Abstract:
A tool for driving a floor staple including an outer tubular body and a rod insertable into the tubular body. The tubular body has an end tip having angled surfaces and an inner bore. The rod is biased with the inner bore. The inner bore has a staple slot allowing an exposed end a staple to fit within the outer tubular body. The rod has a hammering head, which when struck, drives staple into a flooring plank.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to flooring tools and more specifically for tools to set staples used for hardwood flooring installation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the installation of tongue and groove hardwood plank flooring materials, pneumatic staplers are commonly used to drive staples used to adhere the planks to the floor. These staplers are designed to sit flat on top of the hardwood plank and locate against a tongued side of the plank such that they can precisely drive the staple at a 45° angle at a point just above the tongue. The driving angle of 45° and driving elevation at the point just above the tongue are fixed and standard for most all modern pneumatic hardwood staplers. The standard angle and point of entry for driving staples works well because the hardwood planks themselves normally have standard tongue and groove dimensions. 
       FIG. 14  shows the shape of a typical modern hardwood staple  50 . As used herein, a typical hardwood staple  50  has dimensions defined as follows: dimension  51  is the length of the hardwood staple (sometimes also referred to as a “leg”), dimension  52  is the width of the hardwood staple (sometimes also referred to as a “crown”), and dimension  53  is the thickness of the hardwood staple. Modern hardwood staples are typically wire form products made from round wire. Hence the crown  52  of this kind of staple tends to form a longitudinally rounded surface  54 . In comparison to other staples, modern hardwood flooring staples have long, brittle legs that will easily break if they are not supported during the driving process. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates by way of a cross sectional view the proper stapling of a tongue and groove hardwood plank. A first plank  11  has a hardwood staple  12  driven fully at a 45° angle into the vertex  13  of the exterior angle formed by an outer edge  14  and a tongue  15  of first plank  11 . Hardwood staple  12  anchors first plank  11  to subfloor  16 . Provided hardwood staple  12  is fully driven into the vertex  13 , the tongue  15  of plank  11  fits easily into groove  18  of second plank  17 , and the stapling process continues by stapling at same area of the next plank (the vertex  19  of second plank  17 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the exterior angle formed by tongue outer edge  74  on the tongued side of the plank and a tongue  75  of a typical hardwood plank  71  may not be a 90° angle. The angle D formed between tongue outer edge  74  and tongue  75  is normally about 89.5°. Similarly, groove outer edge  70  on the opposite groove side of the plank is at an angle E of about 88.5° in relation to a centerline  77  of the hardwood plank. As shown in  FIG. 13 , these angles relieve tongue outer edge  74  and groove outer edge  70  from each other when they are butted together. This ensures tongue outer edge  74  and groove outer edge  70  will only contact near tongue top edge  72 , and groove top edge  73 . This ensures that there will be minimal interference between the edges which could create a gap at top of the joint. 
     When using pneumatic hardwood staplers, knots in the hardwood plank or drops in air pressure may cause the nailer to only partially drive the staple, leaving an undesirable exposed staple head.  FIG. 11  illustrates the problem. Hardwood staple  1  has been partially driven into the side of the hardwood plank, leaving an exposed staple head  10 . Whenever there is an exposed staple head, the tongue of a first plank and the groove of the next plank will not fit together. The floor installation process comes to a halt. 
     Presently, hardwood installers normally carry snips and conventional nail sets to hammer down partially driven staples. The staple legs have to be separated from the crown, and then the legs can be driven using a conventional nail set. This is a difficult, time consuming process. If a set tool were available to drive the entire exposed staple head the rest of the way into the side of the plank, it would greatly speed the process of installation. The process of driving a partially driven staple or exposed staple head will be referred to herein as a process of “finish hammering” the hardwood staple. 
     Tools have been developed for hammering nails into the side of tongue and grooved flooring materials, but none for finish hammering modern hardwood staples from pneumatic staplers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,016,383 to Wellman discloses a set tool with a plate which sits flat on the hardwood plank. The plate includes a “V-rib” or approximately 90° internal angled surface formed in its base. The V-rib is shaped to conform to the plank at the external angle formed by the outer edge of the plank and the tongue of the plank (also referred to as a “rabbet” as this term is used in woodworking). Thus, the V-rib functions to position the plate at a precise location “to permit the effective drive of nails”. A circular “passage” for inserting a round headed nail is formed at a 45° degree angle through the plate to the vertex of the V-rib. Thus, when the point of the nail is inserted into the passage, it is automatically located at the optimal location for driving the nail at a 45° angle into the side of the plank. 
