Abstract:
An apparatus which enables a user of a pneumatic tool device, such as a nail gun, to determine the required compressor pressure needed to most effectively utilize the pneumatic tool device and maximize the life of the tool. A compressor pressure indication assembly on a nail gun comprising a nail verification assembly and a readout assembly enables a user to verify the length and/or diameter of the nails to be driven by the nail gun and set the compressor pressure accordingly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to the U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/422,378 filed on Oct. 30, 2002 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of pneumatic tool devices, and particularly to an apparatus and method for indicating the required compressor pressure to be used when operating a pneumatic tool, such as a pneumatic nail gun.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The use of air driven tools is commonplace in a variety of construction situations. Pneumatic nail guns have greatly increased efficiency and productivity on construction worksites. However, nail guns which employ air pressure (pneumatic nail guns) to drive nails have a limited life span due to the high pressures involved in their use. This may result in inefficient tool functionality which may increase labor time and construction costs. Further, this limited life span may result in lost time when the tool must be replaced.  
           [0004]    Unfortunately, there is little in the way of help to a user of these pneumatic nail guns for avoiding shortening the life span of the nail gun due to improper compressor pressure use. For example, nails may have varying lengths and widths. To effectively drive one nail may require a different compressor pressure than that required to effectively drive another. If the user is unaware of the difference in the nails then the compressor pressure will not be adjusted to maximize tool effectiveness. This may result in increased wear on the tool which will shorten its useful life. While it is known to provide a system of adjusting compressor pressure in correlation with nail size when the user is aware of the nail size, there is no protection against the unaware user or the user of a nail gun when the nails have been previously loaded into the nail gun and the user is unable to determine the nail size. In these situations use of the nail gun may significantly decrease the useful life of the nail gun.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a way to maximize the useful life of a pneumatic device, such as a pneumatic nail gun, while ensuring effective nail gun use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method of indicating the required compressor pressure for use with a pneumatic nail gun. In a first aspect of the present invention, a compressor pressure indication assembly for a pneumatic nail gun having a nail loading assembly comprises a nail verification assembly disposed on the nail loading assembly for identifying the length of a nail received in the nail loading assembly. A readout assembly is associated with the nail verification assembly and provides information to an operator of the pneumatic nail gun. Wherein, the compressor pressure indication assembly indicates the required compressor pressure when using the pneumatic nail gun.  
           [0007]    In a second aspect of the present invention, a compressor pressure indication assembly for a pneumatic nail gun having a nail loading assembly comprises a nail verification assembly disposed on the nail loading assembly for identifying the diameter of a nail received in the nail loading assembly. A readout assembly is associated with the nail verification assembly and provides information to an operator of the pneumatic nail gun. Wherein, the compressor pressure indication assembly indicates the required compressor pressure when using the pneumatic nail gun. In a third aspect of the present invention, a compressor pressure indication assembly for a pneumatic nail gun having a nail loading assembly comprises a nail verification assembly disposed on the nail loading assembly for identifying the length and diameter of a nail received in the nail loading assembly. A readout assembly is associated with the nail verification assembly and provides information to an operator of the pneumatic nail gun. Wherein, the compressor pressure indication assembly indicates the required compressor pressure when using the pneumatic nail gun.  
           [0008]    In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a nail loading assembly for a pneumatic nail gun coupled with a compressor comprises a housing coupled with a compressor pressure indication assembly. The compressor pressure indication assembly for identifying the length and diameter of the nail stored in the housing and indicating the required compressor pressure for use with the pneumatic nail gun based on the identified nail length and diameter.  
           [0009]    In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a pneumatic nail gun assembly comprises a housing disposed with a handle, the handle being coupled with a compressor. Further, the pneumatic nail gun assembly comprises a nail driving assembly coupled with the housing, the nail driving assembly being suitable for driving a nail. Additionally, a nail loading assembly is coupled with the nail driving assembly, the nail loading assembly being suitable for storing the nail and providing the nail to the nail driving assembly. A compressor pressure indication assembly is disposed on the nail loading assembly, the compressor pressure indication assembly being suitable for identifying the length and diameter of the nail stored in the nail loading assembly. Thus, the compressor pressure indication assembly indicates the required compressor pressure when using the pneumatic nail gun assembly based on the identified length and diameter of the nail.  
