US3580455A — Fastener driving device operating means

Claim 1

Independent Claim 344 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade movable between a rear position and a forward position wheRe the driver blade has driven any fastener out of the barrel: power control means for selectively communicating power to said driver blade assembly to drive it forward to said forward position, said power control means including: a movable member movable between a first position where said means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; a crossmember having a first and a second point thereon, said crossmember being pivotally connected to said movable member at a third point on said crossmember, each of said first and second points having an operative position, said movable member being in said second position when both said first and second points are in said operative positions and in said first position when less than both of said first and second points are in said operative positions; trigger means having an engagement portion mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative position where said engagement portion does not force said second point on said cross member into said second point operative position and an operative position where said engagement portion engages and forces said second point of said crossmember into said second point operative position; and workpiece responsive means movably connected to said body for forcing said first point of said crossmember into said first point operative position when said front end of said nose piece is brought into proximity with a workpiece, whereby said trigger means may be held in said operative position and said device may be operated by bringing said nose piece into proximity with a workpiece.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 344 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade movable between a rear position and a forward position wheRe the driver blade has driven any fastener out of the barrel: power control means for selectively communicating power to said driver blade assembly to drive it forward to said forward position, said power control means including: a movable member movable between a first position where said means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; a crossmember having a first and a second point thereon, said crossmember being pivotally connected to said movable member at a third point on said crossmember, each of said first and second points having an operative position, said movable member being in said second position when both said first and second points are in said operative positions and in said first position when less than both of said first and second points are in said operative positions; trigger means having an engagement portion mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative position where said engagement portion does not force said second point on said cross member into said second point operative position and an operative position where said engagement portion engages and forces said second point of said crossmember into said second point operative position; and workpiece responsive means movably connected to said body for forcing said first point of said crossmember into said first point operative position when said front end of said nose piece is brought into proximity with a workpiece, whereby said trigger means may be held in said operative position and said device may be operated by bringing said nose piece into proximity with a workpiece.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: said crossmember first and second points are first and second ends of said crossmember and said third point is a midpoint of said crossmember between said first and second ends.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 121 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said workpiece responsive means includes: a workpiece touch-member slidably mounted on said body for movement between a forward position where a front end of said touch-member extends slightly beyond the front end of said nose piece and a rear position where said touch-member front end is substantially flush with the front end of said nose piece, said touch-member having a rear end in line with said first point on said crossmember, said touch-member rear end being capable of transmitting to said crossmember first point force in only a rearward direction, whereby said touch-member does not tend to force the crossmember forward when the touch-member moves from its rearward position to its forward position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 97 words

The invention set forth in claim 3 including: return means connected to said touch-member for urging it to its forward position at a very rapid rate; means in said power control means for urging said movable member from its second position toward its first position; and means controlling the time needed to return said movable member to said first position so that it takes longer for said movable member to return from its second position to its first position than it takes said return means to return said touch-member from its rear position to its forward position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 including: means operatively connected to said movable member for controlling the time needed for said movable member to return from said second position to said first position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 including: means in said power control means for preventing said movable member from moving back toward said first position until after the lapse of a predetermined time after the movable member is moved to said second position from said first position; and means in said power control means for causing said movable member to rapidly return to said first position after the lapse of said predetermined time.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 91 words

The invEntion set forth in claim 6 including: means in said power control means for causing a large force to rapidly accelerate said movable member toward said first position during said movable member toward said first position during said movement from said second position to said first position, said last-mentioned means causing said forces on said movable member to become substantially equal after the member has come to rest at said first position except for a substantially smaller constant force on the movable member urging said member toward said first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 194 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade movable between a rear position and a forward position where it has driven any fastener out of the barrel: power control means for selectively communicating the power to said driver blade assembly to drive it forward to said forward position, said power control means including: a movable member movable between a first position where said power control means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; means for selectively moving said movable member to said second position; and means operative to prevent said movable member from returning from its second position to said first position until the lapse of a predetermined time after the said member is moved from its first position to its second position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 194 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade movable between a rear position and a forward position where it has driven any fastener out of the barrel: power control means for selectively communicating the power to said driver blade assembly to drive it forward to said forward position, said power control means including: a movable member movable between a first position where said power control means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; means for selectively moving said movable member to said second position; and means operative to prevent said movable member from returning from its second position to said first position until the lapse of a predetermined time after the said member is moved from its first position to its second position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 129 words

