Supporting tool for nails, screws and the like and box fitted with the tool

A supporting tool for nails, screws and the like consists of a body (6) shaped like a plate or slab, in which two openings (7,8) are made; each opening (7,8) being capable of housing a screw or nail (14,15) of different diameter; the sizes of the openings (7,8) vary to define housings for screws or nails of different shapes and diameters; the openings (7,8) extend inside the body (6); the size of the first opening (7) decreases in the opposite direction of the increasing size of the second opening (8); the first opening (7) begins from a first hole (9) and the second opening (8) from a second holes (10); first and second holes (9,10) being capable of housing a nail or screw according to the hole sizes; nails or screws of smaller diameters are clamped by parts of the first or the second openings (7,8) suitable for the diameter of the nail or screw (14,15) to be driven into a wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a tool which is used to support nails, 
screws and the like in order to drive these clamping elements into a wall. 
In addition, the invention relates to boxes fitted with the tool. 
It is known that the operations for driving nails or screws into a wall 
with hammers or screwdrivers are frequently very dangerous for the 
operator, especially if not used to performing these operations. 
A tool is known allowing the indirect support of a nail, the tool being 
used to drive into a wall a nail supporting a hook for paintings; the tool 
represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 essentially consists of a nut at the end 
of a rod also used as a handle for the tool; the nut is engaged by a 
narrow annular part of the hook and supports the hook while the nail is 
driven into the wall. 
A tool of this type can only be used for a hook having a narrow annular 
part with a pre-established diameter; for this reason, a proper tool can 
be used for each hook size. 
AIM OF THE INVENTION 
The purpose of this invention is to remedy these disadvantages. The 
invention, as claimed, solves the problem of creating a supporting tool 
for nails, screws and the like. 
Another purpose of the present invention consists of defining boxes fitted 
with the above mentioned tool. 
The advantages offered by the present invention essentially consist of the 
fact that the tool is capable of directly supporting nails or screws of 
various sizes: in addition, the tool is capable of being housed in a box 
for nails and screws or adhering to the external wall of the box. 
Therefore, the tool according to the present invention can be used by 
persons inexperienced with the use of hammers or screwdrivers. 
A further advantage is that the tool increases the value of the box housing 
nails or screws.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
The known tool shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 has already been described briefly; 
it consists of a body 1 also used as a handle; at an end of the body 1 a 
groove 2 is provided capable of holding a cylindrical narrow part 3 of a 
hook 4; a nail 5 is inserted into a hole in the central part of the hook 4 
to be supported by the tool. The groove 2 closely fits the cylindrical 
narrow part 3 of the hook 4, so that the nail 5 is easily driven into the 
wall. 
By examining FIGS. 1, 2, 3 it is possible to understand that the tool can 
be used for a hook of one size only; in fact, since the groove 2 is 
shape-retaining, it is suitable for a hook having a narrow part 3 of the 
same diameter as the groove 2. 
FIGS. 4, 5 show two very similar embodiments of a tool according to the 
present invention; they only differ in that the tool of FIG. 4 is not 
fitted with a handle, instead the tool of FIG. 5 presents a handle 13. 
Apart this little difference, both tools consist of a body formed by a 
plate or slab in which two openings 7, 8, enlarging from the inside to the 
outside of the body 6, are provided to define the sizes of the housings 
for screws or nails of different shapes and diameters. 
The opening 7 begins from a first hole 9 while the opening 8 from a second 
hole 10. The holes 9, 10 are used for housing a nail or screw having 
diameters compatible with the diameters of the holes 9, 10; nails or 
screws of smaller diameters are clamped by parts of first or second 
opening 7, 8 suitable for the diameter of the nail or the screw to be 
driven into a wall. 
The openings 7, 8 present different enlargement angles enlarging from the 
inside to the outside of the body 6 to define housings for nails or screws 
of various diameters. 
The shapes of the tools of FIGS. 4, 5 and the elasticity of the material 
they are made of simultaneously allow an enlarging of the opening 7 and a 
narrowing of the opening 8 as a nail or screw is inserted into the opening 
7 (and vice-versa). 
FIG. 6 represents a third embodiment of the tool according to the 
invention; the body 6 of the tool presents two openings 7, 8 enlarging 
from the inside to the outside of the body 6 in the same direction to 
define the sizes of the housings for screws or nails of different shapes 
and diameters. In this embodiment the openings 7, 8 present different 
enlargement angles enlarging from inwards outwards of the body 6 to drive 
nails or screws of different diameters into a wall. 
The enlarging and narrowing of the openings 7, 8, due to the inserting of 
nails or screws into the same openings 7, 8, is more probable than in the 
tools of FIGS. 4, 5. In addition, this tool is more compact and can be 
more easily used. 
FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the tool; the body 6 of the tool 
presents two opposite openings 7, 8 enlarging from the inside to the 
outside of the body 6; the openings 7, 8 define the sizes of the housings 
for screws or nails of different shapes and diameters. In this embodiment 
the openings 7, 8 present different enlargement angles enlarging from the 
inside to the outside of the body 6 to drive nails or screws of different 
diameters into the wall. 
The simultaneous enlarging of the opening 7 and narrowing of the opening 8, 
due to the inserting of nails or screws, is very probable while the tool 
is used; in addition, the tool according to this embodiment is compact, 
easy to use, not very cumbersome and capable of being housed in a box for 
nails or screws. 
FIGS. 8, 9 show other two very similar embodiments of the tool according to 
the present invention; they only differ in that the tool of FIG. 8 is not 
fitted with a handle while the tool of FIG. 9 presents a handle 13. Apart 
this little difference, both tools consist of a body 6 shaped like a disk 
in which three openings 7, 8, 11, enlarging from the inside to the outside 
of the body 6, are provided to define the sizes of the housings for screws 
or nails of different shapes and diameters. 
