Patent Publication Number: US-9403265-B2

Title: Tool adapter for installation clip

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to power driving tools and installation clips for use in securing deck planks to a support and/or adjacent deck planks. More particularly, the invention relates to an adapter configured for removable attachment to a power driving tool which allows an installation clip to be engaged and retained hands-free in position for attachment by driving of a securing member from the power driving tool. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Advancements have been made from the simple conventional system of deck plank installation, using fasteners driven through each plank, which have improved integrity of each plank and the deck system as a whole, as well as improving safety and efficiency. 
     For instance, an improved deck plank fastening system includes fasteners that attach to a side surface of the plank and a top surface of the support (i.e., a joist or like object) using securing members (i.e., nails or screws). Other improvements and permutations have been conceived in this field, including the provision of deck planks with side grooves for receiving the teeth or tabs of hidden fasteners (also referred to herein as installation clips) that can be attached directly to an underlying decking support, thereby avoiding driving a securing member through the deck plank. Such improvements have specific advantages in specific circumstances, but have not foreclosed innovation in the field. 
     For example, power driving devices exist and are employed which assist assembly of a decking structure by allowing installers to quickly attach fasteners to planks by driving an elongated securing member from a barrel through the fastener and into another object, such as a decking support. With many power driving devices, an installer holds the fastener in place in front of the barrel of the tool with one hand and operates the tool with his other hand to drive a securing member. 
     A novel nozzle retainer exists and is disclosed in co-owed and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/573,540. The retainer has a head protruding from the front of a barrel that is configured to engage a fastener and hold the fastener in a predetermined position in front of the barrel for substantially hands-free attachment. Examples of fasteners for which the retainer is particularly useful are disclosed in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/030,625 and Ser. No. 13/532,145. The hands-free retainer substantially increases the efficiency of installation while reducing or eliminating the risk of injury to the installer. 
     SUMMARY 
     There is a need for an adapter for a variety of commercially available power driving tools having a nozzle that enables hands-free engagement/attachment of a hidden fastener in a position for a securing member to be driven from the nozzle therethrough. In one embodiment, an adapter for use with a power tool with a nozzle defining a bore from which an elongated securing member can be driven has a first surface, second surface and magnetic element. The first surface is configured to abut a distal portion of the nozzle when the adapter and nozzle are attached at least partially by mechanical forces. The second surface is configured to abut a portion of an installation clip when engaged. The magnetic element is positioned and configured to magnetically attract an installation clip toward the second surface. The adapter is shaped and configured to hold the installation clip in position with an attachment opening of the clip in registration with the nozzle bore when the adapter is attached to the nozzle and the clip is engaged with the adapter. 
     In another embodiment, an adapter for use with a power tool with a nozzle defining a bore from which an elongated securing member can be driven has a frame and a magnetic element. The frame has a contour configured to generally mate with a portion of the nozzle for substantially rigid attachment. The magnetic element is positioned and configured to generate magnetic forces to assist in substantially rigid attachment of the adapter to the nozzle. The magnetic forces also assist in engagement of an installation clip with the adapter. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of securing an installation clip to a support is provided. A power driving tool is provided, having a nozzle defining a bore through which an elongated securing member can optionally be driven. An adapter is attached to an outer portion of the nozzle. The adapter has a frame with an inner surface, outer surface and magnetic element. The magnetic element is configured to generate magnetic forces. An installation clip is engaged with the adapter at least partially with the magnetic forces generated by the magnetic element. The clip is engaged in a position with an attachment opening which it defines aligned with the nozzle bore. The installation clip is disengaged from the adapter by driving a securing member from the nozzle bore through the attachment opening and into the support, thereby securing the clip to the support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a tool adapter according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a different perspective view of the adapter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of the adapter depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the adapter of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a representative power tool with which the disclosed adapter is configured for use; 
