Patent Publication Number: US-7210607-B2

Title: Anti-slip shingle grip for fastening tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/852,979, filed May 25, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,647. 

   INTRODUCTION 
   The present invention generally relates fastening tools and more particularly to a replaceable slip-resistant assembly for a fastening tool. 
   In some work environments, such as on steeply inclined surfaces that may be routinely encountered by roofers and other construction workers, it may be desirable that a fastening tool, such as a nailer or stapler, have slip-resistant characteristics that would tend to inhibit the tool from moving when the fastening tool is not held by an operator or secured to the operator by a belt loop or other means. To provide an improved level of slip-resistance, some fastening tools have been provided with steel skid plates that are removably attached to the housing of the fastening tool. The steel skid plate may be used by itself or with a solid rubber block, which may be coupled to the steel skid plate, to increase the slip-resistance of the steel skid plate. Other fastening tools have been provided with relatively large foam or rubber blocks that are attached to the housing of the fastening tool. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one form, the present teachings provide a fastening tool with a housing assembly, a magazine assembly and one or more deflectable fingers. The housing assembly includes a nosepiece. The magazine assembly, which is coupled to the housing assembly, is configured hold a plurality of fasteners and sequentially feed the fasteners into the nosepiece. The deflectable finger is coupled to the housing assembly and extends outwardly there from. 
   In another form, the present teachings provide a fastening tool with a housing assembly, a magazine assembly and a plurality of skid-plate assemblies. The housing assembly includes a nosepiece. The magazine assembly, which is coupled to the housing assembly, is configured hold a plurality of fasteners and sequentially feed the fasteners into the nosepiece. Each of the skid plate assemblies includes a plate structure, each of which may be coupled to the housing assembly and/or the magazine assembly, and a bumper structure. Each bumper structure is coupled to an associated plate structure and has a plurality of deflectable fingers that extend outwardly from the associated plate structure. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastening tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the fastening tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the fastening tool of  FIG. 1  illustrating the skid-plate assemblies in greater detail; 
       FIGS. 4 and 4A  is an exploded elevation view of the skid-plate assemblies of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of a portion of the fastening tool of  FIG. 1  illustrating the shingle gauge in greater detail; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 5  illustrating the mounting bracket of the shingle gauge in greater detail; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of the fastening tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the shingle gauge; 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the shingle gauge; 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but illustrating the shingle scale partially broken away and rotated relative to the mounting bracket to facilitate the installation or removal of the shingle scale; 
       FIG. 11  is an elevation view of a portion of the fastening tool of  FIG. 1  illustrating the shingle scale in an aligned condition relative to the mounting bracket; 
       FIG. 12  is a right elevation view of another fastening tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the fastening tool of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a right elevation view of another fastening tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a front view of the fastening tool of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view similar to  FIG. 8  but illustrating an alternately constructed shingle gauge; and 
       FIG. 17  is a sectional view of a portion of the shingle gauge shown in  FIG. 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a fastening tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The fastening tool  10  may include a housing assembly  12 , a magazine assembly  14 , a plurality of skid-plate assemblies  16  and a shingle gauge  18 . While the disclosure herein and accompanying illustrations depict the fastening tool  10  as being a nailer of the type that uses a coil of collated nails, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention have applicability to other types of tools, including without limitation staplers, framing nailers and finish nailers. 
   The housing assembly  12  may include a housing  20 , which may be formed from any appropriate material including aluminum, magnesium and/or plastic, and a nosepiece  22 . The housing  20  conventionally houses a motor  24  with a driver  26  that may be selectively translated along an axis  28  to drive a fastener into a workpiece (not shown). In the particular example provided, the housing  20  includes a central portion  30  and an upper end cap  32 , which is configured to close off an upper end of the central portion  30 , while the nosepiece  22  includes an upper flange  34  that is configured to close off a lower end of the central portion  30 . Conventional fasteners  38 , such as socket head cap screws, may be employed to fixedly but removably couple the upper end cap  32  and nosepiece  22  to the central portion  30 . While not specifically shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that conventional gaskets or seals may be employed to seal the interfaces between the upper end cap  32  and the central portion  30  and between the central portion  30  and the nosepiece  22 . 
