Strip of collated fasteners for fastener-driving tool

• US 20030136693A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Harish C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/343
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/08 formed in integral series but easily separable
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 27/00 Bolts, screws, or nuts formed in integral series but easily separable, particularly for use in automatic machines arrangements for feeding screws or nuts in spanners, wrenches or screw-drivers with built-in magazines B25B23/06

Abstract

In a fastener driving tool, a carrier for holding a plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve holding an associated fastener. Each sleeve has a body with an axis and a bore, the bore extending axially through the body and the bore being for receiving the associated fastener. A set of compressible ribs is also included within the bore of the sleeve for gripping a shank of the associated fastener so that the associated fastener is positioned substantially in the axial direction of the sleeve when the fastener is driven. Each rib has a curved portion that is concave with respect to the bore.

Claims

1. A sleeve for holding a fastener for use in a fastener driving tool comprising:

a body having an axis and a bore, the bore extending axially through the body, the bore being for receiving an associated fastener; and

a set of compressible ribs within the bore for gripping a shank of the associated fastener so that the associated fastener is positioned substantially in the axial direction of the body when the fastener is driven, wherein each rib abuts against the shank of the associated fastener.

2. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein each rib has a curved portion that is convex with respect to the bore, the curved portion being compressible and abutting against the shank of the associated fastener.

3. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib extends substantially through the bore in the axial direction.

4. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises three ribs.

5. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises four ribs.

6. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is molded from polymeric material.

7. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is molded from polypropylene.

8. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is connected by a frangible bridge to an adjacent sleeve, such that the sleeves form a carrier for holding a plurality of fasteners.

19. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is molded from polypropylene.

9. A sleeve for holding a fastener for use in a fastener driving tool comprising:

a body having an axis and a bore, the bore extending axially through the body, the bore being for receiving an associated fastener; and

a set of ribs within the bore for gripping a shank of the associated fastener so that the associated fastener is positioned substantially in the axial direction of the body when the fastener is driven, wherein each rib abuts against the shank of the associated fastener;

wherein each rib has a curved portion that is convex with respect to the bore, the curved portion being compressible and abutting against the shank of the associated fastener.

10. A sleeve according to claim 9, wherein at least one rib extends substantially through the bore in the axial direction.

11. A sleeve according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve comprises three ribs.

12. A sleeve according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve comprises four ribs.

13. A sleeve according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve is connected by a frangible bridge to an adjacent sleeve, whereby the sleeves form a carrier for holding a plurality of fasteners.

14. A carrier for holding a plurality of fasteners for use in a fastener driving tool comprising:

a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve holding an associated fastener and having a body with an axis and a bore, the bore extending axially through the body, the bore being for receiving the associated fastener;

a set of compressible ribs within the bore for gripping a shank of the associated fastener so that the associated fastener is positioned substantially in the axial direction of the sleeve when the fastener is driven, wherein each rib abuts against the shank of the associated fastener; and

at least one frangible bridge between adjacent sleeves of the carrier.

15. A carrier according to claim 14, wherein each rib of each sleeve has a curved portion that is convex with respect to the bore, and the curved portion being compressible and abutting against the shank of the associated fastener.

16. A carrier according to claim 14, wherein at least one rib of each sleeve extends substantially through the bore of the sleeve in the axial direction.

17. A carrier according to claim 14, wherein each sleeve comprises three ribs.

18. A sleeve according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve is molded from polymeric material.

20. A carrier for holding a plurality of fasteners for use in a fastener driving tool comprising:

a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve holding an associated fastener and having a body with an axis and a bore, the bore extending axially through the body, the bore being for receiving the associated fastener;

a set of compressible ribs within the bore for gripping a shank of the associated fastener so that the associated fastener is positioned substantially in the axial direction of the sleeve when the fastener is driven, wherein each rib of each sleeve has a curved portion that is convex with respect to the bore, and the curved portion is compressible and abuts against the shank of the associated fastener; and

at least one frangible bridge between adjacent sleeves of the carrier.