         FIG. 5B  shows a representative installation clip with which the disclosed adapter is configured for use; 
         FIG. 6  shows an enlarged view of the nozzle portion of the power tool of  FIG. 5A  prior to attachment of the adapter of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows an enlarged view of the disclosed adapter attached to the nozzle portion of the previously depicted power tool; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side elevation view of the disclosed adapter attached to the power tool and engaged with the installation clip of  FIG. 5B ; 
         FIG. 8B  is a front view of the combination depicted in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a typical installation of a decking plank using an installation clip driven from the clip/adapter/tool combination of  FIG. 8B ; and 
         FIG. 10  depicts a typical assembly of a deck structure via the methods and instruments previously depicted. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the Figures, an adapter for use with a power driving tool is provided. The adapter allows a hands-free engagement of an installation clip with a power driving tool proximate the nozzle portion. The adapter is versatile in that it can be used with a variety of different power driving tools, such as nail guns. The adapter is configured to position and maintain the clip for driving of an elongated securing member from the nozzle through an attachment hole in the clip at least partially by forces generated by the adapter&#39;s magnetic element. Embodiments allow installers to convert a standard power driving tool, which often requires manual placement and holding of an installation clip in front of the nozzle, into a hands-free attachment tool. A specialized nozzle or retainer is not required to maintain the clip in an attachment position. The adapter allows attachment of individual adjacent decking planks with installation clips currently available in the marketplace in a single driving step that is significantly more efficient and safer than known devices and methods which often require manual holding of the clip in attachment position in front of the power tool. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1-4 , a power driving tool adapter  10  is disclosed. As shown, the adapter includes a frame  12  and a magnetic element  14 . In this embodiment, the frame  12  is split into a left portion  16  and right portion  18  with an arm  20  extending therebetween. Here, the arm  20  defines a left segment  20   a  extending from the left frame portion  16 , which transitions via the bridge  22  to the right segment  20   b  that extends from the right frame portion  18 . Here, the left and right segments  20   a  and  20   b  extend from their respective frame portion generally parallel to each other and are substantially symmetrical. The exact configuration of the arms can be altered as appropriate for use with different nozzles. The bridge  22  is preferably sized and shaped to mate with the outer surface of a nozzle of a power driving tool. A preferred embodiment exists wherein the frame is made from a substantially rigid polymeric material. As shown in the Figures, the left portion  16  and right portion  18  define the bottom opening  36  and rear opening  37 . Similarly, left arm segment  20   a , bridge  22  and right arm segment  20   b  define the front opening  38 . As can be seen, the front opening  38  transitions to the rear opening  37  via the bottom opening  36 . The shape and configuration of the frame  12  and defined openings are configured to mate with a nozzle, while leaving the nozzle opening substantially unobstructed when attached. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , the left portion  16  and right portion  18  respectively define upper (inner) surfaces,  24  and  26 , that are substantially flat and coplanar. The upper surfaces are configured to preferably mate a distal end of a power driving tool nozzle. Similarly, the respective frame portions define a left bottom (outer) surface  25  and right bottom (outer) surface  27 , configured to abut an installation clip when the clip and adapter are engaged. Each frame portion,  16  and  18 , includes a rear ridge (depicted as reference numerals  29  and  31 ) extending therefrom in the direction of the bottom surfaces. The rear ridges in the depicted embodiment extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, however this exact angular relationship is not limiting. The left portion  16  includes a left side flange  28  extending generally perpendicular to the upper surface, and parallel and in the direction of the arm segments  20   a  and  20   b . Extending substantially parallel to and in the direction of the left side flange  28  is the left rear flange  30 . The left side flange  28  and left rear flange  30  are positioned to assist in aligning and attaching the adapter  10  to the nozzle of the tool, as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     The right portion  18  is fit with a rear flange  32 , which transitions around an approximately 90° corner into the right side flange  34 . The right rear and side flanges extend generally perpendicular to the upper surfaces. Here, the right side flange  34  is shaped with a concavity for mating with the nozzle when the adapter  10  is attached thereto. 