   The magazine assembly  14 , which may be coupled to the housing assembly  12 , is configured to house a plurality of fasteners and sequentially feed the fasteners into the nosepiece  22 . In the particular example provided, the magazine assembly  14  includes a drum  40  for holding coiled, collated nails (not specifically shown). 
   The skid-plate assemblies  16  may be generally identically formed, or may include two or more discrete and distinct assemblies, such as an upper skid-plate assembly  50  and a lower skid-plate assembly  52  as is illustrated in the example provided. Generally, each skid-plate assembly  16  may include a plate structure  54  and a bumper structure  56 . The plate structure  54  may include a mounting portion  60 , which may provide a means by which the plate structure  54  may be mounted to the housing assembly  12  and/or the magazine assembly  14 , and a body portion  62  that may provide a means by which the bumper structure  56  may be coupled to the plate structure  54 . The bumper structure  56  may be common between the upper and lower skid-plate assemblies  50  and  52  as is shown in the example that is provided. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  4 A, the upper and lower skid-plate assemblies  50  and  52  are illustrated in greater detail. As the configuration of the upper and lower skid-plate assemblies  50  and  52  is generally similar, a discussion of the upper skid-plate assembly  50  will suffice for both. Similar or corresponding elements of the lower skid-plate assembly  52  are identified by the same reference numerals as used to describe the upper skid-plate assembly  50  except that the reference numerals are primed. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 through 4A , the plate structure  54  of the upper skid-plate assembly  50  may include a mounting portion  60  with a pair of mounting tabs  70 . Each of the mounting tabs  70  may be configured to abut the upper end cap  32  and may include an aperture  72  for receiving an associated one of the fasteners  38  therethrough. In the example provided, the mounting tabs  70  fit into a recess  74  and abut a boss  76  that is formed in the upper end cap  32 . 
   The body portion  62  of the plate structure  54  of the upper skid-plate assembly  50  may define an aperture or window  80  that may be employed to mount the bumper structure  56 . In the example provided, the window  80  has a closed perimeter. The body portion  62  may have a contour that is approximately matched to that of the portion of the fastening tool  10  over which the body portion  62  is mounted. The body portion  62  may also bend or taper toward the portion of the fastening tool  10  over which the body portion  62  is mounted with increasing distance from the mounting portion  60 . Configuration in this manner reduces the distance between the body portion  62  and the housing  20  so as to reduce the likelihood that a foreign object (not shown) will become lodged between the end of the plate structure  54  opposite the mounting portion  60  and the housing  20 . 
   The bumper structure  56  may include a base portion  90  and a flange  92  and may be unitarily formed from a resilient material, such as ELASTOLLAN®, which is commercially available from the BASF Corporation, with a durometer that may be less than or equal to about 60 Shore D, and more preferably about 40 Shore A to about 95 Shore A. The base portion  90  may be configured to fit through the window  80  in the plate structure  54  and may include a plurality of deflectable fingers  94 . Each finger  94  may have a height that varies between a first height, such as about 4 mm (0.16 inch) to about 5 mm (0.20 inch), and a second height, such as about 2.9 mm (0.11 inch) to about 3.9 mm (0.15 inch, as shown in  FIG. 4A ). The fingers  94  may have a relatively uniform thickness, such as about 4.5 mm (0.18 inch) and may be spaced apart from an adjacent finger  94  by a desired distance, such as a distance that is about equal to a thickness of the finger  94 . The fingers  94  may have a relatively uniform width, such as about 9 mm (0.35 inch). In the example provided, each finger  94  includes a tip  98  and the tips  98  of the fingers  94  cooperate to define an arcuate contact surface  100 . The end of each finger  94  opposite its tip  98  may be defined by a fillet radius  102  to strengthen the location where the fingers  94  intersect the remainder of the bumper structure  56 . The fingers are bendable in a direction tangential to the base portion  90 . 
