Bar Connecting Apparatus With Clip Advance

• US 20110107719A1
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dayton Superior Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kodi Klip Corporation
• Inventors: Kodi, Jon R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,640,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/745.21
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/167 Connection by means of clips or other resilient elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/122 Machines for joining reinforcing bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53783 Clip applier

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting bars includes a clip string, a barrel having a clip receiving cavity, with a terminal clip of the clip string received in the clip receiving cavity. A drive is received in the barrel and extends proximally from the barrel. The drive includes a hammer received in the barrel. The hammer reciprocates longitudinally within the barrel for contacting and expelling the terminal clip from the barrel. A cam guide is connected to the drive. A cam plate having a cam track is pivotally connected to the barrel. The cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam plate pivots back and forth as the drive is moved distally and proximally relative to the barrel. At least one finger is connected to the cam plate such that the finger engages and advances the clip string end of the clip receiving cavity as the cam plate pivots back.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting bars comprising:

a clip string having a terminal clip, the clip string comprising a plurality of connected clips, wherein each clip has a seat for positioning one bar, a plurality of hooks for positioning a second bar wherein at least one of the hooks has an upper body, and at least one joining portion wherein the hooks are joined by the joining portion;

a barrel having a clip receiving cavity, the terminal clip being received in the clip receiving cavity; and

a hammer received in the barrel, the hammer reciprocating longitudinally within the barrel for contacting and expelling the terminal clip from the barrel;

a reciprocable member extending proximally from the barrel;

a cam guide connected to the reciprocable member;

a cam member having a cam track, the cam member pivotally connected to the barrel, wherein the cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam member pivots back and forth as the reciprocable member is moved distally and proximally relative to the barrel; and

at least one finger connected to the cam member such that the finger engages and advances the clip string into the clip receiving cavity as the cam member pivots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the reciprocable member is operable to be manually reciprocated within the barrel when a downward force is manually applied to the reciprocable member and then released.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a return spring biasing the reciprocable member proximally relative to the barrel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the cam member comprises a cam plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the cam track comprises an outer edge of the cam member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a return spring biasing the cam track against the cam guide.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an alignment head, wherein the barrel has a distal end and the alignment head is defined at the barrel distal end, and wherein the alignment head has notches for engaging transverse bars.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a trigger actuated automatic drive.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a clip track extending through the clip receiving cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one resilient retainer for releasably engaging a clip received in the clip receiving cavity, so the clip will not fall from the barrel until being expelled by the hammer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the reciprocable member is attached to the hammer and moves with the hammer.

12. A method of applying clips to reinforcing bars to connect the reinforcing bars, the method comprising:

(a) placing a distal end of a clip applying apparatus against at least one of the bars;

(b) manually forcing the apparatus against the bar so that a proximally extending member moves distally relative to a barrel of the apparatus;

(c) during step (b), moving a clip advance member laterally away from the barrel;

(d) driving a clip from the barrel and onto the reinforcing bars with a hammer;

(e) manually releasing the downward force on the apparatus and moving the proximally extending member proximally relative to the barrel; and

(f) during step (e), moving the clip advance member laterally toward the barrel and moving another clip laterally into the barrel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

repeating steps (a)-(f) multiple times to apply multiple clips of a string of connected clips, the string extending laterally from the barrel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the distal movement of the proximally extending member in step (b) also moves the hammer distally in step (d), the hammer and the proximally extending member being rigidly connected together.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

step (c) further comprises camming the clip advance member laterally away from the barrel.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

step (d) further comprises manually forcing the hammer distally within the barrel to drive the clip from the barrel.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

step (d) further comprises pulling a trigger and automatically driving the clip from the barrel.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein:

step (e) further comprises moving the proximally extending member proximally with a spring.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein:

step (f) further comprises moving the clip advance member laterally toward the barrel with a spring.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein:

when the clip advance member moves laterally relative to the barrel in steps (c) and (f) the clip advance member pivots relative to the barrel.