     In addition, the disclosed device includes a “punch or driving element” for use in connection with the plate. The punch is a generally cylindrical rod with a reduced outside diameter on one end which can slidably fit within the passage in the plate. This reduced diameter end can slide within the passage all the way to the bottom of the passage, and can thus drive the nail all the way down to the bottom of the passage. Thus, as this disclosure states, “the nail can be entirely driven into the flooring without removing the improved implement” (i.e., the “plate”). 
     Wellman&#39;s floor set may have worked well for the purpose of driving nails, but it is not suitable for the purpose of finish-hammering partially driven modern hardwood staples. The reason is that the passages are merely cylindrical holes designed for the passage of round headed nails. In comparison, modern hardwood staples are fairly thin, U-shaped metal wire implements. Effectively driving such staples requires that the staple be precisely supported all the way into the plank by means of a precision staple channel shaped to create a precision slide fit with the dimensions of the staple. If a user attempted to drive such a staple with only a hammer, and a blunt round ended punch running inside a passage such as Wellman&#39;s, the lack of support means would cause the thin metal legs of the staple to bend over or break. The passage of the Wellman device will not provide the necessary precision support means. Finally, the passages of this device are enshrouded due to the bulk of the body. A thinner body such as a tube having relieved edges would make the process of inserting an exposed staple head into a passage or staple slot much more easy to see. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 913,014 to Kafer discloses a staple set for hammering a heavy duty staple used to adhere fence wires to wooden fence posts. Kafer states the tubular body of his set tool can be made from scrap tube from “recycled pipe sections” or “boiler flues”. From this description, it may be inferred that such tubes are cylindrical shapes without internal features, and such is confirmed by his drawings. Kafer&#39;s tubes are threaded on both ends. One end receives a threaded cap having a staple slot. Since the staple slot of this device is formed only in the cap, the cross section of this slot is very thin. On the opposite end of the tube, a rod is inserted having a weighted handle. In use, the user inserts the fencing staple in the staple slot, grasps the weighted handle, and forcibly slides the rod to the bottom of the tube. The rod contacts and drives the staple into a post, thereby fastening a wire. This device is not useful for the purpose of finish hammering partially driven modern hardwood staples. The staple slot, being formed only in the cap of this device, is simply not long enough to support the long legs of these staples. Without precision support for both legs, the legs would bend or break. Furthermore, the end of the tubular body where the staple exits the device, and the driving head of the rod of this device, both have bulky square cross sections. Neither end surface has the type of relieved edges necessary to enter the external angle formed by the outer edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank. Lastly, the staple driving head of the rod of this device appears to have no means for accepting the rounded crown of the staple, but appears only to be a flat surface. To finish hammer modern hardwood staples, it would be preferable to provide a staple receiving groove in the driving head of the rod. This is because that the crown of a modern hardwood staple has a rounded surface along the longitudinal axis of the crown. Such a groove would prevent the staple from bending, and would assist the user in locating the set tool over the head of the staple. Furthermore, it would be preferred that the tip of a set tool for finishing modern hardwood staples be as thin as possible, possibly made from a thin strip of metal. Such a thin tip could finish hammer the hardwood staple below flush into the side of the hardwood plank, making it easier to fit the tongue and grooved sections of the plank together. However, if a thin tip is employed, a precision groove on the driving end would become even more important in order to prevent such a tip from skipping over the crown of staple. 