   The flange  92  may be sized somewhat larger than the window  80  to limit the amount by which the fingers  94  extend through the window  80  in the plate structure  54 . The flange  92  may include a lower surface  104  that is at least partially defined by a radius that is relatively larger than a radius against which the lower surface  104  may be abutted when the skid-plate assembly  16  is installed to the housing assembly  12  and/or magazine assembly  14 . Configuration in this manner ensures that the contact surface  100  will retain a desired shape when the bumper structure  56  is installed to the housing assembly  12  and/or magazine assembly  14 . 
   Each upper skid-plate assembly  50  may be coupled to the housing  20  such that the mounting tabs  70  abut bosses  76  that are formed in the upper end cap  32  and the window  80  (and bumper structure  56 ) are positioned over the upper end cap  32 , while each lower skid-plate assembly  52  may be coupled to the housing  20  such that the mounting tabs  70 ′ abut the upper flange  34  of the nosepiece  22  and the bumper structure  56  is positioned over the lower end of the central housing  30 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , the shingle gauge  18  may include a mounting bracket  150 , a shingle scale  152 , a shingle edge guide  154  and a fastener, such as a socket head cap screw  156 . The mounting bracket  150  may be coupled to the drum  40  of the magazine assembly  14  in a desired manner that permits the shingle scale  152  to be fixedly but removably coupled thereto at a predefined orientation and spacing from the axis  28  ( FIG. 1 ) along which fasteners (not shown) are driven into a workpiece. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the mounting bracket  150  may include a base  160 , a first mount  162  and a second mount  164 , which may include a threaded aperture  166  that is formed in the base  160 . The base  160  may be coupled to the drum  40  in any desired manner and may comprise a pair of arms  168   a  and  168   b  that at least partially wrap about a lower surface  170  of the drum  40 . The arm  168   a  may include a hook  172  that is fitted through a slot  174  in the drum  40 . A fastener  176  may be employed to secure the mounting bracket  150  to the drum  40  at a second location. 
   The first mount  162  is coupled to the base  160  and may include a hook  180  and a protrusion  182 . The hook  180  may be generally L-shaped, having a base portion  184  that extends generally perpendicular to the base  160  and a leg portion  186  that is coupled to a distal end of the base portion  184  and which extends generally parallel to the base  160 . The protrusion  182  is located on a side of the hook  180  opposite the open area  188  of the hook  180 . The protrusion  182  may be integrally formed with the base  160 , or may be another structure, such as the fastener  176 , that extends through the base  160 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the shingle scale  152  may include a scale member  190  and a pair of siderails  192   a  and  192   b  that are disposed on opposite sides of the scale member  190 . The scale member  190  may include a slotted aperture  196  and an aperture  198  for receiving the threaded socket head cap screw  156  therethrough. The scale member  190  may be marked, as through engraving, stamping or embossing, with a plurality of scale indicia  200  that are indicative of a distance between a reference datum and the axis  28  ( FIG. 1 ) along which fasteners may be driven into a workpiece or another suitable reference point, such as a flat front surface on the contact trip CT ( FIG. 1 ). The siderails  192   a  and  192   b  may be generally L-shaped with a base portion  204 , which may be is configured to abut the mounting bracket  150  ( FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 ), and an arm portion  206  that may be configured to orient the scale member  190  in a predetermined orientation relative to the base portion  204 . 
   The base portion  204  of the siderail  192   a  may include first flange portion  210 , while the base portion  204  of the siderail  192   b  may include a second flange portion  212  and a locking tab  214 . The first flange portion  210  includes an aperture  216  that is configured to receive and permit the shingle scale  152  to rotate on the protrusion  182 . The first flange portion  210  may be notched  218  to permit the shingle scale  152  to rotate about the protrusion  182  through a predetermined angle without the occurrence of contact between the first flange portion  210  and the hook  180 . The second flange portion  212  includes an aperture  220  that is aligned with the aperture  196  in the scale member  190  and configured to receive the threaded portion  156   t  of the socket head cap screw  156  therethrough, while the locking tab  214  extends outwardly from the base portion  204  of the siderail  192   b  toward the first flange portion  210  of the siderail  192   a.    
