Patent Publication Number: US-2007119871-A1

Title: Fastener cartridge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/734,340, filed on Nov. 7, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD  
      The present teachings relate to cartridges, and more specifically to fastener cartridges.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Fastener cartridges typically include some form of chamber having a cap for retaining a fastener therein. Typically, alignment of the fastener within the cartridge with a driver must be done manually. This can often be difficult when working with small fasteners.  
     SUMMARY  
      Accordingly, a fastener cartridge may include a fastener housing, a fastener, and a retaining member. The fastener housing may include a fastener seat. The fastener may include a head supported on said fastener seat and a shank extending therefrom. The retaining member may extend into the fastener housing and engage the fastener head, generally securing the fastener head between the fastener seat and the retaining member.  
      The fastener cartridge may additionally include an alignment feature forming in an opening of the fastener housing. The alignment feature may correspond to a predetermined orientation of the fastener and may be configured to provide alignment between a driver and the fastener.  
      Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a driver and a fastener cartridge with the fastener removed;  
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 1  with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 3  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 6  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is the sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 9  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 13  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 12  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16  is the sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 15  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position;  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein;  
       FIG. 18  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 19  is a fragmentary sectional view of the fastener cartridge of  FIG. 18  with a driver displacing the retaining member to an unlocked position; and  
       FIG. 20  is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate fastener cartridge with a fastener contained therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.  FIGS. 1-4  show a fastener cartridge  10  that may generally house a fastener  12 . The fastener cartridge  10  may include a housing having first and second chambers  14 , 16 .  
      The fastener  12  may generally include a head  18 , a post  20  and a shank  22 . The head  18  may include an upper surface  24 , a lower surface  26  and a perimeter portion  28 . The upper surface  24  may have post  20  generally extending therefrom. The lower surface  26  may have shank  22  generally extending therefrom. The upper surface  24  may include a driving geometry  30  near the perimeter portion  28 . The driving geometry  30  may include arcuate recesses  32 . While fastener  12  is shown including a post  20  extending from head  18 , it is understood that alternate fasteners without posts may be used as well.  
      The first chamber  14  may include an open top portion  34 , an inner sidewall  36  and a lower surface  38 . The open top portion  34  may generally define a top to the fastener cartridge  10 . The inner sidewall  36  may include an alignment feature  40 , which is shown to include a series of flats  42 . The flats  42  may generally correspond to flats  44  on outer profile  46  of a driver  48 . The flats  42 ,  44  may generally orient the driver  48  within first chamber  14 . While shown as a series of flats  42 ,  44 , it should be understood that other features could be formed on inner sidewall  36  and driver  48  to provide alignment.  
      The inner sidewall  36  may also include a window  50  which may generally have upper, lower, left and right sides  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . Lower side  54  may include a sloped surface  60 . A retaining member  62  may be integrally formed with and generally extend from upper side  52 . The retaining member  62  may have free sides  53 ,  55 ,  57 . The retaining member  62  may generally include a radially innermost surface  63 , an end surface  65  and an angled inner surface  67 . The retaining member  62  may normally extend radially inwardly from inner sidewall  36 . However, retaining member  62  may be displaced radially outwardly, as will be discussed below.  
      The lower surface  38  may form a fastener seat including an aperture  64  therethrough. The aperture  64  may be generally centered on lower surface  38 . The aperture  64  may provide communication between the first and second chambers  14 ,  16 , as well as centering fastener  12  within fastener cartridge  10 .  
      The second chamber  16  may be generally located beneath first chamber  14 . The second chamber  16  may be open at first and second ends  66 ,  68 . The first end  66  may be generally open at aperture  64 . The second end  68  may generally define a bottom of fastener cartridge  10 . The main portion  70  of second chamber  16  may generally be in the form of a cylindrical passage. The main portion  70  may have a diameter generally equal to the diameter of aperture  64 .  
       FIGS. 5-7  show an alternate fastener cartridge  110  that may generally house a fastener  112 . The fastener cartridge  110  may include first and second members  114 ,  116 . Fastener  112  may be generally similar to fastener  12  and therefore will not be described in detail.  
      First member  114  may generally form a housing member and second member  116  may generally form a retaining member. First member  114  may include first and second chambers  118 ,  120 . First chamber  118  may include an open top portion  122 , an inner sidewall  124 , and a lower surface  126  forming a fastener seat. Open top portion  122  may generally define a top to fastener cartridge  110 . Inner sidewall  124  may include an alignment feature  128 , which is shown as a series of radially inwardly extending protrusions  130 . Protrusions  130  may have an arcuate shape and may generally conform to arcuate recesses  132  on an outer surface  134  of a driver  136 . While shown as a series of protrusions  130 , it is understood that alternate features may be formed on inner sidewall  124  and/or open top portion  122  to provide alignment between driver  136  and fastener cartridge  110 . Inner sidewall  124  may additionally include a window  138  formed therein.  