           [0010]    In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method for indicating the required compressor pressure when using a nail gun coupled with a compressor comprises loading a nail into a nail loading assembly, the nail loading assembly being coupled with the nail gun. Identifying the length and diameter of the nail in the nail loading assembly and correlating the compressor pressure with the identified nail length and diameter.  
           [0011]    It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of the nail magazine of a pneumatic nail gun, illustrating a compressor pressure indication assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the compressor pressure indication assembly engaged with a nail in a first nail inspection station and a readout assembly indicating a first required compressor pressure;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an illustration of the compressor pressure indication assembly engaged with a nail in a second nail inspection station and the readout assembly indicating a second required compressor pressure;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a pneumatic nail gun including the compressor pressure indication assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for indicating the required compressor pressure when using a nail gun coupled with a compressor.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]    Referring generally now to FIGS. 1 through 5, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention increases the effectiveness and useful life of a pneumatic nail gun through indication of proper compressor pressure correlated to the specific instrument being operated upon by the tool. An operator of the present invention is assured of an accurate indication of correct compressor pressure without requiring the user to remove already loaded instruments (e.g., nail magazine) from the pneumatic tool.  
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a housing  100  is provided with a compressor pressure indication assembly  102  in accordance with the present invention. The compressor pressure indication assembly  102  includes a readout assembly  104  and a nail verification assembly  103 . Preferably, the nail verification assembly  103  comprises a first nail inspection station  106  and a second nail inspection station  108 . The first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  are disposed on a first side  110  of a housing  100 , proximally located towards a first end  112  of the housing  100 . The first end  112  allows for the loading of nails into the housing  100 .  
         [0021]    In the present embodiment the first and second nail inspection station  106  and  108  allow visual identification of the nail loaded into the housing. The visual identification of the nail in the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  provide a visual method of nail length and nail shank diameter identification. Preferably, the first and second nail inspection station  106  and  108  are a first and second aperture. Alternatively, the first and second inspection station  106  and  108  may comprise a horizontally aligned slat or a vertically aligned slot. It is contemplated that other systems and methods of identifying nail length within the housing  100  may be employed, such as electrical sensor systems, optical sensor systems, and the like. It is further contemplated that, in alternative embodiments, the first and second nail inspection station  106  and  108  may allow visual identification of only the nail length or nail shank diameter.  
         [0022]    The size of the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  are of a suitable dimension to allow for the visual identification of the position of the nail relative to the aperture. This, in turn, allows for the identification of the length and diameter of the nail being placed into the housing  100 . Preferably, aperture diameters may vary from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-half an inch. In the exemplary embodiment the aperture diameter is one-eighth of an inch. It is understood that the aperture diameter is not limited by the example and ranges stated here but may be smaller than or greater than the stated diameter sizes without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, in the present embodiment the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  are only provided in the first side  110 . Alternatively, the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  may be located on a second side of the housing  100  or the apertures may be disposed on both the first and second side of the housing.  
         [0023]    In the current embodiment, the first nail inspection station  106  is located closer to the first end  112 , relative to the second nail inspection station  108 . The second nail inspection station  108  is spaced apart from the first nail inspection station  106  to allow for the second nail inspection station  108  to provide an independent identification of the nail. Further, the second nail inspection station  108  is positioned at an angle relative to the first nail inspection station  106 . The angle of positioning of the second nail inspection station  108  may provide an advantage to a user of the present invention if the nails being used are not of sufficient length to be viewed in the first nail inspection station  106 . The amount of spacing between and relative angle of the first and second nail inspection station  106  and  108  may be varied as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0024]    Alternatively, the nail verification assembly  103  may comprise a single nail inspection station disposed in the housing  100 . The single nail inspection station may be of sufficient length and size to ascertain the length and diameter of a variety of nail configurations. It is contemplated that the nail inspection station may employ three or more apertures to provide verification of nail length and diameter for ascertainment of appropriate compressor pressure. It is further contemplated that the nail inspection station, whether employing one, two, three or more apertures, may include nail length markers and nail diameter markers proximally disposed about the aperture(s). The nail length and diameter markers may comprise a line mark next to an aperture where the tip and outside edges of the nail observed in the aperture is correlated to the line mark, which in turn indicates to an operator the required compressor pressure.  