   The shingle edge guide  154  may include a structure  250  with one or more feet  252  wherein one of the feet  252   a  defines a reference datum  254 . The shingle edge guide  154  may be adjustably coupled to the shingle scale  152  and so as to permit the reference datum  254  to be moved to between a first position, which corresponds to a minimum distance between the reference datum  254  and the reference point, which may be the axis  28  ( FIG. 1 ) or another suitable point, such as the flat front surface on the contact trip CT ( FIG. 1 ), and a second position, which corresponds to a maximum distance between the reference datum  254  and the reference point. In the example provided, the shingle edge guide  154  includes a follower  260 , which extends into the slotted aperture  196  in the shingle scale  152 , and a clamp  262  with a screw  264  and a clamp plate  266 . The screw  264  may be fitted through an aperture  265  in the structure  250  and the slotted aperture  196  in the shingle scale  152  and threadably engage the clamp plate  266  such that the clamp plate  266  and the head  264   h  of the screw  264  engage the opposite sides of the scale member  190  to thereby maintain the reference datum  254  in a desired position. The follower  260  and the screw  264  may be sized relative to a width of the slotted aperture  196  so as to limit an amount by which the shingle edge guide  154  may be rotated relative to the shingle scale  152 . 
   We have found that a significant number of roofers and carpenters prefer not to use a shingle gauge and as such, it is desirable that a shingle gauge or substantial portions thereof be removable from the remainder of the fastening tool. Many of the known shingle gauge devices are relatively cumbersome and difficult for the user to remove, often requiring that various elements of the fastening tool, such as the magazine assembly, be disassembled to the point where tools, such as screwdrivers and wrenches, can be employed to remove or loosen various fasteners that secure the shingle gauge to the remainder of the fastening tool. In contrast to the relatively cumbersome manner in which the prior shingle gauges were coupled to a fastening tool, a substantial portion of the shingle gauge  18  ( FIG. 1 ) that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be installed or removed from the remainder of the fastening tool  10  ( FIG. 2 ) with a single tool and without the need to disassemble other components of the fastening tool  10  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  9  through  11 , the mounting bracket  150  is installed to the drum  40  and the shingle edge guide  154  may be installed to the shingle scale  152 . The shingle scale  152  is positioned relative to the mounting bracket  150  such that the aperture  216  is aligned to the protrusion  182 . The shingle scale  152  may be rotated relative to the mounting bracket  150  to permit the shingle edge guide  154  to be fitted over the protrusion  182 . In this regard, the notched portion  218  of the first flange portion  210  may be aligned to the hook  180 , while the locking tab  214  may be rotated away from the hook  180  so that neither of the first flange portion  210  or the locking tab  214  contact the hook  180  as the shingle scale  152  is lowered onto the protrusion  182 . When fitted onto the protrusion  182  and abutted against the base  160  of the mounting bracket  150 , the shingle scale  152  may be rotated about the protrusion  182  (i.e., counter-clockwise in the example provided) as is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 11  such that the locking tab  214  is located beneath the leg portion  186  of the hook  180  and the aperture  220  ( FIG. 9 ) in the second flange portion  212  ( FIG. 9 ) is aligned to the threaded aperture  166  ( FIG. 6 ) in the second mount  164  ( FIG. 6 ) in the base  160 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9 , the cap screw  156  may be inserted through the aperture  196  in the scale member  190 , into the aperture  220  in the second flange portion  212  and threadably engaged to the threaded aperture  166  in the second mount  164 . Tightening of the cap screw  156  fixedly but removably couples the shingle scale  152  to the base  160  at a first location, while the hook  180  and protrusion  182  cooperate with the locking tab  214  and aperture  216  cooperate to secure the shingle scale  152  to the base  160  at a second location. 
   Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the shingle scale  152  may be removed from the base  160  by reversing the above steps (i.e., removing the cap screw  156 , rotating the shingle scale  152  about the protrusion  182  to a position where the shingle scale  152  may be lifted off the base  160 , and lifting the shingle scale  152  off the mounting bracket  150 ). 
   While the fastening tool  10  has been discussed thus far as including a plurality of skid-plate assemblies  16  and a shingle gauge  18  with a shingle edge guide  154  that employ a tool, such as an Allen wrench, to facilitate its adjustment, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the present invention, in its broader aspects, may be constructed somewhat differently. For example, the skid-plate assemblies  16   a  may be constructed as illustrated  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The skid-plate assemblies  16   a  may comprise one or more resilient bands  300  that may be stretched over and fitted about an associated portion of the fastening tool  10   a , such as the housing assembly  12   a . In the example provided, the band  300  includes a body portion  302 , which is disposed adjacent the housing assembly  12   a , and a plurality of deflectable fingers  94   a  that extend outwardly from the body portion  302  away from the housing assembly  12   a.    
   In the example of  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the skid-plate assemblies  16   b  may comprise an L-shaped member  320  that may be fixedly coupled to selected portions of the fastening tool  10   b , such as the housing assembly  12   b . The L-shaped member  320  may include a first portion  322 , which extends outwardly from the housing assembly  12   b , and a second portion or finger  94   b , which is spaced apart from the housing assembly  12   b  and generally parallel thereto. The L-shaped member  320  may be formed of a relatively rigid material, such as sheet steel, or a more flexible material that permits one or more portions of the L-shaped member  320 , such as the finger  94   b , to more readily deflect. Where the L-shaped member  320  is formed of a relatively rigid material, the skid-plate assemblies  16   b  may be additionally or alternatively configured to be clipped onto an object, such as the edge of a shingle (not shown). 
   With reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the shingle scale  152   c  and the shingle edge guide  154   c  may be configured to permit a user to adjust the position of the reference datum (not specifically shown) between a plurality of predetermined position without the use of tools. The shingle scale  152   c  is generally similar to the shingle scale  152  of  FIG. 8 , except that the slotted aperture  196   c  intersects a plurality of spaced apart locating recesses  400 . The shingle edge guide  154   c  may include a structure  250   c  and a fastener  410 . The structure  250   c  may be generally similar to the structure  250  of  FIG. 8  except as noted below, while the fastener  410  may include a pin  412 , a spring  414 , a washer  416  and a nut  418 . The pin  412  may include a head portion  420 , a first body portion  422  and a second body portion  424 . The first body portion  422  has a size that is intermediate the head portion  420  and the second body portion  424  and is configured to slip fit into the locating recesses  400 . The head portion  420  may be fixedly coupled to the structure  250   c , as through welding, and is relatively larger than the first body portion  422 . The first body portion  422  is relatively larger than the slotted aperture  196   c  and as such, will not fit through the slotted aperture  196   c . With the pin  412  extending through structure  250   c  of the shingle edge guide  154   c  and the scale member  190   c  of the shingle scale  152   c , the washer  416  and nut  418  may be employed to secure the spring  414  to the pin  412  to permit the spring  414  to bias the head portion  420  against the structure  250   c.    
   The user may position the shingle edge guide  154   c  relative to the shingle scale  152   c  by pulling the shingle edge guide  154   c  away from the shingle scale  152   c  to thereby position the second body portion  424  of the pin  412  within the locating recess  400  in the shingle scale  152   c . As the second body portion  424  of the pin  412  is smaller than the slotted aperture  196   c , the user may pull or push the shingle edge guide  154   c  to position the second body portion  424  of the pin  412  into a desired one of the locating recesses  400 . Thereafter, the user may release the shingle edge guide  154   c  to permit the spring to draw the first body portion  422  of the pin  412  into the desired one of the locating recesses  400  and clamp the shingle edge guide  154   c  to the shingle scale  152   c . As the first body portion  422  is sized relatively larger than the slotted aperture  196   c , unintended sliding movement of the shingle edge guide  154   c  relative to the shingle scale  152   c  is inhibited. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that unintended rotational movement of the shingle edge guide  154   c  relative to the shingle scale  152   c  may be inhibited through the use of a follower, which is similar to the follower  260  described above and illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate from this disclosure that other detent mechanisms may be substituted for that which is shown in the figures and discussed above. 
   While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.