ANGULAR T-HEAD NAIL STICK WITH ANGULAR MAGAZINE ENGAGING SURFACES

Abstract: A T-head nail stick (10) comprising T-head nails frangibly secured together in a side-by-side array. Each T-head nail (10) includes a wire shank (12) provided with a V-shaped penetrating edge (14) and a T-head having a striking surface (18) and head portions (16). The striking surfaces (18) and the penetrating edges (14) of the wire shanks (12) in the array are positioned in equally stepped relation in one longitudinal direction from one end shank of the array to the other end shank thereof so as to cause the array to extend angularly from one end shank to the other end shank so that the array is operable to be used in a magazine which feeds downwardly and forwardly. The head portions on each side of the array have coplanar surfaces (20) extending in parallel relation to the angular extent of the array to enable the coplanar surfaces (20) on opposite sides of the array to engage magazine supporting surfaces.

Description: ANGULAR T-HEAD NAIL STICK WITH ANGULAR MAGAZINE ENGAGING SURFACES TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to fastener packages and more particularly to fastener packages of the T-head nail stick type. BACKGROUND ART T-head nail sticks have been available commercially for many, many years. A typical example of a prior art T-head nail stick is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,095,588 dated July 22, 1963. The T-head nail stick which is disclosed in the patent is such that the flat striking surfaces of the T-heads of the nails are all disposed in a common plane which extends perpendicularly to the axis of either one of the end nails. Similarly, the penetrating ends of the nails in at least the embodiment of Figure 1 consist of V-shaped edges extending along a line perpendicular to the axis of either of the end nails. T-head nail sticks of the configuration disclosed in the aforesaid patent are sometimes referred to as straight sticks and their operating characteristic is that the stick must be moved horizontally in order to feed the leading nail into a vertically extending drive track of a fastener driving device. It is well known that a magazine which must extend away from the drive track at right angles does not have the same favorable physical characteristics as a magazine which can extend upwardly and away from the drive track. The latter configuration renders the tool much more readily capable of toenailing and similar operations which are required from time to time. In order to accommodate the angular magazines, the T-head nail stick must be likewise angulated so that the heads are stepped in one longitudinal direction progressively from one end nail of the array of nails to the other end nail such that the stepped ends or the striking surfaces and penetrating edges extend generally along a predetermined angle which is equal to the angle of the magazine of. the fastener driving device. A T-head nail stick of this configuration can be referred to as an angular stick. Known angular T-head nail sticks are formed of T-head nails just like those which form the straight sticks shown in the aforesaid patent. The result is that when each stick is supported in the angular fastener magazine, each nail of the stick engages the upwardly facing support rail surfaces of the magazine with a line contact at the underside of each T-head portion which line contact is at the trailing end of the head. . The present invention is based upon the proposition that it is advantageous to provide surface area contact for each nail which is centered with respect to the fore and aft direction of the T-head as oriented in the stick. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an angular T-head nail stick which will secure the above described advantage. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is achieved by forming the T-head nail stick from T-head nails each of which is configured so that the underside of the oppositely outwardly extending head portions have flat surfaces which extend at an angle with respect to the plane of the flat striking surface thereof. The angled surface configuration is such that the head portions on each side of the .array have coplanar surfaces facing away from the associated striking surfaces and extending in parallel relation to the angular extent of the array so as to enable the coplanar surfaces on opposite sides of the array to engage magazine supporting surfaces extending in the same angle throughout an area of contact rather than a line or point contact. Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved T-head nail stick of the type described which is simple in construction and effective in operation. These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein an illustrated embodiment is shown. IN THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a T-head nail stick embodying the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a lefthand end view of the nail stick; and Figure 3 is a righthand end view of the nail stick. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein an angular T-head nail stick, generally indicated at 10, which embodies the principles of the present invention. The nail stick 10 comprises a multiplicity of individual T-head nails all of which are of similar construction and configuration frangibly secured together in a side-by-side angularly extending array. As shown, each T-head nail includes an elongated shank 12 formed of metal wire having one end thereof configured to facilitate penetration of the nail into a workpiece. As shown, the penetrating end of each shank 12 is formed with a flat chisel edge 14 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shank and intersects the same at the midpoint thereof. Each penetrating edge 14 is V-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and may be formed in any known manner. The opposite end of each shank 12 is formed, as by swaging or the like, with a T-head constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Each T-head includes a pair of head portions 16 extending outwardly from the shank in opposite directions perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the shank. The head portions 16 form with the adjacent end of the εhank 12 a flat striking surface 18 facing in a direction away from the penetrating edge 14. Each head portion 16 is also provided with a second flat surface 20 which faces in a direction generally opposed to the direction in which the striking surface 18 faces. Preferably, the surfaces 20 of both head portions 16 are disposed in the same flat plane. Preferably, this flat plane extends at an angle with respect to a plane passing through