to Figure 13, wherein a single-blow
tool is generally indicated at 99. The nature of the
driver operating mechanism within tool 99 does not con-
stitute a part of the present invention or a limitationthereon. The tool 99 has a housing 100 having a handle
portion 101. The housing 100 is made up of two cooper-
ating halves lOOa and lOOb. The housing 100 is shown
supporting a magazine identical to that shown in Figure
2. Since the magazine of Figure 13 is identical to that
of Figure 2, like parts of the magazine have been given
like index numerals.
The primary difference between the tool ~ o~ Figure
13 and the tool 1 o~ Figure 1, insofar as the present
invention is concerned, lies in the Eact that tlte tool
drives each fastener home with a single blow o~ driver
14. As a result, magazine 5 must be rigidly affixed to
housing 100 and does not shift between normal extended
and retracted positions. As a result, there is no need
for a compression spring 34 and spring guide 35, as shown
~Z~6~303
22
1 in Figure 1.
The inside surface of housing half lOOa, near the for-
ward end thereof, is provided with a flange 102 defining
an L-shaped channel 103. Near its rearward end, the
inside surface of housing half lOOa is provided with a
flange 104, defining a channel 105. The channel 105 is
of a length to just nicely receive magazine flange 18.
It will be understood that housing half lOOb will be
provided with flanges corresponding to flanges 102 and
104, de~ining channels equivalent to channels 103 and
105. To complete the structure, the lower rearward end
of tool housing 100 is provided with a latch mechanism
identical to that described with respect to Figures 1 and
6, and like parts have been given like index numerals.
When it is desired to affix the magazine 5 to tool
housing 100, it is only necessary to cause the forward
portion of magazine 5 to approach housing 100 and to
engage the magazine pins 15 and 16 in the L-shaped slot
103 of housing half lOOa and the corresponding slot (not
shown) in housing half lOOb. When the pins 15 and 16 are
fully seated within their slots, the rearward end of
magazine 5 is pivoted toward tool housing 100 causing the
upper surfaces 22 and 26 of magazine lugs 18 and 19 to
contact the cam surfaces 50b and 51b of latch 42, shift-
ing the latch rearwardly against the action of compres-
sion spring 62 until the magazine lugs 18 and 19 are
fully seated within the channel 105 of housing half lOOa
and the corresponding channel in housin~ h~lE lOOb~ At
this point, the latch 42 returnq to its normal position
and the magazine lugs 18 and 1~ are locked within their
respective channels by the latching surfaces 50a and 51a
of latch 42.
To remove magazine 5 ~rom tool housing 100, it is
only necessary to pull rearwardly on latch 42, against
the action of compression spring 62, to release magazine
~2~6~3
23
l lugs 18 and 19 from their respective channels. The maga-
zines can then be shifted slightly forwardly to release
magazine pins lS and 16 from their respective channels.
The magazines can then be either disposed of or replaced
by a magazine containing different types of fasteners.
If refillable, the magazines can be refilled while
mounted on tool 99.
The magazine-carrier system of Figures 9-12 can also
be applied to a single-blow tool. Returning to Figure 9,
it will be apparent that if the flanges 63 and 65 on the
inside surface of housing half 3a were so configured as
to provide holes so sized as to just nicely receive
carrier pins 77 and 79, rather than channels 64 and 66,
and if the corresponding flanges on the inside surface of
the other body half were similarly configured, the
carrier 67 would be rigidly af~ixed between the housing
halves. Under these circumstances, there would be no
need for compression spring 34 or spring mount 76. It
would also be within the scope of the present invention
to have carrier 67 constitute an integral, one-piece part
of the housing 3. For example, i~ could con~stitute a
one-piece, integral part of either one of the housing
halves, or both of the housing halves, if the carrier
itself was made in two parts. The manner in which the
magazine 84 would be attached to and removed from the
stationary carrier would be identical to that described
above with respect to Figure 9.
From the description of the embodimellts o~ ~he pre-
sent lnvention, lt will be apparent that a magazine
system has been provided for both multiple-blow and
single-blow fastener driving tools wherein a magazine can
be mounted on ~nd detached from the fastener driver with-
out the ~id oE tools or any significant mechanical skill.
The magazines can be refillable and replaceable, or they
can be disposable, single-use magazines. A plurality of
24
1 magazines, containing different types of fasteners, can
be interchanged on the tool as desired, with the result
that a single fastener driving tool can be used to drive
a number of different types of fasteners.
As used herein and in the claims, such words as
"upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "vertical" and "hori-
zontal", are used in conjunction with the drawings for
purposes of clarity. It will be apparent to one skilled
in the art that in use, the tool can be held in any appro-
priate orientation, and the above noted words are not
intended to be limiting.
Modifications may be made in the invention without
departing from the spirit of it.