The opening 7 begins from a first hole 9, the opening 8 from a second hole 
10 while the opening 11 originates from a third hole 12. The holes 9, 10, 
12 are used for housing a nail or screw of the diameters compatible with 
the hole sizes; nails or screws of smaller diameters are clamped by parts 
of the first, second or third openings 7, 8, 11 suitable for the diameters 
of the nails or screws to be driven into the wall. 
The openings 7, 8, 11 present different enlargement angles enlarging from 
the inside to the outside of the body 6 to drive nails or screws with 
different diameters. Also in this embodiment the inserting of a screw or 
nail into one of the openings elastically deforms the others. Owing to 
this deformation, the nails or screws chosen for the next clamping 
operations are better held in the other openings. 
The tool of FIG. 10 is very similar to that of FIG. 7, except for the 
handle 13. 
FIG. 11 represents a tool very similar to those of FIGS. 8, 9; in this 
embodiment two openings 7, 8 are provided in the disk-shaped body 6 
enlarging from the inside to the outside of the body 6, to define the 
sizes of housings for screws or nails of different shapes and diameters. 
In addition, the openings 7, 8 have edges radiating from the center of the 
disk-shaped body 6 for an easier manufacture and use. 
FIG. 12 represents a tool very similar to those of FIGS. 7, 10; the tool 
being fitted with a handle 13. 
The tool of FIG. 13 is similar to that of FIG. 6 and differs from this for 
being fitted with a handle 13. 
FIG. 14 shows a tool where the openings 7, 8 present saw-shaped contours 
for more exactly defining housings for nails or screws 14, 15. The 
semicircular saw-shaped contours present diameters decreasing from the 
inside to the outside of the body 6; a semicircle on the right contour 
corresponds to a semicircle of equal diameter on the left contour of each 
of the openings 7, 8. Therefore, the semicircles have the same function as 
the holes 9, 10, 12. 
The tool of FIG. 15 is similar to that of FIG. 14, except for the fact that 
the openings 7, 8 extend from points in the body 6 while the openings 7, 8 
of the tool according FIG. 14 begin from holes 9, 10. Adjacent contours of 
the openings 7,8 on each given side are separated by an area of the tool 
as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The area is not rectilinear, but rather 
enlarges between respective adjacent openings from the inside to the 
outside of the tool body as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. 
Each of the tools described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 15 has its 
particular use according to the available room and or other requirements 
of the operator. In particular, it seems to be important that one of the 
openings narrows for clamping a nail or screw when the other opening holds 
at least one screw or nail. Also the manufacturing costs and overall 
dimensions with equal efficiency are features which should be taken into 
consideration for the choice of a tool among those indicated in the above 
mentioned Figures. 
FIG. 16 shows a box for nails fitted with a tool according to the present 
invention; a self-adhesive strip 6A maintains the tool 6 on the external 
surface of the label-bearer of the box; the tool 6 is partially die-cut so 
that it is ready for use; it adheres to the box to demonstrate that the 
same is intact. The purchaser will easily take the tool 6 out off the box 
label-bearer to use it. 
The tool represented in FIG. 17 differs from the previous ones in the fact 
that the housing holes 9, 10 for nails or screws extend along the lateral 
edges of the body 6; the housing holes 9, 10 presenting an arced shape. A 
series of holes 9 extends along the right edge while a series of holes 10 
extends along the left edge of the body 6. The diameters of the holes 9 
increase from the top downwards; on the contrary, the diameters of the 
holes 10 decrease from the top downwards. The tool according to this 
embodiment is more compact and resistant compared to the previous ones. 
The tool represented in FIG. 18 differs from that of FIG. 17 in that it 
presents two elongated openings 7, 8 located inside the body 6. The 
dimension of the opening 7 decreases from the top downwards; on the 
contrary, the dimension of the openings 8 increases from the top 
downwards. In addition, both series of holes 9, 10 as in the tool of FIG. 
17 are provided along the external edges of the tool. 
The tool of FIG. 19 presents only two elongated openings 7, 8 located 
inside the body 6. The dimension of the opening 7 decreases from the top 
downwards; on the contrary, the dimension of the openings 8 increases from 
the top downwards. 
The tool represented in FIG. 20 consists of an open elastic structure 
forming the body 6; the opening 7 extends along the longitudinal axis 16 
of the body 6 and presents an internal saw-shaped edge 17 fitted with a 
plurality of housings 18 each being capable of holding a nail or screw. 
The elasticity of the tool is due to a window 19 provided in the part 13 of 
the body 6 not taken by the saw-shaped edge 17; the window 19 makes the 
side walls 20', 20" slender. The part 13 constitutes the tool handle. 
The wall 20' is integral with the part 21' delimiting the saw-shaped edge 
17 on the left; the wall 20" is integral with the part 21" delimiting the 
saw-shaped edge 17 on the right. 
Once a nail is inserted into the housing 18 suitable for the diameter of 
the nail to be driven into the wall, the handle 13 is tightened by 
pressing the side walls 20', 20", so that the housing 18 clamps the nail 
tightly. 
The tool shown in FIG. 21 is similar to that shown in FIG. 20, except that 
body 6 is formed as a pair of tongs. As will be readily apparent from FIG. 
21, when walls 20', 20" are squeezed togather, parts 21', 21" are pushed 
apart, such that opening 7 is expanded. Afterward, when walls 20',20" are 
no longer squeezed togather, they tend to separate again, as shown by the 
lower pair of arrows. As a consequence, parts 21', 21" tend to move 
togather again, as shown by the upper pair of arrows. Thus, the tool shown 
in FIG. 21 exibts a clamping action.