Patent Publication Number: US-6220121-B1

Title: Multi-purpose framing tool

Description:
This invention relates to a multi-purpose framing tool and refers more specifically to a hand held tool for inserting nails into picture frames and the like to secure the sides of the frame in the assembled state and for securing the finished work in the frame. 
     It is known to use a bench mounted press for the insertion of “V” nails in the corner of frames to securely connect the sides and ends of the frame and there are also tools which insert nails and flexi-points into the sides of the frame to hold the work in the frame. However, such machines, especially those for the insertion of “V” nails, are reasonably expensive and therefore are generally only used by professional framing organizations. They are also required to be affixed to a bench, work table, or they may be free standing and are not readily portable. 
     It is an object of my invention to provide a hand-held tool which is inexpensive, readily portable and which is capable of carrying out both of the aforementioned operations. 
     A further object is to provide a tool which is also capable of applying supporting screws and other hanging or hinging devices for the picture wire thereby being of particular benefit to hobby framers and the like. 
     According to one form of the invention, a hand-held framing tool comprises means for retaining fasteners to be applied to a work surface and an anvil head for driving said fasteners thereinto, the retaining means being displaceably located in a bore of said anvil head and having a portion extending forwardly of said anvil head, said forwardly extending portion of said retaining means being adapted to receive and retain a fastener against said anvil head and being retractable in said anvil head against biasing means to permit the anvil head to drive said fastener into the work surface, either of said anvil head or retaining means being a magnet. 
     A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a chamfer on at least one side of said anvil head, said anvil head having a blind slot or groove in or adjacent said chamfer. 
     A still further preferred feature of the invention resides in the provision of a chamfer on opposite sides of said anvil head, each said chamfer having a blind slot or groove in or adjacent thereto. 
     Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a slot or slots in the anvil head to receive and retain screw-eyes or other retaining devices for insertion in the rear of the frame to facilitate attachment of a support wire or the like. 
    
    
     Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of the invention which may be preferred and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a framing tool according to this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the head of a tool incorporating a slot for a screw-eye; 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevation of a modification of the head of the tool of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the head of the tool of FIG. 1 as seen from one side; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view, showing use of the tool for the insertion of a screw-eye; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the top of the tool showing the cap removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a part sectional view illustrating the head of the tool preparatory to inserting a nail in the side of a frame; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the nail inserted, 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 after the tool has been withdrawn, 
     FIG. 10 is a rear view of a frame assembled by the tool of this invention. 
    
    
     Referring now to the drawings, a hand-held framing tool is shown generally at  10  in FIG. 1, the tool having a cylindrical body portion  11  which may be readily held in the hand of an operator and an anvil head portion  12  for retaining nails for insertion into a work surface such as the corners  13  of a frame  14  as shown in FIG. 10 or the inner side surface  15  of a frame  14  as shown in FIGS. 7 to  9 . 
     As maybe seen a “V” nail  16  is applied to a retaining device, preferably a cylindrical magnet  17  mounted in a central bore  18  of said head portion  12 . Alternatively, the anvil head  19  may be magnetized. The magnet is adapted to project forwardly of an anvil surface  19  a distance sufficient to allow a “V” nail to be applied thereto as shown in FIG. 4. A compression spring  20  is placed in the bore  18  to act against the rear inner end  21  of the magnet  17  to return the magnet to its position as shown in FIGS. 1,  4  and  7  after a nail has been inserted in the work. As the anvil  19  engages the “V” nail  16  and applies a force thereto, the magnet  17  is forced into the bore  18  against the pressure of the spring  20  thereby allowing the anvil to engage the work surface and fully insert the “V” nail therein. As the anvil is withdrawn from the work surface, the spring  20  causes the magnet  17  to slide outwardly of the bore  18  to its nail receiving position. 
     Referring now in particular to FIGS. 4,  5 ,  7  and  8 , the head  12  of the tool is bevelled at  22  and the angle of the bevel or chamfer is continued along opposite sides  23 ,  24  of the anvil head to provide a continuous angled surface  25  which allows the head  12  to lie flat against a surface such as the backing  26  of a picture or similar frame for the insertion of a nail  27  into the inner side surface  15  of the frame  14 . The nail  27  is placed in a groove  28  which is provided in the chamfered side  24  of the head, the groove  28  being of a depth and length to receive the head portion of the nail and to allow the point of the nail to project forwardly of the anvil  19  as shown best in FIG.  7 . The nail is held in the groove by the magnet. As the anvil is pushed forwardly against the work, the blind end of the groove  28  acting on the head of the nail  27 , forces the nail into the work as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     Similarly, the opposite chamfered surface  23  is provided with a blind slot  29  which is adapted to receive and retain a flexi-point  30  for insertion in a frame in the same manner as the nail  27 . All that is required, is to turn the tool through 180°. By providing for the insertion of a standard nail and a flexi-point, the tool is adapted for all framing requirements. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  5 , the anvil  19  is additionally provided with a blind slot  40  adapted to receive the head of a square head screw-eye  41  whereby the tool can insert the screw-eye  41  in the rear of the frame  14  for the attachment of a wire or the like. So as to allow for the receipt of the screw-eye in the slot  40 , the magnet  17  and spring  20  are removed from the tool. As shown in FIG. 3, two diagonal slots  42  and  43  of different dimensions are provided for the retention of screw-eyes of different sizes. This feature enables the operator to insert the screw-eyes without the need to use a gimlet to first make a hole for the screw-eye. 
     A further feature of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the cap  44  of the tool is removable from the body  11 , which, as shown is hollow to allow for the storage of nails, screw-eyes or the like. The cap is prevented from accidental withdrawal by the provision of an “O” ring  45  which acts as a seal for the cap  44 . Removal of the cap  44  also enables the tool to be attached to another tool such as a bench press or the like thereby allowing the tool to be used as a mechanical device. 
     It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a portable hand-held multi-purpose framing tool which is capable of securing the sides and ends of a frame by “V” nailing the adjoining corners of the frame as well as being capable of securing the framed work by means of insertion of nails or flexi-points into the inner rear sides of the frame adjacent the surface of the backing of the framed work and screw-eyes into the rear of the frame for the attachment of a support wire.