      Second chamber  120  may extend below first chamber  118  and may be open at first and second ends  140 ,  142 . Second chamber  120  may also include a sidewall  144  having a window  146  formed therein. Second member  116  may be coupled to first member  114  and may generally cover window  146 .  
      Second member  116  may include a main body portion  148  having fingers  150  extending therefrom. Main body portion  148  may be fixed to first member  114  and fingers  150  may extend freely therefrom and into window  138 . Fingers  150  may include an elongate body  152  having a protrusion  154  extending radially inwardly from an end portion  156  thereof for engagement with fastener  112 . End portion  156  may extend into first chamber  118  and may include a ramped surface  158  to cause radially outward displacement thereof when engaged by a driver  136 .  
       FIGS. 8-10  show an alternate fastener cartridge  210  that may generally house a fastener  212 , generally similar to fastener  112 . Fastener cartridge  210  may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal and may include upper and lower portions  214 ,  216  and sidewalls  218 ,  220 . Upper portion  214  may include a series of apertures  222  having alignment features  224  thereon. Alignment features  224  may include tabs  226  extending radially inward and axially downward from an outer perimeter  228  thereof.  
      Sidewall  218  may include a series of retaining members  230  extending therefrom. Retaining member  230  may be formed in sidewall  218 . Retaining member  230  may include an axially extending portion  232  and a radially inwardly extending portion  234 . Axially extending portion  232  may generally extend within the plane of sidewall  218 . Radially inwardly extending portion  234  may engage fastener  212 . Radially inwardly extending portion  234  may include a ramped end  236  to cause radially outward displacement thereof when engaged by a driver  238 .  
      Sidewall  220  may be separated into first, second, and third regions  240 ,  242 ,  244 . The sheet metal forming sidewall  220  may be bent inwardly between first and second regions  240 ,  242  and between second and third regions  242 ,  244 , creating first and second fastener housing members  246 ,  248  extending inwardly therefrom. First fastener housing member  246  may be located below radially inwardly extending portion  234  and may include apertures  250  therethrough and may form a seat for fastener  212 . Second fastener housing member  248  may be located below first fastener housing member  246  and may include apertures  252  therethrough generally aligned with apertures  250 .  
      An alternate fastener cartridge  310  housing a fastener  312  is shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . Fastener cartridge  310  may include a housing  314  and a retaining member  316 . Housing  314  may include first and second portions  318 ,  320  and a fastener seat  322  disposed therebetween. First portion  318  may include an upper portion  324  including openings  326  for receiving a driver  328  therein. Openings  326  may include an alignment feature  330 , which is shown as a series of radially inwardly extending protrusions  332 . Protrusions may have an arcuate shape and may generally conform to arcuate recesses  334  on an outer surface  336  of driver  328  providing alignment therebetween.  
      First portion  318  may further include a series of supports  338  extending from a lower surface  340  thereof to fastener seat  322 . Supports  338  may be spaced apart from one another and may have a width less than a width of both first and second portions  318 ,  320 , forming a recessed path  342  along a perimeter thereof. Due to the spaced relationship, supports  338  may form windows  344  in first portion  318 .  
      Fastener seat  322  may form an upper surface of second portion  320 . Fastener seat  322  may include a series of recessed portions  346  having apertures  348  passing therethrough. Apertures  348  may extend into second portion  320 . Fastener head  350  may be supported on fastener seat  322  and shank  352  may extend through aperture  348 .  
      Retaining member  316  may extend around recessed path  342  and over a portion of fastener head  350 , axially retaining fastener  312  within housing  314 . Retaining member  316  may further engage a recess  354  formed in fastener head  350  to provide rotational orientation of fastener  312  relative to housing  314 . Retaining member  316  may take a variety of forms including an o-ring and an o-spring (or balseal spring).  
      Fastener cartridges  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  may each house a plurality of fasteners. Alternatively, fastener cartridges may be provided for individual fasteners. However, the fastener cartridges discussed below and shown as housing a single fastener may be grouped together to house multiple fasteners as well.  
      For example,  FIGS. 14-16  show a fastener cartridge  410  for housing an individual fastener  412 . The fastener  412  may be generally similar to fastener  112  and therefore will not be described in detail. Fastener cartridge  410  may be formed as a single piece including first, second, and third portions  414 ,  416 ,  418 . First and second portions  414 ,  418  may have diameters generally similar to one another and second portion  416  may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of first and second portions  414 ,  418 . A stepped portion  420  may therefore be formed between first and second portions  414 ,  416 , forming a fastener seat.  
      First portion  414  may include an open end  422  and a sidewall  424 . Sidewall  424  may include an alignment feature  426  near open end  422 . Alignment feature  426  may include radially inwardly extending protrusions  428  conforming to a recess  430  on an outer surface  432  of a driver  434 . Sidewall  424  may additionally include a series of windows  436  extending therethrough below alignment feature  426 . One of windows  436  may include a retaining member  438  extending from an upper edge  440  thereof. Retaining member  438  may extend radially inwardly for engagement with a recessed portion  442  of fastener  412 , as discussed below.  