     This embodiment of the adapter  10  is configured for use with a conventional power driving tool, such as the pneumatic nail gun depicted as reference numeral  50  in  FIG. 5A . The tool  50  has a barrel  52  extending from a body  54 , from a barrel proximal end  56  to a distal end  58  defining a surface. The barrel  52  of such tools defines a bore  53  and is typically made of steel or a similar metal that is magnetically attractive. Extending forward from and past the distal end  58  are two alignment extensions  59 . Operatively engaged with the barrel  52  is a magazine clip  60  (here, a slide-and-spring-type) which houses a plurality of elongated securing members, like those depicted as reference numeral  62 . The magazine clip  60  automatically advances a front most securing member  62  into the bore  53  in position to be driven. The tool depicted is simply an example of a known commercially available tool with which the disclosed adapter  10  is configured for use. Essentially, the disclosed adapter  10  can be configured for use with any tool that drives elongated securing members from the opening of an elongate nozzle or barrel. 
       FIG. 5B  depicts an example of an installation clip  70  for which the disclosed adapter  10  is configured for use. As shown, the body of the clip  70  defines a pair of alignment holes  72  proximate the front wing  74  and an attachment hole  76  through the body  78 . Trailing feet  75  extend opposite the front wing  74 . Additional commercially available installation clips can be installed using the disclosed adapter  10 . 
     With reference primarily to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and as discussed above, the adapter  10  is configured to attach to the barrel  52  with the upper surfaces  24  and  26  substantially mating at the surface of the distal end  58 . The adapter  10  is held rigidly in place by a combination of forces generated by the magnetic element  14  attracting to the steel barrel  52  and mechanical forces between the frame  12  and barrel. The upper surfaces may be slightly offset from the barrel distal end surface due to the slight flexibility of the polymeric material, especially at the adapter arm  20 . The adapter  10  is positioned with the left rear flange  30  and right rear flange  32  abutting a rear surface of the barrel from the rear. In this embodiment, the left rear flange  30  is sized to be received by an opening  64  between the magazine clip  60  and rear surface of the barrel. The left side flange  28  and right side flange  34  are configured to provide additional leverage for assistance in properly aligning the adapter  10  with the barrel  52 , particularly the adapter bottom opening  36  and the barrel opening  53 . Obviously other specific configurations can exist for use with tools having different shaped and sized barrels; the disclosed adapter  10  is not limited in size, shape, number or position of flanges. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 7 , the adapter  10  is positioned on the barrel  52  with the arm segments  20   a  and  20   b  flanking and the bridge  22  extending above the alignment extensions  59 . The alignment extensions  59  extending through the adapter front opening  38  further assists in both alignment and attachment of the adapter  10  to the barrel  52  by mechanical forces. This positioning is also advantageous as alignment extensions  59  are exposed for use during attachment of an installation clip, to be described in greater detail below.  FIG. 7  depicts the adapter  10  attached to the nozzle  52  in a typical arrangement prior to engagement of an installation clip. 
     Attachment of the adapter  10  effectively converts the standard power driving tool  50  into a hands-free device without advanced tools or redesigning the tool or barrel. With the adapter  10  in place on the barrel  52  as shown, an installer can position the clip  70  in front of the adapter  10  with the alignment holes  72  generally in registry with the alignment extensions  59 , whereupon attractive forces generated by the magnetic element  14  hold the metallic clip  70  in place against the lower surface  26 ,  27  of the adapter  10 . An engaged clip  70  can abut the adapter rear ridges,  29  and  31 . In a typical engagement of the adapter  10  and clip  70 , the rear legs  25  of the clip will rest against the rear ridges,  29  and  31 , thereby assisting alignment of the clip with the adapter and tool by preventing the clip from sliding rearward. The clip  70  is engaged with the adapter with the attachment hole  76  in position beneath the barrel bore  53  in position for driving a securing member  62  therethrough. The force of the securing member  62  driven from the bore overcomes the attractive forces of the magnetic element  14 , and thereby disengages the clip  70  from the adapter as the fastener is attached to a support, such as a joist. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  depict assembly of a decking structure with a plurality of adjacent decking planks  80  with side-grooves  82  using a power tool with the disclosed adapter  10  attached for hands-free attachment of installation clips  70 . A representative decking structure can be assembled substantially as described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/030,625 and Ser. No. 13/532,145. 
