Power actuated fastener for pipe

A fastener assembly with a raised portion holding a nail at an oblique angle for attaching a pipe to a substrate. A curved portion is attached to a substantially planar portion having a raised portion with a hole therein. The hole is eccentrically formed within the raised portion such that when a nail is held perpendicular to a substrate, the substantially planar portion is raised off of the substantially planar substrate. The curved portion is formed to compliment the outer circumference of a pipe. When driven by a power actuated gun, the substantially planar portion is driven downward in contact with the substrate, forcing the curved portion to snugly retain the pipe. The fastener assembly securely holds a pipe and is used in many different construction applications where pipes, conduits, wires or other like devices must be securely held.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates in general to a fastener used with a power 
actuated gun, and in particular to a fastener for securely holding a pipe. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There are many different types of fastener assemblies for use with a power 
actuated gun that contain a bracket or plate in combination with a nail or 
stud. These fastener assemblies are used for a variety of purposes, such 
as attaching various substrates or for making different connections to 
other various construction materials including cabling, support 
structures, and pipes, among others. One such fastener assembly is 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,923 entitled "Fastener Assembly" and 
issuing to Losada on Apr. 12, 1988, which is herein incorporated by 
reference. Therein disclosed is a fastener assembly having a leg portion 
that is angularly offset and a nail for driving into a support structure 
with a power actuated gun. Another fastener assembly is disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,634,756 entitled "Fastener Assembly For Use With Power Actuated 
Gun" issuing to Losada on Jun. 3, 1997, which is herein incorporated by 
reference. Therein disclosed is a fastener assembly for use with a power 
actuated gun that has a relatively broad bearing surface and raised 
portions of different configurations for holding a stud or nail. This 
fastener assembly is used to drive a fastener for holding a structure 
being fastened into a hard substrate, such as masonry. There are other 
types of fasteners for use with a power actuated gun used in different 
applications. One common application is to fasten a cylindrical pipe to a 
hard substrate. This type of fastener typically has a curved portion and a 
planar portion with a nail extending from the planar portion perpendicular 
thereto. While these fasteners, which are used to attach pipe, are 
relatively simple and have performed fairly well, they are not without 
problems. Often, these fasteners do not hold round pipe as securely as 
desired. In many applications, the pipe tends to fit rather loosely in the 
curved bracket of the fastener assembly after the nail is driven. Due to 
the different types of substrate and the high force in which the nail of a 
power actuated fastener is driven, the nail of the fastener is often 
driven into a substrate with such force that the distal end of the curved 
portion is caused to raise above the substrate surface. This results in 
the pipe not being securely held or fastened. This is undesirable in that 
the pipe fits loosely within the fastener assembly. This has the 
undesirable effect of creating noise due to vibration or rattling. Also, 
the fastener may eventually fail, causing the pipe to break free. 
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved fastener assembly for use in 
attaching pipe securely to a substrate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprises a fastener assembly for use with a power 
actuated gun in securely attaching pipe or other cylindrical or rounded 
material to a substrate. The fastener comprises a curved portion having a 
shape that matches the round circumference of the pipe or other rounded 
material and an attached substantially flat bearing surface portion having 
a raised portion thereon. The raised portion has an offset or 
eccentrically positioned hole therein. The raised portion and the hole 
within the raised portion are formed such that a nail having a 
longitudinal axis extends through the hole in the raised portion forming 
an obtuse angle with the planar surface of the substantially flat bearing 
surface portion. Accordingly, prior to being driven, the planar surface of 
the substantially flat bearing surface portion is held at an angle to the 
plane of the substrate. Upon being driven by a power actuated gun, the 
nail or stud causes the raised end of the substantially flat bearing 
surface portion downward, bringing the curved surface therewith to 
securely hold a pipe or other rounded material. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to securely hold a 
pipe with a fastener assembly driven by a power actuated gun. 
It is an advantage of the present invention that it is relatively easy to 
manufacture. 
It is a feature of the present invention that the longitudinal axis of a 
nail or stud is angled with respect to the plane of a substantially flat 
bearing surface portion. 
These and other objects, advantages, and features will become readily 
apparent in view of the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
To more completely appreciate the present invention, a prior art fastener 
assembly used to fasten pipe is described in greater detail. FIG. 1 
illustrates a bracket 10 or portion of a fastener assembly. The bracket 10 
has a curved portion 12 and a substantially planar portion 14. 