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment, the readout assembly  104  is a label, which contains printed terms identifying the required compressor pressure in correlation to the nail length and the nail shank diameter identified by the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108 . For example, the chart may contain short phrases, such as “tip of nail visible”, “shank of nail visible”, “diameter of nail outside markings”, or “diameter of nail inside markings,” and then have the corresponding compressor pressures indicated. It is understood that the readout assembly  104  may indicate a range of compressor pressures suitable for use with a particular nail length and/or diameter. Alternatively, the readout assembly  104  may be a chart, which on one side identifies the nail length and/or diameter and on the other side gives the corresponding compressor pressure. It is further contemplated that the readout assembly  104  may provide an indication of required compressor pressure based only on the identified nail length or based only on the identified diameter of the nail shank.  
         [0026]    In the present embodiment, the readout assembly  104  is located proximally to the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108 . Alternatively, the location of the readout assembly  104  may be varied. For instance, the readout assembly  104  may be disposed at various locations along the housing  100 , not necessarily proximal to the nail inspection station. It is contemplated that the readout assembly  104  may be disposed in various locations upon a nail gun which is employing the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  of the present invention. For example, a section of the handle of the nail gun may be disposed with the readout assembly  104  or on a nail driving assembly housing of the nail gun.  
         [0027]    It is further contemplated that the readout assembly  104  may be disposed upon an object or surface, which is not the housing  102  or the nail gun as described above. For example, the readout assembly  104  may be contained within the pages of an instruction manual for the operation of a device with which the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  is being utilized. Alternatively, the readout assembly  104  may be disposed upon a casing within which is stored a device with which the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  is being utilized. For example, a nail gun may be sold in a casing upon which the readout assembly  104  is disposed.  
         [0028]    In the current embodiment, the readout assembly  104  is an “L” shaped label adhered to the first side  110  of the housing  100 . It is understood that the shape of the readout assembly  104  may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The adhering may be accomplished by numerous methods, such as, glue, tape, and the like. It is contemplated that the readout assembly  104  may be positioned on the housing  100  by a variety of methods. For example, the readout assembly  104  may be engraved on the first side  110  of the housing  100 . Alternatively, the readout assembly  104  may be magnetically attached to the housing  100 . It is understood that the readout assembly  104  may be a removable assembly, thereby, being enabled for use with multiple housing structures.  
         [0029]    It is contemplated that the readout assembly  104  may be an information handling system which is enabled to provide correlation of the nail length identified with a required compressor pressure. For example, an operator of the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  first identifies the nail length and/or diameter through use of the nail verification assembly  103 . The operator then enters the information into the readout assembly  104 , which processes the information to determine the necessary compressor pressure. The readout assembly  104  may further comprise a display. The display provides a visual readout of relevant information to the operator such as the required compressor pressure setting correlating to the nail length and/or diameter information entered by the operator. The readout assembly may provide a range of compressor pressures suitable for use with the identified nail length and/or diameter and display that range on the display.  
