US3915367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fastener strip and strip feeding apparatus
Assignee: Duo Fast Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-10
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1993-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to ''''fan out'''' the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs. In one embodiment, a reciprocating motor in the feeding mechanism retracts the portion of the strip adjacent the drive path to insure that the tab is not inadvertently fastened to a workpiece by the driven fastener.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank R Potucek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B15/00; F16B15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A fastener driving tool for use with an elongated, flexible web with projecting adjacent tabs carrying fasteners comprising a fastener drive movable over a drive path, a web engaging structure adjacent the drive path for moving the web through a path that bends the web about an axis transverse to its direction of elongation to separate the tab adjacent the drive path from adjacent tabs and to place the fastener on the separated tab in said drive path, said web engaging structure comprising at least one circular pulley having a smooth periphery engaging said web, and means for advancing the web to place successive fasteners in the drive path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A fastener driving tool for use with an elongated, flexible web with projecting adjacent tabs carrying fasteners comprising a fastener drive movable over a drive path, a web engaging structure adjacent the drive path for moving the web through a path that bends the web about an axis transverse to its direction of elongation to separate the tab adjacent the drive path from adjacent tabs and to place the fastener on the separated tab in said drive path, said web engaging structure comprising at least one circular pulley having a smooth periphery engaging said web, and means for advancing the web to place successive fasteners in the drive path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fastener driving tool set forth in claim 1 including means coupled to the web engaging structure to move the web engaging structure toward and away from the drive path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fastener driving tool for use with a loop of flexible web with at least one row of spaced and projecting tabs removably carrying fasteners extending generally parallel to the web comprising fastener driving means movable over a drive path, loop supporting means carrying the loop of web with the tabs projecting outwardly from the loop, said supporting means including guide means for deflecting the web around a corner adjacent the drive path to separate adjacent tabs from each other, drive means for advancing the loop to move successive fasteners on successive spaced tabs into the drive path, and moving means for moving the loop supporting means toward and away from the drive path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fastener driving tool for use with a loop of flexible web with at least one row of spaced and projecting tabs removably carrying fasteners extending generally parallel to the web comprising fastener driving means movable over a drive path, loop supporting means carrying the loop of web with the tabs projecting outwardly from the loop, said supporting means including guide means for deflecting the web around a corner adjacent the drive path to separate adjacent tabs from each other, drive means for advancing the loop to move successive fasteners on successive spaced tabs into the drive path, and moving means for moving the loop supporting means toward and away from the drive path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fastener driving tool set forth in claim 3 in which the moving means includes means coupled to and movably mounting the loop supporting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fastener driving tool set forth in claim 4 in which the web includes spaced index means, and the drive means includes a first stationary pawl means engageable with the index means and a second pawl means engageable with the index means and movable with the loop supporting means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for feeding a closed loop of flexible web having regularly spaced apertures and detachably carrying fasteners at spaced positions thereon comprising a supporting structure, a pair of spaced supporting members mounted on the supporting structure and removably mounting said loop, fastener driving means movable along a given drive path, indexing means carried on the structure for moving said loop step-by-step relative to the supporting members to move successive fasteners on said loop into said drive path, said indexing means includes a first stationary pawl means engageable with said apertures in said web and a second pawl means engageable with said apertures and attached to the loop supporting members, and moving means for moving said supporting members toward and away from said drive path.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for feeding a closed loop of flexible web having regularly spaced apertures and detachably carrying fasteners at spaced positions thereon comprising a supporting structure, a pair of spaced supporting members mounted on the supporting structure and removably mounting said loop, fastener driving means movable along a given drive path, indexing means carried on the structure for moving said loop step-by-step relative to the supporting members to move successive fasteners on said loop into said drive path, said indexing means includes a first stationary pawl means engageable with said apertures in said web and a second pawl means engageable with said apertures and attached to the loop supporting members, and moving means for moving said supporting members toward and away from said drive path.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for feeding a closed loop of flexible web having fasteners detachably carried at spaced positions thereon comprising a pair of spaced supporting members carrying said loop, fastener driving means movable along a given drIve path, indexing means for moving said loop step-by-step relative to the supporting member to move successive fasteners on said loop into said drive path, and means for moving the loop toward and away from the drive path.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for feeding a closed loop of flexible web having fasteners detachably carried at spaced positions thereon comprising a pair of spaced supporting members carrying said loop, fastener driving means movable along a given drIve path, indexing means for moving said loop step-by-step relative to the supporting member to move successive fasteners on said loop into said drive path, and means for moving the loop toward and away from the drive path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 7 in which the web includes spaced index means, and the indexing means includes a movable member engageable with the index means on the web.