     Other prior art set tools have been developed for driving staples, but they all have drawbacks. U.S. Pat. No. 1,213,334 to Chapman discloses a single-piece driving rod type staple set with a plurality of “sockets” (i.e., “blind-hole” staple channels) of varying depths formed in its driving head. The reference states that “the sockets are made of gradually decreasing depths so as to accommodate the staple at various stages of its entrance into the wood in which it is being set.” Thus, the user begins by inserting a staple in the deepest channel, and hammers on the opposite end to start the driving process. Once the driving head contacts the wood, the user inserts the staple head into one the shallower sockets, and the staple can be driven further. The legs of the staple are supported by the various sockets, preventing them from spreading or bending over. This device is not suitable for the purpose of finish hammering hardwood staples because the plurality of sockets requires a wide head. Such a wide head does not easily enter the external angle formed by the outside edge of the plank and the tongue of the plank. Furthermore, modern hardwood staples are by comparison much longer and thinner than the staples shown by Chapman. More sockets of even greater depth would be necessary, and the sockets would need to be narrow. Forming enough narrow blind sockets into the head would become impractical. What is needed is a tool with a single staple slot with a length at least as long as the hardwood staple, and a separate movable means of driving the head of the hardwood staple down the length of the staple channel. 
     Other similar set tools such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D493,079 S to Fowler, have more compact, relieved driving heads which include a single staple socket. Such a compact driving head can more easily enter the external angle formed by the outside edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank. However, there is no means of support for the legs of the staple. This type of tool is not helpful in cases where the staple protrudes a significant distance from the hardwood plank. Without support during the driving process, the staple would simply bends over or breaks. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,430,532 to Rayburn discloses a spring activated set tool for small pins or brads used in soft woods. Specifically it is designed to function “without the use of a hammer”. This tool has a bottom body called a “guide” having a bore forming guidance means for pins or brads. The guide has relieved edges on the end where the opening of the bore is formed. The bore itself is a circular hole suitable to support round headed pins or brads. Additionally, the tool has a “head” with a hollow “barrel” that fits in a telescoping fashion over the guide. Within the barrel, a cylindrical plunger is mounted that inserts into the bore of the guide. A spring is inserted over the plunger and inside the barrel that rests on the top of the guide. In use, the user pushes the head, forcing the plunger to drive a pin or brad down the bore of the guide. Afterwards, the spring lifts the head and the plunger in the bore is raised. This makes space in the bore for insertion of another brad. Fast reloading of brads appears to be the primary benefit of the spring activation of this set tool. 
     Rayburn&#39;s set tool is not useful for finish hammering partially driven hardwood staples primarily because its round bore is not the right shape. Instead of a circular bore, a precision rectangular shaped staple slot sized for slide fit insertion of the crown of a hardwood staple is necessary. Furthermore, considerably more force is needed to finish hammer a hardwood staple, preferably by impact by a hammer. If a hammer were to be used, it would be preferable that the entire driving apparatus be more solid, and that it be closely supported along its entire length within a tubular body. Rayburn&#39;s plunger would likely bend within the open barrel if the forces necessary to drive a modern hardwood staple were repeatedly applied. 
     Finally, the process of finish hammering itself would be better facilitated by a spring urging the driving end of the rod (Rayburn&#39;s plunger) against the exposed head of the hardwood staple, rather than separating the hammering head (Rayburn&#39;s head and plunger) from the work (staple crown). This is because the finish hammering process likely requires repeated blows. A spring urging the driving head of the rod against the exposed head of the hardwood staple as it progresses down the staple channel would ensure the driving head was always in an ideal location. This could improve the precision and efficiency of the finish hammering operation. 
     What is needed is a set tool for finish hammering modern hardwood staples with a staple slot that properly supports the legs of these staples throughout the process. The body and the driving rod must have relieved edges so they can enter the external angle formed by the outer edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank. The driving head of the rod needs a staple receiving groove to help locate the set tool on top of the exposed staple head, and to support the staple head as it is being finish hammered. A spring is needed to urge the staple receiving groove against the top of the exposed staple head at all times it is within the staple slot. 