The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein said device has a supply of pressurized fluid therein in communication with said power control means, said pressurized fluid exerting a constant force on said movable member when said member is in said second position urging said member toward said first position and said last-mentioned means includes: a counterreturn chamber which is charged with said pressurized fluid when said movable member is in said first position and gradually loses fluid therefrom when said movable member is moved to said second position, said pressurized fluid in said counterreturn chamber urging said movable member toward said second position, whereby said movable member will move toward said first position when the pressure in the counterreturn chamber is reduced sufficiently by loss of fluid therefrom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 207 words

The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein said power control means includes: a valve housing slidably receiving therein said movable member for sliding movement between said first and second positions; a first piston carried by said movable member and sealing with said housing to form said counterreturn chamber on one side of the piston; an inlet pressure piston carried by said movable member, said inlet pressure piston being in continuous communication with said supply of pressurized fluid, the force of said pressurized fluid on said inlet piston furnishing said constant force tending to urge said movable member toward said first position, said inlet piston having an operating face which is substantially smaller than the operating face of said one side of said first piston; and means for bleeding fluid out of said counterreturn chamber at a predetermined rate when said movable member is in said second position, whereby the fluid pressure in said counterreturn chamber will hold the movable member in said second position until the fluid pressure in said chamber is so low that the resultant force thereof on said one side of said first piston becomes less than the effective force of said constant fluid pressure on said operating face of said inlet piston.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 136 words

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein: said housing has a bore therethrough which receives therein said inlet piston when said movable member is in said second position, said inlet piston effectively sealing said bore and preventing fluid from entering said housing until said member has moved a predetermined distance from said second position toward said first position; and said first piston has a second side in said housing opposite said one side disposed such that pressure thereon will urge said movable member toward said first position, whereby after said movable member has moved said predetermined distance from said second position toward said first position fluid will enter the housing and cause force on said second side of said first piston which force will cause the movable member to rapidly return to said first position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 317 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a pressurized fluid therein, said main body having a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade and a piston movable by fluid pressure on the rear side of said piston from a rear position to forward position where the driver blade has driven any fastener out of the barrel: a main valve movable between a first position where the area on the rear side of the piston of the driver blade assembly is vented to atmosphere and a second position where said last-mentioned area communicated with said pressurized fluid within the device, said main valve having a first side and moving to said first position when said first side is subject to said pressurized fluid within said device and moving to said second position when said first side is vented to atmosphere; passage means communicating said pressurized fluid with said first side of said main valve member; power control means in said passage means for selectively communicating said first side of said main valve member alternately between said pressurized fluid and atmosphere, said power control means comprising: a movable member movable between a first position where said power control means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; means for selectively moving said movable member to said second position; and means operative to prevent said movable member from returning from its second position to said first position until the lapse of a predetermined time after said member is moved from said first position to its second position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 317 words

In combination with a fastener driving device having a main body with a pressurized fluid therein, said main body having a nose piece at its forward end, which nose piece has a forward end and a barrel through which fasteners are sequentially driven opening through said nose piece forward end, said device having therein a driver blade assembly with a driver blade and a piston movable by fluid pressure on the rear side of said piston from a rear position to forward position where the driver blade has driven any fastener out of the barrel: a main valve movable between a first position where the area on the rear side of the piston of the driver blade assembly is vented to atmosphere and a second position where said last-mentioned area communicated with said pressurized fluid within the device, said main valve having a first side and moving to said first position when said first side is subject to said pressurized fluid within said device and moving to said second position when said first side is vented to atmosphere; passage means communicating said pressurized fluid with said first side of said main valve member; power control means in said passage means for selectively communicating said first side of said main valve member alternately between said pressurized fluid and atmosphere, said power control means comprising: a movable member movable between a first position where said power control means causes power to be held out of communication with said driver blade assembly and a second position where said power control means causes a communication of power to said driver blade assembly; means for selectively moving said movable member to said second position; and means operative to prevent said movable member from returning from its second position to said first position until the lapse of a predetermined time after said member is moved from said first position to its second position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 130 words

The invention set forth in claim 12 wherein: said device has a supply of pressurized fluid therein in communication with said power means, said pressurized fluid exerting a constant force on said movable member when said member is in said second position urging said member toward said first position, and said last-mentioned power control means includes: a counterreturn chamber which is charged with said pressurized fluid when said movable member is in said first position and gradually loses fluid therefrom when said movable member is moved to said second position, said pressurized fluid in said counterreturn chamber urges said movable member toward said second position, whereby said movable member will move toward said first position when the pressure in said counterreturn chamber is reduced sufficiently by loss of fluid therefrom.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 207 words

