Nail package improvements for interconnecting the trailing nail of one nail package with the leading nail of another nail package

Claim 2

In a nail package of the type including a multiplicity of similar nails, each having a shank and a round head on one end thereof, and flexible elongated means extending transversely across and secured to the shanks of said nails interconnecting the same in series in a packaged condition so that said nails are operable to be handled as a unit and positioned in an operative relation with a nail driving device wherein a trailing portion is supported in said packaged condition and a leading portion extends therefrom in row formation with the shanks thereof in generally parallel relation with respect to each other and with the leading nail in a driving position so that upon operation of the nail driving device successive leading nails are separately driven longitudinally from said driving position and the nails in said trailing portion are successively moved into said leading portion, the improvement which comprises in combination therewith coupling element means separate from said flexible elongated means for operatively connecting the trailing nail of said nail package when positioned in operative relation with the nail driving device with the leading nail of a similar nail package in a parallel relationship the same as the parallel relationship of the nails in said row formation so that the leading portion of said similar nail package is moved by said separate means into a similar operative relation with the nail driving device upon continued operation thereof.

Claim 3

In a nail package of the type including a multiplicity of similar nails, each having a shank and a round head on one end thereof, and flexible elongated means extending transversely across and secured to the shanks of said nails interconnecting the same in series in a packaged condition so that said nails are operable to be handled as a unit and positioned in an operative relation with a nail driving device wherein a trailing portion is supported in said packaged condition and a leading portion extends therefrom in row formation with the shanks thereof in generally parallel relation with respect to each other and with the leading nail in a driving position so that upon operation of the nail driving device successive leading nails are separately driven longitudinally from said driving position and the nails in said trailing portion are successively moved into said leading portion, the improvement which comprises in combination therewith coupling element means separate from said flexible elongated means for operatively connecting the trailing nail of said nail package when positioned in operative relation with the nail driving device with the leading nail of a similar nail package in a parallel relationship the same as the pArallel relationship of the nails in said row formation so that the leading portion of said similar nail package is moved by said separate means into a similar operative relation with the nail driving device upon continued operation thereof, said separate means comprising a pair of connector elements, each being made of thin resilient material and shaped to provide spaced trailing and leading nail shank engaging portions integrally interconnected by a central connecting portion, each of said nail shank engaging portions being of generally C-shaped configuration operable to resiliently grip a nail shank around a substantial portion of the periphery thereof in response to a relative transverse movement of a nail from a disengaged position outwardly thereof to an engaged position therein, each of said nail shank engaging portions defining an opening of a size less than the diameter of the nail shank when the latter is in a disengaged or engaged position with respect thereto and being sufficiently resilient to flex outwardly in response to the movement of a nail from said disengaged position to said engaged position to expand the opening to said diameter size and permit passage of the nail thereby, said connecting portion having a longitudinal extent such that when the aforesaid trailing and leading nails are disposed in engaged positions within said trailing and leading nail shank engaging portions respectively the trailing and leading nails are spaced apart a distance equal to their spacing with respect to the adjacent nail of their respective groups and being constructed to transmit transverse feeding movements of the trailing nail to the leading nail and to provide for the fracture and separation of the trailing nail shank engaging portion from the leading nail shank engaging portion in response to a rapid relative longitudinal movement of the trailing nail with respect to the leading nail.

Claim 4

In a nail package of the type including a multiplicity of similar nails, each having a shank and a round head on one end thereof, and flexible elongated means extending transversely across and secured to the shanks of said nails interconnecting the same in series in a packaged condition so that said nails are operable to be handled as a unit and positioned in an operative relation with a nail driving device wherein a trailing portion is supported in said packaged condition and a leading portion extends therefrom in row formation with the shanks thereof in generally parallel relation with respect to each other and with the leading nail in a driving position so that upon operation of the nail driving device successive leading nails are separately driven longitudinally from said driving position and the nails in said trailing portion are successively moved into said leading portion, the improvement which comprises in combination therewith coupling element means separate from said flexible elongated means for operatively connecting the trailing nail of said nail package when positioned in operative relation with the nail driving device with the leading nail of a similar nail package in a parallel relationship the same as the pArallel relationship of the nails in said row formation so that the leading portion of said similar nail package is moved by said separate means into a similar operative relation with the nail driving device upon continued operation thereof, said separate means comprising a pair of connector elements, each being made of thin resilient material and shaped to provide spaced trailing and leading nail shank engaging portions integrally interconnected by a central connecting portion, each of said nail shank engaging portions being of generally C-shaped configuration operable to resiliently grip a nail shank around a substantial portion of the periphery thereof in response to a relative transverse movement of a nail from a disengaged position outwardly thereof to an engaged position therein, each of said nail shank engaging portions defining an opening of a size less than the diameter of the nail shank when the latter is in a disengaged or engaged position with respect thereto and being sufficiently resilient to flex outwardly in response to the movement of a nail from said disengaged position to said engaged position to expand the opening to said diameter size and permit passage of the nail thereby, said connecting portion having a longitudinal extent such that when the aforesaid trailing and leading nails are disposed in engaged positions within said trailing and leading nail shank engaging portions respectively the trailing and leading nails are spaced apart a distance equal to their spacing with respect to the adjacent nail of their respective groups and being constructed to transmit transverse feeding movements of the trailing nail to the leading nail and to provide for the fracture and separation of the trailing nail shank engaging portion from the leading nail shank engaging portion in response to a rapid relative longitudinal movement of the trailing nail with respect to the leading nail.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said trailing nail shank engaging portion is of arcuate configuration and is oriented in reverse relation with respect to the leading nail shank engaging portion which is likewise arcuate in configuration so that the openings thereof are disposed in opposed relation with said connection portion extending diagonally therebetween, each of said nail shank engaging portions being in the form of a pair of spring fingers spaced apart by a central slot extending from the free end thereof inwardly into said connecting portion for receiving the flexible elongated means in the form of a wire welded to the respective nail shanks when disposed in said engaged position, said connecting portion including a pair of aligned spaced slots extending inwardly from opposed edges thereof in perpendicular relation to said first-mentioned slots, the connecting portion providing a fracturable narrow neck for each spring finger between the slots associated therewith.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said trailing nail shank engaging portion is of oblong configuration and is oriented in the same relation with respect to the leading nail shank engaging portion which is likewise of oblong configuration, so that the openings thereof extend laterally in the same direction and said connecting portion extends longitudinally therebetween, each of said nail shank engaging portions being in the form of a pair of spring fingers spaced apart by a central slot extending from the free end thereof inwardly into said connecting portion for receiving the flexible elongated means in the form of a wire welded to the respective nail shanks when disposed in said engaged position, said connecting portion including a pair of aligned spaced slots extending inwardly from opposed edges thereof in perpendicular relation to said firstmentioned slots, the connecting portion providing a fracturable narrow neck for each spring finger between the slots associated therewith.