     SUMMARY 
     The device is a set tool including a tubular body, and a rod assembly including a spring and a flanged bushing to retain the rod assembly within in the tubular body. On its bottom outer surface, the tubular body has relieved edges forming an included angle of about 75°, enabling it to enter the external angle formed by the outer edge of the hardwood plank, and the tongue of the plank. A thin flat tip surface is formed at the end of said relieved edges, which will be referred to herein as a staple insertion edge. Within the tubular body, a precision staple slot is formed having an opening at this staple insertion edge. The staple slot is centered on the centerline of the tubular body and on the vertex of the included angle formed by the relieved edges. The staple slot has a length, width and thickness permitting a precision slide fit of at least one entire leg length of a typical hardwood staple. In an area above the staple slot in the tubular body, and centered on the same centerline, a wider second hole is formed for holding the rod assembly. The profile of the rod can be any shape that slides within the tubular body. The rod includes a hammering head and a staple driving head. The staple driving head includes guidance means such as nubs insertable within the staple slot. When an exposed staple head is inserted within the staple slot, the guidance means also running within the staple slot guide the staple driving head to the exposed staple head for hammering. The rod preferably has a thickness greater than that of the hardwood staple so it can be more easily hammered. In such case, the staple driving head of the rod may have relieved edges to enter the external angle formed by the outer edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank. The staple driving head may have a precision staple receiving groove for insertion of the longitudinally rounded crown of a hardwood staple. To complete the rod assembly, a flanged bushing is slid on the rod, followed by a spring, and finally a washer forming a footing for the spring. The washer is affixed to the rod by means of a pin press fit in a pin hole and located underneath the washer. The rod assembly is inserted into the tubular body. The guidance means on the staple driving end of the rod assembly are inserted within the staple slot. The assembly is retained in the tube by the screwing the flanged bushing into the top of the tubular body. In use, the user inserts the exposed staple head into the staple slot, and the staple driving head of the rod is urged backward within the body against the spring. The user hammers the hammering head of the rod several times in order to perform the finish hammering operation. After each hammer blow, the staple driving head moves with the staple as the staple is driven into the plank. Pressure from the spring keeps the staple driving head on top of the exposed staple head at all times. Support from the precision staple slot ensures the staple will not bend over during the process of finish hammering. The travel of the staple driving end of the rod is limited by a bottom surface of the hammering head contacting the top of the flanged bushing. This prevents damage to the vertex area of the external angle formed by the outside edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the set tool. 
         FIG. 2  is a side and cross section of the tubular body of the set tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the tubular body of the set tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tubular body of the set tool of  FIG. 1  describing its geometry. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the rod of the set tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the rod of the set tool of  FIG. 1  describing its geometry. 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section of the assembled set tool in  FIG. 1  in use against a hardwood flooring plank. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view showing an alternative embodiment including a feature to protect the hand incorporated with the set tool to protect the hand from off center blows from a hammer. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rod with a thin metal tip extension. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a hardwood plank showing a properly driven hardwood staple. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of an exposed staple head in a hardwood plank. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section of a hardwood plank showing the angles formed by the outer edge of the plank on both the tongued side and the grooved side of the plank. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross section of two hardwood planks showing how the angles formed by the relieved outer edges on both the tongue and grooved sides the plank interact to prevent a gap from forming between the planks. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a typical hardwood staple. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the assembled set tool showing how the extension of the staple driving head is limited. 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment with a tubular body formed in two sections, and includes a minimum clearance slot. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a hardwood flooring cleat. 
         FIG. 18  is a section view of an alternative embodiment having a tubular body formed as a single piece of material, but also including a minimum clearance slot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the exploded view of set tool  100  includes a tubular body  200 , and a rod assembly  600 . Tubular body  200  has on its lower end  203  two relieved edges  205 ,  210  allowing tubular body  200  to enter the external angle formed by the outside edge of the hardwood plank, and the tongue of the plank.  FIG. 2  shows a cross section of tubular body  200  showing that relieved edges  205 ,  210  form an included angle A of about 75°. The apex of angle A is centered on (and therefore also bisected by) centerline  215  of tubular body  200 . A staple insertion edge  245  is formed at the most distal tip of tubular body  200 . 