         [0030]    As an information handling system, the readout assembly  104  may be a computing system enabled with computing functionality. For example, the readout assembly  104  may be enabled to allow an operator to perform calculations or store relevant information. Additionally, the readout assembly  104  may be enabled to communicatively link with peripheral computing devices. Such communicative linkage may be established using a variety of methods, such as serial cable, infrared, radio frequency, and the like. The communicative linkages may form a network which may download information into a central computing system, which information may then be reviewed by an operator. This may be advantageous at a worksite as a supervisor may be able to track the type and number of nails being used by the operators of the nail guns linked into the network.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  is shown disposed on a nail loading assembly  200  and engaged with a nail  202 . In FIG. 2, the nail  202  is located in a first position, visible through the first nail inspection station  106 . The part of the nail  202  that is visible is indicative of the overall nail length which provides the guidance as to the required compressor pressure. The first nail inspection station  106  also provides the user of the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  with the ability to determine the diameter of the nail shank which provides further guidance as to the required compressor pressure. In the present embodiment, the tip of the nail  202  is visible in the first nail inspection station  106 . From this visual indication, the operator of the present invention may then utilize the readout assembly  104  to determine the required compressor pressure or range of compressor pressures within which safe operation may be accomplished. For instance, if the readout assembly  104  uses the phrase “tip of nail visible and nail diameter outside markings” with a corresponding compressor pressure or range of compressor pressures, then the operator, upon visually determining that the tip of the nail is visible and that the nail diameter is outside the markings would set the compressor pressure to that indicated by the readout assembly  104 .  
         [0032]    In FIG. 3 the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  is shown disposed on a nail loading assembly  300  and engaged with a nail  302 . The nail  302  is located in a second position, visible through the second nail inspection station  108 . In this location it may be seen that the tip of the nail is visible through the second nail inspection station  108 . The second nail inspection station  108  also enables a nail shank diameter determination. From this visible identification, the readout assembly  104  may instruct the operator that a new compressor pressure setting or range of compressor pressure is required on the compressor for use with the current nail. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the compressor pressure may need to be set to a lower pressure setting as the nail length is shorter than that seen in FIG. 2. The diameter of the nail may be the same as that seen in FIG. 2 or different from that in FIG. 2 requiring adjustment of the compressor pressure based on the new nail shank diameter. It is understood that the readout assembly  104  provides a variety of readings. Thus, when a nail is engaged in the second nail inspection station  108 , the readout assembly  104  may instruct the operator to adjust the pressure setting higher or lower than where it is currently set.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a pneumatic nail gun  400  is shown disposed with the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  including the readout assembly  104 . In the current embodiment a second end  114  of housing  100  connects with a nose casting  402 . The nose casting  402  is connected to a nail gun casing  404 , the nail gun casing  404  is disposed with a handle  406  and includes a driver blade assembly for driving the nail presented in the nose casting  402 . The handle  406  is disposed with a connection assembly  408  for connecting with a hose, which connects with an air compressor.  
         [0034]    It is contemplated that the compressor pressure indication assembly  102  may be disposed on an adjustable angle nail gun magazine for use with a pneumatic nail gun. The positioning of the first and second nail inspection stations  106  and  108  on the adjustable angle nail gun magazine may be adjusted to accommodate the multi-position functionality of the adjustable angle nail gun magazine.  
         [0035]    A flowchart illustrating the functional steps accomplished utilizing the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. In step  502  an operator determines what nails are to be used during operation of the pneumatic nail gun. Generally, there are two types of nails used with these nail guns, clipped-head and round-head, and both types of nails come in a magazine of multiple nails which are bound together. Depending on which type of nail is chosen, an angle of nail presentation is determined by the collation angle of the nail magazine. In step  504  the operator begins to insert the magazine of nails into the housing. As the magazine is being loaded, in step  506 , the operator visually identifies the nail either within the first nail inspection station  106  or the second nail inspection station  108 . In step  508  the operator determines which part of the nail is visible and the diameter of the nail shank. After determining the aperture through which the nail is viewed, which part of the nail is visible, and the diameter of the nail shank, in step  510  the operator correlates the aperture, nail part visibility, and nail shank diameter with a required compressor pressure provided by the readout assembly. In step  512  the operator sets the compressor pressure to the required pressure and begins operation of the nail gun. This method ensures maximum effectiveness of the nail gun when driving each nail and maximizes the useful life of the nail gun.  
         [0036]    In the exemplary embodiments, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method may be rearranged while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.  
         [0037]    It is believed that the apparatus and method to indicate required compressor pressure to a user of a nail gun of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.