| Flute positioner -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Flute positionerRelated Patent Categories: Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-deformed, Or Locked-threaded Fastener, Impact Driven Fastener, E.g., Nail, Spike, Tack, Etc., Having Means To Facilitate Explosive Driving, Discrete Guide Or Centering MeansFlute positioner description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060104743, Flute positioner. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is related to fastener positioners and holders. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts and the like are well known in the art, and may be used in a variety of applications, including for attaching brackets and other items to a substrate. One exemplary fastener is a nail or pin useful for insertion into a substrate such as a wall, ceiling, or other surface. A hammer or an automated driving tool such as a pneumatic or powder-actuated tool may be used to drive the nail. [0003] In such operation, the angle of incidence of the fastener into the underlying substrate can be important to the holding power of the fastener. Often, it is desired to achieve an insertion angle substantially close to 90.degree.. To accomplish this, the fastener should be generally transverse to the substrate surface when it receives a driving force from a tool. If the driving tool includes a barrel for impacting the fastener with the driving force, it may also be desirable to insert the fastener into the barrel and have it held therein. The driving tool can then be located at a desired location for driving the fastener into the substrate. When this is accomplished, "one-handed" operation of the tool may be practiced wherein an operator is not required to hold the fastener in place for operation on by the tool. [0004] It is known to use a holder for holding the fastener head in the tool barrel. For example, a thin ring with outwardly extending pliable fingers may be positioned on the fastener shaft. The fingers of the ring engage the wall of a tool barrel when the fastener is inserted therein to help center the fastener within the barrel. [0005] Known positioner rings fail to solve several problems in the art, however. For example, known positioner ring fingers may fail to engage the tool barrel with satisfactory firmness or friction, with the result that insufficient guidance is provided when the fastener is driven into a substrate. An undesirable variance of angle of insertion can result. This can lead to diminished fastener holding power, to bent or deformed fasteners, or even to fastener failure. Also, different diameter rings may be needed for fasteners of different diameters, and different sized fingers are required for use with different diameter tool barrels. This results in a number of different positioner rings being required, lowering the efficiency of their manufacture. Accordingly, needs and problems remain unresolved in the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A flute positioner is provided for positioning a fastener in a tool barrel. An exemplary flute positioner includes a body, a throughbore extending through the body, and at least one holding member extending into the throughbore. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective of an embodiment of the present flute positioner engaged on a fastener and being inserted into the barrel of a driving tool; [0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective of an exemplary flute positioner; [0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the exemplary flute positioner of FIG. 2 viewed from the line 3-3 in the direction shown; [0010] FIG. 4 is the view of FIG. 3 with a fastener (shown in cross section) engaged in the exemplary flute positioner; and, [0011] FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 with the exemplary flute positioner engaged in the barrel (shown in cross section) of a driving tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] Turning now to the drawings, an exemplary flute or flute positioner is shown generally at 2 in FIG. 1 with a fastener 4 engaged therein. The flute positioner 2 is configured for being engaged in the barrel B of a driving tool such as a pneumatic or powder-actuated tool. Once engaged in the barrel B, the flute positioner 2 frictionally holds the fastener 4 in position for receiving a driving force from the driving tool. When the driving force is received the fastener 4 with the flute positioner 2 attached may be ejected from the barrel of the tool and the fastener 4 driven into a substrate. The flute positioner 2 may completely or partially split apart. A portion of the flute positioner 2 may be retained in a deformed condition between the head of the fastener 4 and the substrate. [0013] As shown by FIGS. 1-3, the exemplary flute positioner 2 includes a body 6 that is defined by a generally cylindrical sidewall 8 and that is configured to be received in the barrel B. A throughbore 10 is defined by an inner surface 11 of the sidewall 8 and extends through the body in the direction of its major axis. At least one, and preferably a plurality of holding members 12 extend from the sidewall 8 radially inward into the throughbore 10, and are configured to engage the fastener 4. A plurality of extensions 14 extends radially outward from the sidewall 8 exterior surface 13. In the exemplary flute positioner 2, the holding members 12 are configured as lobes and the extensions 14 are configured as fins. The precise number and shape of the holding members 12 and/or the extensions 14 may vary to suit the application. [0014] As illustrated by FIG. 2, the exemplary flute positioner 2 includes three fins 14. Other numbers of fins 14 may be provided, with from one