The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein said power control means includes: a valve housing slidably receiving therein said movable member for sliding movement between said first and second position; a first piston carried by said movable member and sealing with said housing to form said counterreturn chamber on one side of the piston; an inlet pressure piston carried by said movable member, said inlet pressure piston being in continuous communication witH said supply of pressurized fluid, the force of said pressurized fluid on said inlet piston furnishing said constant force tending to urge said movable member toward said first position, said inlet piston having an operating face which is substantially smaller than the operating face of said one side of said first position; and means for bleeding fluid out of said counterreturn chamber at a predetermined rate when said movable member is in said second position, whereby the fluid pressure in said counterreturn chamber will hold the movable member in said second position until the fluid pressure in said chamber is so low that the resultant force thereof on said one side of said first piston becomes less than the effective force of said constant fluid pressure on said operating face of said inlet piston.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 233 words

The invention set forth in claim 8 including: a crossmember having a first and a second end thereon, said crossmember being pivotally connected to said movable member at the center of said crossmember, each of said first and second ends having an operative position, said movable member being in said second position when both said first and second ends are in said operative positions and in said first position when less than both of said first and second ends are in said operative positions; trigger means having an engagement portion mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative position where said engagement portion does not force said second end of said crossmember into said second end operative position and an operative position where said engagement portion engages and forces said second end of said crossmember into said second end operative position; and workpiece responsive means movably connected to said body for forcing said first end of said crossmember into said first end operative position when said front end of said nose piece is brought into proximity with a workpiece, whereby said trigger means may be operated by bringing the nose piece into proximity with the workpiece and the device will not erroneously recycle if said workpiece responsive means is very rapidly brought into proximity with a workpiece and then moved slightly away therefrom and then brought back into proximity with the workpiece.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 121 words

The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein said workpiece responsive means includes: a workpiece touch-member slidably mounted on said body for movement between a forward position where a front end of said touch-member extends slightly beyond the front end of said nose piece and a rear position where said touch-member front end is substantially flush with the front end of said nose piece, said touch-member having a rear end in line with said first end of said crossmember, said touch-member rear end being capable of transmitting to said crossmember first end force in only a rearward direction, whereby said touch-member does not tend to force the crossmember forward when the touch-member moves from its rearward position to its forward position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The invention set forth in claim 9 including: means in said last-mentioned means for charging said counterreturn chamber with pressurized fluid at a more rapid rate than the rate at which fluid is lost from said chamber.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 134 words

The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises: a piston connected to said movable member; a housing having a bore therein forming a first cylinder of predetermined diameter and a second cylinder of slightly larger diameter in axial alignment, said housing being positioned so that said piston is received in said first cylinder when said movable member is in said second position and said piston is in said second cylinder when said movable member is in said first position; means cooperating with said piston for sealing with said first cylinder when said piston is in said first cylinder when said piston is in said second cylinder, whereby pressurized fluid may pass around the piston when it is in said secOnd cylinder but not when it is in said first cylinder.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The invention set forth in claim 2 including: means operatively connected to said movable member for controlling the time needed for said movable member to return from said second position to said first position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The invention set forth in claim 3 including: means operatively connected to said movable member for controlling the time needed for said movable member to return from said second position to said first position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 74 words

The invention set forth in claim 2 including: means in said power control means for preventing said movable member from moving back toward said first position until after the lapse of a predetermined time after the movable member is moved to said second position from said first position; and means in said power control means for causing said movable member to rapidly return to said first position after the lapse of said predetermined time.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 74 words

The invention set forth in claim 3 including: means in said power control means for preventing said movable member from moving back toward said first position until after the lapse of a predetermined time after the movable member is moved to said second position from said first position; and means in said power control means for causing said movable member to rapidly return to said first position after the lapse of said predetermined time.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 233 words

The invention set forth in claim 11 including: a crossmember having a first and a second end thereon, said crossmember being pivotally connected to said movable member at the center of said crossmember, each of said first and second ends having an operative position, said movable member being in said second position when both said first and second ends are in said operative positions and in said first position when less than both of said first and second ends are in said operative positions; trigger means having an engagement portion mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative position where said engagement portion does not force said second end of said crossmember into said second end operative position and an operative position where said engagement portion engages and forces said second end of said crossmember into said second end operative position; and workpiece responsive means movably connected to said body for forcing said first end of said crossmember into said first end operative position when said front end of said nose piece is brought into proximity with a workpiece, whereby said trigger means may be operated by bringing the nose piece into proximity with the workpiece and the device will not erroneously recycle if said workpiece responsive means is very rapidly brought into proximity with a workpiece and then moved slightly away therefrom and then brought back into proximity with the workpiece.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-05-24	1974-11-23	1975-05-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-05-24	1978-11-23	1979-05-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-05-24	1982-11-23	1983-05-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fastener driving device operating means

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