     A first circular bore  220  is formed through tubular body  200  centered on centerline  215 . The diameter of first bore  220  is slightly smaller than the width of a typical hardwood staple. This is so that a staple slot  225  can be formed by the addition of two parallel rectangular channels within first bore  220 . Above first circular bore  220  is a wider second bore  240  centered on this same centerline. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , which shows tubular body  200  laid over on another side, centerline  215  may be extended horizontally forming a plane  217  that bisects relieved edges  205 ,  210 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , an end view of the bottom end  203  of tubular body  200  in the same orientation as  FIG. 4 , staple slot  225  is formed by the addition of two parallel rectangular channels  230 ,  235  within circular bore  220 . Channels  230 ,  235  are centered on centerline  215  and bisected by plane  217 . As used herein, channels  230 ,  235  “enlarge the perimeter” of first bore  220 . The dimensions of staple slot  225  allow a precise slide fit to accept and support an exposed staple head during the process of finish hammering. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , set tool  100  includes a rod assembly  600 . Rod assembly  600  includes a rod  615 , a first pin  620  forming guide nubs  625 ,  630 , a second retaining pin  635 , a retaining washer  640 , a coil spring  645 , and a flanged washer  400 . Rod  615  has a hammering head  650  on its upper end and a staple driving head  603  on its lower end. Staple driving head  603  has relieved edges  605 ,  610  allowing staple driving head  603  to enter the external angle formed by the outside edge of the hardwood plank, and the tongue of the plank. As shown in  FIG. 5 , rod  615  has a centerline  617 . Relieved edges  605 ,  610  of staple driving head  603  form an included angle B of about 75° with an apex that is centered on (and bisected by) centerline  617 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , centerline  617  may be extended horizontally to form a plane  619 . On the distal tip of staple driving head  603 , a horizontal, rounded staple receiving groove  615  is formed. Staple receiving groove  615  is bisected by plane  619 . Behind staple receiving groove  615  and also bisected by plane  619  is hole  622 . 
     The thickness of the rod could  615  could be any thickness, including, at a minimum, the thickness of a typical hardwood staple. However, for ease of hammering, and to prevent bending, it is preferred that rod  615  have a thickness greater than that of a typical hardwood staple. As shown in  FIG. 5 , rod  615  has a hammering head  650  with a thickness  657 , and a body thickness  647  that is thicker than a typical hardwood staple (represented approximately by the width of staple receiving groove  615 -dimension  665 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , for the subassembly of rod assembly  600 , flanged bushing  400  is first slid onto rod  615 . Next, coil spring  645  is slid onto rod  615 , followed by retaining washer  640 . Coil spring  645  and retaining washer  640  are held on rod  615  by inserting second pin  635  in a hole  632  below retaining washer  640 . Finally, first pin  620  is inserted into hole  622  to form guide nubs  625 ,  630  for driving end  603 . 
     To complete the assembly, rod assembly  600  is inserted into second bore  240  in tubular body  200 . When driving end  603  reaches first bore  220 , the guide nubs formed by pin  620  are inserted and run within staple slot  225  to staple insertion edge  245 . Flanged bushing  400  is inserted into the top of second bore  240  and fastened to tubular body  200  with two screws  670 ,  675  screwing into two tapped holes  410 ,  415 . 
       FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section of the assembled set tool in use against the side of a hardwood plank. An exposed staple head  10  enters tubular body  200  at a staple insertion edge  245 . The exposed staple head is guided to staple receiving groove  615  in driving end  603  of rod  600  by staple slot  225 . As the exposed staple head  10  is inserted deeper into staple slot  225 , it pushes rod  600  and retaining washer  640  inward against coil spring  645 . Coil spring  645  applies reverse pressure forcing staple receiving groove  615  of rod  600  against the top of exposed staple head  10 . Staple slot  225  is formed all the way to the end of first bore  220 . Staple slot  225  is long enough to accept the full leg length of one entire hardwood staple. 
     Once the exposed staple head is fully inserted into staple slot  225 , hammering head  650  of rod  600  is extended from tubular body  200 . The user hammers hammering head  650  with a hammer. Staple driving end  603  of rod  600  is kept in proper position over the exposed staple head by the nubs formed by pin  620  being retained within staple slot  225 . Staple receiving groove  615  is kept constantly on top of the longitudinally rounded crown of the exposed staple head due to constant downward spring pressure from spring  645 . 