Substantially, planar portion 14 has a raised portion 16 with a hole 26 
therein. Raised ribs 20 are formed on curved portion 12 and a portion of 
the substantially planar portion 14. At one end of the curved portion 12 
is a rounded or curved front 18. The other end of curved portion 12 is 
attached to the substantially planar portion 14. 
FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the bracket 10 illustrated in 
FIG. 1 with a nail 23 positioned therein. The nail 23 has a shaft 22. 
Shaft 22 has a longitudinal axis 34. The nail 23 also has a head 28 and a 
pointed end 36. The shaft 22 is frictionally retained within the hole 26 
on the raised portion 16. The substantially planar portion 14 forms a 
bearing surface plane 24 which rests on substrate 32. Between the 
substantially planar portion 14 and the curved portion 12 is a bend 30. 
The longitudinal axis 34 is substantially perpendicular with the bearing 
surface plane 24. While the prior art fastener assembly illustrated in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 has been used to hold a round pipe, often the pipe is not 
securely held. It is common for substrates to vary. Therefore, when the 
nail 23 is driven into the substrate 32, often the nail 23 is overdriven 
into the substrate 32 causing the bend 30 to deform and the curved front 
18 to raise up off the surface of the substrate 32. This results in the 
pipe not being securely held. This may cause vibrations and undesirable 
noise. Additionally, the curved front 18 causes the fastener assembly to 
rock laterally back and forth, which may eventually loosen the nail 23 
within the substrate 32. As a result, the fastener assembly may 
prematurely fail. 
FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective view bracket 110 of the present 
invention. Bracket 110 has a curved portion 112 and a substantially planar 
portion 114 with a raised portion 116. Raised portion 116 has a hole 126 
therein. The hole 126 in raised portion 116 is not centered therein, but 
is eccentrically positioned. By eccentrically positioned hole it is meant 
that the hole is positioned such that when a nail is inserted within the 
raised portion the longitudinal axis of the nail is skewed or oblique to 
the major plane of substantially planar portion 114. Curved portion 112 
also has a squared or straight front end 118 at the distal end thereof. 
The straight front end 118 is cut square with the longitudinal edges of 
the curved portion 112. Additionally, curved portion 112 may extend 
slightly greater than one hundred and eighty degrees around a curved or 
circular arc. Therefore, the distance between front end 118 and an edge 
formed by bend 130 may be less than the average diameter of the curved 
portion 112. Additionally, the bracket 110 being preferably made of metal 
could be made of a metal designed to be slightly springy so that the 
curved portion 112 will deform slightly and then snap back into position. 
FIG. 4 is an elevational view illustrating the present invention prior to 
being driven by a power actuated gun, not shown. A nail 123, having a head 
128, a shaft 122 and a pointed end 136 is frictionally retained or press 
fit within the hole 126 formed in the raised portion 116 on the 
substantially planar portion 114. The shaft 122 has a substantiated 
longitudinal axis 134. The substantial longitudinal axis 134 is skewed or 
oblique and forms an angle other than ninety degrees with respect to a 
bearing plane 124 of the substantially planar portion 114. Accordingly, an 
edge formed by bend 130 is raised above the substrate surface 132 and a 
rear edge 140 is in contact with the substrate surface 132. The fastener 
assembly may be held in position either by the pointed end 136 of the nail 
123 contacting the surface of substrate 132, or by the front edge formed 
by bend 130 contacting a pipe 142 and the rear edge 140 contacting the 
surface of substrate 132. 
FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the present invention after 
being driven by a power actuated gun, not shown. The force of the power 
actuated gun drives the substantially planar portion 114 into contact with 
the substrate 132, thereby causing the curved portion 112 to snugly fit 
around the outside diameter of the pipe 142. Therefore, the pipe is 
securely held in position. Also, as a result, front edge 118 is caused to 
wrap around the pipe 142. Additionally, the square edge of front end 118 
prevents the fastener assembly from rocking laterally back and forth which 
could loosen the fastener assembly from the substrate 132. As a result, 
the pipe is more securely fastened with the present invention. 
The present invention provides a fastener assembly, for use with a power 
actuated gun, that has a configuration to more securely hold a pipe than 
previously possible with prior art fastener assemblies. The configuration 
of the present invention provides an improved fastener assembly with no 
additional parts. Therefore, the fastener assembly of the present 
invention, having the disclosed configuration, can be manufactured at the 
same cost as less desirable prior fastener assemblies. Accordingly, it 
should be appreciated that the present invention improves the fastener 
assembly arts. 
While the present invention has been described with respect to several 
embodiments, it should be appreciated that various modifications may be 
made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.