     As shown, the elongated plank  80  has a top surface  84  and opposite bottom surface  86 . The top and bottom surfaces can be generally flat or have slight curvatures. One preferred embodiment includes a slightly convex top surface  84  which assists in shedding fluid such as precipitation. As shown, the plank  80  also has opposite side grooves,  82   a  and  82   b , extending at least a portion of the length thereof and dividing each edge into an upper nub,  88   a  and  88   b , and lower nub,  89   a  and  89   b . The upper nubs,  88   a  and  88   b , preferably protrude further from the vertical bisection point of the plank  80  than the lower nubs,  89   a  and  89   b , such that the lower surface  86  is narrower than the upper surface  84 . These properties assist in concealing the installation clips  70  after installation as well as reducing moisture buildup within the respective side grooves,  82   a  and  82   b.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the disclosed adapter  10  can be used to efficiently and safely attach a plurality of installation clips  70  with a corresponding plurality of elongated securing members  62  (nails, screws or like members) driven from the power tool  50  to fasten a series of planks  80  onto an array of supports  90 . The supports  90  may be fixed in any number of conventional ways, such as by brackets, toe-nails, or the like to a backstop (i.e., a wall or array of posts). As described above, the adapter  10  is first positioned and attached to the barrel  52  of a power driving tool  50  by mechanical forces, attractive forces generated by the magnetic element  14 , or a combination thereof. An installation clip  70  is thereafter attached in a driving position simply by an installer placing the clip  70  in front of the adapter  10  within range of the attractive forces generated by the magnetic element  14 . The magnetic forces are strong enough to attach the clip  70  firmly against the adapter bottom surface  26 ,  27 . The clip  70  is maintained in position with its attachment hole  76  substantially beneath the barrel bore  53  with the front-most elongated securing member  72  aligned for driving through the attachment hole  76 . 
     During assembly of the decking structure, a lead plank  80   a  is positioned onto the upper surfaces of the supports  90  with one of its grooved edges positioned against the backstop (not shown), leaving the other grooved side exposed on the opposite side. A first plurality of installation clips  70  are then positioned with their leading wings  74  at least partially within the open side groove  88   b , and each hidden fastener is attached to one of the supports  90  by an elongated securing member  62 .  FIG. 9  shows an enlarged view of an installation clip  70  engaged with the adapter  10  via magnetic forces from the magnetic element  14 , being positioned within the side groove  82   b  prior to driving of the securing member  62 . Driving the securing member  62  through the attachment opening into the support  90  disengages the installation clip  70  from the adapter  10 , secures the installation clip to the support  90  and to the plank  80  via engagement of the leading wing  74  to the plank lower nub  82   b  (similar to the installation system disclosed in co-pending and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/573,540). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , subsequent to attachment of the lead plank  80   a  onto the supports  90  with a first series of fasteners, a first trailing plank  80   b  is assembled onto the foot portion  75  of the attached first series of clips. A second series of fasteners are then assembled to the first trail plank open end and attached to the support surfaces, substantially as described above with respect to the hands-free attachment of the first series of fasteners. 
     The disclosed adapter  10  can be sized and shaped as appropriate to fit a variety of commercially available power driving tools. The adapter  10  can attach thereto by mechanical forces, magnetic forces, or a combination thereof, to allow a safe and efficient hands-free attachment of a decking installation clip by attractive magnetic forces. 
     While a preferred embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claimed coverage.