     Staple slot  225  serves to support the legs of the hardwood staple throughout the process of finish hammering. Because staple slot  225  is at least as long as the length of a typical hardwood staple, it supports the legs of the staple no matter how far the exposed staple head protrudes from the side of the hardwood plank. With this design, the finish hammering procedure can be always be performed successfully. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , a side view of the assembled set tool, the travel of staple driving head  603  beyond staple insertion edge  245  is limited. A bottom surface  655  of hammering head  650  contacts a top surface  405  of flanged bushing  400 , preventing further extension of staple driving head  603 . This prevents damage to the plank at the vertex area of the external angle formed by the outside edge of the plank, and the tongue of the plank, which may be caused by excessive impact or over penetration of staple driving head  603 . In order to drive the hardwood staple below flush into this vertex area, it is preferred that staple driving end  603  extend a slight distance from staple insertion edge  245 . This distance can be controlled by the thickness of top surface  405  of flanged bushing  400 . 
     A number of alternatives may be adopted to create a spring loaded set tool for hardwood staples. As shown in  FIG. 1 , first bore  220  and second bore  240  in tubular body  200  are round holes. The round shape of first bore  220  accommodates the round shape of rod  615 . Round holes and rods are preferred due to the availability of low cost standard round drills and bar stock. However, in one alternative, this hole could be formed as any shape, such as an oval, triangle, or square, and have a rod of corresponding shape. Such a shape for the hole and rod would prevent the rod from rotating within the hole, which could eliminate the need for guide nubs on the staple driving head of the rod. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the rod includes a staple driving head having a relieved end forming an included angle shape, and an integral staple receiving groove formed into the relieved end. This configuration is preferred due to low manufacturing cost due to minimal parts. In another alternative, the set tool could include a driving head with a separate thin tip extension inserted within a slot formed in the driving head. As shown in  FIG. 9 , rod  800  has a staple driving end  810  that includes a slot  870 . Inserted into slot  870  is a tip  880  that could be formed as a metal stamping from a thin piece of metal. Tip  880  has a staple receiving groove  890  formed in its end. Tip  880  is fastened to rod  800  by press fitting a pin  807  into a hole  808 . Tip  880  is slightly wider than body  805  of rod  800 . This is so that two protruding edges  823 ,  825  form guide nubs that may guide staple driving end  810  when inserted into a staple slot. 
     Tip  880  is thin and easily enters the external angle formed by the outside edge of the hardwood plank, and the tongue of the plank. However, relieved edges  811 ,  812  in staple driving end  810  are still needed to allow staple driving end  810  to easily enter the external angle formed by the outer edge of the hardwood plank, and the tongue of the plank. 
     A thin tip such as tip  880  can have several advantages in the event that a higher priced, more durable, and more functional set tool is desired. Rod  800  can be formed as a body  805  from a first material having sufficient impact resistance for safe hammering at hammering end  835 . Tip  880  may be made from a harder material which can be precision ground on the end to form a staple receiving groove  890  that conforms with the longitudinally rounded shape of the crown of the hardwood staple. Tip  880  can better drive the exposed hardwood staple head below flush into the side of hardwood plank. The lack of any exposed hardwood staple head whatsoever at the tongue and groove joint can make it easier to get the joint between planks together. 
     In another alternative, the tubular body of the set tool could incorporate a means to protect the hand from off center blows from a hammer. As shown in  FIG. 8 , set tool  700  has a rubber jacket  710  over body  705  held in place by a screw  715 . Rubber jacket  710  has an upper rib  720  above the handle grip body area  725  to protect the hand from off center blows from a hammer. 
     In another alternative, the tubular body of the set tool could be formed in two halves, which when fastened together internally form a staple slot and an upper pocket for housing a rod and spring. As shown in  FIG. 16 , set tool  900  includes a first half  910  and a second half  915 . First half  910  has an upper recess  920 , and a lower recess  930 , and second half  915  has an upper recess  925 , and a lower recess  935  of corresponding shape and location. First half  910  and second half  915  are fastened together with pairs of threaded fasteners  940 ,  945 ,  950 , and pins  955 . When halves  910 ,  915  are fastened together, upper recesses  920 ,  925  form an upper pocket (also referred to herein as an “upper hollow”) for housing a rod and a spring, and lower recesses  930 ,  935  form a staple slot. In this alternative, the recesses may be formed by conventional end mills on a milling machine or investment casting methods, rather than drills and/or broaching tools. As a result, the staple slot formed by lower recesses  930 ,  935  can be much thinner and narrower. In one embodiment, the staple slot has only the width and thickness necessary for slide fit insertion of an exposed staple head. 