to six being preferred, and from three to six a more preferred number. The fins 14 are preferably spaced equidistantly about the perimeter of the body 6, and preferably extend for the entire length of the body 6 in its axial direction. The fins 14, body 6 and holding members 12 are preferably made of a flexible material such as a thermoplastic, with polyvinyl chloride being one example. [0015] Three holding members 12 are provided in the exemplary flute positioner 2, with from three to six holding members a preferred number. The exemplary holding members 12 are preferably spaced equidistantly about the perimeter of the throughbore 10. As shown by FIG. 3, each holding member 12 includes a concave engaging surface 16 for engaging a shaft 15 of the fastener 4 (FIG. 1), and a base 18 that is proximate to the sidewall 8. The preferred holding members 12 are each tapered from their base 18 to their engaging surface 16. The holding members 12 also preferably extend in the axial direction of the cylindrical sidewall 8 for the entire length of the sidewall. However, it is contemplated that the length of the members may vary to suit the application. Preferably, the holding members 12 and the fins 14 are staggered or interspersed with one another about the circumference of the sidewall 8. That is, each holding member 12 is placed at a location on the interior of the sidewall 8 that is between two fin 14 locations on the exterior of the sidewall 8. The holding members 12 are preferably somewhat flexible and compressible in the radial direction towards the sidewall 8, with the result that different fasteners 4 with different diameter shafts can be accommodated. [0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the exemplary flute positioner 2 with the fastener shaft 15 (shown in cross section) engaged with the lobes 12 in the throughbore 10. As illustrated, engagement between the lobes 12 and the fastener shaft 15 causes the sidewall 8 to deform. In particular, the darkly shaded regions 20 of the sidewall 8 bulge radially outward as illustrated. It will be appreciated that these regions 20 extend generally along the entire axial length of the sidewall 8, as shown by FIG. 1. However, it is contemplated that the length of the regions 20 may vary to suit the application. The sidewall bulging regions 20 occur in areas that are generally adjacent to the holding member bases 18. Although all of the circumference of the sidewall 8 may bulge to some degree, the holding members 12 are configured to cause the bulging regions 20 to preferably show substantially more deformation than do other regions 22 of the sidewall that are proximate to the fins 14. Preferably, the sidewall regions 22 proximate to the fins 14 do not substantially bulge outward. [0017] FIG. 5 shows the flute and fastener engaged in the barrel B, with the barrel shown in cross-section. As illustrated, the bulging sidewall regions 20 are useful for frictionally engaging the barrel B. It has been discovered that the engagement between the bulging sidewall regions 20 and the barrel B is useful to provide desirable guidance for the positioning of the flute 2 within the barrel. While the fins 14 may engage the barrel B, it has been discovered that the engagement of the bulging sidewall regions 20 can provide a larger engagement area and can substantially enhance the holding power and guidance of the barrel B. Also, because the bulging sidewall regions 20 extend in an axial direction along the sidewall 8, they are believed to promote self-aligning of the flute 2 as it travels through the barrel B that facilitates a desirable straight ejection from the barrel. Testing has indicated that use of the exemplary flute positioner 2 can substantially increase the occurrence of desirable angles of insertion of fasteners 4 into substrates. [0018] Note also that the regions 22 show little or no outward bulge. It is contemplated that in other invention embodiments noticeable bulge will occur in these regions 22 depending, for instance, on the diameter of the fastener shaft 15 engaged. It is preferred that the amount of outward bulge in the regions 22 be less than that of the regions 20. Finally, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention no fins 14 are provided, and that engagement with the barrel B will occur only at the bulging sidewall regions 20. [0019] Achieving desirable engagement between the flute 2 and the barrel B depends to an extent on the firmness of engagement between the bulging sidewall regions 20 and the barrel. The firmness of engagement partially depends on the amount of sidewall 8 that deforms when the holding members 12 engage the fastener shaft 15. A balance must be achieved between too much deformation and too little, since neither too firm nor too loose of an engagement with the barrel B is desirable. It has been discovered that various elements of the flute positioner 2 interact with one another to determine the amount of sidewall 8 deformation that occurs, and that a beneficial amount of deformation can be achieved through choice of element configuration, placement, materials of construction and dimensions. Continue reading about Flute positioner... Full patent description for Flute positioner Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Flute positioner patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Flute positioner or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Stud for parts assembly Next Patent Application: Clip Industry Class: Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-threaded fastener ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Flute positioner patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.02328 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
