Implement for holding and guiding nails

Claim 1

An implement for holding and guiding elongate fasteners to facilitate driving thereof, said implement being of one-piece molded plastic construction and comprising a pair of cooperating lever members, a jaw disposed at a corresponding end of each said lever member, each of said jaws being L-shaped in cross section and including two legs, a first leg of the legs of each jaw facing each other and defining a clamping face having at least one notch generally in alignment with a notch in the clamping face of the other jaw, said notches extending generally transversely to the length of the lever members for receiving and guiding elongate fasteners, the other end of each said lever member defining force applying portion for opening said jaws, a second leg of each jaw defining a planar bearing flange extending perpendicular to said notches, said bearing flanges being arranged coplanar and defining in association with coplanar portions of said force applying portions an enlarged longitudinal outer face of said implement for bearing against a surface proximate to where a fastener is to be driven, and a bridging member integrally formed with said lever members and defining the sole interconnection therebetween, said bridging member constantly biasing said jaws toward each other and defining articulation means for facilitating opening and closing of said jaws.