     When the staple slot has only the width and thickness necessary for slide fit insertion of an exposed staple head, an alternative rod assembly such as rod assembly  960  must be employed. Rod assembly  960  has a staple driving end including an elongate driving tip that is thin and narrow enough to slide within a staple slot of this shape. Such an elongate driving tip must also be long enough to contact the staple head at whatever distance it may slide up to within the staple slot. Rod assembly  960  includes a rod  967  having a driving head  973 . Driving head  973  includes a slot  970  for insertion of an elongate driving tip  965 . Elongate driving tip  965  is fastened to rod  967  by a pin  969 . A spring  971  presses against pin  969  when spring  971  is within the upper hollow. Spring  971  urges the distal end of elongate driving tip  965  against an exposed staple head when it is inserted within the staple slot. A stopper  973  may be slid onto tip  965  to prevent upper edges  977 ,  979  (of lower recess  930 ,  935  respectively) from being deformed by impact from a lower end  975  of rod  967 . As with the alternative rod shown in  FIG. 9 , rod assembly  960  can be manufactured with a metal tip  965  made from a first hardened material, and a separate rod  967  made from a tough tool steel material suitable for hammering. 
     The thinner and narrower staple slot of this alternative has several advantages. First, it provides better support for the staple. Secondly, a set tool with a thin and narrow staple slot can be used to finish hammer other less common hardwood flooring fasteners such as the “cleat”  1000  of  FIG. 17 . Cleat  1000  has a length  1001  about the same length  51  ( FIG. 14 ) or slightly shorter than hardwood staple  50 . Cleat  1000  has a width  1002  significantly narrower than width  52  ( FIG. 14 ) of hardwood staple  50 , and a thickness  1003  thinner than thickness  53  ( FIG. 14 ) of hardwood staple  50 . The thinner and narrower staple slot of this alternative can successfully finish hammer such cleats, as it provides sufficient support for the cleat on at least three sides. This alternative set tool is preferred for greater versatility. Making the tubular body in two halves and forming the internal features as recesses as in this embodiment permits also permits more economical machining, and lower manufacturing cost. 
     As used herein, the term “hardwood flooring staple” includes both hardwood staples of the kind shown in  FIG. 14 , and hardwood cleats such as that which is shown in  FIG. 17 . Whether the set tool is used for finish hammering the exposed head of a hardwood flooring staple, or the exposed head of a hardwood flooring cleat, the functions of the elements are similar. 
     As used herein, a set tool for hardwood flooring staples with an opening for insertion of an exposed hardwood staple head, where said opening has only the width and thickness necessary for slide fit insertion of an exposed head of a hardwood flooring staple will be referred to as a “minimum clearance slot”. 
     In another alternative, the tubular body of set tool  900  of  FIG. 16  could be made as a single part by means of investment casting methods.  FIG. 18  shows a section view of a tubular body  1200  having an upper hollow  1210  and a minimum clearance staple slot  1220 . The rod assembly  1230  is constructed similarly to rod assembly  960  of  FIG. 16 . Rod assembly  1230  has a similar thin, narrow elongate tip  1240  which may be inserted within minimum clearance slot  1220 . The external shape of a one piece tubular body could be any shape, so long as it includes relieved edges such as  1245 ,  1247 . A round exterior is preferred, because it is more easily accommodates hand protection means such as that shown in  FIG. 8 . However, the internal shapes of a one piece tubular body such as tubular body  1200  are most easily formed when the slots or hollows have uniform section widths. Especially for investment casting processes, such hollows or slots are most easily formed by removal of slides. Hence in addition to upper hollow  1210 , set tool  900  includes second bushing  1250  to form a ceiling for upper hollow  1210 . Bushing  1250  is fastened to tubular body  1200  by screws  1255 ,  1257 . 
     The embodiments may be characterized in a number of different ways. For example, the device may be sold as a complete set tool, including both a tubular body and a rod. Alternatively, the tubular body and rod may be sold separately, with other components such as the spring as optional features, requiring final assembly by a user. 
     In the above section, it is noted that the tool may be used to drive in staples that were not fully driven into a hardwood flooring plank. The set tool may also be used to drive staples if required.