      An alternate fastener cartridge  510  housing a fastener  512  is shown in  FIGS. 17-19 . Fastener  512  may be generally similar to fastener  112  and therefore will not be discussed in detail. Fastener cartridge  510  may include a generally cylindrical body  514  having a series of windows  516  with tabs  518  extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom. Tabs  518  may include ends  520  forming a fastener seat. An additional window  522  may be located near tab ends  520  and may include a retaining member  524  extending axially and radially inwardly from an upper edge thereof.  
      Tab ends  520  may engage a lower portion of a head  526  of fastener  512  and retaining member  524  may engage an upper portion of fastener head  526 , axially trapping fastener  512  therebetween. More specifically, retaining member  524  may extend into a recess  528  in fastener head  526 , inhibiting rotation of fastener  512  relative to fastener cartridge body  514 .  
      An end of fastener cartridge body  514  above fastener head  526  may include an alignment feature  530 . Alignment feature  530  may be generally similar to the various alignment features previously discussed, including protrusions  532  corresponding to recesses  534  on an outer surface  536  of a driver  538 . Retaining member  524  may rotationally orient fastener  512  relative to alignment features  530 , providing alignment between driver  538  and fastener  512 .  
      As indicated above and shown in  FIG. 20 , a fastener cartridge  610  may be generally similar to fastener cartridge  110 , but may contain a fastener  612  having no post extending from a head  614  thereof. For simplicity fastener cartridge  610  will not be described in detail, with the understanding that the description of fastener cartridge  110  generally applies to fastener cartridge  610  as well.  
      Fastener  612  may have a cross-drive configuration  616  including intersecting slots  618 ,  620  extending across the width of fastener head  614 . Slots  618 ,  620  may extend to an outer circumference of fastener head  614  and may provide a location for engagement with a retaining member, such as fingers  650 . Fingers  650  may include protrusions  652  extending radially inwardly from an end  654  thereof. Protrusions  654  may be sized to fit within slots  618 ,  620  and may orient and retain fastener  612  in a manner generally similar to that disclosed above regarding fastener cartridge  110 , and more specifically fingers  150 .  
      Fastener cartridges  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ,  610  may operate generally similar to one another. Therefore, for simplicity, only the operation of fastener cartridge  10  will be described in detail with the understanding that the description applies equally to fastener cartridges  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 . In operation, the fastener cartridge  10  may retain fastener  12 . The head  18  and post  20  of the fastener  12  may be contained within the first chamber  14 . The shank  22  may primarily be contained within the second chamber  16 .  
      The lower surface  26  of head  18  may generally seat against lower surface  38  of first chamber  14 . The shank  22  may generally extend through aperture  64 . Lower surface  38  may generally act as a stop, as the diameter of head  18  may be greater than the diameter of aperture  64 , thereby preventing head  18  from passing through aperture  64 . Arcuate recess  32  in head  18  may be generally aligned and engaged with retaining member  62 . The radially innermost and lower surfaces  63 ,  65  may be in contact with recess  32 . This contact may prevent fastener  12  from traveling axially in a direction toward open top portion  34  of first chamber  14 . As a result of the interaction between the lower surface  38  and retaining member  62  of first chamber  14 , fastener  12  may be retained within fastener cartridge  10 . This retention may eliminate the need for any end caps on fastener cartridge  10 .  
      The retaining member  62  may also orient fastener  12  within fastener cartridge  10 . When retaining member  62  is in engagement with recess  32 , fastener  12  may be generally prevented from rotating. This may be used to provide a fixed orientation for easier engagement with a driver  48 . This may allow a fastener  12  to be arranged in a variety of predetermined orientations.  
      The alignment feature  40  may cooperate with retaining member  62  to generally align fastener  12  and driver  48 , which eases alignment of smaller fasteners with driver  48 . The driver  48  may engage fastener  12  without the need for manual removal of the fastener  12  and alignment with driver  48 . When driver  48  is inserted into first chamber  14 , the alignment feature  40  may orient driver  48  in a predetermined way, which generally aligns protrusions  72  of driver  48  with recesses  32  of fastener  12  through cooperation with retaining member  62 .  
      The driver  48  may also release fastener  12  from within first chamber  14 . As driver  48  enters first chamber  14 , it may engage angled inner surface  67  of retaining member  62 . As driver  48  travels axially into first chamber  14 , retaining member  62  may be urged radially outwardly. As retaining member  62  is urged radially outwardly, it may be released from engagement with recess  32  in fastener head  18 . Once released from engagement, fastener  12  may engage driver  48 . Once engaged with driver  48 , fastener  12  may travel axially outwardly toward open top portion  34  and out of fastener cartridge  10 .  
      The description is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present teachings.