the striking surface. An exemplary angle is 24-1/2°. The angular relationship between the coplanar flat surfaces 20 beneath the head portions 16 with respect to the striking surface 18 on the top of the nail is related to the manner in which the series of nails are assembled in the array forming the stick 10. Specifically, all of the nails in the stick formation array are oriented generally the same so that the shanks 12 of the nails are in abutting relation in the direction of extent of the stick formation array and the head portions 16 extend in opposite directions at right angles to the direction of extent of the stick formation array and likewise are in abutting relation. The individual nails of the array however are longitudinally offset in the stick formation equal amounts so that the lower penetrating edges 14 are in a step formation and the upwardly facing striking surfaces 18 likewise are in step formation. Of particular importance in accordance with the principles of the present invention is the relationship of the lower surfaces 20. As shown, all of the surfaces 20 on each side of the array are disposed in a common plane and, preferably, the coplanar surfaces 20 on both sides are likewise disposed in the same common plane. This common plane extends at an angle which is equal to the angle of the stepped striking surfaces 18 and the stepped penetrating edges 14. It will be noted that the juncture between each surface 20 with the associated shank 12 is defined by the formation of a gripping groove 22 in the adjacent side of the shank which extends angularly in parallel relation with the associated surface 20. Moreover, it is preferable to provide additional parallel angular gripping grooves 24 in each side of the associated shank. As shown, there are four additional gripping grooves 24 on each side of each shank 12. It will be understood that the individual nails with the shanks in the abutting array described and with the head portions 16 interrelated in the manner set forth are suitably held in this stick formation array by any known means enabling the individual nails to be stripped from the remaining nails of the nail stick by impacting the striking surface of the leading nail while supporting the remaining nails of the stick beneath their head portions on the surfaces 20 thereof. Preferably, such means takes the form of a cement, such as a thermoplastic resin, or the like which covers at least the abutting shanks 12 of the nails forming the stick 10. It can be seen that by providing the angular coplanar flat surfaces 20 beneath the head portions 16 of the nails forming the stick array, the nail stick can be efficiently and effectively supported within a conventional angular magazine assembly. Such magazine assemblies typically provide two spaced rails which extend downwardly and forwardly to a vertically disposed drive track. The two rails have upwardly facing surfaces which engage beneath the outwardly extending head portions 16 of the nails of the stick. By providing the rail-engaging underside of the head portions 16 with flat planar surfaces 20 which extend in the same angular direction as the surfaces of support provided by the rails, a highly desirable surface area contact is provided for each nail of the stick with each support rail. The arrangement assures a more controlled cutoff of the leading nail of the nailstick and a more controlled support of the nails of the entire nailstick. It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles of this invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. In a T-head nail stick comprising a multiplicity of elongated metal wire shanks frangibly secured together in a side-by-side array, each of said wire shanks having a Vshaped penetrating edge formed on one end thereof extending normal to the longitudinal extent thereof and a T-head formed on the other end thereof, each T-head having a generally flat striking surface extending normal to the longitudinal extent of the associated shank and head portions extending outwardly from opposite surfaces thereof, the improvement which comprises the striking surfaces and the penetrating edges of the wire shanks in the array being positioned in equally stepped relation in one longitudinal direction from one end shank of the array to the other end shank thereof so as to cause the array to extend angularly from one end shank to the other end shank generally along a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal extent of said one end shank so that the array is operable to be used in a magazine which feeds downwardly and forwardly at said predetermined angle to a vertically disposed drive track, the head portions of said T-heads on each side of the array having coplanar surfaces facing away from the associated striking surfaces and extending in parallel relation to the angular extent of said array so as to enable the coplanar surfaces on opposite sides of the array to engage magazine supporting surfaces extending at the aforesaid predetermined angle. 2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said V-shaped penetrating edges also extend in a direction of the side-by-side extent of said array. 3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said coplanar surfaces on both sides of the array are disposed in a common plane. 4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said wire shanks are formed with gripping grooves extending at said predetermined angle on each side of the array at the juncture of the associated coplanar surfaces therewith. 5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said wire shanks include additional gripping grooves parallel with said first mentioned gripping grooves on each side of the array spaced in the direction away from the T-heads thereof. 6. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the wire shanks are formed with gripping grooves extending at said predetermined angle on each side of the array at the juncture of the associated coplanar surfaces therewith. 7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said wire shanks include additional gripping grooves parallel with said first mentioned gripping grooves on each side of the array spaced in the direction away from the T-heads thereof. 8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said coplanar surfaces on both sides of the array are disposed in a common plane. 9. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said coplanar surfaces on both sides of the array are disposed in a common plane.

Inventors: HAMEL MAURICE R, HAMEL, MAURICE, R.
Applicants: BOSTITCH INC STANLEY, STANLEY-BOSTITCH, INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F16B15
IPC codes: F16B15