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for feeding fasteners to a driving point interposed between a driver and a workpiece comprising a flexible web with at least one row of tab portions projecting outwardly from the web substantially transverse to the web, the web having a pair of hinge axes for each tab portion extending generally transverse to the web, each said tab adapted to carry a fastener, and web feeding means for feeding the web past the driving point to place successive fasteners between the driver and the workpiece, said web feeding means including means for moving the web through an arcuate path and at least one cylinder having an uninterrupted periphery for bending the web along successive pairs of hinge axes adjacent the driving point to separate the fastener carried on one tab portion from adjacent tab portions thereby to provide clearance between adjacent tab portions for the driver.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for feeding fasteners to a driving point interposed between a driver and a workpiece comprising a flexible web with at least one row of tab portions projecting outwardly from the web substantially transverse to the web, the web having a pair of hinge axes for each tab portion extending generally transverse to the web, each said tab adapted to carry a fastener, and web feeding means for feeding the web past the driving point to place successive fasteners between the driver and the workpiece, said web feeding means including means for moving the web through an arcuate path and at least one cylinder having an uninterrupted periphery for bending the web along successive pairs of hinge axes adjacent the driving point to separate the fastener carried on one tab portion from adjacent tab portions thereby to provide clearance between adjacent tab portions for the driver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with an elongated flexible web having at least one row of transversely extending tab portions each carrying a fastener in a position extending generally parallel to and spaced from the web, fastener transfer means movable along a given line, and web feeding means for feeding the elongated web relative to said transfer means to move successive fasteners into said line, said web feeding means including means for bending said elongated web about an axis transverse to the direction of elongation of the web to fan the tab portions adjacent said line relative to each other so that the tab portion carrying a fastener disposed in said line is spaced from adjacent tab portions, and said web bending means includes at least two rotatable cylinders having a smooth periphery for guiding movement of the web through a generally arcuate path around a center disposed on the opposite side of the web from the tab portions at each cylinder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with an elongated flexible web having at least one row of transversely extending tab portions each carrying a fastener in a position extending generally parallel to and spaced from the web, fastener transfer means movable along a given line, and web feeding means for feeding the elongated web relative to said transfer means to move successive fasteners into said line, said web feeding means including means for bending said elongated web about an axis transverse to the direction of elongation of the web to fan the tab portions adjacent said line relative to each other so that the tab portion carrying a fastener disposed in said line is spaced from adjacent tab portions, and said web bending means includes at least two rotatable cylinders having a smooth periphery for guiding movement of the web through a generally arcuate path around a center disposed on the opposite side of the web from the tab portions at each cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the web feeding means includes means for moving the web toward and away from said line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the fasteners are mounted on the web at a given angle thereto, and the web feeding means includes means for feeding the web toward said driving point at an angle corresponding to said given angle to supply a fastener at said line in a position aligned with said line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the elongated web is formed into a closed loop, and the web feeding means includes spaced guide means engaging the web portion of the loop on the side opposite the tab portions at spaced positions along the loop so that the loop is fed along a closed path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fastener driving tool for use with an elongated flexible web which carries fasteners comprising a fastener driver movable over a drive path, a web engaging structure adjacent the drive path for supporting the web for movement through a path wherein the web is bent about an axis transverse to its direction of elongation to separate the fastener adjacent the drive path from adjacent fasteners and to place the fastener in said drive path, said web engaging structure including means mounting said structure for movement relative to said drive path, means operated in response to said relative movement of said web engaging structure for advancing the web along the path to place successive fasteners in the drive path, and means for moving the web engaging structure relative to said drive path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fastener driving tool for use with an elongated flexible web which carries fasteners comprising a fastener driver movable over a drive path, a web engaging structure adjacent the drive path for supporting the web for movement through a path wherein the web is bent about an axis transverse to its direction of elongation to separate the fastener adjacent the drive path from adjacent fasteners and to place the fastener in said drive path, said web engaging structure including means mounting said structure for movement relative to said drive path, means operated in response to said relative movement of said web engaging structure for advancing the web along the path to place successive fasteners in the drive path, and means for moving the web engaging structure relative to said drive path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fastener tool of claim 14 wherein said path through which said web moves is geNerally semicircular in configuration adjacent said drive path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fastener tool of claim 14 wherein said advancing means includes means to prevent reverse movement of said web along said path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The fastener tool of claim 14 in which the web includes spaced index means, said advancing means includes a first stationary pawl means engageable with the index means and a second movable pawl means engageable with the index means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fastener tool of claim 17 in which said index means comprises apertures regularly spaced along the web.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |