Patent Publication Number: US-6712256-B1

Title: Nail gun carriage

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The following invention relates to nail guns which deliver nails into structures to be fastened with the nails, such as planar building materials. More particularly, this invention relates to assemblies which are attachable to a nail gun to support the nail gun directly adjacent a surface to be nailed and with a user controlling the position and operation of the nail gun from a convenient location remote from the nail gun, such as standing erect upon the surface being nailed. The carriage assembly of this invention can be configured to attach to an existing nail gun or be incorporated into the design of the nail gun itself to form a single integrated mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     To enhance the efficiency of framing wooden buildings and other structures, framers and carpentry professionals often use a nail gun as an at least partial replacement for a hammer. Such nail guns deliver a nail into the structure with power most typically supplied by compressed air from a compressor or other compressed air supply. One such nail gun known in the prior art is made by the Hitachi Company of Japan under the model number “NV 83A” and referred to as a “3¼ inch coil nailer.” The nail gun is operated by placing a muzzle of the nail gun adjacent a location where a nail is desired and then pulling a trigger adjacent a grip of the nail gun to cause a nail to be delivered out of the muzzle with sufficient force to drive the nail into the structure. A magazine is typically attached to the nail gun and sequentially feeds nails into the nail gun for subsequent delivery. 
     Many common structural members used in framing a building are planar in nature, including plywood, oriented strand board, and other planar lumber. Such planar building materials are often used to provide flooring, walls and roofing structure for a building. Nails are utilized to attach these planar building materials to underlying studs, joists and other structural members of the building. Nail guns are particularly useful in quickly executing the repetitive process of driving nails into such planar building materials along the perimeter and regions over underlying structural members. 
     One drawback of utilizing a nail gun is the substantial weight of the nail gun and associated magazine. This weight is particularly undesirable when using the nail gun on flooring and roofing because the carpenter or other user is typically required to stand on the surface to be nailed and awkwardly bend down to hold the nail gun adjacent the surface upon which the carpenter is standing. 
     Additionally, different structural applications for planar building materials specify different optimal spacings between adjacent nails. The closer actual nail spacing matches the optimal spacing, the quicker a structure of adequate strength can be created, with fewer nails required. Accordingly, a need exists for an assembly to carry a nail gun along a surface which facilitates operation of the nail gun by a user while the user is standing erect on the same surface being nailed. Such an assembly would additionally benefit from facilitating precise spacing of adjacent nails relative to each other with a distance matching an optimal spacing specified for the application to which the planar building material is being directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a nail gun carriage which is attachable to a nail. gun and supports the nail gun in proper position relative to an underlying planar structure to effectively deliver a nail into the underlying structure. The carriage facilitates remote firing and position control of the nail gun by a user while the user stands erect upon the surface being nailed. The nail gun carriage includes at least one wheel or other bearing support coupled, either directly or indirectly through other structures, to the nail gun. The wheel or other bearing support is located and oriented relative to a muzzle of the nail gun so that the wheel or other bearing support can roll or slide along the underlying structure, such as planar building material to be nailed, with the muzzle of the nail gun located and oriented for proper firing of a nail into the structure. 
     Preferably, a frame is slidably attached to the nail gun and rotatably supports the wheel. Alignment brackets can be affixed to the nail gun and include pins which slide within slots in the frame such that the nail gun is limited to linear motion parallel to a firing axis of the nail gun. In this way, a recoil action exhibited by the nail gun immediately after firing a nail is accommodated, and the wheel or other bearing support of the carriage is allowed to remain adjacent the planar structure being nailed. Preferably, a spring is provided to bias the nail gun to its desired position with the muzzle directly adjacent the surface to be nailed before firing a nail. 
     The nail gun carriage additionally features an extension handle, preferably in the form of an elongate pole, which is coupled at least indirectly to the nail gun. Most preferably, a grip bracket is attached to a grip of the nail gun with the grip bracket accommodating attachment of the pole to the grip bracket. The pole can attach to the grip bracket in one of a variety of different orientations which give the pole a variety of different angular orientations relative to the nail gun and nail gun carriage. A carpenter or other user can then grasp an end of the pole opposite the grip bracket and have control over the positioning and movement of the nail gun and nail gun carriage. The pole is sufficiently long so the user can stand erect on the same surface that is being nailed by the nail gun with the nail gun carriage of this invention resting upon this surface. 
     The nail gun is fired in at least two different ways. First, a manual trigger can be included near an end of the pole opposite the grip bracket attached to the nail gun. This manual trigger is coupled via a cable to the gun trigger so that when the manual trigger is toggled by the user the trigger of the nail gun is actuated. The remote firing of the nail gun by the user at the opposite end of the pole is thus accomplished. 
     A second firing mechanism provides automatic firing as the nail gun carriage travels over a predetermined distance on the structure being nailed. Such an automatic trigger actuator could take a variety of different forms to measure the distance over which the nail gun carriage has traveled. A user could select a desired spacing between nails (i.e. four inches) so that the nail gun fires a nail when that desired distance has been traveled by the nail gun carriage. Uniform spacing of the nails is thus provided. One form of automatic trigger actuator includes a flexible axle coupled at one end to the wheel of the nail gun carriage and at the other end to a cam adjacent the gun trigger of the nail gun. As the wheel of the nail gun carriage rotates, a lobe on the cam rotates and toggles the gun trigger. The diameter of the wheel can be selected to provide the desired spacing between nails. A transmission can be included along the flexible axle to allow a user to vary an amount of rotation out of the transmission and affect the rate of rotation of the cam and hence the distance traveled between consecutive firings of the nail gun. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun carriage which allows a nail gun to be operated adjacent a structure to be nailed while a user is remote from the nail gun. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun carriage which holds the nail gun at a proper position and orientation relative to an adjacent structure to be nailed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun carriage which can move along a planar surface to be nailed with the user controlling the position of the nail gun remotely. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun carriage which facilitates firing of nails into a planar surface with a user controlling the position of the nail gun while the user stands erect upon the surface being nailed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun support assembly which holds the nail gun adjacent a surface to be nailed and accommodates recoil of the nail gun after firing and return of the nail gun to proper orientation for delivery of subsequent nails. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun support assembly which is configured to automatically fire a nail from the nail gun when a predetermined distance has been traveled by the nail gun adjacent a surface to be nailed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail gun which can rest upon an underlying planar surface and be moved over the underlying planar surface by a user standing erect upon the underlying planar surface with nails being fired from the nail gun into the underlying planar surface. 
     Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the nail gun carriage in a preferred embodiment of this invention attached to a nail gun and resting upon boards forming a planar structure with a user standing upon the boards and controlling a position of the nail gun carriage and nail gun remotely through a pole attached to the nail gun. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the nail gun carriage and nail gun of this invention assembled together for use in delivering nails into a planar structure. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded parts view of that which is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view similar to that which is shown in FIG. 3 with portions of a frame of the nail gun carriage removed to show details of a grip bracket and gun trigger interface of this invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a detail of a manual trigger within the pole of this invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to that which is shown in FIG. 7 after toggling of a manual trigger to cause the nail gun to fire remotely. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation cut away view similar to that which is shown in FIG. 6 after actuation of the gun trigger of the nail gun through action of the manual trigger actuator of this invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of that which is shown in FIG. 2 which includes an automatic trigger actuator to cause the nail gun to fire a nail upon periodic travel of the nail gun carriage over an adjacent surface to be nailed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to a nail gun carriage (FIG. 1) which supports a nail gun  2  above boards B or other planar structures in an orientation allowing nails N to be fired from the nail gun  2  into the boards B. A pole  70  provides a preferred form of extension handle which can be grasped by a user, such as a carpenter C, while the carpenter C conveniently stands erect on the boards B parallel with the boards B or other planar structures being nailed by the nail gun  2 . 
     In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic details of the nail gun carriage  10  are described. The nail gun carriage  10  includes a frame  20  which is preferably slideably attached to the nail gun  2 . A wheel  30  or other bearing surface is provided on a lower end of the frame  20  at a position which allows the wheels  30  to roll (or bearing surface to slide) on the boards B to be nailed by the nail gun  2 . Alignment brackets  40  (FIG. 2) are preferably affixed to the nail gun  2  and ride in slots  25  formed in the frame  20  so that the nail gun  2  can slide relative to the frame  20  to accommodate recoil of the nail gun  2  immediately after firing a nail N. A recoil spring  50  is oriented between a rear of the nail gun  2  and the frame  20 . 
     A grip bracket  60  (FIG. 2) is coupled to the nail gun  2  preferably at a location surrounding a grip  7  of the nail gun  2 . The grip bracket  60  provides an attachment location for a pole  70  which can be handled by a carpenter C and used to position the nail gun carriage  10  where desired from a standing position remote from the nail gun carriage  10 . A manual trigger actuator  80  (FIGS. 6-9) can be provided to allow for remote firing of the nail gun  2  by hands of the carpenter C from a proximal end  72  of the pole  70  (FIG. 1) distant from the nail gun carriage  10 . An automatic trigger actuator  90  (FIG. 10) can be provided which causes the nail gun  2  to fire automatically as the wheel  30  turns so that nails N are automatically periodically driven into the boards B underlying the nail gun carriage  10  at a desired user selected spacing. 
     More specifically, and with particular reference to FIG. 5, details of the nail gun  2  most preferred for attachment to the nail gun carriage  10  are described. While any type of nail gun  2  could be utilized with an appropriately modified nail gun carriage  10  to accommodate the particular design of the nail gun  2 , a preferred form of nail gun  2  is made by the Hitachi Company of Japan under the model number “NV 83A” and referred to as a “3¼ inch coil nailer.” This nail gun  2  is driven by a compressor  4  delivering compressed air or other gas through a line  5  to a connector in the grip  7  of the nail gun  2 . A magazine  6  stores a plurality of nails in a manner which can be rapidly and sequentially fed to the nail gun  2  for firing out of a muzzle  9  along a firing axis when a gun trigger  8  is actuated. The actual nail gun firing mechanism of the nail gun  2  can be referred to separately from other portions of the nail gun  2  by the phrase “nail firing gun.” 
     A preferred form of this invention provides the nail gun carriage  10  as an accessory attachable to an existing nail gun  2 , such as the nail gun described in detail above., However, the nail gun carriage  10  could be integrated with the nail gun  2  so that a new form of nail gun  2  would be provided which includes the wheel  30  or other bearing surface and optionally the pole  70  with the design of the nail gun  2  modified to integrate these features of the nail gun carriage  10  directly into a redesigned nail gun  2 . Hence, both nail gun carriages  10  attachable to existing nail guns  2  and nail guns  2  modified to include the features of the nail gun carriage  10  are contemplated as acceptable variations within the scope of this invention. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 2-5, details of the frame  20  and wheel  30  of the nail gun carriage  10  are described. The frame  20  is not strictly necessary for operation of a most basic form of the nail gun carriage  10  of this invention. However, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention the frame  20  is included to provide for slidable. coupling of the wheel  30  to the nail gun  2 . Particularly, the frame  20  includes a cap  22  which is preferably substantially planar with two side walls  24  extending perpendicularly down from the cap  22  to tips  26 . A post  23  preferably extends down from a forward edge of the cap  22  to assist in aligning the nail gun  2  relative to the frame  20 , as discussed in detail below. A pair of slots  25  are provided, one in each of the side walls  24 , with the slots  25  having a long axis oriented preferably substantially vertically and perpendicular to an orientation of the cap  22 . The slots  25  act as part of a sliding coupling to assist in aligning movement of the nail gun  2  relative to the frame  20 , as discussed in detail below. 
     The wheel  30  extends between the tips  26  of each of the side walls  24  and preferably perpendicular to the nail firing axis of the nail gun  2 . Preferably, the wheel  30  is an elongate cylinder with a 1¼ inch diameter exterior cylindrical rolling surface  32 . The wheel  30  preferably rotates upon an axle  34  which is mounted to the tips  26  of the frame  20 . The cylindrical surface  32  preferably is configured of a material and a texture having sufficient friction to easily overcome rolling resistance between the wheel  30 , the axle  34  and the tips  26  of the frame  20 , such that the wheel  30  does not slide on an underlying boards B or other adjacent structures to be nailed, but rather preferably always rolls. 
     While the above described wheel  30  configuration is preferred, a variety of different wheel  30  configurations can be provided as alternatives. For instance, multiple wheels  30  could be aligned along a common axle  34  or on multiple axles parallel to each other. The diameter of the wheels  30  could also be modified. 
     While utilization of a wheel  30  is preferred to provide a bearing surface for the nail gun carriage  10  which can rest upon boards B or other structures to be nailed, other bearing surfaces could be provided. For instance, a wheel  30  which does not rotate could be provided with the wheel  30  merely sliding over the bearing surface. Similarly, a series of skids, runners, skis or rails could also similarly be utilized. Another alternative bearing surface would be a rolling track. 
     The wheel  30  or other bearing surface is oriented to roll (or slide) along the boards B or other structure to be nailed and to have a location and orientation relative to the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  which properly places the nail gun  2  where needed for properly delivering nails N into the boards B underlying the carriage  10 . For instance, if it is desirable with a particular nail gun  2  for the muzzle  9  to be lightly touching the boards B, the wheel  30  can be located so that the cylindrical surface  32  of the wheel  30  has a position horizontally forward of the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  and at a common height with the muzzle  9 . If it is desirable that the muzzle  9  be slightly off of the boards B to be nailed, the wheel  30  can be located so that the cylindrical surface  32  of the wheel  30  is forward and slightly below the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2 . In either event, the orientation of the wheel  30  on the nail gun carriage  10  and relative to the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  is preferably provided to position the muzzle  9  precisely where needed for optimum performance of the nail gun  2 . If desired this positioning can be made adjustable to accommodate different circumstances in which the nail gun  2  is to be used. 
     Most preferably, the wheel  30  is oriented forward of the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  slightly. In this way, the wheel  30  would roll off of an edge of the board B before the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  would be off of the board B and potentially be capable of firing a nail N into a location where the board B is not present and potentially pose a danger to others. It is also desirable that the wheel  30  be oriented with a midpoint of the wheel directly adjacent the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  so that a majority of the wheel  30  is resting upon the boards B when the muzzle  9  of the nail gun  2  is also over a board B. In this way, if the nail gun carriage  10  is laterally extending over a side of a board B the nail gun carriage  10  will tend to tip off of the board B once it is in a location where a nail N might be fired into a location other than where the boards B are present. 
     The wheel  30  or other bearing surface is preferably attached to the frame  20  as described above. However, the wheel  30  or other bearing surface could be attached directly to the nail gun  2  or attached to the nail gun  2  through other structures in the frame  20 . Any such other attachment arrangements could still provide the wheel  30  in the desired position as described above. If the wheel  30  is attached directly and rigidly to the nail gun  2 , nail gun  2  recoil would cause the wheels  30  to hop off of the boards B along with the wheel  30 . If the wheel  30  is attached directly to the nail gun  2  in a manner allowing the wheel  30  to move down during recoil, the wheel  30  could be kept in substantial contact with the boards B and maintain alignment of the nail gun  2  along an edge of the board B to be nailed. By providing the frame  20  in the preferred fashion described above, the nail gun  2  recoils but the frame  20  and wheel  30  remain in contact with the boards B so that after recoil is complete the nail gun  2  returns to its original position and is ready for firing of a second nail N after the nail gun carriage  10  has been moved (such as along arrow A of FIG. 1) to the next location where a nail N is to be fired. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 3-5, details of the alignment brackets  40  are described. Preferably, two alignment brackets.  40  are affixed directly to the nail gun  2 , such as through removal and reattachment of appropriate bolts of. the nail gun  2  at a location where the muzzle  9  interfaces with other portions of the nail gun  2 . The attachment brackets  40  are rigid structures which extend horizontally and laterally away from the nail gun  2 . The alignment brackets  40  include inner ends  42  attached to the nail gun  2  and outer ends  44  distant from the inner ends  42 . Pins  46  are preferably located at the outer ends  44  which pass through the slots  25  in the frame  20 . Washers  48 , cotter pins and other structures can be provided to retain the, pins  46  of the alignment brackets  40  within the slots  25 . 
     The pins  46  of the alignment brackets  40  are allowed to pivot up and down (such as along arrow S of FIG. 4) within the slots  25 . For instance, when the nail gun  2  is fired and recoils upward (along arrow R of FIG. 4) the pins  46  of the alignment brackets  40  slide up (along arrow S of FIG. 4) within the slots  25 . The alignment brackets  40  and slots  25  coact to keep the nail gun  2  precisely aligned relative to the frame  20  so that only linear translation parallel to the firing axis of the nail gun  2  is allowed between the frame  20  and the nail gun  2 . 
     The attachment brackets  40  can alternatively be a single bracket  40  extending entirely between the two side walls  24  of the frame  20  and affixed directly or indirectly to the nail gun  2 . It is also conceivable that the post  23  of the frame  20  could merely provide for alignment of the nail gun  2  relative to the frame  20  without the alignment brackets  40  being strictly necessary for at least minimal operation of the nail gun carriage  10  and nail gun  2  of this invention. 
     A recoil spring  50  is preferably located between a rear of the nail gun  2 , opposite the muzzle  9 , and the cap  22  of the frame.  20 . The recoil spring  50  is not strictly necessary, but is beneficial in keeping the nail gun  2  aligned in its proper position for firing except when recoil forces overcome a force exerted by the recoil spring  50 . Immediately after firing the nail gun  2 , the nail gun  2  recoils upwards. (such as along arrow R of FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     The weight of the frame  20  keeps the wheel  30  in approximately its previous position and the recoil spring  50  is compressed. The nail gun  2  is then returned to its original position due to forces of gravity and the recoil spring  50  returning the nail gun  2  to its original position. When utilizing the nail gun carriage  10  on vertical surfaces or surfaces with a steep slope, the recoil spring  50  is particularly advantageous to keep the nail gun  2  adjacent the structure being nailed. The recoil spring  50  includes an upper end  52  which is attached to the cap  22  and lower end  54  which is attached either directly to the rear of the nail gun  2  or to a portion of the grip bracket  60  described below. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 2,  3  and  5 , details of the grip bracket  60  are described. The grip bracket  60  serves the primary purpose of facilitating attachment of an extension handle, such as the pole  70 , to the nail gun carriage  10  so that a user such as a carpenter C can stand erect upon the boards B to be nailed and control a position of the nail gun carriage  10  and delivery of nails N while the nail gun carriage  10  is resting upon the boards B. 
     The grip bracket  60  is preferably rigidly affixed to the nail gun  2 . The grip, bracket  60  includes a spring base  61  which extends over a rear end of the nail gun  2  and provides for attachment of the lower end  54  of the recoil spring  50  to the spring base  61 . The spring base  61  preferably includes a front hole  62  which is sized to receive the post  23  of the frame  20  passing there through. Because the grip bracket  60  is fixedly attached to the nail gun  2  and the post  23  is affixed to the frame  20 , the post  23  slides through the front hole  62  during recoil. This arrangement helps to maintain alignment of the nail gun  2  during recoil with relative motion between the nail gun  2  and the frame  20  limited to translation along the firing axis without relative rotation. 
     A top plate  63  extends rearwardly from the spring base  61  in a substantially horizontal fashion. Lateral plates  64  extend perpendicularly down from the top plate  63  parallel to each other and with a spacing similar to a width of the grip  7  of the nail gun  2  and a width of the pole  70 . The lateral plates  64  include a pivot bolt  65  passing through each of the lateral plates  64  at a location adjacent the nail gun  2 . The lateral plates  64  include orientation holes  66  at spaced intervals along an upward and rearward arcuate perimeter of each of the lateral plates  64 . 
     An orientation pin  67  is sized to pass through adjacent pairs of orientation holes  66  in the two lateral plates  64 . The orientation pin  67  preferably includes a bend and an extension to allow the orientation pin  67  to be easily grasped by a hand of the user for removal and reinsertion when desired. At least one capture bolt  68  and preferably multiple capture bolts extend between the two lateral plates  64  adjacent a lower portion of the lateral plates  64  and adjacent the grip  7  of the nail gun  2  to capture the grip  7  securely between the lateral plates  64  so that the grip bracket  60  remains securely affixed to the nail gun  2 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, details of the pole  70  are described. The pole  70  provides a preferred form of extension handle to allow the carpenter C or other user to stand erect at a location remote from the nail gun carriage  10  and still control positioning and operation of the nail gun  2  within the nail. gun carriage  10 . Specifically, the pole  70  preferably includes two nesting cylindrical segments, with a longer diameter segment having a hollow interior to allow segments to rest. The segments are removably attachable together by an adjustment collar  73  so that the pole  70  can be adjusted in length. 
     A first pivot end  71  of the pole  70  is located adjacent the grip bracket  60 . The pivot end  71  includes a hole passing there through which can receive the pivot bolt  65  of the grip bracket  60  so that the pivot end  71  of the pole  70  is captured by the grip bracket  60 . A second proximal end  72  of the pole  70  is provided where the carpenter C can grasp the pole  70  and control the position of the nail gun carriage  10 . 
     An alignment bore  74  passes through the pole  70  at a location slightly spaced from the pivot end  71  a distance similar to a distance from the pivot bolt  65  to the various orientation holes  66  in the lateral plates  64  of the grip bracket  60 . The alignment bore  74  is large enough to receive the orientation pin  67  there through. Hence, when the alignment bore  74  is aligned with a pair of orientation holes  66 , the orientation pins  67  can be utilized to secure the pole  70  to the grip bracket  60  at a second location spaced from the pivot bolt  65 . In this way, the pole  70  is secured to the grip bracket  60 , and hence the nail gun  2 , without relative rotation or translation there between. 
     The orientation holes  66  are provided for alignment with the alignment bore  74 , so that the pole  70  provides an angle of the pole  70  relative to the grip bracket  60 , nail gun  2  and nail gun carriage  10  which is most comfortable for the carpenter C depending on the slope of the boards B to be nailed, a height of the carpenter C, a length of the pole  70  and other considerations of ergonomics and expediency. 
     While the above described pole  70  configuration is preferred, a variety of different extension handles could be utilized. For instance, if attributes of the nail gun carriage  10  are integrated directly into a nail gun  2 , it is conceivable that the grip  7  would merely be constructed to be configured as a pole or other elongate structure. Two poles  70  or other extension handles could be provided which either attach to the grip bracket  60  at a single location or attach to laterally spaced portions of the grip bracket  60 . Such a multiple pole  70  or extension handle configuration would more easily allow a carpenter C or other user to control a rotational orientation of the nail gun carriage  10 . 
     While the pole  70  or other extension handle preferably attaches to the grip bracket  60  and hence directly to the nail gun  2 , an alternative would be to have the pole  70  or other extension handle attach to the frame  20  or other support structure coupling the wheels  30  or other bearing surface to the nail gun  2 . In such an arrangement, the pole  70  or other extension handle would still be coupled to the nail gun  2 , but in an indirect fashion through other intervening structures. If desired, the pole  70  can be configured to include the line  5  of compressed air either within an interior thereof or along an exterior thereof to minimize the need to manage the location of the line  5  during use of the nail gun  2  and the nail gun carriage  10 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 6-9, details of a manual trigger actuator  80  of the nail gun carriage.  10  of this invention are described. While the nail gun carriage  10  described hereinabove is generally operable to control proper positioning of the nail gun  2  in a convenient manner while the carpenter C stands erect upon the board B to be nailed, it is desirable that the carpenter C be able to cause the nail gun  2  to fire without needing to grasp the gun trigger  8  of the nail gun  2  with hands of the carpenter C in a direct fashion. A variety of different remotely controlled trigger actuators could be resorted to to provide for firing of the nail gun  2 . For instance, the remote control devices utilizing appropriate frequencies could operate in a wireless fashion and have servo-motors, solenoids or other actuators which would receive a signal from a control device with the carpenter C to cause the nail gun  2  to fire. Other means to actuate the gun trigger  8  could include an electrically coupled switch and solenoid with the switch adjacent the carpenter C and the solenoid adjacent the gun trigger  8  and with appropriate wiring there between so that when the carpenter C actuates the switch, the trigger  8  is toggled. 
     Most preferably, the manual trigger actuator  80  described in FIGS. 6-9 is provided. A manual trigger  81  is provided near the proximal end  72  of the pole  70 . A guard  82  surrounds the manual trigger  81  to prevent accidental toggling of the manual trigger  81 . a torsion spring  83  biases the manual trigger  81  in a first position. A rod  84  is coupled to the manual trigger  81  with a cable  85  attached to the rod  84 . The cable  85  can reside within a sleeve  86  (optionally) and extends from the proximal end  72  of the pole  70  down to near the pivot end  71  of the pole  70  where the cable  85  passes out of the pole  70  and over to the gun trigger  8 . The cable  85  can optionally be routed entirely outside of the pole  70  or partially inside the pole  70  and partially outside the pole  70  as desired. 
     By including a sleeve  86  around the cable  85 , the sleeve  85  and cable  86  combination can be coiled up inside the pole  70  somewhat to accommodate lengthening and shortening of the pole  70 . So long as the ends of the sleeve  86  are grounded to ends of the pole  70 , the cable  85  will move relative to the sleeve  86  and the cable  85  will appropriately move both adjacent the manual trigger  81  and adjacent the gun trigger  8 . A gun trigger coupling  87  is provided which attaches the cable  85  to the gun trigger  8 . 
     When the manual trigger  81  is toggled (such as along arrow P of FIGS. 7 and 8) the rod  84  pulls the cable  85  (along arrow Q of FIGS.  7  and  8 ), causing the cable  85  to move adjacent the pivot end  71  of the pole  70  (along arrow Q of FIGS. 6 and 9) and causing the gun trigger  8  to be toggled (along arrow F of FIGS.  6  and  9 ). In this way, the gun trigger  8  is remotely toggled and a nail N delivered from the nail gun  2 . 
     Most preferably, the nail gun carriage  10  of this invention includes both the manual trigger actuator  80  described above and an automatic trigger actuator  90  so that the carpenter C has two different systems which can be utilized to cause firing of the nail gun  2 . The automatic trigger actuator  90  system causes the nail gun  2  to fire based on an amount of movement of the nail gun carriage  10  relative to the boards B or other structures to be nailed. For instance, if it is desired that nails be spaced four inches apart, the automatic trigger actuator would be set by the carpenter C to fire a nail gun  2  every four inches. As the nail gun carriage  10  moves, a nail N will be delivered by the nail gun  2  every four inches. If the carpenter C prefers a three inch spacing, the automatic trigger actuator  90  is preferably adjustable through a manual firing frequency adjustment to accommodate such a three inch spacing and deliver a nail every three inches as the nail gun  10  moves over the boards B to be nailed. 
     This basic functionality of the automatic trigger actuator  90  could be provided in a variety of different ways. For instance, one means to automatically trigger the nail gun would include an optical sensor mounted to either the nail gun  2  or the nail gun carriage  10  (i.e. the frame  20 , the grip bracket  60  or the pole  70 ) and be directed at the boards B or other underlying structures with the appropriate optical and/or electric circuitry to detect motion of the nail gun carriage  10  and nail gun  2  over the boards B or other underlying surfaces. When the amount of spacing distance desired and selected by the carpenter C has been passed, the nail gun  2  would be caused to fire. Other means to measure nail gun  2  travel and automatically trigger the nail gun  2  could also be utilized. 
     Most preferably, an automatic trigger actuator  90  is provided which senses an amount of wheel  30  rotation and causes the gun trigger  8  of the nail gun  2  to be toggled in a periodic fashion as the wheel  30  of the nail gun carriage  10  rotates a distance similar to the desired distance for spacing between nails N to be delivered from the nail gun  2 . 
     For instance, a flexible axle  92  (FIG. 10) can be provided with a wheel interface  93  at one end, a cam interface  95  at a second end and optionally with a transmission  94  along the flexible axle  92 . A cam  96  would be located adjacent the cam interface  95 . This cam  96  would be directly adjacent the gun trigger  8  and include a lobe which would cause the gun trigger  8  to be toggled when the lobe passes adjacent the gun trigger  8  due to rotation of the cam  96 . The cam  96  can be securely positioned directly adjacent the trigger  8  such as upon a cam rotational support pin  97  pivotably attached within a hole  99  in a tab  98  attached to the grip bracket  60 . When the wheel  30  rotates, the flexible axle  92  rotates adjacent the wheel interface  93 . This rotation of the flexible axle  92  would in turn cause rotation of the flexible axle  92  adjacent the cam interface  95  where the flexible axle  92  would be coupled to a center of rotation of the cam  96  and cause the cam  96  to rotate. An alternative to the flexible axle  92  is an arrangement of flexible belts and shafts to deliver a wheel rotation signal from the wheel  30  to the cam  95 . 
     If the wheel  30  has a diameter of 1¼ inches, a nail spacing of approximately four inches is provided with a single lobed cam and no transmission  94 . A simplest form of this invention would not require a transmission  94 . However, to allow selection of automatic nail N spacing, the transmission  94  could be interposed upon the flexible axle  92 . Such a transmission  94  could be attached to the frame  20  and have an input rotational velocity different from an output rotational velocity in a manner which could be selected, such as by rotating a manual dial or pushing buttons on an exterior of the transmission  94 . The transmission  94  could include planetary gears, separate sets of gears which can be selectively engaged with each other, interfacing clutch-like mechanisms or any other speed reduction or speed increase transmission devices known in the prior art. 
     The transmission  94  could thus be utilized so that the user could select a frequency of nail firing and hence periodic amount of travel between nails delivered from the nail gun  2 . The flexible axle  92  is merely one form of input signal to the transmission with axle  92  rotation correlating with an amount of movement relative to the surface being nailed. As the nail gun carriage  10  advances along the boards B to be nailed (arrow A of FIG. 9) the wheel  30  is caused to turn (along arrow W of FIG.  9 ). With the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 10, the flexible axle  92  would be caused to rotate (such as along arrow U of FIG. 20) in turn causing the cam  96  to rotate and causing the gun trigger  8  to be toggled (such as along arrow F of FIGS.  6  and  9 ). 
     Both the manual trigger actuator  80 . and the automatic trigger actuator  90  could be simultaneously provided on the nail gun carriage  10  of this invention. In such an arrangement, the nail gun carriage  10  would automatically cause the nail gun  2  to fire in a periodic fashion with a spacing selected by the carpenter C. Additionally, should the carpenter C wish for an additional nail N to be provided, such as at an end of the board B, the carpenter C can manually toggle the manual trigger  81 , and cause the gun trigger  8  to be fired at the precise location desired. 
     This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment. It is understood that the frame  20  of this invention could be omitted or take on a variety of different configurations other than those specifically shown in the drawings and the grip bracket  60  as well as other structures of this invention according to the preferred embodiment could be significantly modified and still provide the basic functions of these portions of the nail gun carriage  10 .